The truth is that Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday. What started as a symbolic lovers’ day transformed into a feeding platform for the whole industry of special Valentine’s products. Therefore, it is not a surprise that some Islamic countries, radically opposing the consumerism of the West, decided to outlaw the Valentine’s Day celebration.

Who’s the lucky winner of the most Valentine’s cards? No, not modern-day Casanovas. The correct answer is teachers!

On the other side, being single on Valentine’s Day adds to the burden of self-isolation: social exclusion. Does the pressure of Feb 14 really stigmatize singlehood, and at the same time celebrate anyone we are willing to spend money on?

The holiday of romantic love does come with a sense of guilt. Experts now claim that we can celebrate Valentine’s Day even with friends or family. And who’s the lucky winner of the most Valentine’s cards? No, not modern-day Casanovas. The correct answer is teachers!

To take the pressure off of Valentine’s Day, Americans launched National Couple’s Day, half a year apart, on August 18. Its main idea is to celebrate the uniqueness of love in all its forms.

Many Valentine’s Day articles conclude that one should celebrate love every day of the year. And the good news is that there ARE alternative days and ways to celebrate love. Read on, and you will discover that you can replace “Happy Valentine’s Day” with many other holidays-of-love greetings!

If you already know everything about Valentine’s Day, scroll down to alternative love holidays! Otherwise, basics first!

Looking for an alternative romantic present? Check out these Valentine's food gifts!

Why is Valentine’s Day celebrated on February 14?

What happened to St. Valentine is not always a proof-supported mystery.

Catholic Church has recognized several martyrs named Valentinus as saints, but the glory of two survived to this day.

Some scholars claim that Saint Valentine, the priest in Rome, and Saint Valentine, the bishop of Terni, were the same person. Their legends of performing miracles intertwine.

Romans executed the first one on February 14^th, 269 AD. They supposedly beheaded the latter one on the same date four years later.

Whoever we speak of, it seems Saint Valentine’s biggest sin was that, in the times of persecution of Christians, he didn’t want to convert to Roman paganism.

Allegedly, he became a friend of his jailor’s blind daughter Julia and miraculously restored her sight. In a romanticized version of the story, the priest fell in love with Julia (was he a saint?). There is even a claim that he sent her a letter signed “From Your Valentine”. Interestingly, this legend appeared 15 centuries later, after Valentine’s cards became a thing.

There is also a narrative that wanted to explain the “lovebirds” expression. Allegedly, Saint Valentine could make pigeons fly around young couples which would then entice them to fall in love. “Lovebirds” term more probably came about in the Middle Ages. The members of the French and English courts believed that February 14 was the beginning of the birds’ mating season.

Another romantic moment in Valentine’s biography was when he performed the forbidden Christian weddings for soldiers. However, the evidence does not support this claim.

It was the emperor Claudius II Gothicus who ordered the beheading of the priest. Saint Valentine’s skull is kept in Rome, in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.

Holidays of love originate in – Sex Hunger Games?

Like with many other holidays, Valentine’s Day history is where facts and legends blur into one.

This day celebrates the Christian martyr, St Valentine, with an image of a winged Roman god of love, the naked cherub-archer Cupid aiming at our fragile hearts. It is a construction comparable to Santa Claus on Christmas.

Valentine’s Day is a product of centuries of powerful influences that shaped history. As those influences rely on authorities out of this world, we should take these ‘facts’ with caution.

Valentine’s Day predecessor, Lupercalia, supposedly included sacrificing animals, winning partners over the lottery, and running naked through the town

Following up on the Christian tradition of eradicating pagan customs, there is a theory that St Valentine’s Day replaced the Roman festival Lupercalia which was also due in mid-February.

Firstly, they celebrated the arrival of spring by honoring the nature and fertility god Faunus. They also honored the legendary she-wolf (lupus is Latin for wolf) that nursed Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers from the myth of the foundation of Rome.

Lupercalia supposedly included an unusual set of rites. Ancient Romans were sacrificing goats and dogs and had naked strikes through the town while slapping women with animal skin.

Some even claim there was a matchmaking lottery. Men and women supposedly coupled together by drawing their names from the jar. It was an antic version of “Sex Hunger Games”.

When did Valentine’s Day start being celebrated on February 14?

Valentine’s Day started in 496 AD. Pope Gelasius I was the one who declared February 14 as a day in honor of the martyr.

However, Valentine’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine became known as the celebration of love only in the second millennium.

Eastern Orthodox Church honors Saint Valentine of Rome on July 6, and Valentine of Interamna (or Terni) on July 30.

February 14th is also the birthday of George Ferris, the inventor of the Ferris wheel! Learn how these observation wheels transformed from funfair attractions to symbols of the most advanced cities!

14 alternative holidays of love

These countries have different names for their special days for couples, the legitimate alternatives to Valentine’s Day as we know it. What are your favorites among the most romantic national couples’ days?

1. St Dwynwen’s Day in Wales, UK – January 25

Wales celebrates St Dwynwen’s Day (or Dydd Santes Dwynwen in Welsh) on January 25. It honors Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

Dwynwen was a 5^th-century princess, the prettiest of 24 daughters of the legendary king Brychan Brycheiniog. She fell in love with Prince Maelon Dafodril, but her father already arranged the marriage with someone else.

Dwynwen ran to the woods in distress and prayed for God’s help. An angel appeared and gave her a potion that would make her forget her love for Maleon. But it also turned her lover into a block of ice.

God then granted Dwynwen three wishes. Her first request was to thaw Maelon (the potion’s function of forgetting lovers apparently didn’t work well). Then she asked God to help all true lovers. Finally, she had a personal wish of never entering the matrimony.

In return for fulfilling her wishes, Dwynwen became a nun. She dedicated the rest of her life to God in a convent on Llanddwyn Island.

There is her well there still today, and fish predict if the couples’ relationship will succeed.

In a grimmer version of their tragic love story, Maelon raped and tried to kill Dwynwen. She obviously forgave him with her three wishes.

Just like on Valentine’s Day, lovers exchange cards and gifts on St Dwynwen’s Day. The most popular gift on this holiday is a hand-carved love spoon. It follows the tradition of Welsh sailors who carved wooden spoons at sea, believing they would bring them back to their loved ones at home.

Do you want to carve your own romantic lovespoon? Here's a comprehensive guide to this traditional craft, suitable for carvers of any level!

2. St George’s Day in Catalonia, Spain – April 23

St George’s Day (or La Diada de Sant Jordi in Catalan) on April 23 is a Spanish holiday of love particularly popular in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and parts of Valencia. It celebrates Saint George who died on that day in 303 AD.

The legend speaks of a dragon that was terrorizing the region of Tarragona. To prevent the attacks, villagers were sacrificing two lambs a day but soon had to move on to human offerings.

One day, the lottery determined that the dragon should get the princess for lunch, but she was saved by the bell. A brave knight named Jordi (George) appeared and stabbed the dragon with his sword. From the dragon’s blood, a red rose rose up, and the knight gave it to the princess.

According to St George’s Day custom, men give roses to women. Women give books to men, especially those of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare. Both of these writers died on 23 April 1616.

St George’s Day is therefore also known by the name El Dia de la Rosa (The Day of the Rose) and El Dia del Llibre (The Day of the Book). UNESCO adopted the Spanish tradition of exchanging books and in 1995 proclaimed the date a World Book Day.

Half of all books sold in Catalonia in a year happen on April 23.

To learn more about Spanish customs and people, discover the soul of Spain. If you're just into roses and other flowers, you will find a myriad of nice surprises in the Botanical Garden in Tenerife.

3. May Day in Germany, Czechia and France – May 1

While most of the world celebrates the 1^st of May as International Workers’ Day or Labor Day, May Day in countries such as Germany or the Czech Republic is an occasion to declare one’s love.

This event is a part of the celebration of the arrival of spring, the Walpurgis Night. It commemorates the canonization of Saint Walpurga, the protector against witchcraft. That is why people prepare huge bonfires.

The night before, men secretly deliver a maypole, a tree covered in colorful ribbons, to their loved one’s house. Women form hearts out of roses or rice and place them at the window or in front of the doormat of their lover’s house. In leap years, women are in charge of the maypole.

Additionally, the newer tradition requires Czech couples to kiss under a blooming cherry, apple, or birch tree on May 1^st.

France has its love tradition on May Day, inspired by the actions of King Charles IX. He was gifting ladies of his court with lily of the valley flowers every year on this day.

In modern times, the sale of these flowers is tax-free on May Day, and the French buy them a lot.

4. St Hyacinth’s Day in Crete, Greece – July 3

St Hyacinth (locally known as Agios Yakinthos) is a patron saint of love, youth, and loving couples in Crete, Greece. The Orthodox answer to St Valentine is celebrated on July 3.

The saint was born in Cappadocia in 98 AD and served as a chamberlain for Trajan. When the Roman emperor found out that Hyacinth was worshipping Jesus Christ, he imprisoned him, with nothing to eat besides the meat offered to Roman idols. Knowing that eating such food would mean renouncing Christianity, the 20-year-old martyr starved to death.

Even if his young life does not speak much about romantic love, his divine love for Christ was enough to testify that no sacrifice for love is in vain. Greeks on Crete worship the dedicated love in his memory, in their version of National Couples Day.

If you want to have romantic holidays in Greece, discover the Santorini sunset! Alternatively, surprise your lover with these amazing nude beaches in Greece!

5. Dragobete in Romania – February 24

Romania observes the romantic national couple day of Dragobete on February 24. The country revived its traditional celebration of love after some proud institutions anathematized Valentine’s Day as a celebration of kitsch and superficiality.

Speaking of kitsch, one institution in Bucharest knows all about it – the Romanian Kitsch Museum.

In Romanian mythology, Dragobete or Dragomir was the son of the god of the mountains and Baba Dochia, the beautiful daughter of the last Dacian king Dacebalus.

Dragobete had four fairy godmothers (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter) who gave him gifts that made him irresistible to women. He would be traveling across Romania, seducing every unmarried lady he’d meet. The young and handsome Romanian god became the symbol of love and cheerfulness.

According to the legend, Dragobete appears in the dreams of boys the night before this holiday, mentoring them on the skills of a great lover.

Girls need to eat salty bread baked by the eldest woman in the household. They should also place some basil under the pillow, and they will dream of their future husband.

In the morning, the boys would go into the forest and pick up the first spring flowers for the girls of their choice. On return to the village, boys would have to chase girls they fell in love with. If they managed to catch them (or if girls let themselves be caught), they would get flowers and a public kiss, sealing their love in such a way.

Dragobete strongly connects with the arrival of spring, when bears wake up from hibernation and birds start mating and making their nests. It’s an observance of fertility and the rebirth of nature.

If Romanian legends raised your interest in the country’s folklore, read more about the Transylvania vampires.

6. St Gregory’s Day in Slovenia – March 12

Slovenia, the only country that has ‘love’ in its name, celebrates the romance on St Gregory’s Day (or Gregorjevo), on March 12.

It is believed that the birds that found their partners on St Valentine’s Day get married on St Gregory’s Day.

If a single girl looked up at the sky, the first bird she saw would reveal her destiny: the type of husband she would end up marrying.

In the old times, children would dress up as members of a wedding procession. The bride, groom, and the rest of the nuptial gang would go from house to house, collecting eggs and money.

The day is named after Pope Gregory I the Great. He lived in the 6^th century and was known for his writing talents. His Gregorian chant was one of his most recognized works. Today, he is perceived as a messenger of spring, light, and sun.

If you want to honor the Slavic mythology during your Slovenian visit too, go to Lake Bled and visit the church on the island. Supposedly, it stands in the place of a former temple of Živa, the Slavic goddess of love. If you ring the bell there, your wish might come true.

7. Dia dos Namorados in Brazil – June 12

Overshadowing Valentine’s Day with its famous Carnival, Brazil celebrates the romance on June 12 instead. Dia dos Namorados, literally Lovers’ Day, falls just a day before St Anthony’s Day, the feast of the patron saint of couples.

Saint Anthony or Anthony of Padua was a Portuguese friar known for his reconciliation of young couples and marital blessings.

On this love holiday, single Brazilian women perform old rituals called simpatia, giving promises to the marriage saint until he directs them to their future husband.

Those who already profited from this spiritual matchmaking celebrate Dia dos Namorados the same way as Valentine’s Day. Partners exchange love letters, chocolates, flowers, and other gifts. Streets get decorated, and parades and carnivals take over.

Dia dos Namorados started as an advertising stunt in 1948, which hoped to increase sales in June, and it did. Brazilians spend a lot on gifts on this day, ranking its commercial success just after Christmas and Mother’s Day.

8. Dia del Amor y la Amistad in Colombia – third Saturday in September

Carefully named Dia del Amor y la Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship), so it wouldn’t exclude people without partners, this holiday is celebrated as Valentine’s Day of Colombia. The date is always the third Saturday in September. The upcoming dates are 21 September 2024, 20 September 2025, and 19 September 2026.

The merchants were the ones who initiated moving the lovers’ day to September in 1969, as the month didn’t have other holidays. Today, it generates a strong spirit of consumerism that includes flowers, chocolates, dinners, and pretty much expected Valentine’s repertoire.

One of the more peculiar traditions of this holiday is showering each other with presents through the game of Amigo Secreto, the Colombian version of Secret Santa. A group of friends or colleagues play it in the way that everyone gets a designated partner to buy gifts for in secrecy. For days or weeks, the gifts are exchanged, and the identity of a secret friend is revealed only on the last day.

