If you’re looking for a romantic Colorado getaway to spend your honeymoon or minimoon (that first shorter pre-honeymoon trip), you’ll find plenty of inspiration and magic in Vail.
Make Us Your Colorado Honeymoon Destination
There’s just something about Vail, no matter the season, that oozes romance: towering mountain vistas, cozy Tyrolean-style lodging and you — with your loved one — cuddling by a crackling fire with cocktails in hand.
Enjoy a magical honeymoon at one of our luxurious hotels and resorts matched with seasonal activities and adventures that are custom-made for romance.
Which Honeymoon or Minimoon Adventure Speaks to You?
No matter which Vail mini-itinerary you choose below: We promise you’ll see everything from the snowcapped Rockies in the winter to alpine meadows strewn with wildflowers in summer — and your Instagram feed will thank you!
For honeymooners yearning to make fairy-tale memories …
Season: Winter
Stay: The Arrabelle at Vail Square
You’ll feel as if you’ve been whisked away to another world at The Arrabelle at Vail Square, a palace-like hotel on the plaza blending stylish decor with Old World charm. It’s a fairy-tale setting to celebrate your fairy-tale romance surrounded by sweeping views. Pamper yourselves with treatments galore inside an exquisite spa.
Prime Honeymoon Activities: Sleigh Rides & Ice Skating
Snowy, cold weather naturally draws couples together, so cuddle under a blanket for a brisk sleigh ride ending with a candlelit dinner or glide hand-in-hand across a glassy ice-skating rink.
You can reserve a horse-drawn sleigh ride with 4 Eagle Ranch to Nelson Cabin, where an open-hearth fireplace, serenading musicians and a winter feast await, or book a sleigh ride with Bearcat Stables for a trip through snowy meadows while your driver shares stories about the stunning surroundings.
If you want to stick closer to town, bundle up for ice skating at Arrabelle Square or Solaris Plaza. When you’re ready to warm up after, a piping hot chocolate (or hot toddy) will do the trick!
For honeymooners who dream of skiing & snowboarding …
Seasons: Winter, Spring
Stay: Manor Vail Lodge
When it comes to romantic getaways in Colorado, you can’t beat a stay at the iconic Manor Vail Lodge, an honorable mention on Forbes’ list of the “Coolest Ski Lodges in America.”
Book a sumptuous bedroom condo, comfy studio or luxury penthouse and then hit the heated pool, fitness center, expansive spa and nearby slopes. Just don’t miss out on the free après-ski hot chocolate to warm you up after!
Prime Honeymoon Activities: Explore Vail Mountain, Then Our Nightlife Scene
As one of the biggest ski resorts in Colorado, Vail Mountain delivers the goods — freshly groomed corduroy perfect for digging your edges into, glades filled with fluffy powder, the unmatchable Legendary Back Bowls … you can explore here for years and still find new experiences.
Ski or snowboard all day before slaying your après-ski hunger and thirst with Vail’s chic dining and nightlife scene. For the best late-night vibes, head to Shakedown Bar and Bridge Street Bar in the heart of Vail Village. With pumping music, lively dance floors and a palpable buzz in the air, these are the places you want to be — and be seen. For a fun time, don’t miss The George Vail at Mountain Haus’s quirky scene, open until 2 a.m.
For honeymooners who love classic Colorado vibes …
Season: Summer
Stay: Tivoli Lodge
How’s this for a Colorado love story? Bob and Dianne Lazier visited Vail for their own honeymoon in 1963 and decided they never wanted to leave. A few years later, they opened their iconic and romantic inn, Tivoli Lodge, where couples today can celebrate their marriage in a storybook alpine setting.
This family-run chalet is filled with modern amenities blended with warm touches, including plump leather couches, a stone fireplace and even a resident dog to welcome you. Outside, take a dip in steamy hot tubs or snuggle around a firepit before relaxing in your well-appointed room.
Prime Honeymoon Activities: Whitewater Rafting & Waterfall Hikes
Celebrate the thrill of romance with an exhilarating guided ride on Vail Valley’s rivers. All of that snowmelt from the mountaintops creates some rip-roaring rapids to enjoy come summertime.
