Hello All!
I’m flying with my mom from Dallas→Paris Jan 6 (arriving in the morning) and Madrid→Dallas Jan 15 (departing very early). This gives us about 8 full days.
I've lived in Paris (3 months) and we have visited multiple times, plus been to Madrid 4 times, so both capitals are familiar territory. Surprisingly, I've never explored other French cities despite my time there, and haven't ventured beyond Madrid or Barcelona in Spain either.
My father was recently killed by a drunk driver. My mother wants to experience more of Europe, and she's considering places where we might spend extended time in the future. Good walkability is really important to us, and we'd love somewhere that feels a bit quieter and more peaceful. This trip is somewhat of a reconnaissance for a potential city where I could return with both my mom and my 5-year-old daughter. Again, I realize such a trip in 8 days is almost pointless, but our schedule is very tight over the next few months and wanted to at least get away and see something while we can to at least give us something to think about. Since we're already familiar with Paris and Madrid and are mainly using them as arrival/departure points, we're actually open to a faster-paced itinerary than most people might recommend. If it means getting a feel for two or even three smaller cities during this short window, we're willing to move around more than the typical advice would suggest. We know it's not a leisurely European vacation, but for us, this trip is really about just getting a sense of places for potential future trips.
We’re hoping to find places that are walkable and safe, with that sweet spot of being calm yet still having life and energy. I want my mom to experience the authentic, charming side of Europe, the kind of place where you feel embraced by local life rather than overwhelmed. Honestly, I was a bit taken aback by how much the homelessness and run down situation in Paris has changed since I last lived there, so we're hoping for somewhere that feels a bit more settled. No offense, Paris, you are still my favorite city. Most importantly, I'm looking for a city I'd be excited to return to with my young daughter, so somewhere welcoming to families would be wonderful.
Cities we're considering: In France, we've been looking at Strasbourg, Toulouse, Lyon, Dijon, and Angers. In Spain, Oviedo, Zaragoza, or Bilbao have caught our attention, though I realize the routing might not make as much sense for those.
We're completely open to spending just 2 nights in Paris and 1 or 2 in Madrid, leaving time for 1-2 additional cities. Given the tight timeframe, which city (or cities) makes the most sense logistically while matching what we're looking for?
I spent 10 years in corporate travel and have visited 7 European countries, so comfortable navigating logistics, just struggling to narrow down options for such a short but meaningful trip.
One last thought...Even if the timing doesn't work out for this particular trip, I'd still love to hear which cities you think would be the best fit for what we're looking for.
Thank you for any insights!