9. Tu B’Av in Israel – 15^th day of Av in the Jewish calendar (July or August)

Israel celebrates its holiday of love on the 15^th day of the month of Av in the Hebrew calendar (corresponding to July or August in the Gregorian calendar). Tu B’Av starts on the night of the full moon. The upcoming dates are 18 August 2024, 8 August 2025, and 28 July 2026.

Arriving several days after Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish year that marks the destruction of temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies, Tu B’Av is the happiest day of the year.

Historically, it was celebrated as a joyous day at the beginning of the grape harvest. The unmarried girls of ancient Judea would dress up in white gowns and head to the vineyards to dance. The young men would pick girls of their choice and get married in a group ritual.

In modern times, the Jewish holiday of love is popular for organizing a wedding, engagement ceremony, and renewal of vows. Israelis give each other cards and flowers, and music and dance festivals are a common occurrence.

10. Mallasung Manu in Pulau Cinta, Indonesia – March or April

In the south of Kalimantan/Borneo, the indigenous Mandar tribe engages in Mallasung Manu, a very peculiar way of celebrating love. This unique event takes place around March or April.

The traditional ritual is practiced on Pulau Cinta, a small island shaped like a heart,  three kilometers from Pulau Laut in Kotabaru province.

Young people of the Mandar ethnic group arrive at the island by boat, carrying pairs of chickens. Hen and cock are bound together at their feet with an ornate handkerchief.

Youngsters will throw the chicken in the air from the large rock while closing their eyes and making a wish to God to find them a mate.

They will then tie the raffia palm ribbon or the rope chickens were bound with on the trees of Pulau Cinta. This symbolizes the eternal love that only death can do apart.

Those who find their mates will return to the chicken-release site on Love Island after they marry, to retrieve the ribbon from the tree as proof of the fulfillment of the wish.

For another Indonesian story connecting love and poultry, visit the Chicken Church. If the idea of heart-shaped islands got your attention, head to Croatia, as you can find five island hearts in the Adriatic Sea!

11. Qixi – Chinese Valentine’s Day – the 7^th day of the 7^th month in the Chinese calendar (August)

China celebrates Qixi (Seventh Evening Festival or Double Seventh Festival) on the 7^th day of the 7^th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The upcoming dates are 10 August 2024, 29 August 2025, and 19 August 2026.

Chinese Valentine’s Day celebrates the meeting of the cowherd Niulang and the weaving maid Zhinu. Their love was forbidden and they were banished to opposite sides of the Silver River. But on the day of Qixi, once a year, a flock of magpies would form a bridge and reunite the lovers.

This folk tale is based on observing the celestial phenomena, where Niulang represents the star of Altair, Zhinu acts as the star of Vega, and the river is – the Milky Way.

If girls would pray to these stars for a good marriage, they would grant their wishes. In some places, people would build bridges out of incense sticks and flowers before burning them at night, as another ritual that should bring happiness.

Qixi is celebrated since the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and is a part of the Chinese National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Today, this holiday of love is another opportunity to shower a partner with flowers, chocolates, and other gifts.

If you love chocolate, you'll adore the alternate universe we created with the help of AI! Check out the fantastical world of chocolate!

12. Chap Goh Mei in Penang, Malaysia – 15^th day of Chinese New Year (February)

The Hokkien Chinese community on the island of Penang, Malaysia, observes the love holiday called Chap Goh Mei. As suggested by its literal translation, it happens on the 15^th night of the Chinese New Year and typically falls in February. The upcoming dates are 24 February 2024, 12 February 2025, and 3 March 2026.

According to the legend, Chinese women were not allowed to roam freely in the streets. But on the 15^th day of the Lunar New Year, they had permission to visit temples, dressed in their Sunday best to attract the suitors.

On Chap Goh Mei, young unmarried girls write their names and contact numbers on mandarin oranges, and then throw them in the sea, river, or lake, hoping their future significant other would find them.

If you want to know more about this extraordinary ritual that started in George Town in the 19^th century, long before the blind dates of our times, read my detailed report on Chap Goh Mei.

13. White Day in Japan – March 14

White Day (Howaito De) is a day of love reciprocation in Japan and they celebrate it on March 14 every year.

This holiday started as a direct answer to Valentine’s Day. Due to some “lost in translation” error in one of Valentine’s successful initial campaigns in the 1930s, the habit of giving presents evolved as a female duty.

On February 14, women traditionally need to give chocolates to men. Colleagues get giri-choco (obligation chocolate), unpopular colleagues get cheap cho-giri-choko (ultra-obligatory chocolate), while the special someone gets honmei-choco (true love chocolate). The social pressure is so high that Japanese chocolate companies make half of their annual sales during these romantic days!

After reading a letter from a woman that had enough of this unfair one-sided ritual, Ishimura Manseido, the small confectionery shop in Fukuoka, invented a response. In 1978, they successfully launched Marshmallow Day (Mashumaro De), urging men that on March 14 they should respond to Valentine’s Day by giving presents to women. To broaden it to more than just giving marshmallows, the day got a new name soon – White Day.

If they want to show appreciation, men should return the favor by tripling the value of what they received a month earlier. White chocolate, white gold, white clothes… Anything, as long as it’s not low-quality, is acceptable.

South Korea, Vietnam, and parts of China adopted the Japanese tradition of the White Day. Taiwan also celebrates it, but the other way around: men give gifts to women on Valentine’s Day, and women return the favor on White Day.

In April, Japan celebrates another unusual festival. Kanamara Matsuri celebrates sexuality through religion. 

14. Every 14^th day of the month in South Korea

Having a nose for business, South Korea quickly copied the Japanese, and decided to declare the 14^th day of every month some kind of a love holiday, plus a couple more! Here’s the full list of 14 South Korean holidays of love!

Diary Day / Candle Day – January 14

On this day, Koreans give and receive diaries, daily planners, and similar notebooks, wishing each other a great start to the year. Others exchange decorative candles as gifts.

Valentine’s Day – February 14

Women should show their affection by overdosing their partners with chocolates on Valentine’s Day.

White Day – March 14

On White Day, men reciprocate by showering women with roses, chocolates, and candies, often in white color.

Black Day – April 14

Those who didn’t find the special someone to exchange gifts with in earlier months can mourn over their singlehood on Black Day. Uncoupled friends dress up in black and meet to eat jajangmyeon, a Korean noodle dish with thick black bean sauce. Finishing this comfort food meal with a cup of black coffee is an approved idea.

If you ask my advice, sweeten your sorrows with some Korean desserts!

Rose Day / Yellow Day – May 14

While couples exchange roses, singles wear yellow shirts and get together to eat yellow curry.

Kiss Day – June 14

On Kiss Day, Koreans celebrate love by smooching. It is a good excuse to approach your crush and start the relationship with a kiss. Companies selling lipsticks and breath mints profit the most on this day.

Silver Day – July 14

Relationships are getting serious now. Couples should exchange jewelry, and matching silver rings are a hit. It is often an introduction to engagement and meeting the parents of the partner.

Green Day – August 14

On Green Day, couples engage in romantic nature walks, while singles drown their sorrow in soju, which conveniently comes in a green bottle.

August is also the warmest time to visit the infamous Jeju Loveland.

Photo Day / Music Day – September 14

This is a popular day to have fun in portrait studios and gimmick photo booths, as well as in noraebang, the karaoke room.

Confession Day – September 17

This is a pragmatic day to confess your love to someone. It’s convenient because if your relationship starts today, the 100-day anniversary will fall on Christmas Day, which is easy to remember and saves some money for the extra gifts. Celebrating a relationship’s jubilee days in South Korea is very serious. There are even phone apps reminding you when it’s time to celebrate the 200^th day, the 300^th day, and so on. Forget one, and it could be a reason for the breakup!

Wine Day – October 14

Couples can toast their relationship with wine over dinner, while singles can, well, get drunk.

Pepero Day / Garraetteok Day – November 11

This is a truly successful commercial holiday. Thought to have originated in Pepero sticks resembling the digits of the date (11.11.), the day expects you to give away this popular snack of chocolate-covered cookie sticks to your friends and loved ones. Those who want to do something healthier or less commercial, exchange the traditional white glutinous rice cake cylinders – garrae-tteok.
From copyright battles to teasing kiss games, there’s much more passion behind the Pepero celebration than you could ever imagine.

When is Sweetest Day?

Among other "fake" holidays, there is Sweetest Day, created by the candy industry to boost sales in the United States. Celebrated mostly around the Grand Lakes, on the third Saturday in October, it is seen as a day for acts of romance and kindness, through gifting sweets of course. First launched in Cleveland in 1921, Sweetest Day is really the invention of candy makers. Because of its commercial agenda, critics often refer to Sweetest Day as a Hallmark holiday.

Sweetest Day in 2024 falls on October 19.

Movie Day – November 14

If you don’t manage to get your seat reservations in time, as cinemas get packed, watching DVDs at home or in a DVD Bang, Korean DVD room, is an acceptable movie alternative. Some couples focus more on the “bang” part in these rooms though.

Hug Day / Sock Day – December 14

On Hug Day, lovers express their feelings by cuddling and purchasing socks as presents. What else do you need to warm yourself up in December? Well, there could be one more thing – the very special Korean spa.

For some, the 14th of December is just a Monkey Day; for others, it’s International Love Day.

If you are in the South Korean capital,  find the best Seoul jjimjilbangs here!

Countries with no Valentine’s Day

Countries with strong Muslim heritage make up the majority of opposition against Valentine’s Day. Most of them tried to push the Christian holiday of love to the less visible edge of society. Some have officially proscribed it.

Saudi Arabia’s religious police announced a fatwa against selling red objects and Valentine’s Day merchandise in 2008. This developed the black market for roses and wrapping paper. Men who outdared the ban on socializing with unrelated women paid the price of dancing with lashing and imprisonment for decades. Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came to power in 2017, Riyadh relaxed the measures against the holiday of love. The police stopped confiscating teddy bears and arresting people wearing red, but the ban on celebration was never officially lifted.

Iran banned Valentine’s Day as a “decadent Western custom” in 2011. Shops selling red roses, products with red hearts, or even chocolates adorned with a red ribbon risk being shut down for up to 6 months. Unmarried couples are forbidden to mingle together with a threat of prison. But Tehran restaurants still serve them with a lookout on inspector patrols. Dutiful citizens can report the transgressors on an authorized phone number.

Pakistan joined the official anti-Valentine war front in 2017. The High Court in Islamabad banned the public celebration of Valentine’s Day and media reports about it because the holiday goes against Muslim tradition and culture. The country saw many riots over Valentine’s Day that even took three student lives in 2014.

Other actions against Valentine’s Day included seizing condoms from shops in Indonesia, raiding hotels for unmarried couples sharing rooms in Malaysia, universities asking students to sign contracts that they will not celebrate the love holiday in Uzbekistan, and threatening the unmarried celebrators with violence and forced wedding in India.

Holidays of love around the world – conclusion

Valentine’s Day has become a synonym for lovers’ day. Even if those opposing this tradition could see it as a tool of Christian or Western propaganda, the truth about Valentine’s Day is that it came a long way away from the stories of saints and strict religious context. It is simply a day to express love and affection.

Nevertheless, many countries around the world have come up with their own romantic national days, holidays similar to Valentine’s Day, but a symbol of their tradition. All of that is fine.

As long as it warms the hearts of people around you and your own, it doesn’t matter if you say “I love you” by a rose, some lyrics, an e-Valentine card, or just a hug

One can celebrate love on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… Any day is the perfect day to celebrate love, and even overdosing on love, as Koreans suggest with the flood of their holidays about love, is something to embrace.

Valentine’s hearts and poems are not an enemy of anyone’s identity, but it is also understandable if one wants to avoid holidays like Valentine’s Day altogether.

February 14 definitely comes with the pressure of the “Be my Valentine” message, and standard Valentine’s Day activities might be as annoying as Mariah Carey’s songs on the radio around Christmas.

You have all the right to create love days the way you like them and to even oppose the traditions. The last-minute Valentine’s Day ideas sometimes turn out to be the best outcome you’ve never even imagined.

As long as it warms the hearts of people around you and your own, it doesn’t matter if you say “I love you” with a rose, some lyrics, an e-Valentine card, or just a hug.

It doesn’t matter which day you decide to do it, as long as you do something.

Express your emotions today, as you never know when it might be too late.

Wherever you are and whatever you call it, happy Valentine’s Day!

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Authors and credits of the photographs in this article are typically mentioned in their title and/or Alt Text description. Among others, this blog post uses images from the following sources:
Flower photo created by wirestock - www.freepik.com
Dragobete photo copyright by nuntatraditionala.ro
Birds Stock photos by Vecteezy
Love photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com
Ribbon photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com
Tu B'Av image with Creative Commons licence 2.5
Cowherd Png vectors by Lovepik.com

This post was originally published on February 5th, 2021, and was updated on February 13th, 2024.

The post 14 Alternative Holidays of Love: (Inter) National Couples Days appeared first on Pipeaway.

Discover the best honeymoon destinations in Croatia, extraordinary holiday resorts for couples, and fantastic ideas to elevate your trip!

“Is Croatia a romantic country?”, you ask, covered in confetti, with wedding bells still ringing in your ears.

