Published on
November 10, 2025
A seismic shift is underway in the world of luxury travel. A new, authoritative study confirms that social media now dictates where couples spend their most romantic holiday: the honeymoon. Luxury travel agents The Resorts Collection conducted an in-depth analysis. They sought to determine which global locations truly qualify as the Most Instagrammable Honeymoon Destinations today. The results are startling. The findings reveal a dramatic disparity at the top of the charts. They also expose a fascinating truth at the lower end. Well-known global destinations like Florence and Mykonos appear far down the rankings. Even more surprisingly, a remote location like St. Kitts registers on the chart. Its presence proves that a destination’s true appeal is now measured in shareable moments, not just traditional glamour. This analytical report delves deep into the study’s findings. It explains the shocking numerical gaps and examines the unexpected inclusion of locations like Tokyo, Melbourne and Finland.
The Methodology: Defining ‘Instagrammable’
This was not a standard popularity contest. The Resorts Collection meticulously sourced an initial seed list of 50 honeymoon destinations. These locations came highly recommended by two industry titans: Tripadvisor and Condé Nast Traveller. The researchers then measured the true social media footprint of each destination. They focused specifically on Instagram hashtags. The study aggregated total post counts across three specific hashtag formats for each location. For Bali, for instance, they counted #honeymooninbali, #honeymoonbali and #balihoneymoon. This three-pronged approach provided a clear, defined metric for a destination’s digital appeal. It answered a single question: how many couples actively tag their honeymoon experience in that specific location? After data collection, three destinations yielded no results. This left a final, definitive list of 47 ranked destinations. The ranking proceeded simply from the highest total number of tags down to the lowest.
The Reigning Giants: A Staggering Numerical Chasm
The initial findings confirm an absolute truth about modern honeymoon travel: beach paradises dominate. Bali, Indonesia, claimed the coveted Rank 1 spot. The total hashtag count reached an incredible 394,811 posts. This established Bali as the clear global leader. Its breathtaking beaches, lush rice terraces and vibrant cultural scene combine to create picture-perfect moments. Couples actively seek these moments to share with their digital audience. The Maldives followed in Rank 2. It secured a massive 153,821 total hashtags. The Maldives is already famous for its crystal-clear waters and luxurious overwater bungalows. It easily established itself as the premier honeymoon destination in the Indian Ocean.
However, the analysis of the numbers reveals the first major shock. The gap between the top two spots and the rest of the world is staggering. Bali’s count is more than double the runner-up, the Maldives. When we look at third place, the disparity becomes truly shocking. Paris, France, the city synonymous with romance, achieved Rank 3 with 21,411 total hashtags. Bali’s total is an almost incomprehensible 18 times higher than Paris. Florian Pauly, Co-founder of The Resorts Collection, commented directly on this finding. He noted that the top two spots claimed over half a million hashtags combined. He then highlighted the “dramatic drop-off after the Maldives, where we see Paris with just a fraction of the hashtags.” This confirms a severe digital chasm. The aesthetic of the ultimate beach paradise—Bali or the Maldives—is currently an unbeatable force on social media.
The Mid-Tier Standouts: European Charm and Tropical Rivals
While the top two dominate, the remainder of the Top 10 showcases a mix of classic European cities and strong tropical rivals. The Greek island of Santorini placed fourth with 13,007 tags. Its stunning white and blue architecture against the backdrop of the Aegean Sea offers irresistible photo opportunities, especially those iconic sunset pictures. Maui, Hawaii, rounded out the top five with 11,736 hashtags. It stands as the most popular honeymoon destination in Oceania.
Europe claimed strong representation with three destinations in the Top 10: Paris (#3), Santorini (#4) and Rome (#6). This shows the enduring, classic appeal of the continent. However, the study confirms that beach destinations claim over half of the Top 10. Mauritius, an African island nation, emerged as Africa’s most popular honeymoon destination on Instagram, ranking 7th globally. It achieved 6,899 hashtags. This is a significant victory for the island, as it outperformed other African destinations like Zanzibar (Rank 15) and the Seychelles (Rank 16). The Americas also secured two key positions: St. Lucia (Rank 8) and Aruba (Rank 10).
The Hidden Gems: Analysing Tokyo, Melbourne, Finland, Mykonos, Florence and St. Kitts
The real fascinating narrative unfolds outside the Top 10. The study’s full data reveals a crucial trend. Iconic, highly regarded global destinations often rank surprisingly low. Meanwhile, niche or non-traditional locales, including St. Kitts, Tokyo, Melbourne, Finland, Mykonos and Florence, are all officially catalogued as Most Instagrammable Honeymoon Destinations. Their inclusion, despite smaller numbers, confirms their growing curated appeal. These locations are not competing on volume. They are competing on uniqueness and aesthetic diversity.
