Dh taking me away for my 40th - Rome? Paris? er.. where else?

[Moomin]

Next June, just for long weekend. Would LOVE to go back to New York but can't justify journey for that amount of time so we've decided on a Euro destination.

I really fancy Rome as not ever stayed there but some reviews I've read say it's not very friendly and very dirty. We've both been to Paris before but not toegther. Preferable to Rome or not?

Want to go somewhere not too rip-offy but lots of nice places to see; relaxed atmosphere, plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants, quite romantic....

(not Amsterdam or Prague, have 'done' these!)

Rome is really one of the most beautiful cities on earth and if in early June shouldn't be too hot. I've been twice for long weekends and would go back in a flash and I live in Italy.

Florence is lovely but hugely overrun by tourists and IME it gets hotter there than Rome.

Venice is also nice but scarily overpriced and there again hugely overrun by tourists, so much so that every face I saw was either Japanese or American and had trouble spotting the locals.

Milan is OK if you like shopping, but not a patch on the "art" cities.

Naples is supposed to be lovely but as a person of northern Italian origin I've not made it that far south . There's also an ongoing problem with rubbish collection so might be a bit smelly.

The Amalfi coast is supposed to be dazzling, but I always remember it as being a prime destination for SAGA coach holidays and have never been tempted for that reason (and it's down south).

I would also recommend the Italian lakes - Garda is particularly beautiful and you're a stone's throw from Verona if on the right side.

Paris is of course lovely but I'm sorry if your choice is between that and Rome I'd plump for Roma any time. For the architecture, food, atmosphere, not to mention the weather it beats la Gaie Paris hands down.

Madrid
Bilbao/San Sebastian

We went to Bruges last year for our Silver Wedding Anniversary (minus kids) & have just spent 4 hot humid days in Rome (plus kids).
For a romantic weekend either would be good, sans kids, it depends on whether you want ancient but interesting ruins (Rome) or canals, atmosphere, chocolate, horse drawn carriages & good cafes & restaurants,(Bruges)

Venice or Rome.

I loved Florence, not too hot for me in June. Also Prague, got cheap flights ,then stayed in a 5 star hotel near the river.

Lucca (20 kms from Pisa) tiny walled city, hardly any tourists

Ahhhhh

I love Rome and all the other obvious places but would also really recommedn Bologna. Gorgeous buildings, incredible food and all very accessible.

Lucky you Moomin!

I fell in love with DH in Barcelona, and he proposed in Marrakech. I'm probably a bit biased but I do think that both of those cities are the most romantic places on the planet. Barcelona for tapas in cafes at night, Marrakesh for roof terraces and gorgeous riads... sigh, I wish I was in either of them now.

If you really want Italy, I'd agree with chocolatedot, Bologna is just lovely, and maybe a little less hectic than the capital city. Incredible food...

ravello (amalfi coast)
santiago di compastela (nw spain)
both too too fabulouus....