Beginners will find milder rafting routes in stretches along the Upper Colorado and Upper Eagle rivers. More advanced rafters and paddlers can take on the medium waves and up to 5-foot drops on the Middle and Lower Eagle River, Brown’s Canyon, Shoshone and Gore Creek.
And you experts? Put those advanced skills to use tackling the hardcore rapids of Pine Creek, The Numbers, Gore Canyon, Down Chute, Edwards Mile and more. No matter your experience, we recommend going with one of Vail’s whitewater-rafting guides.
Rather go for a waterfall hike? Water cascading down open rock faces is magical, mesmerizing and perfectly picturesque. Score great honeymoon selfies by hiking Bighorn Creek Trail past aspen and pine for a glimpse of the seasonal Bighorn Falls, then take Lupine Drive for a great photo op of East Vail Falls.
For honeymooners who dig Vail’s Bavarian roots …
Season: Fall
Stay: Hotel Gasthof Gramshammer
Love was also in the air when Austrian skier Pepi Gramshammer met his wife, Sheika, during a race in Colorado. They got engaged only a few weeks later and opened their own dream hotel the following year. Perched by a sweeping summit and dripping with European charm, the inviting Hotel Gasthof Gramshammer provides the perfect backdrop for romance.
We’re talking hand-carved wood accents and original artwork covering the walls of individually decorated rooms, each one offering mountain or village views. Whirlpool tubs and massages await, along with a cozy dining room and street-front patio featuring hearty Austrian food and beer.
Prime Honeymoon Activities: Sample Bavarian Flavors, Then Leaf Peep
Toast to your love in classic style with a stein filled with the best German beer — at the annual Oktoberfest held every September, of course! There you’ll delight in this beloved Vail tradition over two weekends spanning both Vail Village and Lionshead.
Extend the celebration by going on a flavor tour: You’ll love all our Austrian-, German- and Swiss-inspired dining spots like Pepi’s Bar & Restaurant, Alpenrose Vail, Lancelot Restaurant, Almresi and Swiss Chalet. All boast authentic flavors — think rich fondue one night, then savory schmorbraten (pot roast) the next.
Here’s the bonus: Your honeymoon photos will be especially memorable this time of year — with all the shimmering aspen leaves in bright shades of yellow and gold as the backdrop. Plan to spend time leaf peeping, too: You can take a jaunty hike to ogle our painterly panoramas or take a scenic drive for the same effect.
For honeymooners with a lust for luxury …
Season: Year-Round
Stay: Four Seasons Vail
Although there’s much to see and do in this Colorado mountain town, the tony Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail offers so many romantic possibilities you may never want to leave the property. Relax in a private cabana by the pool or book a couple’s massage at the spa. Indulge in an intimate dinner at a candlelit table for two or enjoy breakfast in bed. The choices are seemingly endless — just like your love.
Honeymoon Activity: Sample Vail’s Best Cocktail Lounges
Sip fancy “haute” chocolate by the fire or toast your love with a signature cocktail while watching a glorious sunset over the mountains from your perch inside The Remedy Bar at Four Seasons. Looking for a more private way to spend some quality time together? Sneak away to the speakeasy vibe of Bad Kitty Lounge or Moon Rabbit, where you can enjoy craft cocktails in swanky surroundings.
Or check out all the options (so many options!) at Vail’s newest entertainment venue, Chasing Rabbits, which is also home to the aforementioned Moon Rabbit. Live entertainment, Mediterranean food and a super-cool speakeasy? Check, check and check.
Now, It’s Time to Book Your Romantic Colorado Getaway
Need more inspiration for your honeymoon or minimoon in Vail? We got you!
- Discover the best locations for your honeymoon photos
- Find ideas for having a very hygge (that means cozy!) vacation
- Explore Vail’s artisan distilleries and breweries
- Relax and rejuvenate with these only-in-Vail spa treatments
- Discover the best bachelorette party ideas and locations
- Check out our tips for planning the perfect fall mountain wedding in Vail