Paris is one of the best places in the world to travel to under any circumstances. But I particularly love to visit the city of lights solo. The city offers so much for solo travelers and today I’m sharing some of my best travel tips for soaking up Paris when you’re traveling alone. From its iconic sites like the Arc de Triomphe and the Musee d’Orsay to its invigorating and historic neighborhoods like the Latin Quarter and Montmartre, there is so much to explore in Paris. 

It is a city that I traveled to so much solo that I was inspired to start my travel advisory En Route to Rêverie. 

12 Tips for Traveling to Paris Alone

As the founder of En Route to Rêverie I have helped hundreds of people plan a trip to Paris via Rêverie in Paris. And some of the most memorable clients are those trips I worked on with solo travelers exploring Paris. 

Solo travelers in Paris won’t have a hard time spending their time enjoying the city. A lot of the city’s best attractions can be enjoyed alone. Paris is the place I’ve personally traveled to the most solo. And I absolutely love wandering the streets soaking up the culture, the food & the scenery and I truly love the clarity I get in doing so. I truly love how invigorating solo travel can be. 

I love taking in a variety of museums when in Paris alone, shopping in Le Marais and Saint Germain, sitting in cafes reading, wandering the beautiful Tuileries Gardens and people watching in Place des Vosges… And let’s not forget that it’s really wonderful to be the master of your own schedule.

You don’t have to spend any time in Paris doing something or anything you don’t personally want to do! (As often is the case when traveling with others).

There’s so much to soak up and enjoy as a solo traveler visiting Paris so read on for tips on how to travel to the City of Love and City of Lights alone and make the most of your time in Paris.

Be prepared.

Don’t just pack your bags and go. If you’re not prepared, you’re opening yourself up to unforeseen and potentially unsafe situations. Be sure to share your itinerary with loved ones (hotel reservations, flights, etc.).

You should have the U.S embassy’s contact info on file. And you can also register your trip with the State Department. Taking a few minutes to do this will give you and your loved ones some added peace of mind.

And overall, do your research. Get context for Paris and understand cultural differences before you arrive. We provide pages upon pages to our En Route to Rêverie clients to feel more prepared to navigate France’s cultural differences and traditions.

Consider hotels over airbnbs.

Most Airbnb’s in Paris aren’t technically legal and after a rather scary personal experience with an Airbnb a couple of years ago where not once but twice someone was trying to get into the apartment I was staying in, I no longer stay in Airbnbs when traveling solo.

For solo travel – especially to a city you may not be super familiar with), I’d recommend staying in a hotel. We work to matchmake all of our En Route to Rêverie clients with a hotel that feels perfect for them and will make them feel safe. 

Hotels can also be great assets for securing cabs, providing directions and booking you restaurant reservations. And I find this to be particularly helpful when there is a language barrier.

Pay for data on your phone.

Don’t rely on wifi when traveling overseas alone. Nowadays you can pay a daily rate to get data on your phone and it is well worth having. Be sure to add a Travel Pass to your cellular plan before you leave home. 

Have an extra charger on you.

You don’t want to run out of battery on your phone when you’re traveling alone in Paris. So I recommend always having an extra charger on you to give your phone some power when you don’t have easy access to an outlet.

Shop my favorite Battery Pack and my favorite portable charger.

 

Use Google offline maps.

While I’m all for getting lost on purpose when in a new place, if you’re alone it’s best to at least be somewhat familiar with where you are. Once you have a destination (in this case “Paris”), put it into Google maps on your phone. Click on the destination and then select to download the area. (You’ll need to be on Wifi to successfully do this!)

Google will save it for you within Maps so you can “walk around” the area even without data or wifi. You’ll see most street names and the infamous blue dot will be able to follow you.

You can also easily look up addresses of places you’re looking to get to because Google has the area saved and is able to recall destinations. This tip is a lifesaver!

Use common sense.

You may feel fine walking home late at night in your home city or town. But when you’re in a foreign place, spend the extra money and take an Uber or cab and ensure you’ll get home safely.