From fantastic islands to explore (some of which are shaped like hearts!) to quirky cultural institutions such as Zagreb‘s Museum of Broken Relationships (a great place to heal when dealing with a breakup), Croatia can thoughtfully cater to couples at every stage of their relationship.

Whether you’re love-struck youngsters chasing sunsets in Zadar and dancing the night away on Pag‘s infamous Zrće Beach, or a more mature couple who prefers tranquil walks on Opatija promenade, there’s a corner of the country that will serve your very personal romantic needs.

While Croatia has a strong naturist history, which makes nude beaches acceptable to everyone, including LGBT visitors, public displays of love among same-sex couples outside of safe zones of dedicated clubs and bars are still considered “provocative”. Especially in more conservative parts of Dalmatia, non-conventional love can lead to trouble.

So is Croatia a good honeymoon destination? You bet! It’s a beautiful country where newlyweds can explore their love. But, alas, there’s no magical recipe for the best honeymoon in Croatia, and ultimately, you should craft your own itinerary through this country “full of life”.

This guide will help you out by identifying the best honeymoon destinations in Croatia, revealing the best holiday resorts for couples, and showering you with a bunch of honeymoon ideas that will elevate your trip experience.

Honeymooning in Croatia was a great idea, and now the time has come to plan your perfect retreat on the Adriatic coast!

PRO TIP: To upgrade your romantic trip, there's more you could do besides planning the itinerary. For instance, learning Croatian before your journey will not only enrich your cultural experience but also open doors to authentic interactions with the warm and welcoming Croatian people, making your honeymoon even more memorable.

Historical attractions in Croatia

Croatia is a country steeped in history, and it will be hard to miss its rich heritage. You should definitely visit historical attractions during your Croatian honeymoon!

The iconic destination to celebrate your love is certainly Dubrovnik. The ancient town known as the filming site of the “Game of Thrones”, and a place that banished rolling suitcases from its cobblestone streets, has a lot to offer. Its impressively thick medieval walls open to breathtaking panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea, the cable car ride to Mount Srđ provides another stunning vista, and overall, the centuries-old architecture is a fairytale setting for leisurely strolls hand-in-hand. Dubrovnik is more than just another UNESCO World Heritage Site; it’s a living museum, a must-visit as long as you can stand other enthusiastic “museum visitors”.

Since Roman times, romantics have been flocking to Split too. The heart of the second-largest Croatian city is one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in the world, also protected by UNESCO  – the Diocletian’s Palace. Get lost in its labyrinth of narrow streets, visit ancient temples, make a wish by rubbing the toe of Gregory of Nin, and climb the bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, the oldest in the world. A walk through Split is a true step back in time.

Another place to impress archaeology enthusiasts is Pula, in Istria. Practically a Roman treasure chest, the town is brimming with ruins, temples, and constantly new discoveries. Pula Arena, the two-millennia-old amphitheater, among the best-preserved in the world, hosted gladiator battles in its heyday. Now you can visit it without sacrificing yourself in the hunger games.

Your time travel through Croatia can continue. From Korčula to Vis, Trogir to Šibenik, and Zadar to more towns than you can count, this country is a history buff’s buffet. A perfect place for honeymooners to make history together.

Exploring the natural wonders of Croatia

Croatia is more than just a history lesson. It’s blessed with an abundance of natural beauty too. While you’ll love just randomly wandering along the country’s coastline, consider visiting Croatian national parks as well.

For lovers who are nature lovers, the cascading waterfalls of the legendary Plitvice Lakes are a must-see on any Croatian honeymoon itinerary. Explore one of the seven Plitvice walking routes, wander along wooden boardwalks passing over crystal-clear water, and admire the lush greenery protected in this national park. Truly photogenic ambiance will provide plentiful envy-inducing opportunities for your social media testimony. The likes will just roll in. But keep in mind that Plitvice are a superstar, so they can get truly crowded with nature-loving paparazzi.

For an alternative, but similarly beautiful waterfall experience, head over to Krka National Park. Here’s how to plan a day trip to Krka Waterfalls.

When exploring Croatian nature, use common sense. You don't want to have to call the Croatian Moutain Rescue Service, even if they are fun guys!

All Croatian islands come with their charm, but in national parks, nature is specially protected.

Consider visiting Mljet, the scenic island that, like a Russian doll, features a lake with another tiny island chilling inside.

For the adventurous souls, Kornati Islands is an archipelago maze of 89 untouched islands that are perfect for a boat trip.

If you’re in Istria, Brijuni Islands is a national park worth visiting. The former summer residence of Yugoslavian president Tito is like a Jurassic Park of political presents: zebras, cows, camels, and even an elephant! Here history and nature go hand in hoof.

Brijuni might have imported Indian cows, but Istria has its own native breed. Get impressed by boškarin, the Istrian ox!

Planning an unforgettable honeymoon itinerary in Croatia

To maximize your experience, go for a multi-destination honeymoon! There are numerous ways to design the perfect honeymoon in Croatia, but try to balance the relaxation and exploration in your itinerary. After all, you don’t want your trip to become overwhelming. Also, focusing on fewer destinations is definitely better than feeling rushed, so be smart with the time you can allocate to Croatia.

Start your trip in Dubrovnik. Immerse yourself in rich culture and history, explore charming streets, visit museums, and enjoy local cuisine.

After Dubrovnik, head to the islands. Start with the unspoiled paradise of Mljet, and then hop over to Hvar, known for its vibrant nightlife. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the secluded beaches of the nearby Pakleni Islands, for some intimate moments. Soak up the sun in peace, take a dip in the sea, and indulge in delicious seafood dishes.

From Hvar, make your way to Split, where you can explore the architecture of the ancient Roman Empire, and soak up the city’s lively atmosphere. Take a day trip to the nearby town of Trogir to discover its medieval charm.

While heading north, make sure to stop by the cities of Šibenik and Zadar. When you feel the need to cool down in the mountains, detour to the national park of Northern Velebit and/or Plitvice Lakes. These tranquil corners of nature provide an air-conditioned break from the sizzling coastline.

End your trip with a tour of Istria, the Croatian Tuscany that will reward you with its own gastronomic and enological treasures, cultural monuments, and opportunities for both relaxation and adventure. From Pula, the region’s imposing capital, to Hum, the tiniest town on the planet, there’s a lot to discover on this extraordinary peninsula.

While this itinerary through the best honeymoon spots in Croatia goes from Dalmatia to Istria, you can totally flip the script and do it in reverse, depending on your personal preferences and interests, or your arrival airport (Dubrovnik or Pula?).

You could even fly to Venice, and then hit the road to Croatia. As a matter of fact, with other Mediterranean countries nearby, combining a honeymoon in Croatia with a trip to Italy, Montenegro or Greece can be a genius two-for-one deal.

If you are eyeing South Korea, you should know that the country has a honeymoon island of its own. These are the best things to do in Jeju! 

5 best honeymoon resorts in Croatia

Deciding on where to honeymoon in Croatia is sweet trouble. The one that’s most easily tackled by picking not one, but several favorite bases in different regions.

From romantic boutique hotels to lavish historic villas, you’ll find top-notch resorts to anchor yourself during your honeymoon in Croatia.

Ranked by geographical order, from north to south, these are the best places to stay in Croatia for couples, offering seductive honeymoon packages.

1. Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery
Location: Bale
Price per night: starting at 262 euros

Located at a secluded private estate in Bale, Istria, with vineyards and olive groves planted back in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy era, Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery is a Relais & Chateaux property providing luxury to anyone looking for some peace. Their newest 5-star accommodations come with always-available butlers and experience ambassadors.

Imagine hectares of vineyard land ideal for jogging and bicycle rides. Or you can just chill like a grape on a private beach. Not enough? How about lounging by indoor and outdoor pools, indulging in an anti-stress sauna, or spoiling yourself with spa treatments that include organic red wine and olive body serums?

Of course, their award-winning homemade wine and olive oil are a part of a gastronomic experience too. The high-end Meneghetti Restaurant offers traditional Istrian cuisine with a modern twist. This year, they’ve got another signature product to toast with – grappa Aqua Vita.

If you book a Romantic Getaway package, your two-night stay will include a romantic breakfast in bed, a beach picnic, a personalized cocktail session, a three-course dinner, and a 75′ spa package for two. It’s easy to see why Meneghetti is one of the best hotels in Croatia for a honeymoon.

Check the availability, reviews, as well as best prices for your planned dates, and reserve your stay at Meneghetti here!

2. Grand Hotel Brioni Pula
Location: Pula
Price per night: starting at 282 euros

Named after the nearby Brijuni Islands, Grand Hotel Brioni Pula sits on the Verudela peninsula, one of the most prestigious parts of Pula. The luxurious retreat overlooking the sea is a member of the prominent Radisson Collection.

Close enough to Pula’s historic sites, but also far enough to escape the summer crowds, this 5-star hotel will win you over with views of dramatic coastline and dense greenery. It’s a romantic nest with elegant rooms and modern amenities.

The hotel’s private beach and infinity pool are front-row seats to the epic sunset show, maybe with cocktails in your hands. For a candlelit dinner, visit Brioni Forum Restaurant, one of the five dining venues at the property. They will woo you with dishes featuring truffles, the Istrian favorite aphrodisiac.

When you want to completely relax, pamper yourself with a couples’ massage and tension-releasing bath treatment that will have you floating on cloud nine. If you love an adventure, go with a revitalizing scrub experience that will teleport you from the Adriatic to the Arctic!

Read superb reviews, see more photos, check the availability, and book your stay at Grand Hotel Brioni here!

3. Le Méridien Lav Split
Location: Podstrana
Price per night: starting at 126 euros

Split‘s only 5-star resort is technically located 8 kilometers south of the city, in the elite suburb of Podstrana. As a hotel belonging to the Le Méridien brand owned by Marriott International, Le Méridien Lav Split embodies the idea of glamorous travel available to everyone.

If you want to add island hopping to your luxury honeymoon in Croatia, this is an ideal starting point. Right beneath your balcony, there’s a marina where, if you’re lucky to have it, you can park your own megayacht, or rent a Lav boat yacht with a skipper, and enjoy the sea adventure with style.

For those who prefer staying on firm ground, rosé spritzers paired with local light bites, from grilled fish to oysters, are here to spice up your love life. At an infinity pool, thanks to the Au Soleil summer program, you can enjoy the golden hour by indulging in the exclusive Whispering Angel-inspired rosé sorbet signed by the TikTok-famous chef Meredith Hayden.

One of the best honeymoon hotels in Split will pamper you like royalty. RE:CUPERA Wellness and Spa has got your back, and everything else! Expect steam baths, saunas, and sophisticated body rituals.

To secure the best prices for your travel dates, reserve your room at Le Méridien Lav Split here!

4. Maslina Resort
Location: Stari Grad
Price per night: starting at 443 euros

Just a walking distance from the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, Maslina Resort is nestled in the lush pine forest of Maslinica Bay.

This 5-star hotel follows the philosophy of mindful luxury, proving that it’s possible to combine high-end hospitality with sincere respect for the environment. That means non-intrusive architecture, supporting nature and native species, energy efficiency, seasonal cuisine, locally sourced produce, and ditching plastic like a bad ex.

If you want to experience an intimate setting on one of the most popular European islands, this chic hideaway can enhance your honeymoon in Croatia with Romantic Panoramic Escape. Think nights adorned with flower petals and candles, enriched with rosé wine and chocolate truffles, and completely unwinded with a lavender-infused bath, dimmed lights, and light background music!

For a complete restorative experience, there’s Pharomatiq Wellness, where a garden-to-skin inspired menu serves home-grown organic herbs and locally sourced essential oils. Reward each other with personalized treatments that combine Western and Eastern techniques with mindfulness practices, or just relax in Aquathermal facilities covering everything from a Finnish spa to a Turkish hammam.

If you’ve been intrigued by one of the best hotels for a honeymoon in Croatia, find out the room prices for your dates and reserve your stay at Maslina Resort here!

5. Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik
Location: Dubrovnik
Price per night: starting at 256 euros

Another 5-star beachfront property, Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik has an unmatched view of the iconic Dubrovnik silhouette. With the Old Town and blue sea as a spectacular backdrop of your panorama, you’d be staying at a place that is just a five-minute walk away from the famous medieval walls.

If you want to add an exclusive shine to your honeymoon in Croatia, picking the hotel that has been welcoming A-list celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Morgan Freeman, and even some crowned heads, such as Queen Elizabeth II, is a no-brainer choice.

This historic landmark, a member of Adriatic Luxury Hotels, has been charming guests since 1913 and can boast unparalleled service, a beautiful beach, peaceful gardens, and a luxurious spa that can add a glass of champagne to your massage for two.

For a romantic dinner at one of the best Dubrovnik honeymoon hotels, book a table at Sensus, one of Excelsior’s three restaurants, that serves unconventional creative dishes paired with the finest Croatian wines.

Many will agree that Dubrovnik is the best place to honeymoon in Croatia. If you still need convincing, see more photographs and reviews by Excelsior guests here!

Do you want to spend your honeymoon in Indonesia? Read our reviews of the best honeymoon hotels there! If you're traveling to Bali, stay at The Balé Resort or Aria Villas Ubud; if you opt for Lombok, check out Hotel Tugu Lombok!

Romantic activities for honeymooners in Croatia

There is a plethora of romantic activities for honeymooners in Croatia, each promising unforgettable moments.

