Top 10 Cities for a Destination Proposal in 2026

Top 10 Cities for a Destination Proposal in 2026

Proposal Destinations

Most people replay their marriage proposal for the rest of their lives. So it’s no surprise that proposal destinations have become one of love and travel’s biggest headliners, right up there with destination weddings and Valentine’s Day getaways. ❤️ With some careful “proposal planning,” you can orchestrate the entire trip without your loved one suspecting a thing (yes, even navigating airport security with the engagement ring discreetly tucked away). Beyond a setting with strong visual framing, wonderful engagement photos will make the memory of the big question even better. Our local photographers often double as unofficial proposal planners, and they know all the best places to pop the question in their cities. 💍

We easily connect people with trusted photographers and have captured over 9,000 surprise proposals around the world since 2013. Book a local proposal photographer in 350+ cities for your destination proposal to ensure the big moment is captured for your forever frames. Today, we’re gathering local proposal ideas from our crew and sharing our top 10 booked destinations for surprise proposals in 2026!

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1. Frame a glamorous love story on the shores of Lake Como, Italy.
2. Wander bamboo groves and vermilion shrines in Kyoto, Japan.
3. Choose from waterfalls and golden beaches in Hawaii, USA.
4. Pop the question amid the cinematic surroundings of New York City, USA.
5. Toast your forever among Renaissance rooftops in Florence, Italy.
6. Let effortless romance script your big day along the Seine in Paris, France.
7. Go big where turquoise lakes meet towering peaks in Banff, Canada.
8. Embrace neon lights or serene temples in Tokyo, Japan.
9. Chase waterfalls and striking Nordic architecture in Reykjavik, Iceland.
10. Find a Caribbean fairy tale of pastel streets and fortress walls in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Photo: Enzo in Honolulu for Flytographer. Isaiah and partner celebrate their engagement on Oahu with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

1. Lake Como, Italy

Italy has un certo non so che for romance, and if it’s proposal destinations you’re after, Lake Como should top your list (as it does ours). 🇮🇹 As if the small towns with cobblestone streets, idyllic piazzas, and immaculate villas weren’t enough, the lake itself becomes your backdrop: elegant, powerful, and simply spectacular.

You can frame the perfect proposal experience beneath ivy-covered gates or along arched colonnades wrapped in florals, marble floors cool underfoot. Or choose manicured hedges and long pathways, with classical facades shimmering in the distance. The winner, though, may very well be gliding across the water in a vintage boat, the question asked as the mountains rise around you — just the backdrop for a glorious love story.

Photo: Lorenzo and Ylenia in Lake Como for Flytographer. David and partner celebrate their engagement in France with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

2. Kyoto, Japan

Oozing the delicate beauty of old Japanese culture, Kyoto is a place where special moments unfold naturally. For the occasion, everywhere you stop feels like an inspired proposal setting: exquisite teahouses, centuries-old Buddhist and Shinto shrines, and torii gates glowing in bright vermilion. ⛩️

Proposal ideas include wandering through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, standing beneath its cathedral-like canopy of green, or following the Philosopher’s Path, beautiful in any season but especially during cherry blossom time. In both locations, an early morning proposal feels ideal when the light is soft and the crowds have yet to arrive. Come nightfall, the weeping cherry trees at Maruyama Park glow thanks to seasonal illuminations. At any time of day or year, Nanzen-ji’s Zen gardens offer a calm you will want to carry with you for a lifetime.

Photo: Coo and Yurika in Kyoto for Flytographer. Justin and partner celebrate their engagement in Japan with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

3. Hawaii, USA

A land of white-sand beaches and cascading waterfalls, dotted with hibiscus blooms, what could be a better backdrop than Hawaii’s Maui for stunning proposal spots? 🌺 On the “Valley Island,” you’ll find a sheer range of proposal-ready settings. Towering bamboo stalks sway along the Pipiwai Trail, while waterfalls spill over moss-covered cliffs. At Waiʻanapanapa State Park, volcanic drama takes centre stage: jet-black sand striking against turquoise waves, sculpted by ancient lava. 🌋Then there’s Kapalua Bay for a beach proposal, all soft white sand and reef-sheltered waters.

Fly tip: You can follow the “yes” with a traditional Hawaiian luau for a celebration, complete with music, hula, and the warmth of the aloha spirit.

Photo: Marie in Maui for Flytographer. Martin and partner celebrate their engagement in Hawaii with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

4. New York City, USA

The setting for countless love stories and rom-com proposals, asking the question in New York City feels like a scene straight out of a film. The Big Apple offers the most varied backdrops.

An all-time favourite is Central Park, a stretch of calm in the middle of the city, where you can propose in a rowboat on the lake, beneath the arches of Bethesda Terrace, or near Gapstow Bridge with the skyline rising behind you. In Times Square, the mood shifts to neon lights and streaming yellow taxis; proposing in the middle of the bustle feels like an electric version of romance, and you’re likely to get strangers cheering you on. 👏 Then there’s Brooklyn Bridge Park, with the bridge and the skyline as the backdrop, and Washington Street in DUMBO, with cobblestones underfoot, brick warehouses on either side, and the bridge towering above. Add a kneeling loved one and an engagement ring, and that’s a scene worthy of a movie poster.

Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Martin and partner celebrate their engagement in NYC with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

5. Florence, Italy

In Florence, love meets passion and inspiration. It did so for the likes of Dante, Michelangelo, and Da Vinci, and it will do so for you. Everywhere you look in the city, there’s a scene worthy of a Renaissance canvas. 🎨

Piazzale Michelangelo offers the most iconic panoramic views, with the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and terracotta rooftops lining the horizon, a scenery especially stunning at golden hour. Another wonderful place for the big question is Ponte Vecchio, a one-of-a-kind bridge lined with buildings on both sides, whose reflections shimmer on the water. Of course, the Duomo itself — the city’s cathedral and defining symbol — brings a touch of monumental grandeur to a proposal.

