Madrid has been named the best destination in Europe for finding love while on holiday, according to new research by Icelandair.
The Spanish capital topped the list thanks to its thriving nightlife, large single population, inclusivity and clear sunset viewing conditions. With a final score of 86.34 out of 100, Madrid outperformed other major cities, including Amsterdam, Rome and Dublin.
The study analysed key factors that contribute to a holiday romance, including the number of single people per capita, happiness levels, nightlife, LGBTQ+ friendliness, Tripadvisor data and sunset visibility. Madrid scored highly across the board, particularly for its vibrant nightlife (85.90) and LGBTQ+ inclusivity (91.69), making it an attractive destination for love seekers.
Prague came in second place with a score of 84.75/100, thanks to its perfect nightlife rating (100) and a high Tripadvisor romance score (94.57). Lisbon followed closely in third place, excelling in LGBTQ+ friendliness (93.47), with Barcelona and Zurich rounding out the top five.
Interestingly, Paris, the famed City of Love, scored just outside the top 20. Coming in 21st, the destination scored lower than expected in key areas, with a nightlife rating of just 34.60, an LGBTQ+ friendliness score of 74.23 and a sunset visibility score of 63.77.
Overall, Europe’s best cities for finding a holiday romance were revealed as:
