Aibu to plan a introverts mini break and if not..

[flownthecoopkiwi]

Where would you go in Europe?

I have small children, love time by myself and want to see a bit more of Europe for a long weekend. Where would you recommend or am I being AIBU to contemplate this at all?

I'm going to jump straight in here with a huge cliché OP, but how do you feel about visiting Paris? There's always so much to see and do, and it's particularly lovely at this time of year :)

Forgot to say - the minibreak idea sounds lovely! :)

I could be up for Paris!

It's late and I'm a bit muddled, OP - are the children going with you?

God no. Just me.

Rome

Ah, OK. As an introvert who loves short solo breaks, I recommend:

Barcelona - it's a fantastic city
Ghent/Bruges/Amsterdam - all very interesting places, and it's very easy to be a solo traveller there
Lisbon and the area around it - absolutely beautiful, and again, very easy to be a woman on your own
Would the republic of Ireland count as seeing more of Europe? Cork is a lovely place for a long weekend.

If you've got at least five days, there are loads of places in Greece that might fit the bill, but it's a bit of a longer journey so you'd probably need more than a weekend to make it worthwhile. I'd give Athens a miss and go to Thessaloniki instead for a city break. But try the lesser-known Greek countryside. My favourite is the Pelion peninsula, and the Sporades islands (including Skopelos where Mama Mia was made).

Oooh, and I had to come back to add Salzburg to the list. If you go there, I absolutely recommend getting Brett Harriman's guide book - it's not a glossy one, but it's fantastically detailed, and contains introductions to his friends (e.g which stall-holders to say hello to and they'll give you a discount if you show the book). He includes a walking self-guided Sound of Music tour if that's your thing - so much better for introverts than getting the expensive bus tour and being herded around without time to look at anything properly.

Innsbruck's also a good place for a long weekend. Austrian food is to die for.

YANBU. You really won't regret it.

Paris is amazing. You can walk around for days and at this time of year the parks and gardens will be lovely. Galleries and museums, Montmartre then the Champs-Élysées and back again. Hundreds of little bars and bistros to stop at and beautiful shops. You could take a picnic down to the Seine and then go on a boat trip.

That's my idea of a good time though. Could you say a bit more about what you would like to do while you're away?

Berlin, loads to do where you won't particularly have to interact with others but it's much less dreamy than Paris for obvious reasons.

There's the Guggenheim in Bilbao if that's your thing. Are you into architecture? Many European cities would suit if so.

Paris though.... I think would suit your introvert soul perfectly.

Prague!!!!!

Barcelona - lots to see, has beaches ( unlike a lot of cities), good public transport and manageable on foot
Belfast - lovely city and lots to do
Marrakech - not Europe I know, but fantastic
Thessaloniki
Gdansk
Florence
Prague
Brussels
Ghent
Amsterdam
Hamburg

I agree with bottles. Rome.

Another vote for Salzburg. Amazing city!

I spent a long weekend in Amsterdam by myself once, it was great!

ooh you guys are good!

I'm into history and architecture and museums and pottering about and then stopping for something nice to eat and people watching. Then repeat.
DH has been to Paris before for work so he won't sulk if I go there without him, which is a plus (he has form for this).
Will go through all the many other options too!

Rome Rome Rome

I've been to Malta and Madrid by myself and both were great just to wander round, transport etc was easy and it felt safe at night etc.

see I've always wanted to go to Rome, and until a month ago that was the plan, but now I'm off on a family trip to near Pompeii so wondering if I should go somewhere different?

I've been to Paris in my own in my early 20s and I found it rather intimidating. I've been to Rome lots and love it, though this has been with company.

I was also going to say Malta. Sure there are more "wow" places but it's got a fascinating and accessible history and getting around and doing stuff is so incredibly easy.

Venice
Valetta
Dubrovnik

Mahon or Cuitadella?

Oooh or Granada!! Alhambra Palace etc. and flamenco at night!!

I was also going to suggest Innsbruck - lovely city, very walkable, great restaurants and cafes, the Alpenzoo is fantastic and you can get a cable car right to the top of the Hafelekar. Love Salzburg too. How about Vienna?

As an Australian (and an introvert) I concur with Bruges. It's one of my favourite places in the whole world, let alone Europe.