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How to plan a romantic Paris break

Paris is often believed to be the most romantic city on earth. More romantic than that bit in ‘Say Anything’ with John Cusack and the boombox. More romantic, even, than Mr Darcy lying on a bed of roses that spell out ‘I’m really romantic’.

Paris is so romantic, in fact, that people often mistakenly refer to it as the ‘city of love’ over its actual nickname, ‘the city of lights’. So, where better to take a romantic city break, right? We’re here to make sure you’ve got everything you need to make your next trip to the French capital a romantic one. Get started with our guide.

Where to stay for your romantic trip to Paris

When plotting your romantic Paris break, it makes sense to start with finding the perfect love nest. If you’re looking to make a splash and a statement at the same time, go for the Shangri-La Hotel. Overlooking the Jardins du Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower, this gorgeous hotel is the former home of Roland Napoléon Bonaparte.

With its red lanterns and red glass awning, Le Royal Monceau Raffles hotel practically screams ‘romantic’, while Maison Athenée will whisk loved-up guests back to the Second Empire with opulent, dramatic bedrooms.

If you want something a little less expensive, but no less alluring, then kitsch-y Alba Opéra could fit the bill. Or how about bold boutique hotel Grand Amour? The clue is in the name…

What to do on your romantic break in Paris

The wall of love

Montmartre is romantic enough with its quaint cobbled streets, cosy restaurants and the Sacre Coeur providing a great place for a romantic sunset stroll, but we must alert you to one particular corner of this bohemian neighbourhood: the Wall of Love. Created by artists Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito, ‘Le Mur des Je t’aime’ will teach you how to say ‘I love you’ in 250 languages. Just in case your mother tongues won’t do.

Get romantic with… The Romantics

Head to Musée de la Vie Romantique in red-light Pigalle for a trip back to the heady days of Romanticism, when artists like Frédéric Chopin and Eugène Delacroix attended the mansion. If you want to admire some of their work, then also visit the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. While you’re at it, why not take part in a love-themed scavenger hunt by THATLou?

On the waterfront

If you’re looking for somewhere to take a romantic stroll, look no further than the Seine and Pont Alexandre III. Maybe even wake up a little earlier to see the city at sunrise and create an especially romantic, picture-perfect moment by the river. While you’re in the area, grab a coffee and a croissant at the intensely atmospheric Café Marly, overlooking the Louvre. If you want somewhere a little less touristy, try the tranquil, tree-lined Canal St. Martin or go boating on the Lac Inférieur in Bois de Boulogne park.

Love lockdown

Writing your name on a padlock and tying it to a fence or bridge near a famous landmark. To some couples, a romantic right of passage. To others, a bit of a waste of time. But we don’t judge here – if you’re the former, then where better to lock your love down than in the Jardins du Trocadéro, in the shadow of the most iconic tower in the world? But if padlock-centric romantic gestures don’t float your boat, don’t worry because dinner for two is waiting at Les Ombres or Café Branly – both of them exceptionally romantic restaurants in Paris.

Where to find the most romantic restaurants

But why have dinner with a view when you could be in the view? Head to one of the most romantic restaurants in Paris: the Jules Verne. It’s iconic. It’s popular. It’s expensive. But it is in the Eiffel tower. What’s more romantic than that? If you like your swanky dinner dates (are there any other types?) with a view, then there’s no better place for gazing out onto the Champs-Elysees than the Michelin-starred Le George.

With its labyrinthian, candlelit layout, Le Coupe Chou in the 5th arrondissement will have you swooning, and the trendy, tropical Le Comptoir Général is the perfect place for an after-dinner aphrodisiac.

For a meal that doesn’t break the bank, book a table at hip, Napoleonic-styled brasserie Le Murat. Alternatively, head to the impossibly pretty Place des Voges, pick up something from the many eateries that surround it, and have an impromptu picnic in the park itself.