Love on a plate: travellers plan Valentine’s getaways around food experiences

This Valentine’s Day, travellers are planning their getaways around one passion: food.

Culinary experiences, from fine dining to unique local flavours, are no longer just part of the journey—they are the reason for it.

According to new Trip.com data, bookings for food-focused experiences have surged 43% year-on-year.

Trip.com Group’s Why Travel report highlights this growing fascination: in the first half of 2025, worldwide Google searches for “food travel” rose by 18% YoY, while searches for expert-guided resources like the “Michelin Guide” also increased.

Fine dining, in particular, is experiencing a boom. The company’s latest insights reveal that searches for fine-dining restaurants are growing steadily in double digits month-on-month, surpassing general restaurant searches.

Markets leading this trend include Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

It’s not just about the food—it’s about the experience. Searches increasingly focus on scenario-driven dining: anniversary dinners, atmospheric settings, or restaurants with breathtaking views.

Travellers are looking for meals that mark special occasions, turning dining into a celebration in itself, the study says.

Top Valentine’s Day destinations

With long weekends on the rise, Valentine’s Day offers an ideal chance for a three- to four-day escape with a loved one.

Many travellers can take a single day of annual leave to extend the weekend, and this year’s Lunar New Year holiday even allows for potential week-long trips.

Popular destinations for this Valentine’s Day include culinary hotspots like Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, says Trip.com.

Among Chinese mainland travellers, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phuket are increasingly sought-after, while South Korean and Hong Kong travellers are discovering lesser-known Vietnamese gems like Da Nang and Phu Quoc Island.

In Europe, gastronomic capitals such as London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome remain favourites, alongside romantic classics like Venice, Porto, and Istanbul.

Some travellers are even venturing to unconventional spots including Algiers, Cairo, and Tunis, the company says.

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