News

Je t’aime in France; Te amo in Spain. Paris and Madrid are two of Europe’s most captivating capital cities with the power to seduce you with their timeless allure of beautiful architecture, fascinate you with rich history and iconic art, and charm you with their culinary cultures of iconic European dining. Whether you voyage to France or Spain, a weekend city break in Paris or Madrid will sweep you off your feet, with romance resonating through the cities’ beating hearts, in time with the rhythm of true love.

Paris

It is impossible to escape the romance of Paris; after all, this is The City of Love. The sophisticated setting for many a love story, Paris is a place to indulge in the classic and timeless elegance of Parisian chic, and soak up the sights that have made this sensational city so recognised for romance.

What is so wonderful about Paris, is how it calmly combines refinement with relaxation; days can be spent wandering through the stylish streets and savouring the simple pleasures of life; good coffee, good food, good wine, good company. If Paris were to live by a mantra, we suspect it would be ‘If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well’, and neither time nor energy is spared in the culinary culture that tempts and tantalises its tourists.

Take your time and indulge the Parisian dream; un café au lait et un pain au chocolat in a quaint cobbled square with a copy of Le Monde; visit the traditional boulangeries and fromageries, pick up something from a Parisian patisserie and stroll hand-in-hand along the River Seine. Pack a picnic from the delights of the colourful street markets, and head to one of the city’s gorgeous gardens or picturesque parks. By night, whether you seek a cosy family-run bistro or Michelin-starred gastronomic genius, the restaurants all share the love of exceptional ingredients and exquisite presentation, all embodying a strong Parisian pride.

With illustrious artistic ancestry, including Renoir, Picasso, Monet and Van Gogh, Paris is perfect for art lovers, and there is little more classically romantic than gazing through the galleries together. The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay are home to big hitters and impressionist collections, whilst the Centre Pompidou has a cool and contemporary edge, but you will also find a world of more petite and intimate galleries to explore.

See the sights in style, by sailing down the Seine on a romantic river cruise, or take to the water in a more whimsical fashion, with a romantic rowing boat; head to Bois de Boulogne, a breathtakingly beautiful park, where you will find serenity on the idyllic Lac Inférieur, with a bottle of champagne as you soak up the sunshine from your pretty whitewashed boat on the still waters. Après ça, wander through the woods to Jardin Shakespeare; you’ll find a magical land where the plants, flowers and trees mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays are growing, and summertime shows are performed in the open-air theatre.

Of course, a weekend in Paris wouldn’t be a weekend in Paris without the Eiffel Tower. The most visited paid-for monument in the world, it stands majestically watching over the city; a distinguished landmark of love. Standing at around the same heights as an 80-storey building, its sweeping panoramic views of Paris make it one of the most popular places to propose in the world. Visit after dark and toast your romantic weekend at the top-floor champagne bar, when the tower lights up with over 20,000 twinkling lights, or raise a glass to the Eiffel Tower from the luxury of your hotel - Hotel da Vinci, Prince de Galles and Five Hotel offer sensational views.

Madrid

A beguiling city, Madrid carries an infectious energy about it, and its boundless positivity, welcoming warmth and serious soul, makes it one of the most richly romantic cities in the world. If Paris’ seduced you with timeless elegance, then Madrid seduced you with a cheeky twinkle in its eye. Fun-loving and flirtatious, Madrid wants to play.

There is no architectural equivalent that can rival the Eiffel Tower, but Spain’s architectural splendour provides a sensational backdrop to city living in Madrid. Medieval mansions meet royal palaces, and rustic and charming baroque features meet the elaborate and extravagant style of la belle époque; The Beautiful Era.

You could spend days simply soaking up the sights, drinking café con leches and absorbing city life, and its enchantment would never dwindle. Plaza Mayor is its grand central square; perfect for the art of people-watching. Lives cross paths across the cobblestones, cafés spill out into the centre, over 200 wrought-iron balconies embody its romantic charm, and it also hosts the most magnificent Christmas market. Indulge in an afternoon of art galleries, and find yourselves captivated by the Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Madrid is one of the richest culinary capitals of Europe, melding the traditions of Spanish cooking and eating with the creative innovation of Spain’s gastronomic revolution; quaint and charming restaurants are mentioned and praised often, but expect just many upmarket affairs in breathtakingly beautiful settings. La Latina is a neighbourhood right in the heart of the city, with winding narrow streets and big open square, and boasts some of the best tapas bars in Madrid. Calle de la Cava Baja is a lively and spirited street that embodies the essence of Madrid, with an endless array of exciting eateries and restaurants opening onto the streets; the scents of sangria and garlic and the sound of happy chatter filling the air with magic.

Madrid’s nightlife is its true temptress. With more bars than any other city on earth, Madrid nights are what dreams are made of. You’ll find yourselves swept along in the tide of people who are devoted to the pursuit of pleasure, and an undercurrent of possibility sets the night alight. Bars and clubs have the hint of glamour that you only find when you go abroad, where sultry evenings cast the night with a sense of exhilaration. You’ll find everything from secret sherry bars to roaring jazz clubs, carried along with the spirit of people wanting to dance until dawn.

Stay in the heart of the city and you can wander home to a luxurious sanctuary at the end of the night, where peace and tranquillity hides amidst the evening revelry - or be a reveller and wander home as the sun comes up; Madrid is your new romantic love affair.