The offer of “sun & sea” was once a Croatian tourism cliché, but then again, watching the sun setting down over the Adriatic can be a truly romantic experience. Probably the most famous is the sunset in Zadar, the one that Alfred Hitchcock declared the most beautiful in the world. You can upgrade your sunset chase with a wooden karaka boat, fishing adventure, dolphin watching, or at least some sparkling wine. You can also just find a cozy spot on the beach, and hold hands while the sun dips below the horizon, spilling its vibrant colors over the sky.

If you’d love a thrill of adventure during your honeymoon in Croatia, slide down the zipline in Dubrovnik, snorkel around a shipwreck in Šolta, explore Pula caves by kayak, or even see King’s Landing walls from the seaside.

When you get hungry, go truffle hunting in Istria, channel your inner sommelier while wine tasting on Hvar, pair olive oil with prosciutto, ricotta cheese, and even ice cream near Umag, learn how to make the traditional peka, the slow-cooked dish under a bell, in Dubrovnik countryside, and check if oysters are truly an aphrodisiac in Ston. Crown your day with a dinner at one of the romantic waterfront restaurants, with stunning views in the background and the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Whichever Croatian town you choose to visit, you’ll be able to go on some island-hopping adventures or fish picnics. If you love swimming and snorkeling away from the crowds, this is a great idea. From Dubrovnik explore Elafiti Islands, from Split hop on a four-islands boat tour that includes Brač, Pakleni Islands, Hvar, and Šolta, from Zadar visit the idyllic Ugljan, and if in Rovinj – head to Lim Fyord.

In the grand finale, love is in the air. If you’re close to Sinj Sport Airport, check out this panoramic flight over Split, the one that will take you over Dubrovnik and Biokovo mountain, fly over Šibenik and Kornati islands, or even see how Krka and Plitvice look from above.

Getting around Croatia on your honeymoon

While you can always opt for boring bus connections between towns, getting around Croatia during your honeymoon will benefit from your independence. You’ll be able to see more, change plans, and even go off routes.

There are several ways to hit the road (or the sea) in style:

1. Rent a car. If you want to drive a rented car during your honeymoon in Croatia, don’t overpay the service. You can find the best prices on this car rental comparison website.
2. Rent a luxury camper van. For an even greater level of independence, you can rent a van that could be your luxury home on wheels in Croatia. For traveling around without unpacking at each destination, check out the best motorhome options here.
3. Charter a yacht. Wouldn’t it be awesome to travel between Croatian coastal cities and amazing islands without traffic jams? Discover the freedom of sailing provided by a yacht rental that comes with concierge service.

Tips for a memorable honeymoon in Croatia

To make your honeymoon in Croatia truly memorable, here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your trip:

1. Plan ahead. Croatia is a popular destination, especially during the summer months. Book your accommodation, tours, and activities, as well as pre-reserve your vehicle, well in advance to secure the best prices and avoid disappointment.
2. Choose the shoulder season. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are the magic months in Croatia. The weather is mild and pleasant, tourist crowds are thinner, and prices are lower.
3. Pack for all occasions. In the era of climate change, the weather can drastically change in a matter of days. By packing a variety of clothing options, you’ll be prepared for different conditions, but also diverse occasions, from coastal beaches to mountainous landscapes.
4. Don’t forget the sunscreen. With the Mediterranean sun shining down, Croatia can have some truly hot summer days. Protect your skin by regularly applying sunscreen, not just when you’re at the beach. There’s a reason why cancer in a horoscope is represented by a crab – that’s your visual and health future if you don’t follow this advice.
5. Always have a camera ready. Croatia offers endless opportunities for beautiful honeymoon photography, plus it’s a way to preserve your memories. For a magical glow, take advantage of the golden hour (soft light around sunrise/sunset time), capture natural non-posed moments, and experiment with different angles (which doesn’t mean you should climb rocks in flip-flops).

You don't have to buy pricey vacation packages to prove your love to your fellow traveler. Check out these romantic travel gifts!

Conclusion: Is Croatia good for a honeymoon?

Choosing Croatia for the honeymoon holidays is a fantastic idea. The country’s historical and natural treasures provide a romantic setting for newlywed couples, whether you’re adventure enthusiasts or professional relaxers.

As this virtual tour of Croatia has showcased, from magical Istria in the north to always enchanting Dubrovnik in the south, the country’s coastline is sprinkled with surprises, both in charming coastal towns as well as the alluring archipelago.

You’ll be left wondering whether your honeymoon in Croatia should last 10 days or even 2 weeks. Every corner of this Adriatic gem has something special to offer, and all you need to do is pack your bag, grab your partner’s hand, and let Croatia cast a spell on your hearts.

Follow your instinct and adjust your itinerary. When visiting the best European honeymoon destination, there are no wrong turns!

Hopefully, this thorough guide has helped you with choosing where to stay, when to go, and what to see and do in Croatia for your honeymoon.

With technicalities sorted out, do allow yourself to follow your instinct (or heart, as they would say). Itineraries should always be treated as suggestions, and changing plans, even when visiting one of the best European honeymoon destinations, is all part of the fun. There are no wrong turns on this love journey!

It’s good to know there is also a continental Croatia, the lesser-known part of this inviting honeymoon destination. But that’s another story, and another incentive to plan a romantic trip to a country that loves lovebirds.

When they ask you if you want to go to Croatia, all you need to say is: “I do.”

Are you planning a romantic honeymoon in Croatia?
Pin this guide for later!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The photographs in this article have been sourced through Depositphotos, Unsplash, and hotels.

In the order of appearance, the credits are as follows: 
Hug in Dubrovnik (cover image) - Shevtsovy
Dubrovnik harbor - mana5280
Pula Arena - James Qualtrough 🇮🇲
Plitvice - Dominik Lange
Brijuni zebras - Igor Bumba
Hvar beach - Nikola Radovani, Maslina Resort
Tulove Grede van kiss - Marta Rastovac 
Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery - Meneghetti
Grand Hotel Brioni Pula - Grand Hotel Brioni Pula
Le Méridien Lav Split - Le Méridien
Maslina Resort - Maslina Resort & Kate Sevo
Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik - Adriatic Luxury Hotels
Rovinj sunset - Florin Beudean
Oysters - Adriatic Luxury Hotels
Maslina Resort beach (pin image) - Kate Sevo, Maslina Resort

The post Croatia Honeymoon: The Ultimate Guide for the Best Romantic Retreat on the Adriatic appeared first on Pipeaway.

In this article, you will learn some of the best ways to deal with a breakup! While not trying to be a profound self-help guide, I see this as an attempt to highlight human creativity in constructing projects that help us go through the end of a relationship more easily.

In a world where it’s more common to monetize holidays like Valentine’s Day through providing romantic travel gifts, for instance, these entrepreneurs focused on the market of those whose relationships did not survive.

Their products and services, activities you could partake in, will help you stop constantly thinking about your ex, detach yourself, let them go, move on, and find peace.

Before we jump on the path of healing the broken heart, let’s answer some essential questions about dealing with a breakup!

Taking a break in everyday life is sometimes the only way to go forward. Learn how different cultures approach the downtime!

Why does heartbreak hurt so much?

When a relationship ends, the release of happy hormones such as serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine is reduced, while stress hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline get increased.

Love is literally like cocaine. It triggers our reward system. When it’s suddenly gone, its absence can only turn on the panic mode

Studies have shown that breakups activate the same brain areas as physical pain does. That is why the hormones on the loose can make us experience emotions as physically painful too.

The changes in blood pressure and heart rate can, in rare cases, culminate in broken heart syndrome (takotsubo cardiomyopathy), the condition in which extreme levels of stress shorten breath and make the heart pump harder, creating chest pain.

Simply put, love is literally like cocaine, it triggers our reward system. As neurochemical addicts, we cannot just easily stop craving our love drug. When it’s suddenly gone, its absence can only turn on the panic mode.

Activating the same section of the brain as morphine, love acts like a painkiller. Removing love out of the equation doesn’t magically rewire our brain, whose neural circuits learned to be “in love” with a now-missing partner.

Healing a broken heart actually means adjusting the brain to new circumstances. And just like with adopting any new habit, recovery takes time. Breakup pain could, in a variety of intensities, last for weeks, often months. In rare cases, it can take years to fully heal a broken heart.

What to do when dealing with a breakup?

As the fastest way to recover from a breakup is through restoring the hormonal balance, science does have an exact answer to this question.

A good post-breakup care routine should include: exercising, meditation, sufficient sleep, sun exposure, healthy meals (especially a diet that includes cheese, soy, red meat, pork, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and seeds), social contact, body contact (hugs, massages), listening to music that excites you, expressing yourself through art or other hobbies, trying new experiences – travel experiences included. Getting out of town is always a great option!

What not to do after a breakup?

There are of course also things not to do after a breakup. You might be losing control of your emotions, and to avoid embarrassing outbursts, attempts should be made to preoccupy yourself with other things.

You should not waste your time on writing messages or making phone calls to your ex, stalking them on social media or in real life.

It’s good to avoid social media altogether, to unfollow or even block your ex, as well as their friends and close family. At least, use Facebook’s “snooze for 30 days” option. Constantly checking their profile, or scrolling through their Instagram images, will not help you in any way.

Avoid their physical proximity too; that means not visiting their home, office, or spaces they socialize at. Don’t settle with “staying friends” immediately.

There is this concept of the power of silence after a breakup. Distancing will help you clear your mind, get in control of your emotions, and empower you for your future love path.

As much as it first feels comforting, you should avoid sobbing for hours in front of your ex’s altar, going through memories while drowning your sorrow in alcohol and sniffing their favorite perfume.

Until you get yourself back together, don’t rush into dating new partners!

How to heal a breakup in 9 steps

Every recovery from a breakup is individual. In the process of letting someone you love go, try some of the 9 best ways to deal with a heartbreak!

1. Touch up your travel pics with the help of AI

Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. Luckily for the brokenhearted, AI tools can even help us cope with photo memories of places we enjoyed with a person we try to forget now.

Picsart came up with the AI Replace My Ex tool, essentially showcasing their technology that can replace objects in an existing photo with anything else.

So if you’ve been spending hours cutting out your ex’s face out of analog photographs, or trying to do the magic in Photoshop, AI Replace will cut your effort time, and deliver satisfying results.

Remember that time you posed together in front of the Eiffel Tower? Well, now it can be only you with – a baguette! Then that trip to Amsterdam, where you really liked how you turned out in that photo in front of the canals? Now, instead of putting your arm around your fiancé, you can be hugging a dog! Basically, the AI lets you replace your ex with anything, from a steak to a snake!

With Picsart’s tool, you don’t need to completely delete your common past. Keep the images where you looked cute, and remove only the excess baggage!

Enjoying the world without your ex is a trip worthy of documenting. And it's really not difficult: taking pictures of yourself when traveling solo is a skill that you can master easily.

2. Name a cockroach after your ex, so the zoo can feed it to an animal

San Antonio Zoo has a unique fundraiser, named Cry Me a Cockroach. For just 10 bucks, you can name a cockroach after your ex, and the zoo will make sure that it gets quickly consumed by some of their animals.

There are several tiers you can choose from, ranging from 5 to 25 dollars, which gives you the option to give your ex’s name to a piece of lettuce or a rodent, as alternatives.

While you can opt for the digital Valentine’s Day card that will inform your former partner they’ve been properly digested as an insect, you can even upgrade the experience.

For 150 dollars, the Texas zoo will send you a personalized video message of the feeding process, so you can e-mail it to your not-so-special someone.

Of course, you can also keep the indulgence all for yourself, knowing that you are not just helping the zoo’s wildlife program, but also your personal dealing with a breakup.

3. Donate your partner’s belongings to the Museum of Broken Relationships

Besides being a country with not less than five heart-shaped islands, Croatia is also the homeland of a rather unique love-themed institution – the Museum of Broken Relationships.

Based in Zagreb, the museum exhibits personal objects as public treasures, items that symbolically marked failed relationships, accompanied by sometimes fascinating heartbreak stories.

Launched by a real-life broken couple, Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić, Brokenships became the repository of human love on a path from best dates to expiry dates.

In this extraordinary collection, one can find anything from lint collected from the partner’s belly button all the way to the axe used to chop the ex’s furniture.

The crowd-sourced museum is always on the lookout for new exhibits, so you can send your contribution. Getting rid of your former partner’s stuff will thus not only be a part of your personal emotional decluttering but also a participation in the collective emotional history.

Museum of Broken Relationships also collects heartbreak stories, so even if you do not have a particular object to get rid of, you can still leave your breakup pin on the map.

Listen to the museum founder explaining the ideas behind the exhibits of the Museum of Broken Relationships!

4. Do an at-home spa treatment with heartbreak candles

One of the best ways of dealing with a breakup is by investing in self-care. That means creating a relaxing space that will help restore your body and mind.

Put Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” on repeat, soak in a nicely-scented bath, and enjoy your personal spa treatment at home, decorated with heartbreak candles.

You might be driven to fantasize that it would be great if the candles could be scented with fragrances such as ex’s tears. The black separation candle (The Original Candle Company) claims not only to melt the male and female figure but that it also acts as spiritual cleansing.

As we are trying to leave all of that behind, you might skip the witchcraft and instead go for women-empowering candles by the Malicious Women Company. More aligned with Miley Cyrus’ spirit, their hand-poured candles have creative names such as “I Do What I Want” (infused with zero f*cks) or “Not Today, Mansplainer” (infused with the well-earned confidence of free-thinking women everywhere).

