Thirties mama taking a solo trip!

Check the dates for any conflict with holy days, unless that is something you want to experience, but I'd recommend Andalusia (Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada) and then also Toledo, just outside of Madrid. Another suggestion would be Austria--Vienna, Salzburg, and smaller surrounding villages, and possibly Innsbruck. I think Vienna feels somewhat similar to Paris and another "Paris-like" city, for me, would be Budapest.

Amsterdam or Copenhagen. Both have a bit of the big city feel and lots of fun places to explore via walking or biking. Easy train trips from both. If you go to Amsterdam, be sure to check out the "Secrets of Amsterdam" book. It will take you to all kinds of places most tourists don't see (I'd argue most locals don't know about either!).

Bike riding in Amsterdam is not for the timid. If you ride there, stay away from the crazy busy touristy areas and head to the more residential areas. Easier and more fun riding. In Copenhagen it's easy to ride all over. And super safe!

I too am taking a solo trip. I always wanted to visit Christmas markets, so, in December I will be going to villages in Germany (Stuttgart) and France (Alsace) then 3 days in Paris. If Chrismas markets aren't your cup of tea, there is also the Passion play in Oberammergau Germany that happens every 10 years. https://www.passionplaytours.com/ Seems as if it may be a tourist trap though.

Amsterdam or Copenhagen

Totally agree!
But biking there is a mode of transport, rather than a fun leisure activity. And boy, can they bike!

I'm with Jules M. above. Madrid would fit the bill, and Toledo for a secondary city would work. Also Granada's nice. Spain's very affordable too.
We've been to Austria a number of times, and just love Vienna, Salzburg and the Alps around Innsbruck.
Budapest is our favorite "new" city, and we're heading there in April for the third time in recent years. We're comfortable there.

The suggestions for Amsterdam, Copenhagen, etc. are good except that in early April you do still risk cold and rainy weather. I had some truly horrendous weather in Amsterdam in late March a few years back (but then I also had pretty crappy weather in Amsterdam one July so who knows).

But early April should be great in Spain. I've done a Seville-Cordoba-Granada trip in late March and loved it. Just last March I was in Valencia, couldn't believe how great that was. Barcelona is also great at that time of year but does feel more 'big city' than the others. My 17 day trip last March included Mallorca, Ibiza, Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia (plus day trips). You could skip the islands and just do the rest of it in 10 days. Here's my trip report/photos from that - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/blog/2019/5/spring-in-spain---part-2-tarragona-and-valencia

I've also done Lisbon and the Algarve in 10 days in late March. That would be another good combo in early April. Or substitute some other smaller towns closer to Lisbon for the Algarve.

whew! Just reading the title I thought you were saying you were from the 1930s and making a solo trip! That would have been just younger than my mother and she wasn't young when she died a few years ago.

I'm so glad to see that you must mean that you are in your 30s and a mother. Got it.

Panic over!

Thank you to everyone who has written so far! It's funny that no one has mentioned Prague. Any reason? I figured it would be the most recommended. Thank you again!

Courtney, Prague is lovely and your time frame could be fairly good for a visit there. It is definitely fairy tale like, though it's become quiet busy. Prague just wasn't what I thought of when I read your description. In terms of being "Paris Like", that still makes me think of Budapest. If you have interest in Prague, a lot of people, including myself, really enjoy a trip combining Vienna, Prague and Budapest. The only thing is those are all large cities.

We have been to nearly every country in Europe and found all have something good.

Not sure why you didn't care for Rome, It is one of my favorite cities, with all the amazing history and the incomparable Sistine Chapel.

If you liked Paris and London, you might enjoy large cities, however, there is lots more to see in France and Britain outside of those great places.

In England, Scotland and Wales there are many wonderful places:
Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch ness.
Wales has Conway, Tenby, St. Davids and tons of castles.
England has so much in York, the Cotswolds, Oxford, Cambridge, Winchester, the Lake District, Cotswolds and Bath. If you love Shakespeare, don't miss Stratford Upon Avon.

In France,
Normandy is wonderful, don't miss the D-Day beaches, Bayeux with its 900 year old tapestry and Cathedral.
The Loire Valley and its Chateaux are amazing.
Strasbourg and Alsace, as well as across the Rhine, Baden-Baden, Triberg, and the Black Forest.
The Rhone, Saone River valley of Burgundy and Provence from Lyon down to Arles, the to Nice and Monaco, lots to see there.

In April, 10 days, cities and towns, leisure, strolling, etc.

The south of Europe will have better weather, otherwise I would vote for Scotland. Edinburgh and Inverness and Cairngorm National Park in April - not so much.

I vote for Andalucia for both weather and variety. Sevilla - Cordoba - Ronda (for a wonderful hill town) - Granada. There will probably still be skiing in the mountains south of Granada if you get tired of warm weather.

But, Holy Week will be April 5-12 - very busy and spectacular in Sevilla - crowded but still lots of fun with processions everywhere almost continuously. April Fair in Sevilla will be April 25 -May 2.

http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html

Have fun!

We were in Prague in early April a year ago and loved it. They had Easter markets all over the square! The weather was cool and rainy, but tolerable. Did miss the gardens in bloom, but not the crowds. From there we went to Cesky Krumlov, Halstatt, Salzburg [salt mines] and Vienna. Just some ideas.
Safe travels!

I don't think there's anywhere quite as magical as Paris, though I'm almost as happy in Venice. Of major cities, I would put Madrid in with Berlin, Milan and Rome.

Barcelona and Budapest are among my very favorite European cities. For me Budapest is a poor man's Paris, similar with wide streets, parks and some classic architecture (modeled after Paris), but not as "perfect." There's a fairy tale quality after dark, along the river, and it has a castle. It's very photogenic. On my second visit, I spent 2 long weekends in the city and 4 days visiting Pecs, Szeged and Kecskemet in between. Smaller towns with some beautiful art deco buildings. Barcelona has lots of sights (besides all the Gaudi creations, which I'm not fond of), lots of history. I'm sure you could find places to spend a few days nearby. Check the weather for April in Budapest, might be cold and rainy. Barcelona is likely to be sunny and in the 60s-70s.

I highly recommend Andalucia (which you could combine with Barcelona), however April is tricky. Semana Santa, the week leading up to Easter is huge - high season prices, very very crowded and very special to experience. Keep in mind that Easter is a bigger holiday than Christmas in much of Europe.

Portugal is another good choice. I didn't think Lisbon had a "big city" feel to it but there's certainly enough to enjoy for 4 days. Fly open-jaw Lisbon/Porto and visit some of the lovely places between them.