Fact : Paris Is the Most Romantic City for Valentine's
Originally posted on & updated on 4th February, 2025
As some of us put ‘dry January’ behind us, here comes the month of February with its usual mix of longer days, lazy Six Nations rugby afternoons, cold evenings, snowdrops popping up in the garden and of course, Valentine’s Day.
The Romantic City Quiz
We recently ran a small quiz/survey on our Twitter now, X feed asking our many followers which French city was the most romantic place to spend their Valentine. Naturally, we have a long list of contenders but due to the number of choices being limited to just four, we had to limit ourselves and rework our list.
Our Contenders, Starting in the Alps
The four cities we picked are…; first Annecy in the French Alps with its fabulous lake, lovers bridge and intimate restaurants, but sadly it receive nil points or the wooden spoon which is always handy for a traditional raclette by the fireplace…
Nice on the Riviera
Then we chose Nice in the south and its amazing colours and vibe, for us it’s the perfect spot on the French Riviera for a romantic al-fresco dinner followed by a stroll along the promenade and the seafront … Nice received the silver medal with 18.2% of the votes.
The Pink City
The third choice is la Ville Rose (the pink city) or Toulouse, in the heart of southwest France. This vibrant city is extremely rich in history with some dramatic stories, amazing heritage and a varied lifestyle, on the banks of the Garonne River with the Pyrenees mountain range as a backdrop. Toulouse got bronze with 9.1%.
The Ultimate Romantic Capital
Our last choice is Paris, the gold medallist and clear winner with 72.7% of the votes. However Lyon seems to be more and more popular these days. Paris, in our view, is the most romantic capital city in the world, period. But where do you start? There are so many places to choose from and you’d be forgiven for saying the Eiffel Tower or Montmartre!
Exploring Paris: A Romantic Journey
Why not start in the buzzing Saint Michel quarter and head for the river Seine, passing near Notre Dame Cathedral and those amazing quirky bookstores scattered along the banks? A little scare in the catacombs could provide an interesting twist before heading to the roof of the futuristic Pompidou centre not too far away or les Halles just around the corner, I used to work here.
Parks, Cafés, and Unique Sights
There are many gardens and parks in Paris, as well as hundreds of delightful cafés and restaurants on every corner, well almost… When I lived there one of the cool places to go with friends was the Pere Lachaise graveyard, full of famous dead people, and final resting place of Jim Morrison from the Doors, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Chopin and many more former celebrities…
Experiencing the Best of Paris
We suggest you head west towards the La Concorde, les Champs Elysées and the Etoile, rather than north, unless you want to treat your date to a fun thrilled experience at the Moulin Rouge, ouh la la la la … And if you went there for a long weekend, its’ worth checking the flea markets at Saint Ouen and Cligancourt, I used to work here too!
Navigating the City
Make sure you research and buy the appropriate guides, Paris is a large thriving city and it can take a lot of energy to get around. And given the common transport strikes, you may want to re-schedule your trip or find a hotel in a strategic area where you can walk and cycle from easily.
Transportation Tips
In particular, try to avoid taxis and try to work out the tube (Le Métro Parisien) system before you go. And check out the RER lines, they’re super fast metro lines that can really help get from one side of the city to the other very easily, cheaply and cleanly!
Discover Paris on Two Wheels
Renting a bike in Paris is an excellent way to explore the city’s charming streets and landmarks at your own pace. The Vélib’ Métropole bike-sharing system has thousands of stations for convenient pick-up and drop-off. Choose from classic pedal bikes or electric bikes for added ease. With an expanding network of bike lanes, cycling in Paris has become safer and is an eco-friendly way to navigate the city.
A Special Romantic Tour
And if you are going to Paris for a special romantic experience, check out the lovely tour we’ve prepared, following the footsteps of Emily in Paris.
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