Then again, there are entire breakup gift baskets, if you want to splurge in your personal spa completely.

5. Read heartbreak poetry

Inspired by the Museum of Broken Relationships, Mcsway Poetry Collective, the poetry club at McGill Univerity in Montreal, launched the Heartbreak Museum.

Unlike the Croatian permanent collection of objects, the idea of the Canadian museum was to become a digital space where poets and other artists could share their heartache.

If you’re in Montreal, you can join live love-themed open mic sessions. The organizer doesn’t put limits to the type of love their poets portray, calling up for “the good, the bad, and everything in between”.

The good news is that the poetry and the artworks from the 2020 edition of the Heartbreak Museum are available in the online feed.

So take some time off the self-pity, and see how others are dealing with a breakup! It could be as cathartic for you as it was for those who expressed their hurt through art. Maybe they can even inspire you to do the same!

6. Embrace profanity in a creative way

Sometimes, dealing with a breakup is easier if you just loose control and let your anger spill out creatively. Swearing in this period is totally acceptable.

As the title of Monica Sweeney’s publication says: “Let That Sh*t Go”. This “journal for leaving your bullsh*t behind and creating a happy life” is a part of the bestselling journals by Zen as F*ck.

By journaling positive activities and inspirations on these pages, the author promises you’ll find moments of profanity-laced catharsis and joy. While harboring grudges and plotting revenge takes energy, the bliss can be found in simply not giving a f*ck, teaches this journal for lifting one’s spirit.

If you prefer something a bit simpler, the Creative Collective made “Have a Nice Life Asshole”, the coloring book for adults that relieves breakup stress.

While it offers you mandalas, flowers, animals, and other stress-relieving patterns to color, the book is also packed with swear words aiming to empower breakup survival. In total, you can color 50 unique hand-curated best breakup insults.

7. Try travel packages dedicated to singles

The travel industry always knew how to respond to market demand. At some point, programs offering trips that promised couples quick divorce arrangements were especially popular.

Now, even AI recognizes solo tourism as one of the leading travel trends of the future. More and more resorts, cruise ships, and travel agencies market singles vacations – packages geared towards newly single guests.

Often, this could mean enjoying the amenities of a double room without a supplement for single occupancy. Sometimes, one could be receiving complimentary meals, entertainment, or activities such as speed-dating and private dance lessons.

These all-inclusive adventures typically offer a lot of independence, an opportunity to get away from everything in a relaxing spa, but also a chance to mingle and, who knows, maybe even stop being single! Remember that important advice though: no rushing into new dates!

Another interesting travel package could be something called a divorce celebration. These are mostly targeted at a collective of friends, the support group helping out the heartbroken member tap into a life without a partner.

Besides showering the divorcee with upgrades, presents, and even strippers, divorce parties usually include some kind of farewell ceremony. This can be any type of symbolic closure, from breaking a piñata with the ex’s face on it to burying a wedding ring in a small coffin.

If you want a creative idea to restore your broken soul, why not travel to the world's best heart-shaped islands? Some of them are on beautiful exotic locations!

8. Join a breakup-mending retreat

Dealing with a breakup is often much easier in the company of other people going through the same experience, especially if managed by a professional. While one should never feel odd about seeking the support of a private therapist, there are retreats composed around group sessions.

One is the Mend Away retreat, an intimately sized 7-day program for people recovering from a breakup or burnout. The organization founded by Ellen Huerta enables you to unplug at the idyllic locations, and it typically includes yoga and mindfulness classes, group coaching workshops, as well as excursions. So far, Mend Away retreats have been held in Spain and Portugal.

Then there is Renew Breakup Bootcamp, gathering a team of relationship experts from fields such as psychology, behavioral science, and sex education. Led by chief heart hacker Amy Chan, author of the audio guide “Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Heart”, this weekend retreat in California promises to transform heartbreak into healing.

In the UK, the transformation therapy retreat for women is offered by the Heartbreak Hotel. Founded by the counseling psychologist Alice Haddon, the 3-day intensive group therapy happens at a remote spot on the top of a mountain in the Peak District. It comes with nourishing food and mocktails, yoga on the beach, nature walks, and fireside care.

From the United States to India, there are numerous yoga retreats that, even when not designed specifically for broken hearts, can have healing effects.

I think that affording a getaway is always a good investment. Here's how traveling saved me from going crazy!

9. Monitor your progress through breakup apps

Dealing with a breakup is a process that requires time. To keep track of your progress, you can make use of breakup-dedicated apps. Here’s a selection of 4 breakup apps:

Breakup Freedom is an app imposing a no-contact rule with your ex, and checking up on you through a breakup tracker, as well as motivating you through achieving milestones. It also comes with quotes to help with heartbreak, from Oprah to Chopra.

Breakup Help – Mend Relation is an app enabling an instant chat with a relationship expert Miss. Zup, a 13-day breakup relief challenge, a love test, an in-app diary, and reading material on love, happiness, and health.

Break-Up Boss by Zoë Foster Blake, the Cosmpolitan’s relationship columnist, is an app version of a self-help book. For 8,63 Euros, it lets you pick your current state of mind, and answers it with a series of short essays, tips, and games (such as sending a fake text to your ex).

No Contact Rule is an app that manages your schedule for a month, making sure you’re on track with not contacting your ex. It also gives you guidelines on staying healthy, as well as allows you to share your heartbreak story with other users in the chat board.

Dealing with a breakup – Conclusion

No matter if it’s your first or your worst heartbreak, overcoming it is always a new and demanding process. Nobody gets better at handling breakups. If one feels like he/she does, that’s an alarm for visiting a professional. Having our world seem shattered in pieces is perfectly expected after we end a meaningful relationship.

Even if it could look different at the moment, healing a broken heart is not mission impossible. Heartbreak will not last forever. The science of heartbreak confirms that time does heal wounds, so you will eventually get over your ex too.

Whether it’s just spending more time in nature nearby, or finally finding the courage for that long-distance trip, dealing with a breakup by embracing traveling can be truly recuperating

In the period of healing, the best advice for the broken-hearted is to find other content to fulfill your excitement needs. Whether it’s finally creating time for hobbies you always wanted to pursue, spending more time with friends (finding some, if you don’t have them), or just getting back to cherishing your body through movement, nourishment, sleep and relaxation, the time after a breakup is perfect for restoring your better self.

Breakups can often end abruptly, with no real explanation, which can be especially haunting for a heartbroken. After the initial urge to experience closure (rituals such as burying a ring or sacrificing a cockroach named after an ex, are symbolic examples of letting go of the person who possibly just didn’t care as much as we did), it’s important to focus on oneself.

Changing the environment can help. Whether it’s just spending more time in nature nearby, or finally finding the courage for that long-distance trip, dealing with a breakup by embracing traveling can be truly recuperating.

Our emotions don’t let us think clearly during the period when they boil. Breakups are not life-or-death situations. Even if you feel as if your partner meant life to you, there is your future self to think about too. We might not know if there is life after death, but there is certainly life after the death of a relationship.

Did you like these healthy ways of dealing with a breakup?
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The post Dealing with a Breakup in 9 Creative Ways appeared first on Pipeaway.

If you are still looking for that perfect Valentine’s Day gift, this one would certainly be a showstopper no lover could ignore.

But before you dig deep into your pockets, it’s good to know that only a third of the island is available for purchase.

If you have 155 million dollars, you can even buy yourself an island that resembles a hat! Find it in our list of the most unusual island shapes!

Opportunity for elite tourism?

As Silvestro Kardum, the representative of the sellers, explained to the local media: “It is about four connected plots owned by several owners with a total area of ​​about 32-33 thousand square meters.”

Update: At the beginning of February 2023, another plot has been added to the stack, so the initial price of 10 million Euros has been raised to 13 million, and now you’ll get 40 thousand square meters for that sum!

“There is maquis scrub on that land, and there used to be olive trees before. All ownership papers are in order and the owners are registered. The owners are from Mrljan on the island of Pašman. The owners of the rest of the island were not interested in selling.”

… an excellent opportunity for agricultural elite tourism with a villa and/or restaurant…Ad for the sale of Galešnjak, the heart-shaped island

Mr. Kardum, who once pursued a model career and goes by the nickname Baby, has a Facebook profile where he posts strong anti-vax statements and just occasional low-range property ads. He admits he doesn’t have a real estate agency, but just helps the owners of Galešnjak in achieving this hopeful transaction.

The ad for the sale of the famous Croatian heart-shaped island does have bold statements which you should double-check with your lawyers. It claims that one can register a family farm (known as OPG in Croatia) which supposedly entitles you to not only cultivate the three hectares of land, but also build 400 square meters above the ground, and 1.000 square meters of building underground. The ad calls it “an excellent opportunity for agricultural elite tourism with a villa and/or restaurant, and a large warehouse for olives, wine, and other herbs”.

Even if the possibility of building a solid structure on the island turns out to be true, it’s worth mentioning that Galešnjak is always under public scrutiny. Already when the Jureško family brought excavators to the island in 2013, to prepare the land for the olive groves, they changed the aerial image of the island, and the wounded heart received a strong public backlash.

If you don’t have a yacht, you can always access the heart-shaped island of Galešnjak from your private plane!

Croatia is one of the most popular European destinations for romantic holidays. Learn how to plan the ultimate honeymoon in Croatia!

13 million for a priceless heart-shaped island

Who can afford a piece of the heart-shaped island on sale? The first public comments under this news already call it a ridiculous offer.

“There are 15 co-owners on the island. You cash out millions, and then the remaining 14 quarreling co-owners f**k you with every piece of paper you have to get. The cattle are not able to resolve their co-ownership, and then sell it cleanly, and still ask for millions”, says one commenter.

“(…) You can build 400 square meters. According to which math could that be a good deal for someone? Only if you make a restaurant that sells a portion of sardines for 1 thousand Euros”, comments another one.

Well, if Galešnjak does find a buyer, maybe their motives would not be quick profits. It seems the ad is anyway shooting at wealthy individuals who see 13 million as pocket money.

“You can do something really unique with this real estate, especially when you have guests with yachts like Beyonce and Jay Z (Beyonce even celebrated her birthday there), Jeff Bezos, Michael Jordan, etc. parked all the time”, lists Silvestro just some of the rich and famous who anchored their boats in front of the Croatian heart island. “After all, who wouldn’t come to visit the only sea island naturally shaped in the shape of a heart in the world?”

And this is where the seller gets it wrong. As Pipeaway already extensively covered the story of romantic island geography, there are at least five heart-shaped islands in Croatia and at least two dozen heart islands in the world.

But then, you cannot buy them all, can you?

Would you consider buying a part of this heart-shaped island if you had money? Comment below! Or pin it for later, if you still need to think about it!

The post Heart-Shaped Island up for Sale: 13 Million Euros Buys You Galešnjak Love Story appeared first on Pipeaway.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to prove your love with expensive gifts, dinners, or trips. Valentine’s Day at home is a perfectly reasonable (and responsible!) idea

Holidays of love are coming, and the adopted habits of social distancing, which definitely slow down the pandemic, seem to conflict with expressing affection towards loved ones.

With the crisis of the job market, many of us can’t even afford Valentine’s Day expectations.

If nothing else, your area might be in total lockdown, and the restaurant you planned for your date might not be operating these days.

But the good thing is that you do not need to spend a fortune to prove your love with expensive gifts, dinners, or trips. Valentine’s Day at home is a perfectly reasonable (and responsible!) idea.

Express your thoughtfulness with a modest token of attention! It will already mean the world to the person you care about.

Find the inspiration on how to surprise your partner in our quick selection of lockdown Valentine’s ideas! It turns out there are plenty of romantic things to do at home for Valentine’s Day.

If you are both foodies, check out this set of Valentine gift ideas for food lovers!

14 romantic ideas for Valentine’s Day at home

Hey, love birds! Don’t spit feathers about the fact that health measures restrict even our holidays of love! Stay at home and do not despair! We bring you a list of the best Valentine’s Day ideas during the lockdown! You can do them all in your private little nest!

1. Write each other a love letter! Yes, by hand!

2. Surprise him/her with a slideshow of your favorite photo moments together!

You can garnish your personal slideshow with images of some of these heart islands!

3. Create a scrapbook that celebrates your love! Include tickets from your cinema dates, pressed flowers you picked on that forest walk, and any other meaningful memorabilia you saved!

4. Indulge in breakfast in bed! You can use each other instead of plates!

5. Explore the secrets of chocolate, one of the oldest aphrodisiacs! Bake a cake together or dip your strawberries in chocolate fondue!

6. Surprise him/her with a candlelit dinner!

7. Sweat together in a workout or yoga session! This will raise feel-good endorphins.

Did you know there are many alternative versions of Valentine’s Day? Celebrate them all!

8. Find one of those virtual concerts and dance the night away with the stream!

9. Have a karaoke night! Singing for only one member of the audience could be fun, even if none of you has musical talent.

10. Valentine’s Day is on Netflix too! Watch a romantic movie marathon or laugh out loud at some stand-up comedy special while snuggling under a blanket!

11. Play your favorite board games!

12. Prepare the in-home spa treatment that includes everything from a nice bath to a massage!

13. Download one of the stargazing apps and enjoy your night of astronomy! There is nothing more romantic than tracking the night sky in a hug of a lover.

14. If you still do feel the need to give him/her a physical present, offer it in a fun way! Prepare a scavenger hunt in your apartment, with hidden messages, secret clues, and candies on the path to the gift.

