Edinburgh has been ranked the top UK city for proposals in 2025, thanks to its romance, safety and starry skies.This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Edinburgh has been named the best UK city for proposals in 2025, ranking second in the world behind Amsterdam(Image: Getty Images)
Edinburgh has been named the best city in the UK to pop the question in 2025, thanks to its romantic atmosphere, stargazing potential and safety.
A new index from luxury jewellers Austen & Blake has ranked the Scottish capital second in the world and first in Britain for marriage proposals, scoring highly on factors such as affordability, low crime, and Instagram-worthy starlit skies.
The store, which has a branch on Hanover Street, crowned Amsterdam as the most romantic destination globally with a near-perfect score of 94.25 out of 100. Edinburgh followed with 92.18, just ahead of Portugal’s coastal gem Porto on 92.00.
The study considered everything from sunset photo ops to pollution levels and even the average cost of a celebratory glass of bubbly. Edinburgh’s winning combination of charm and value made it stand out.
Edinburgh ranked second thanks to its charm, safety and good value for champagne and stargazing(Image: Getty Images)The Top 20 Cities For Proposals:
RANK
City
SCORE / 100
1
Amsterdam, Netherlands
94.25
2
Edinburgh, UK
92.18
3
Porto, Portugal
92.00
4
Copenhagen, Denmark
90.11
5
Hong Kong, China
89.07
6
Lisbon, Portugal
89.00
7
Sydney, Australia
82.00
8
Seville, Spain
81.82
9
Melbourne, Australia
76.64
10
Barcelona, Spain
74.57
11
Shanghai, China
67.32
12
London, UK
65.25
13
Bangkok, Thailand
58.00
14
Paris, France
57.92
15
New York, USA
56.96
16
Chicago, USA
53.86
17
Cape Town, South Africa
51.79
18
Medellín, Colombia
42.46
19
New Orleans, USA
38.32
20
Mexico City, Mexico
23.82
Raise a glass to love – for less
While the city just missed out on the top five for champagne prices, it still offers a reasonably priced toast to romance, with the average glass costing £13.
By comparison, a glass of champagne in Seville comes in cheapest at just £9.67, followed by New Orleans (£10.01), Porto (£11.50), and Copenhagen (£12.64).
Edinburgh offers a romantic toast with champagne averaging £13 a glass(Image: Getty Images)Top 10 cheapest champagne cities:
- Seville, Spain – £9.67
- New Orleans, USA – £10.01
- Porto, Portugal – £11.50
- Copenhagen, Denmark – £12.64
- Barcelona, Spain – £12.67
- Edinburgh, UK – £13.00
- Amsterdam, Netherlands – £13.34
- Melbourne, Australia – £13.88
- Lisbon, Portugal – £13.98
- Sydney, Australia – £14.01
Dining out without breaking the bank
While Edinburgh ranks high for romance, its average cost of a meal for two sits at £94, making it one of the pricier options for couples looking to celebrate with dinner.
In contrast, Bangkok is the best bet for couples on a budget, offering a meal for just £30.56. Medellín in Colombia came close with an average of £31.38, followed by Shanghai (£37.81) and Cape Town (£44.72).
Top 10 cheapest romantic meals for two:
- Bangkok, Thailand – £30.56
- Medellín, Colombia – £31.38
- Shanghai, China – £37.81
- Cape Town, South Africa – £44.72
- Seville, Spain – £45.32
- Mexico City, Mexico – £51.90
- Porto, Portugal – £56.65
- Lisbon, Portugal – £62.31
- Hong Kong, China – £63.87
- Barcelona, Spain – £67.97
Sunset snapshots and stargazing nights
While London tops the list for the most Instagrammed sunsets with nearly 93,000 hashtags, Edinburgh offers a different kind of magic after dark. The city lands in the top five globally for stargazing, with low light pollution giving couples the chance to admire the stars as they plan their future.
Top cities for stargazing:
- Copenhagen, Denmark – 22
- Amsterdam, Netherlands – 23
- Porto, Portugal – 25
- Melbourne, Australia – 27
- Edinburgh, UK – 29
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Safety matters when love is on the line
Security is another key factor for any romantic getaway, especially when engagement rings are involved. Edinburgh ranks in the top five cities for safety, with a score of 69 out of 100. That puts it just behind Hong Kong (79), Amsterdam (74), and Copenhagen (74), all of which also scored well on low crime.