New York was the unexpected winner of a survey on beating Paris, Venice and Rome

In the survey of 250 people run by leading flight search engine, Skyscanner in the run up to Valentine’s Day, New York topped the poll with almost 25% of the vote. Venice was next with 17%, followed by Paris and Prague, each with 14%, then Rome with 11%. Helsinki in Finland won 8% of the votes, whilst Edinburgh received 5%, Amsterdam 4% and lagging behind was London with just 3% of the votes.

Rob Innes, head of marketing for Skyscanner commented on the unexpected result: “We tend to think of Paris, Rome and Venice as top romantic destinations, but the excitement and buzz of New York makes it a great city for couples and Hollywood’s given us plenty of memorable romantic moments set in New York from the top of the Empire State Building to skating in Central Park so it’s a worthy winner of our poll.”

Most romantic cities as voted by Skyscanner users:
1. New York 24%
2. Venice 17%
3. Paris 14%
4. Prague 14%
5. Rome 11%
6. Helsinki 8%
7. Edinburgh 5%
8. Amsterdam 4%
9. London 3%

Skyscanner’s Guide to Romance in:
New York – impress your partner with a stroll in Central Park before gliding around the ice rink at Rockefeller Centre and then heading to the roof-top bar in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Venice – you don’t have to get an expensive gondola to find this city romantic; simply wandering through the narrow streets or walking down to the floodlit St Mark’s Square at midnight should be enough to set hearts ablaze.

Paris – visit the Luxembourg Gardens adjacent to the romantic Luxembourg Castle, then head to one of the bridges that cross the Seine River before wandering along the Champs Elysees to get coffees for two in one of the sidewalk cafes.

Prague – take a walk along the River Vltava towards Charles Bridge where you can marvel at the illuminated Prague Castle, before ogling the magnificent views of Prague Castle, The National Theatre and St Nicolas Cathedral.

Rome – take in the espresso-induced energy of the streets where Vespas zip past, before taking sanctuary from the hustle and bustle with a visit to the Borghese Gardens. Then steal a kiss at the Trevi Fountain, one of Rome’s most popular spots for lovers.

Helsinki – a city full of surprises, it has the cafe culture feel of Rome or Paris, the Neo-Classical architecture of St Petersburg, and the great Nordic gastronomy that favours fresh, local produce – ideal for those whose hearts are found through their stomachs.

Edinburgh – take a wander up round Arthur’s Seat for a bird’s eye view of the city, stroll along the Water of Leith in Stockbridge, then stop off in one of the cosy basement pubs that are characteristic of the city.

London – a ride on the London Eye to see the city from the air is an ideal starting point for a romantic day, then head to the Tate Britain to see some of the world’s finest paintings before taking to the waters at Hyde Park where you can row a boat for two on the Serpentine.

Amsterdam – take a romantic boat tour along one of its 165 canals to get a better look at some of its 1281 beautiful bridges and the tall thin houses that line the waterways. Then dine in a candle-lit pannekoekenhuis (pancake house), before relaxing at one of the cities chilled jazz bars.