For those of you who don't have a love of your life yet, you can find one easily on the Malaysian island of Penang, by throwing a mandarin orange in the sea. Look for love at Chap Goh Mei!

What’s Valentine’s Day all about?

We should definitely try to avoid the commercial trap and remind ourselves of the true Valentine’s Day meaning.

The basic idea of this holiday is not showering loved ones with gifts to fit in the expectations of society and all those merchants that smartly exploit them.

One can celebrate Valentine’s Day at home, without spending money. Nobody can put a price on something as priceless as love!

It is true that the celebration of the romantic relationship on this day typically sees lovers exchanging messages of love accompanied by a bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers (red roses) and a box of chocolates, biscuits, or sweets. Valentine’s presents could include anything from socks and underwear to cupcakes and perfumes.

But one can celebrate Valentine’s Day without spending money too. One can express feelings in a simple way and have the best Valentine’s Day at home.

Nobody can put a price on something as priceless as love! Any token of appreciation and thoughtfulness reflects the true spirit of this holiday.

Valentine’s Day during the pandemic is indeed a special one because of the circumstances, but you can also make it special for the two of you!

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This post was originally published on February 7th, 2021, and was updated on February 10th, 2022.

The post Valentine’s Day at Home: 14 Romantic Things to Do in Lockdown appeared first on Pipeaway.

For a long time, the most photogenic symbol of this Mediterranean country was Zlatni Rat beach on the island of Brač. This golden cape is a true shape-shifter. The tip of its 500-meter-long pebble tongue constantly moves under the influence of winds, waves, and sea currents!

But after Google Earth highlighted Galešnjak as an island shaped like a heart in February 2009, the Dalmatian coast got another peculiar shape contender that even most Croats were not aware of.

Could the Mediterranean as It Once Was, formerly known as a Small Country for a Great Holiday, make us literally – fall in love with Croatia?

While nature comes in all shapes and sizes, a country’s borders follow both natural as well as political divisions. Croatia itself ended up being a state with a distinctive shape. Observers say it resembles a boomerang, hurricane, dragon, croissant… In one of my lectures, I compared it to crocodile’s jaws.

Unlike neighboring Italy, which doesn’t only have the shape of a boot but also an internationally successful footwear industry, Croatia doesn’t produce boomerangs, croissants nor crocodiles.

With tourism as the country’s main export, could Croatia capitalize on the newly found island that looks like a heart for more than it is? Especially because, as we will reveal here, there are at least 5 heart-shaped islands in Croatia!

Could the Mediterranean as It Once Was, formerly known as a Small Country for a Great Holiday, make us literally – fall in love with Croatia?

Tourism campaigns can sometimes go awfully wrong. Check out some of the biggest flops in tourism marketing!

Heart-shaped island mapped two centuries before Google

Before Google enabled the bird’s-eye view of Earth and before drones became a standard tool of aerial photographers, there were still people who managed to precisely envisage how our planet looked like from above.

French cartographer Charles-François Beautemps-Beaupré, the father of hydrography, sailed the Adriatic Sea in the spring and summer of 1806. Unlike the French tourists of the 21^st century, Beautemps was not on the Croatian coast for ‘good weather’ (literal translation of his last name, Ed.)

Appointed by the orders of His Majesty Napoleon Bonaparte, a delegation of the French Navy’s Hydrographic Institute embarked on a mission of mapping the harbors of the eastern Adriatic.

Signing the Peace Treaty of Pressburg in 1805, Austria left the Third Coalition against Napoleon. They handed over Venetia, Istria, Dalmatia and the Bay of Kotor to the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

Napoleon Le Grand, the ambitious Emperor of the French and the King of Italy, wanted to fortify the earnings of the newest Napoleonic War. He sent the 40-year-old French cartographer on an expedition south of the Gulf of Venice. His task was to explore which ports, bays and channels could be suitable for the deployment of the French fleet.

Under the supervision of General Caffarelli, the Italian Minister of War, cartographers Paolo Birasco and Ekerlin from the Italian Military Geographic Institute (Deposito generale della Guerra) finished the job. They used French measurements and field sketches and created four nautical charts, eleven port charts, and two side view panoramas of the Adriatic coastal landscape.

In Pašman Channel, scattered with many little islands and islets, the rocky heart covered with greenery emerged out of the clearest waters of the Adriatic Sea.

Napoleon’s Atlas, whose single copy is kept at the National and University Library in Zagreb, was the first to record the heart-shaped Croatian island of Galešnjak.

Without the use of drones or satellite images, 19^th-century cartographers succeeded in delivering an authentic shape of the Croatian “Island of Love”.

South Korea has an island of love and lava, where you can discover these Jeju Island attractions!

Make love, not war

Besides accurate maps drawn in ink and watercolor on handmade paper, Reconnaissance hydrographique des ports du Royaume d’Italie (Hydrographic presentation of harbors of the Italian Kingdom) also included a 65-page military report written in calligraphy.

On the paper embellished with Napoleon’s portrait and French Imperial Eagle, Beautemps-Beaupré concluded that Pašman Strait, the narrowest part of Zadar Channel, covering the area between the island of Pašman and the town of Biograd on the continent, was not important for His Majesty’s Navy.

The cartographer reported that the strait was four miles long and one mile wide. It had a shallow bottom and many small islets. This makes navigation difficult, he said in the manuscript, “dangerous for frigates and almost impossible for warships”.

In other words, already two centuries ago, Galešnjak’s destiny was not written for war, but for – love.

Of course, an uninhabited island didn’t have much relevance in this geostrategic inspection of Dalmatia. In the first hydrographic survey of the Adriatic in history and one of the oldest such surveys in the world, Galešnjak didn’t get the name on the map. Beautemps’ Italian colleague Ekerlin depicted it only as a verdant heart in the sea.

The French survey of the Croatian Adriatic coast from Piran to Split had to continue further south. The ship lieutenant Tician brought Beautemps- Beaupré and his assistant, hydrographic engineer Pierre Daussy, to the area of the port of Šibenik next.

And there, next to the town of Tribunj, the 19^th-century experts of cartography mapped another unnamed Croatian heart-shaped island. We would have to wait for people to start flying, and only then, in the 21st century, one photographer would notice that Galešnjak has a lookalike brother in the island of Lukovnik.

On one heart-shaped island in Indonesia, people celebrate their love by releasing chicken. Find out more about alternative Valentine's Day celebrations!

Finding hearts in the blue Adriatic

Boris Kačan was born in Sydney, but in 1980, still a boy, he flew over to the Croatian town of Zadar, with his family, where he lived ever since.

The flight from Australia, however, was not the one that would shape his career. This avid flier capitalized his love for aerial photography by immortalizing the breathtaking landscapes of Croatia.

After the heart-shaped island of Galešnjak achieved international fame, discovering other heart shapes sprinkled in the Adriatic Sea became a sequence of natural coincidences during Kačan’s frequent flyovers.

“It was all mainly without planning. I would see one, take pics, then research and photograph what I didn’t have”, Boris told me.

“Google Maps never crossed my mind. On one flight towards the Kornati, I’ve seen the island of Mrtonjak. From one angle, it had a shape of a heart. Then it flashed to me that there could be more. Not long after, I was flying around Šibenik and saw another island – Lukovnik next to Tribunj. Only after the third heart-shaped island, I opened Google Maps. That’s how I found Lisac in front of Sveti Juraj. As for Rončić, I didn’t find it on the map, but also by chance. On one flight, it turned out to resemble a heart from a certain angle.”

Check this aerial video footage of Galešnjak by Ivan Verunica on Youtube:

5 heart-shaped islands of Croatia

Galešnjak might be an island that comes in the most perfect shape of a heart. But it is certainly not a lonely heart.

People found heart islands all over the world. From Maine, USA, to the Philippines, from the Maldives to Australia, the love symbol appeared in a form of an island on practically every continent. A heart-shaped island showed up even on a virtual continent – in Fortnite!

However, none of these examples could compare to a mere concentration of hearts scattered over the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea.

Boris Kačan scanned the sea from Trieste to the Bay of Kotor. Thanks to him, we can now confirm that there are at least 5 heart-shaped islands in Croatia!

1. Galešnjak

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
43°58′42″N, 15°23′01″E

The most famous on this list of the heart-shaped islands of Croatia is Galešnjak.

Nicknamed “the world’s most adorable island” by Huffington Post, Galešnjak is today better known as Croatia’s Lovers’ Island.

Standing proud in the Pašman Channel, between the island of Pašman and the town of Turanj on the mainland, this uninhabited island is home only to wild vegetation and a colony of small rabbits and wild pigeons.

Do not believe Google maps telling you there are strangely named businesses on Galešnjak, such as a bakery, two ice-cream parlors, and even a hotel! As you can see from its aerial view, none of this is true. There is no place to stay, eat or drink on this island.

With no infrastructure, it is just a wild oasis to stop by while sailing the blue Adriatic. That’s exactly what people do, from Pope Alexander III who anchored here in the 12^th century before visiting Zadar, to Jay Z and Beyonce who celebrated her 39^th birthday by swimming on Galešnjak’s pebbled beaches, in the 2020 pandemic year.

The tiny island of barely 1.545 meters long coastline attracts other lovers too. They paddle here to celebrate anniversaries, honeymoons, or even propose.

After they heard Angelia Jolie considered giving a New York heart-shaped island as a birthday present to Brad Pitt, the owners of Galešnjak, the Jureško family from Pašman, saw an opportunity.

In 2013, the bulldozer deforested two large stripes of the land. Those scars caused quite a stir in the press at the time. The imagined future? Olive trees and a chapel for weddings.

If you want to own a piece of this romantic topography, it’s worth knowing that Galešnjak is a heart-shaped island now available for sale. Well, at least a part of it!

You can visit Galešnjak and enjoy local food on this full-day excursion!

2. Lukovnik

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
43°45′09″N, 15°44′31″E

Similar to Galešnjak’s figure, Lukovnik is just 40 kilometers to the south.

This heart-shaped island is located right in front of Tribunj, a village in Šibenik-Knin County, best known for being the birthplace of the popular Croatian singer Mišo Kovač and for organizing summer races of donkeys.

First charted in that Napoleonic Atlas, Lukovnik’s shape managed to remain a secret ever since. Even if it is just 50 meters away from the shore.

With a coastline of 930 meters, this little uninhabited island shaped like a heart has some vegetation providing shade after summer swims.

3. Mrtonjak

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
43°57′20″N, 15°10′36″E

In front of Sali, another place known for donkey races, but also for its thousand-year-old fishing tradition, Mrtonjak is our next island that looks like a heart.

Overshadowed by Dugi Otok (in translation: long island), the seventh-largest island of the Adriatic Sea, Mrtonjak is a Lilliputian neighbor of barely 0,079 km².

Just like other heart-shaped islands in Croatia, Mrtonjak is uninhabited. But it has a construction from the newer times: a shelter for fishermen and their fishing nets.

This heart-shaped island has its own green heart, the greenest of all islands on this list.

Its shape is also more rounded than others, and the total length of the coast is 1,08 km.

4. Lisac

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
44°55′48″N, 14°54′59″E

Under the slopes of the Northern Velebit National Park, the village of Sveti Juraj looks at another island shaped like a heart.

Lisac is a bare rock, the product of the strong and turbulent bura wind from the mountain which stripped it of larger vegetation.

On the other hand, Lisac protects the village from the moist jugo wind. It had this function since the pre-historic period when the Liburna Lopsi tribe lived here.

In Roman times, the island was connected with the mainland town called Lopsica by a stone causeway. Later it sunk under water, together with the antic harbor.

Those remnants can still be seen today. The sea is clear and suitable for diving, and Lisac is at a swimming distance from the shore.

The coastline of this heart-shaped island is 540 meters long, while it covers a surface of 0,018 km².

5. Rončić

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
43°54′23″N, 15°16′26″E

Almost a twin brother of Lukovnik, Rončić is the smallest heart-shaped island on this list.

With only 0,016 km² in size, and with a coastline of just 520 meters, it easily gets overlooked in the Kornati island group.

The densest archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, besides being home to one of the eight Croatian national parks, was hiding another heart island all these years.

All romantics visiting the area should definitely make a stop-over on Rončić, and enjoy the sunset from its shores.

Supposedly, even dolphins, known as mammals that can experience complex emotions, love to play around this heart-shaped island. So keep your eyes open!

Besides championing with heart-shaped islands, Croatia also dominates our list of islands that look like things. Think everything from fingerprints to bikini tops, the Mediterranean country has it all!

Morgan Freeman revealing the lost world of Croatian Atlantis

The shapes of these heart islands might be monuments to the mastership of nature. But what lies beneath the blue Adriatic Sea surface could be an even bigger treasure.

Croatian archeologists dived six-meter deep at Galešnjak in 2019. They found an 80-meter-long rectangular “bridge” that connected the island with the continent in the Neolithic when the sea level was lower.

It turned out that 7-8 millennia ago, people crossed the shallow sea by depositing stones and inhabited the heart-shaped island. They left traces of their existence in ceramics, the first olive seeds, and the oldest underwater stone construction in the Adriatic Sea.

The story of Galešnjak attracted the attention of US TV producers and Morgan Freeman who approached Boris Kačan recently.

“We were filming the submerged pathways between the islands of Galešnjak and Ričul, and further towards the continent”, Boris revealed. “The discovery of Zadar archeologists intrigued the Americans who included it in their documentary on old settlements that are now underwater. Let’s say, they are making a film about the legendary Atlantis.”

