Paris

Few cities stand up to repeat visits like Paris. The illuminated Eiffel Tower, the Louvre esplanade with its pyramid, the restored Notre-Dame and the bridges over the Seine form a backdrop that moves even those returning for the tenth time. Every quarter is a world of its own: Montmartre and its painters, the Marais and its galleries, Saint-Germain and its literary cafés, the Latin Quarter and its second-hand bookshops.

Paris is also the world capital of the art of living: freshly baked croissants, neighbourhood markets, bistros with chalkboard menus and the best patisserie on the planet. With direct flights from Madrid in just over two hours, a three- or four-day break goes a long way: museums, a sunset cruise on the Seine and even a day trip to Versailles.