Fly tip: In all these spots, the best proposal moment happens in the morning, when everything feels more intimate, less crowded, and less like a tourist destination.

Photo: Flytographer in Florence. Gaurav and partner celebrate their engagement in Italy with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

6. Paris, France

The light, the bridges, the cafes — Paris practically scripts the occasion for a romantic proposal. Everything in the city feels like a scene waiting to happen. Anywhere along the Seine riverbanks, you’ll find classic Parisian romance, and proposals with the Iron Lady in the frame at the Champ de Mars or the Trocadéro are timeless choices — yet it all can still feel unexpected for the “oui” moment. The Louvre and its glass pyramid are also strong options, bringing that blend of modernity with royal grandeur. Paris even offers unexpected proposal spots, like Bir-Hakeim Bridge, with its industrial steel arches and the Eiffel Tower framed neatly between the beams. Make no mistake, the city of love is always ready with romance. 🥰

Fly tip: Paris is one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world, so timing your marriage proposal right matters. Our photographers have plenty of experience capturing engagement photos in Paris and can guide you on the best timing and perfect locations.

Photo: Olga in Paris for Flytographer. Elizabeth and partner celebrate their engagement in France with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

7. Banff, Canada

Some places frame a proposal. Banff magnifies it with landscapes that feel almost mythic in scale. A short drive from the famous Canadian mountain getaway, Lake Louise’s water glows beneath the Victoria Glacier, and a canoe proposal feels perfectly suited to the moment. Nearby, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise adds aristocratic air to the big moment, especially after dark, when fireplaces flicker inside, creating the perfect ambiance for an intimate proposal. ❤️‍🔥

Want more natural backdrops? There’s Sulphur Mountain, where a gondola ride rises above town, revealing layered ridgelines fading into the horizon, but don’t worry, you don’t get the smell all over the mountain! There’s also Moraine Lake, which brings mountain intensity, while the forest-wrapped Emerald Lake softens the tone. Choose carefully — you only get to do this once.

Photo: Robin in Banff for Flytographer. Cameron and partner celebrate their engagement in Lake Louise with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

8. Tokyo, Japan

Unexpected contrasts can make special moments even more memorable. That’s why Tokyo is a fabulous proposal destination: neon lights and quiet shrines, futuristic skylines and centuries-old temples. Plus, with so much happening in one single place, a surprise proposal will be the last thing on your significant other’s mind.

In all its technicolour, creative Harajuku makes for a very unconventional proposal spot, filled with youthful backdrops. Likewise, Shinjuku and Shibuya are highly social-media worthy, with seas of people moving in organized waves and flashing billboards all around. Meanwhile, Sensō-ji Temple, with its lanterns and incense smoke, offers a more traditional atmosphere. Still, if you want something more serene for when you unbox that engagement ring, head to the wide lawns and manicured gardens of Shinjuku Gyoen, where, in season, you’ll find blossoms or autumn leaves. 🍂

Photo: Ayako in Tokyo for Flytographer. Krish and partner celebrate their engagement in Japan with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

9. Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavík blends colourful harbour life with otherworldly geothermal landscapes and magical, rainbow-filled waterfalls, all surprisingly close to each other, making it one of the Nordic region’s best proposal destinations.

Towering over the city, Hallgrímskirkja Church is architecture as dramatic as it gets, and the wide-open square right in front of it is a magnificent setting for the moment you kneel. The city’s Old Harbour, with its colourful fishing boats and views of Mount Esja, is another strong contender. If it’s natural wonders you’re after, Skógafoss Waterfall lets you walk right up to the wall of water, where mist and sunlight often create rainbows. Just outside Reykjavík, Krýsuvík gives you a classic geothermal scenery for a great photoshoot. If the northern lights decide to make an appearance while you’re in town, well, that’s just Iceland showing off. 🇮🇸

Photo: Ernir in Reykjavik for Flytographer. Willis and partner celebrate their engagement in Iceland with a surprise proposal photoshoot.

10. San Juan, Puerto Rico

With fortress walls, turquoise waters, and swaying palms, Puerto Rico’s capital feels like a Caribbean fairy tale, with Old San Juan setting the stage for your big moment. 🌴

Perched by the sea, Castillo de San Cristóbal offers sweeping views from its vast esplanade, with picturesque turrets completing the picture for you and your loved one. 🫶 Across the old town, the narrow cobblestone lane leading to the imposing La Fortaleza is another spot of pure magic, with buildings in a palette of soft pastels, delicate mouldings, and wrought-iron balconies — it gives serious Wes Anderson vibes, if you ask us! Since this is the Caribbean, a beach proposal photoshoot simply makes sense, especially if you pick Condado Beach, which offers that effortless tropical glow, so you can capture your “just-engaged” glow, too.

Photo: Raul in San Juan for Flytographer. Nicholas and partner celebrate their engagement in Puerto Rico with a couples photoshoot.

Capturing Your Destination Proposal

Think your next chapter could start in any of these proposal destinations? Great! If engagement photos are part of the plan, you can connect with one of our local proposal photographers in 350+ destinations. 

They’re all experienced in capturing special moments like proposals and will even help you keep the surprise element for the grand reveal. We know how important this is, and our dedicated Concierge Team is also here to support you every step of the way. After the big “yes,” it’s time to celebrate, sharing the joy on social media and with friends and family.