The climate is rapidly changing, and ocean levels are growing again. Looking into the sunken worlds of previous civilizations could bring educative insight into both our past and our – future.

Maybe the heart-shaped Adriatic Sea islands could be the key to the secret of how we can continue loving life on this Earth.

If you were intrigued by the Adriatic Sea, you should definitely plan romantic holidays to this part of the Mediterranean. Here are our best tips for the honeymoon in Croatia!

Love is in the air

Flying made us see the planet from a perspective that was earlier a privilege of birds. Croatia, that strangely shaped boomerang, turned out to have many hidden forms in its natural treasures. It almost seems that the region of Dalmatia is sprinkled with more hearts than Dalmatian dogs are with spots.

However, the heart-shaped Adriatic islands of Galešnjak, Lukovnik, Mrtonjak, Lisac and Rončić are not the only play of Croatian nature that speaks the universally recognizable language of love.

Lake Prokljan, on the edge of Krka National Park, hides another heart-shaped secret under its surface. On the mouth of the river flowing into the Adriatic, a shoal of a peculiar shape presents another impressive work of Mother Nature. The locals call this heart overgrown with red algae – Gromilica.

But hearts are not just a peripheral decor of this lovely country. Even Zagreb, the Croatian capital, has a heart of its own!

The two original settlements of the Old Town, known by the names of Gradec and Kaptol, form the shape of a heart together!

The photographer Roberto Pavić flew by plane over these neighboring hills. The probably unintentional notion in the design of the urban planners of the Middle Ages caught his attention.

So it seems the city in the heart of Croatia is not just home to the world-renown Museum of Broken Relationships, or to the festive Croatian Licitar hearts, the national souvenir that is a must-have gift for Valentine’s Day.

The heart is also inscribed in the architectural design of Zagreb, the capital of the country one can easily fall in love with.

Fall in love with Croatia – time for a new slogan?

In its three decades of independence, Croatia has tried out many touristic slogans and destination branding ideas. Some of those were successful, others were incredible failures.

Croatian National Tourist Board which once promoted the country through ‘the Thousand Islands of the Croatian Adriatic’, finally settled with ‘Croatia, Full of Life’ in 2015.

In the 1990s, Croatia was a ‘Small Country for a Great Holiday’, the ‘Heaven on Earth’, ‘So Beautiful, So Close’, and even ‘An Old Friend with a New Name’ (with an intention to remind tourists on memories from the ex-Yugoslavia).

The country’s most successful slogan was probably ‘The Mediterranean as It Once Was’. The largest disaster was the quickly removed promise from 2019: ‘Croatia Will Waste Your Time’.

There was one slogan that mentioned hearts too. But even if they launched it in 2009, it didn’t take into account the heart-shaped islands. ‘When Heart Says Summer, It Says Croatia’ aimed at summer lovers, no matter where their hearts were calling them to.

Whether you are married to God like Pope, or dangerously in love like Beyonce, Croatian hearts can easily steal yours

‘Fall in Love with Croatia’ is my proposition for a face-lift of the country’s communication with touristic markets.

From that excellent atlas made for the personal use of Napoleon, Croatia evolved into a country where everyone is allowed to feel like an emperor.

Whether you are married to God like Pope, or dangerously in love like Beyonce, Croatian hearts can easily steal yours.

Falling in love with Croatia could mean falling in love with incredible nature, rich history, mouthwatering gastronomy, exciting adventures, a high level of safety, and a laid-back lifestyle. Now, these are all components of a great love affair!

Some earlier big idea slogans have cost Croatia 350.000 Euros. I’d give away ‘Fall in Love with Croatia’ in a more economical arrangement, cross my heart!

What do you think about this idea for the touristic promotion of Croatia?
Bare your heart with me in the comments!

Huge 'thank you' to dr. sc. Mira Miletić Drder from the National and Univerity Library in Zagreb, as well as to freelance photographers Roberto Pavić and Boris Kačan for the selfless support in the preparation of this article!

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The post Heart-Shaped Islands of the Adriatic Sea: Fall in Love with Croatia! appeared first on Pipeaway.

Set in the Korea Strait, the volcanic island is often referred to as South Korea’s Hawaii. Jeju Island activities include quirky theme parks and museums (such as Teddy Bear Museum or Jeju Loveland) that will fill your Jeju Island tour with content to remember.

Many lovers and newlyweds choose to visit Jeju as their honeymoon destination; the lava island became synonymous with the island of love! For all travel lovers, these are Jeju attractions to visit! Some things are the best to do with kids, and others are designed for couples, but however you choose to come, you won’t be wondering what to do in Jeju.

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Top 11 Jeju Island attractions

1. Hallasan National Park

Hallasan Mountain is the most iconic landmark of the Korean island of Jeju. Technically a shield volcano, Hallasan is the highest mountain in South Korea, rising up to 1950 meters above sea level.

The myth says that Seolmundae Halmang, the enormous grandma goddess, sculpted Jeju Island from the sand. Science tells us that volcanic eruptions created the island, some 2 million years ago. In any case, its impressive size was the reason to get its today’s name; ‘Hallasan’ literally refers to a mountain that is high enough to pull the galaxy!

Hallasan is not only the highest Korean mountain, but it is also a place to ‘pull the galaxy’!

Designated as a national park in 1970 and UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, Mount Hallasan is a favorite hiking place on Jeju Island. Its diverse vegetation, with 73 indigenous plant species among 2000 others, provides a pleasant green backdrop for a day spent outdoors!

There are several trails of different difficulties. I would recommend climbing up the Seongpanak Trail (9,6 km). For average-skilled hikers, reaching Mount Halla peak should take less than 4,5 hours. I climbed up in 4 hours, even with a detour to Saraoreum summit, one of 360 oreums or parasitic cones. The name of the watery marshland at the peak is Lake of Heaven, and it attracts lesser crowds than Mt. Hallasan peak. The view from the highest Korean point will reward you with the crater lake of Baengnokdam. Plan to start descending via Gwanneumsa Trail (8,9 km) at 2 pm at the latest!

Entrance to Hallasan National Park, the golden star of Jeju Island sightseeing, is free. Find all details about Hallasan Mountain hiking trails here, and discover why hiking the volcano is one of the best things to do in Jeju Island!

2. Manjanggul Lava Tube

Jeju Island attractions continue underground. There are more than 130 lava tubes on the island! These natural tunnels occur when the hard crust forms on top of the lava, still flowing underneath.

UNESCO protected Geomunoreum as one of the most impressive lava tube systems in the world! Manjanggul is an 8-kilometer-long cave and one of the most popular among tourists. The width of the tube reaches up to 18 meters and the height – up to 23 meters. Its finest characteristics are well-preserved passage shapes and cave features!

One can learn a lot about geomorphology in the Manjanggul lava tube; expect to find lava stalactites and stalagmites, lava shelves, lava toes, and even a lava raft in the shape of Jeju Island! The lava flow carried away this rock remnant and it settled when the lava solidified. Today, its name is Turtle Rock. At the end of Manjanggul cave, there is another sensation: the world’s largest lava column! The highest lava stalagmite on the planet has 7,6 meters in height, adding to the reputation of Manjanggul as one of Jeju’s top attractions!

This geopark is also home to 42 cave creature species, including the Jeju cave spider, Korean huntsman spider, Jeju Salamander, Copper-winged bats, and Long-winged bats. The latter form the largest colony of bats in Korea; there are 30 thousand of them living in Jeju lava cave!

Dress appropriately when visiting lava tubes. During my visit, the outdoor temperature was 18,7 degrees, but inside this natural monument, the temperature was 13,8 degrees Celsius.

Manjanggul cave entrance fee is 2.000 Korean Won (1,5 Euro).

3. Jusangjeolli Cliff

Lava eruptions left a variety of marks on Jeju Island. Besides craters, crater lakes, and lava tubes, the columnar joints might be the most unusual leftovers of natural volcanic processes.

These rock columns were produced when lava cooled down, solidified, contracted, and split the rock into polygonal shapes. The joint is called ‘jeolli’.

One can find the hexagonal columnar joints throughout Jeju Island, but especially on its southern coast.

Jusangjeolli Cliff at Jungmun and Daepo Coast is the best place to see this natural phenomenon, formed some 250 thousand years ago! Tortoise-shell-jointed pillars run for about two kilometers along the coast! Today, they are the favorite resting place of birds, while tourists can observe one of the top Jeju Island attractions from the viewpoint. The entrance fee to Jusangjeollidae is 2.000 Korean Won (1,5 Euro).

Other Jeju must-visit sites for columnar joints are Cheonjeyeon and Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls, Andeok Valley, and Sanbangsan Mountain.

4. Jeju Olle trail

If you like walking, following Jeju Olle Trail is one of the most joyful things to do in Jeju Island! The best Korean walking route encircles the whole island of Jeju with 425 kilometers of well-maintained hiking trails!

In the local dialect, ‘olle’ referred to the narrow alley between the house gate and the street. Today, Jeju Olle trails connect the Jeju coastline with village roads, farms, forests, and volcanic cones. The scenery is amazing!

The island developed Olle trails between 2007 and 2012, and now they are a free way to spend eco-friendly vacations in Jeju. There are 21 main routes and five sub-routes. They can take 1 to 8 hours to finish, but with clear directions and guideposts along the way, anyone can do it!

While walking around Jeju Island, you might spot Ganse, the strong, but gentle Jeju horses running across the fields. This native breed is often called a Jeju pony due to its relatively small body size. You will also be able to find their stylized sculptures which serve as markers of the trails, as well as places where you can autonomously collect stamps to document your hiking achievement.

5. Jeju waterfalls

Jeju, especially its Seogwipo area that stretches across the island’s south, is rich with waterfalls. Chasing waterfalls is one of the best Jeju Island activities, and these are the top 5 Jeju waterfalls to include in your itinerary!

Jeongbang Waterfall is the only Asian waterfall dropping directly into the ocean. This photogenic riffle is 23 meters high and up to 10 meters wide! The entrance fee to Jeongbang Waterfall is 2.000 Korean Won (1,5 Euro).

At walking distance from Jeongbang, Sojeongbang is a 5-meter-high waterfall. Nobody maintains the observation area, so be careful when visiting. There is no entrance fee.

Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls have the most enchanting atmosphere of all five (‘cheon’ means heaven). The local legend says that, in ancient times, fairies would descend from heaven to bathe in the waterfall’s pond. The image of these seven nymphs is carved on Seonimgyo Bridge, arching over the stream. Besides the three tiers of the waterfalls (the largest one is 30 meters high), in the Subtropical Forest covering both sides of the valley, you can find the whisk fern, one of the most precious plants in Jeju province. The entrance fee for Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls is 2.500 Korean Won (2 Euros).

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (yes, just one letter difference!) is 22 meters high and 12 meters wide. The path to the waterfall leads through a subtropical garden. Pay attention to Camellia, the flower that has a special meaning for Jeju residents. It symbolizes their invincible spirit, and the red ones represent the victims of the Jeju Uprising seven decades ago. The entrance fee to Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is 2.000 Korean Won (1,5 Euro).

Eongtto Falls appear only after heavy rains. And then, the water plunges down from a 50-meter-high cliff. I visited in the dry season, so I cannot claim that it would satisfy waterfall chasers.

6. Spirited Garden Jeju

Spirited Garden is a complex of seven small gardens connected by stone bridges. On 40 thousand square meters, expect to find ponds, waterfalls, sculptures, and Bonsai trees! Some of them are five centuries old!

Mr. Sung Bum-Young started creating this park back in 1968. It took a lot of patience and sacrifice to transform a deserted wasteland into a place of meditation! Like with Bonsai, growing a garden is a long-term process. It trains the spirit but also provides joy to one. Experience the zen!

Even political celebrities recognized the founder’s dream of connecting man with nature. In five decades, presidents, prime ministers, and even kings walked these paths! Many called this green Jeju Island attraction – “the most beautiful garden in the world”.

In 2017, in celebration of diplomatic ties between Korea and China, Spirited Garden erected the statue of the world’s largest Dol Hareubang. The word means ‘grandfather’ in the local dialect, and it is a mythological masculine deity – you will be able to see its sculptures everywhere on the island! The guardian of Jeju Island has a rugged appearance, protruding eyes, and a firm posture.

The entrance fee for Spirited Garden is 12.000 Korean Won (9,5 Euros).

7. Jeju Maze Park

If you found walking through the Spirited Garden too straightforward, here’s the park to get lost in! Gimnyeong, sometimes spelled Kimnyoung, is Jeju Maze Park. In the neighborhood of Manjanggul Cave, it’s a perfect place to play hide-and-seek!

In 1987, the American expat Frederic Dustin planted more than two thousand Leyland cypress trees and created one of the most fun Jeju Island attractions. The labyrinth has the shape of Jeju and is a testimony of the founder’s love for the island.

Three skywalks and an observatory provide panoramic views of the maze. Even if you climb them from the maze itself, I am not sure they actually help you once you are in between the trees. Don’t use the map, just relax and have fun! Most people manage to finish the maze in an hour!

If you finish earlier than your partner, you can play with cats at their playground, or use the toilet with a nice bubblegum scent. Well, depending on your bladder-relieving habits, use it before entering and getting lost in Gimnyeong Maze!

