Ramp up the romance with a visit to the City of Love. Its sights are world class: the iconic Eiffel Tower, the busy Champs- Élysées, Notre dame and Sacre Coeur cathedrals and its many renowned museums, galleries and department stores. Nearby, the Palace of Versailles offers a glimpse into the workings of the 17th century Royal Court, an opulent château fit for a King – for a while, at least.

Uncover hidden alleyways and great squares in the Belgian capital. The Flemish architecture of the Grand Place houses the city’s Guildhalls and its Town Hall; it’s also the setting for a biennial Flower Carpet which attracts visitors in their thousands. Search the streets for Manneken Pis, the diminutive statue erected in the 17th century which has had passers-by chuckling ever since.

Explore a world of chocolates, canals and lace in Belgium’s most beautiful city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll within the confines of the Béguinage, now home to Benedictine nuns, or through the nearby Minnewater Park. Climb the steps of the city’s most famous landmark, the 13th century Belfry that dominates the market square; it houses a carillon with 48 bells. Descend to try the tasty frites with mayonnaise sold from the carts at its base.

Shop for blue and white china in the home of Vermeer. Delft, like many Dutch towns, has a lively market square, and it’s there that you’ll find the 15th century Nieuwe Kerk, final resting place for members of the Royal House of Orange. Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, responsible for the Girl with a Pearl Earring, was born and worked here. You’ll find his grave at the mediaeval Oude Kerk.

Glide along the canals in the Netherlands’ largest city, nicknamed the Venice of the North. Its many world-class museums are supplemented by lesser-known but no less absorbing attractions such as the Tulip Museum and the Dutch Resistance Museum. Canalside, explore the cobbles of De Negen Straatjes (the Nine Streets), where you’ll stumble upon countless designer boutiques, gift shops and art galleries.