26 Best Places to Propose Around the World

14.02.2024 - 21:45 / cntraveler.com / Lake Tekapo

So, you’ve met someone you are so completely and madly in love with that you want to spend the rest of your lives together. Congrats! There’s no better feeling. You’ve likely decided on a ring, perhaps even told those close to you that you plan on doing it, but here’s the big question: where will you propose?

Getting engaged is one of those moments you’ll never forget, so you want to make it as memorable as possible—which is why popping the question while on holiday could be the answer. In fact, a survey of 4,000 British couples found that 38 percent proposed while on vacation with their other half, making it the most popular way to get engaged. It’s no wonder why; we know we are our best, most relaxed selves on holiday, making the location even more special to you both.

With so many awe-inspiring spots to choose from, it can be hard to know precisely where to propose. To give you a helping hand, we’ve whittled it down to some truly beautiful places, from clifftop gardens on the Amalfi Coast to a remote island in Fiji and an Elephant-studded river in Botswana.

No trip to New Zealand is complete without a visit to Lake Tekapo. Wedged between Queenstown and Christchurch, snow-capped mountains flank the azure lake. This spot is at its prime in late November and December when the pink and purple-hued lupins come out to play. Even if you don’t manage a visit during the Southern Hemisphere’s early summer months, Lake Tekapo is part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, and you can see the Milky Way and even the southern lights, or aurora australis, from here on a clear evening.

While most tourists head to Australia’s eastern coast hotspots like Sydney and Byron Bay or south to Melbourne, those in the know go west. Western Australia is home to some of the country’s most beautiful national parks—but the Cape Le Grand National Park takes the top spot. You’ll find some of the world’s most stunning white sand beaches here. Our pick is Lucky Bay Beach to have wild kangaroos hop beside you while you get down on one knee.

Santorini is one of Greece’s most popular islands for a reason: the peachy pink sunsets over the ocean are unmatched. Yet, a jaunt to Oia to watch the sunset probably isn’t the best spot to propose unless you want to sidle up beside thousands of other spectators, so you should head to Pyrgos Castle instead. The castle ruins sit in Pyrgos, the highest village in Santorini, and give you excellent views of the sunset and the rest of the island. Plus, you’ll likely be the only people there, so bring a bottle of Champagne to pop open afterwards and have a sunset picnic to celebrate.

If lazing on white sand beaches, snorkeling through crystalline waters and exploring untouched jungles