Jeju Maze Park entrance fee is 4.400 Korean Won (3,5 Euros)

8. Jeju Loveland Museum

If you want to invite your loved one for another unusual walk, Jeju Loveland is the ground to explore. This sculpture park is an open-air museum of sex positions, a place to find some love or, at least, some laughter!

The home of all things erotic exhibited very graphic 3D Kama Sutra since 2004. On almost 40 thousand square meters, expect to see sculptures, dioramas, and other art pieces depicting couples, groups, or solo players engaging in a passionate game of sex.

The ticket for Jeju Loveland costs 12.000 Korean Won (9,4 Euros).

For more information on this extraordinary museum, read this article: Korean NSFW: Jeju Loveland in Pictures.

After visiting Jeju Loveland Museum, check Dokkaebi Road in front of it. It is better known as the Mysterious Road, a place where the laws of gravity are seemingly suspended. The surroundings create an optical illusion that makes it look as if cars are heading uphill even if the road actually has a downward slope of 3 degrees! Place a ball on the floor and watch it roll ‘uphill’!

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9. Osulloc Tea Museum & Innisfree Jeju House

Just next to Seogwang Tea Garden, the world of tea got celebrated on a high level – in its very own museum! Since 2001, Osulloc Tea Museum spreads Korean tea history and tradition and attracts 1,5 million visitors every year.

Besides the fields of green tea, the outdoor area is populated with artworks inspired by the volcanic history of Jeju Island. It is a pleasant area to walk around or even lay down on a nice day!

And then, there is Innisfree Jeju House! This brand celebrates the nature of Jeju, and allows you to activate all five senses! Make your own natural cosmetics with green tea, tangerine, and volcanic clay, or make paper out of Jeju tangerine peel! At Organic Green Café, the chefs create your meals and drinks out of fresh Jeju ingredients.

You can see that Jeju tangerine is in the center of attention, just as the green tea leaves! Tangerine trees can be found everywhere on the island, and in the warm climate, a special type named Hallabong was developed. This sweet citrus got its name from one of the most famous Jeju Island landmarks – the summit of Halla Mountain. The fruit’s protruding top part resembles the shape of the Jeju volcano! At Innisfree Jeju House, I ate a delicious cake inspired by Hallabong!

10. Jeju Island beaches

Jeju Island is proud of its beaches. With 200 kilometers of coastline, the offer is plentiful. From white to black, from sand to rock, and everything in between, searching for the best beach in Jeju is an exciting task. If you go exploring, these are the ones to check: Hamdeok Beach, Hyeopjae Beach, Geumneung Beach, Gwakji Beach, Black Sand Beach, Jungmun Beach, Yongmeori Beach, or Iho Taewoo Beach with its horse-shaped lighthouses.

Besides being the destinations of leisure, Jeju beaches are a working place for some. Haenyeo or Jeju mermaids are strong local women who dive into the deep sea to catch seafood, all without an oxygen tank! These fisherwomen dive up to 30 meters deep water, and hold their breath for over three minutes! They often do not retire until they are 80! Historically, female divers outnumbered men, and haenyeo became the head of the family and the cornerstone of a semi-matriarchal society in Jeju.

Try their daily catch, for instance, an abalone! Jeonbokjuk, a rice porridge with abalone, is the local specialty of Jeju Island!

To learn how haenyeo work on Jeju Island, check out this Youtube video by UNESCO!

11. Jjimjilbang

Jjimjilbang is a Korean bathhouse open 24 hours a day! This means that, besides unwinding in hot tubs, saunas, and fomentation rooms, it also offers an opportunity for a sleepover, as long as you are flexible comfort-wise. Jjimjilbangs are definitely a cultural meeting point you need to visit at least once during your South Korean trip! There are certain rules in this Asian spa, so make sure to read our guide on how to use Jjimjilbangs before visiting the Korean onsen!

From the ones I tried on my own skin, here are my recommendations!

Dodu Water Park (10.000 Won or 8 Euros for an overnight stay) had an active kids-playing area, which also meant it had a lot of kids. With large rooms, it was hard to find a peaceful corner for resting.

Yongduam Seawater Land (11.000 Won or 8,5 Euros) was maybe my favorite. It had conveniently dark sleeping rooms with bunk beds, and there was even a TV in the sauna. Not that I could understand Korean TV!

Sanbangsan Hot Springs was the priciest Jjimjilbang (14.000 Won or 11 Euros). It had the largest variety of pools, but I could hardly find a quiet place to sleep. With children running around until late in the night, in the end, I opted for the floor in the restaurant (well, sleeping on the floor is nothing unusual for Jjimjilbang).

The bathhouse at Jeju World Cup Stadium (11.000 Won or 8,5 Euros) had lesser crowds during my visit but also seemed a bit bland.

Well, none of these was truly disappointing, as long as you can appreciate cultural differences when you enter the bathhouse that is not your average Western wellness facility!

Make sure to drink a cup of delicious Jeju Hallabong juice after your spa time! It will rehydrate you and make you sleep better than any cup of milk would!

Things to do in Jeju Island – conclusion

Jeju is an island worth exploring both above and underground

The volcanic history of Korean Hawaii determined the best assets of Jeju Island tourism. Jeju is famous for its highest mountain peak, lava tubes, beaches, and waterfalls. They attract visitors to explore the island both above and underground!

With the well-maintained and widespread system of Olle trails, the Jeju Island landscape is a hikers’ paradise! For more walking opportunities and other Jeju Island activities, there are numerous unique parks and gardens to get lost in!

Exploring this extraordinary natural and cultural heritage is a must-do in Jeju, especially for romantic couples and newlyweds on their honeymoon. Jeju attractions brand it as an island of love and lava, which makes it, pun intended, the hottest Korean tourist destination!

See some of Jeju’s volcanic landscape in this drone footage!

About Jeju Island

Where is Jeju Island located?

Jeju Island is the southernmost island of South Korea. It lies in the Korea Strait, the sea passage between South Korea and Japan.

How big is Jeju Island?

The size of the island is 1.849 square kilometers.

Jeju Island population

According to the 2014 data, Jeju has a population of 604.771 citizens.

Jeju Island – getting there

The easiest way to get to Jeju Island is by air. The flights from Seoul’s Gimpo Airport to Jeju International Airport are frequent and last only 70 minutes.

When I was flying out of Jeju, I flew to Busan’s Gimhae Airport.

Besides domestic flights, there are also direct connections with Japan and China.

Check your best flying options on Kiwi.com!

Getting around Jeju Island

Jeju Island attractions are quite dispersed across the island. The best way to explore them is by renting a car. My car rental cost me 104,42 GBP (125 Euros) for four days.

Roads in Jeju are fine if you exclude Korean wording and the unusual practice of placing traffic lights AFTER the crossroad, and not before. Otherwise, with GPS support, driving in Jeju is doable, as long as you follow the rules, and can handle nervous honking by those behind you who couldn’t care less about respecting the speed limit.

Most destinations in Jeju are within 2 hours driving distance from any point, so your rides will be short and not exhausting. But they will give you the freedom of going anywhere and at any time.

When to visit Jeju Island?

When planning your Jeju trip, it is good to know that the island has a temperate humid climate with mild winters and hot and rainy summers. The lowest precipitation is between November and February. April and October are mild and pleasant transitional periods.

Where to stay on Jeju Island?

If you prefer hotels to Jjimjilbangs, for the best prices, consider booking Jeju accommodation through this link!

How many days to stay on Jeju Island?

Creating the perfect Jeju Island itinerary will mainly depend on your interests. Personally, I believe that a good measure for visiting Jeju is anything between 4 and 7 days. However, for my next trip to the island, I’d hope to stay for a month, and walk the whole length of Olle trail along the coastline!

I hope this guide on things to do in Jeju Island helped plan your travel itinerary!
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Disclosure: My visit to Spirited Garden and Gimnyeong Maze Park was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

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The post The Korean Island of Love and Lava: 11 Things to Do in Jeju Island appeared first on Pipeaway.

Tinder, Grindr, Lovoo, Jaumo, Happn, Bumble, Zoosk, OkCupid, Hinge, Match.com, PlentyOfFish… The list of dating apps in these estranged times could go on and on.

Trying to find the love of your life or at least a date for the weekend has never seemed easier. But long before dating became an online business, people were looking for creative ways to fulfill their romantic endeavors.

On Chap Goh Mei, the 15^th day of the Lunar New Year (just six days after Pai Ti Kong), unmarried Chinese girls on the Malaysian island of Penang gather at the beach and flood the Malacca Strait with tangerines.

This unique tradition of throwing oranges in water, which would hopefully bring them a spouse, originated in George Town in the late 19^th century and is practiced until today. Chap Goh Mei history continues on.

Not sure how to surprise your significant other? Find the most unique Valentine's gifts for travel lovers here!

Chap Goh Mei wishes for Mr. Right

“This may be a fairytale, I don’t know”, says a young Chinese girl, laughing with a black marker pen in her hand.

“People say: just write your name, your wish, and your number on this orange. Then you throw it into the sea or river! And then the guys will go and pick them. They will choose which girl they would like to call.”

While she and her girlfriends giggle at the prospect of a wish coming true, I ask what she wishes for.

“To find Mr. Right”, she responds, not scared that her desire might have lost its power by being said aloud.

Her friend jumps in: “The traditional way is for a girl to look for Mr. Right, but nowadays they write just any wish and then throw it to the sea.”

On the evening of Chap Goh Mei, thousands of wishes and greetings float in the sea in front of the Fort Cornwallis in George Town.

The most massive Malaysian standing fort is as old as the orange throw tradition and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. A romantic place for romantic dreams.

While you're on Penang Island during Chap Goh Mei, make sure to visit Malaysia's largest Buddhist temple during its annual light spectacle! Read all about Kek Lok Si!

Pearl of the Orient and oranges

To this day, Penang Island is referred to as the Island of Pearls. But it could also claim oranges in its title.

Toss a tangerine, marry a good husband. Toss an apple, marry a good wifeChinese proverb

Throwing mandarin oranges into the sea on Chap Goh Mei (literally meaning fifteenth night, in Hokkien dialect) is a Chinese tradition not found anywhere in China!

All Chinese celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year, but the Chinese community in Malaysia claims copyrights to this Tinder before Tinder.

However, oranges do present the symbolic capital of celebration. On the first day of the Chinese New Year, people visit their families and friends. Often they bring presents; oranges are there to symbolize wealth.

Malaysian Chinese end the cycle of celebration on the last day of the New Year, the 15^th day, by transforming this golden fruit into a love bait.

The origin of the tradition is not entirely clear, but some claim it stemmed from a Chinese proverb: “Tim kam, keh hor ang. Tim kor, chuar hoe bor”. It means: “Toss a tangerine, marry a good husband. Toss an apple, marry a good wife”.

Jeju Island in South Korea teaches about love in a more graphic way; Jeju Loveland is the infamous Korean sex park.

Flirting on Chap Goh Mei

In the old times, young girls were not allowed to go out. But on Chap Goh Mei, this prohibition would be removed.

The girls could go strolling the streets and visiting temples without their parents, as long as their maidens would accompany them. They would dress up at their best because they knew that boys would be looking.

The legend said that the matchmaker from the moon would tie red strings of destiny around their legs – bringing the couple together.

After you find Mr. Right and hear the wedding bells, consider this honeymoon idea. 

Besides firecrackers, the love ballads would create the sound background during Chap Goh Mei. In the streets, Dondang Sayang would be performed with a violin, two drums, and a gong. Baba and Nyonya singers would exchange love poems, sometimes injected with humor.

However, the peak of the love folklore on Chap Goh Mei would be reached in the evening.

Girls available for marriage would head to the shores and inscribe messages on oranges before throwing them into the waves.

Today, one orange costs 2 Ringgits (40 cents), which makes it an excellent business for the market stalls lining up Gurney Drive.

Large crowds attend the event boosted by traditional cultural performances and typically tempting offers of Malaysian gastronomic capital.

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Love is blind on Chinese Valentine’s Day

Today at Esplanade, George Town’s famous waterfront promenade, everyone is throwing oranges. Girls, boys, singles, married…

It almost feels as if the tradition of single women hoping the sea would bring them love was replaced by a belief that the sea (or some golden fish living in it?) would make just any wish come true.

Instead of jumping into the sea to gather as many “free” blind dates as possible, the boys of today are also throwing oranges, missing the point entirely.

It seems everybody is absorbed by Valentine’s wishes, so much so that they do not realize that they are the ones who can make them come true.

All the single ladies do not lose hope. But if there is no one to pick up the oranges, what divine intervention will connect the hopeful couple? The matchmaker from the moon is not almighty, after all.

Chap Goh Mei might not guarantee a hookup these days, even if one buys all the oranges in the world.

Maybe, under the New Year’s optimistic moonlight, the eyes of two orange throwers miraculously could meet and result in an improbable outcome.

If not, the flirting apps can always be plan B.

Happy Chap Goh Mei!

Not sure how to get to George Town? The island actually has the Penang International Airport. For the most affordable flight options, head here!
Looking for a place to stay on Penang? Find the latest prices on accommodation options here!
Need a reliable transfer from the airport to your accommodation in Penang? Book it here!

Chap Goh Mei date in 2026 and 2027

• 2026 – March 3rd
• 2027 – February 20th

Will you be celebrating Chap Goh Mei 2025? Will you be sending wishes and greetings aimed at your special someone? What is your favorite Valentine’s tradition? Do you hope destiny will serve you or do you actively try to create your love path? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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