Be aware of your surroundings and conscious of common scams in Paris for pickpocketing. And avoid having your phone out while riding the subway or at train stations. I advise this even for walking around when possible as iPhone thefts can be common in Paris. This tip is particularly important for solo female travelers.

Pick places appropriately.

Thus far I have stuck to solo travel in Europe and North America because they are easy and not too intimidating. When it comes to picking places, I’d recommend going places that you’re going to feel safe exploring. I personally wouldn’t go anywhere too exotic or with a huge language barrier by myself. 

France has a lot of English speaking residents however. And Paris is, in general, a safe place. Be sure you keep in the know of any big events or planned protests happening in the city while there though and avoid those areas. 

Get over feeling awkward.

I’ve had so many people inquire after how I feel eating by myself saying they would feel too awkward to do so but frankly, I don’t mind it. Studying abroad in Paris taught me the normalcy of solo dining. And when I travel alone nowadays I bring a book or I saddle up to a bar seat to enjoy a French cuisine meal and chat with the bartender or guests surrounding me. 

And truly there’s no place better than Paris to be when solo dining! Their culture is built around eating at cafes solo so trust me when I say that no one will think twice if you’re doing so.

Related: Paris Café Etiquette

Want some of the best restaurants to eat at solo in Paris? Book an En Route to Rêverie itinerary and we’ll steer you in the right direction.

Don’t draw attention to yourself.

Wearing clothing with American destinations plastered on them or wearing loads of branded American gear and talking too loudly will instantly have you picked out of the crowd as a tourist and could make you a target for pickpocketing.

The French as a group of people are often subdued and speak softly and politely. So follow suit and try and blend in with the locals as much as possible when traveling solo.

And of course, leave your valuables at home or in the hotel safe when venturing out. And don’t broadcast that you’re traveling alone in a big city.

Related: What Not to Wear in Paris

Lose the headphones.

I am not a person who always has headphones in but I know a lot of people are addicted to doing so. When you’re traveling solo it is best to be more aware of your surroundings and not distracted. So I recommend ditching your headphones when walking around. 

Plus, it is so much better to enjoy both the sights and sounds of Paris when experiencing a new place in my opinion.

Avoid spending lots of time solo in Paris at night.

In general I think a good rule of thumb is to avoid being out late or in other circumstances in the evening when you may not have your full bearings or be able to access help as easily. So when I travel alone I tend to make early dinner reservations and head home early.

Paris at night is beautiful so definitely enjoy an evening stroll by the Seine, be sure to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle and walk by the Louvre when you can to see it all lit up at night. But you may want to save the longer evening time walks for when you have a companion. 

In the summer Paris is light out until about 10PM so I love doing solo travel to Paris in the summer so that you can maximize the day without worrying about darkness.

Consider Travel Insurance.

If you’re someone who gets stressed easily when things go awry, you may want to consider getting travelers insurance so you can better protect your trip.

Be prepared with a few key phrases in French. 

Speaking English is rather commonplace in Paris these days but having a few phrases like “Do you speak English” and “where are the toilets” or “where is ____” will make your life a lot easier.

Through my Paris trip planning service En Route to Rêverie, I offer a handy print out for your next trip to Paris.

Consider group activities.

I love doing guided tours or group activities like cooking classes when I travel solo in Paris. It’s fun to meet others and have some new people to speak with.

Signing up for a day trip with a group is also a great way to be able to experience popular attractions outside of Paris such as Versailles or Giverny.

We have a whole host of wonderful tours we recommend to our En Route to Rêverie clients.

Keep friends & loved ones in the loop.

Let friends know how you’re doing via text from time to time or post on social media so that those loved ones in your life can keep tabs on you from afar.

. . .

Honestly in the end, life is short and there’s so much of the world to see…so take the trip!

Hope you found this helpful! Tell me…do you travel solo? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience in the Comments below.

And if you’re feeling inspired to travel solo but Paris isn’t your thing – check out Conde Nast Traveler’s Solo Travel Destinations list.

Heading to Paris? Book with En Route to Rêverie and get customized recommendations based on your travel preferences to make your next trip to Paris the best one yet.

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