Florence: A Renaissance Puzzle
Florence, the jewel of the Renaissance, sits at Rank 23 with only 1,100 total hashtags. This ranking presents a genuine puzzle for travel analysts. How can a city boasting the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and unparalleled art rank so far below its continental counterpart, Rome (Rank 6, 7,211 tags)? The low ranking suggests that the traditional, cultural experience of Florence may not translate as readily into a viral Instagram moment compared to the grand, immediate iconography of the Colosseum or the Eiffel Tower. Yet, its presence on the list, however low, confirms its status as a sought-after backdrop. For a certain segment of couples, Florence remains a key part of the modern honeymoon ideal.
Mykonos: The Aegean Underdog
The Greek island of Mykonos placed at Rank 25, registering 510 total tags. Compare this to Santorini, which ranked fourth with 13,007 tags. The difference is stark. While both share the beautiful Cycladic architecture, Santorini clearly owns the viral aesthetic. Its famous caldera sunsets provide an instantly recognisable, high-impact photo op. Mykonos, known for its lively nightlife and wind-swept beaches, holds its own. It is still considered a Most Instagrammable Honeymoon Destination. However, it caters to a smaller, perhaps more exclusive, group of couples. They seek a different kind of visual story compared to Santorini’s sunset dominance.
Finland: The Icy Trendsetter
The biggest divergence from the dominant beach theme is the inclusion of Finland at Rank 28, with 324 total hashtags. Finland offers experiences entirely opposite to the tropical aesthetic. Think Northern Lights, glass igloos and winter romance. Its low ranking proves that not all couples seek sun and sand. It demonstrates a market for unique, cold-weather, high-adventure honeymoon photos. The fact that Finland ranks significantly above the French Riviera, Hoi An and Buenos Aires highlights a powerful truth. A unique, seasonal, or adventurous offering can cut through the noise of traditional romance.
Tokyo and Melbourne: The Urban Appeal
Global cities often struggle to compete with tropical islands in these rankings. However, Tokyo, at Rank 20, secured 1,406 hashtags. This makes it the highest-ranked Asian urban destination in the mid-to-lower half of the list. Tokyo showcases the power of dynamic cityscapes, neon lights and unique cultural immersion for a honeymoon aesthetic. Couples are increasingly seeking a fast-paced, modern and visually stimulating holiday. The city is clearly a Most Instagrammable Honeymoon Destination for those who prefer skyscrapers over palm trees.
Trailing significantly behind, Melbourne registered at Rank 31 with 181 tags. Melbourne, a key Australian cultural hub, might be expected to rank higher. Its position suggests that while it offers world-class experiences, its visual brand as a honeymoon destination has yet to fully solidify on Instagram compared to its Asian counterpart, Tokyo.
The Ultimate Hidden Gem: St. Kitts
The sensational discovery lies at the very end of the ranked list. St. Kitts, a beautiful Caribbean island, sits at Rank 47. It recorded a minuscule total of just 14 posts. This total is the lowest number of all 47 measured locations. Why does this matter? Its inclusion on the list confirms that it was sourced from Tripadvisor or Condé Nast Traveller. This means St. Kitts has a recognised, high-end reputation. Yet, its social media footprint is almost non-existent.
The analysis here is critical. The presence of St. Kitts suggests a highly curated, ultra-private appeal. Couples who choose St. Kitts may be intentionally seeking destinations with minimal digital noise. They want exclusivity. They want romance away from the crowds that Bali and the Maldives attract. The fact that St. Kitts registers any count, placing it alongside the visibility of Tokyo, Melbourne, Finland, Mykonos and Florence, makes it the ultimate “if you know, you know” destination. It offers a rare, high-quality experience that simply does not seek the validation of viral hashtags. For those who can look past the noise, St. Kitts represents the pure, untainted luxury honeymoon. It remains a definitive Most Instagrammable Honeymoon Destination, just one chosen by the truly discerning.
The Modern Honeymoon: Social Media Dictates Choice
The Resorts Collection co-founder, Florian Pauly, summarized the overall finding perfectly. He noted that social media has completely transformed how couples select honeymoon destinations. Couples are now choosing locations based purely on their ‘Instagram appeal‘. Traditional factors like cost or distance have taken a backseat. A perfect sunset shot in Santorini or an overwater bungalow in the Maldives has become an obligatory part of the modern honeymoon experience.
This study provides a roadmap to the digital desirability of global destinations. It reveals the extraordinary power of a single, viral aesthetic to create massive numerical gaps. It also highlights the subtle, enduring appeal of hidden gems. The rankings are clear. Bali and the Maldives are the titans of volume. However, the presence of St. Kitts, Tokyo, Melbourne, Finland, Mykonos and Florence proves the diversity of couples’ digital dreams. From snowy adventures in Finland to quiet seclusion in St. Kitts, the ultimate Most Instagrammable Honeymoon Destination is the one that tells the most unique story.
This deep analysis confirms the new reality: digital shareability drives global travel.
Research Credit- TripAdvisor and Condé Nast Traveller
