Cover These destinations offer travellers a taste of romantasy, where history and imagination quietly meet (Photo: Wirestock/Freepik)
These destinations offer travellers a taste of romantasy, where history and imagination quietly meet (Photo: Wirestock/Freepik)
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From Sintra to Jeju, explore destinations that capture the mood of romantasy novels through landscape and legend
In bookish circles, the term romantasy generally refers to the hybrid literary genre that blends fantasy and romance. Borrowing that concept for travel, a romantasy-inspired retreat is one where destination, setting and experience evoke the kind of enchanted, story-driven world you’d expect in a novel where mythical creatures, magic and emotional connection meet.
Recent industry research suggests that in 2026, travellers are increasingly drawn to immersive, fantasy-tinged holidays rather than standard rest-and-relaxation. Here are five destinations that lend themselves particularly well to a romantasy approach: places where castles, forests, coastlines and mythic undercurrents form the stage for something more than a holiday.
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1. Sintra, Portugal
Located in the wooded hills just outside Lisbon, Sintra is home to the vivid 19th-century Pena Palace—a kaleidoscopic castle perched above mist and forest, designed in the Romantic style. The interplay of mossy paths, hidden gardens and pastel-towers makes it an ideal setting for a romantasy retreat: one where you imagine stepping out of a carriage at dusk, stepping into a fairy-tale wood and meeting the unexpected. For couples seeking a romantasy flavour, booking a stay in the historic centre of Sintra and planning dawn or dusk walks in the park around Pena allows for the undisturbed atmosphere the genre invites.
2. Hallstatt and the Lake Region, Austria
Perched on a serene lake framed by steep Alpine slopes, Hallstatt feels suspended out of time. The combination of water, mountains, historic salt-mining heritage and fairy-tale aesthetic creates a setting ripe for romantasy: imagine rowing on the lake at dusk, the lights of the village flickering in the water, the castle silhouette behind you. It’s less about overt wizardry and more about mythic atmosphere. Consider staying overnight in one of the lakeside inns and rising early to enjoy the stillness before the tour buses arrive.
3. Tuscany, Italy
When we think of romantasy retreats, we often imagine more overt fantasy. But Tuscany offers a subtler variant: olive groves, cypress-lined lanes, stone villas and medieval towers set among golden hills. The region works well for couples seeking to inhabit a softened legend: book a restored agriturismo in a former castle or walled hamlet, wander vineyards by moonlight or enjoy dinners by torchlight under ancient terraces.
4. Isle of Skye, Scotland
Rugged, remote, wild: the Isle of Skye in Scotland gives you mist-shrouded hills, brooding coastlines, ancient ruins and unexpected light. For a romantasy-style retreat, it delivers the elemental kind of backdrop often reserved for legends. Stay in a stone cottage overlooking water, hike early to the Fairy Pools and allow the vast skies and shifting weather to supply the dramatic tension that the romantasy mood embraces.
5. Jeju Island, South Korea
Jeju combines volcanic landscapes, mythic folklore and striking contrasts of sea and stone. The island’s legends of guardian spirits and its female divers, or haenyeo, give it a sense of rooted mysticism that suits a romantasy-inspired retreat. Hike along the crater of Hallasan, visit the lava tubes or explore the seaside villages near Seongsan Ilchulbong at sunrise. The combination of elemental terrain and enduring myth lends Jeju a quiet but powerful magic that requires no embellishment.
Each of these five destinations offers a different flavour of romantasy—some overtly fairy-tale, others quietly mythic. They are not about dressed-up contrivance but about settings where architecture, landscape and history combine to create an other-worldly backdrop. With planning and the right mindset, a romantasy-inspired retreat can be not just another holiday but a departure into story.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
