A Solo Travel Guide to Paris: How to Go it Alone in the City of Love

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When you think of Paris you think of romance, couples strolling hand in hand along the Seine – surely the last place anyone would choose to travel solo, right? Wrong! Read on for my solo travel guide to Paris with tips on what to do, the best restaurants and my top solo travel advice for Paris.

Paris is a city like any other, forget the cliché stereotypes and all the romantic connotations and it is just another elegant frantic whirl of a capital city. I personally believe cities are the ideal destinations for solo travellers! The anonymity, the millions of people going about their daily lives, you can be anyone.

So don’t wait for someone to take you to Paris! Grab a croissant, a dainty scarf, brush up on your GCSE French and begin your own love affair with Paree!

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Top Solo Travel Tips for Paris

Learn the Language

Speaking of French… the biggest solo travel tip I always bang on about is to learn as many basic language phrases as you can before you go! (And one day I will actually follow my own advice!)

Language and communication is definitely the hardest challenge for me when I travel. This isn’t necessarily a huge deal for most solo travellers but for a particularly shy and introverted person (who lives in a cottage in the middle of nowhere most of the time!) chucking yourself headlong into a bustling city and trying to make yourself heard and understood with no-one else with you to fall back on is so hard!

Although Paris is a cosmopolitan city and many, many people do understand English it isn’t as geared towards english speaking people as much as say your typical holiday resort in Italy or Spain. Even if you can remember bits and pieces of the basics it never hurts to practice! I didn’t find that the French were, as I was warned, grumpy when faced with my appalling French but like anywhere you go, they appreciate you trying.

Having said all that, it’s really important to never be too hard on yourself when it comes to language! No-one is perfect and I know by now that it usually takes me the entirety of my trip before I’m fully warmed up and feeling confident and throwing out breezy bonjours everywhere I go!

Solo travel is a big challenge, particularly if you are shy and introverted, so you should always take pride in just throwing yourself into it! Even if you feel clumsy and nervous trying to speak another language, you’re still doing amazing!

Don’t worry about missing out on photo ops

One of the most frustrating things to accept as a solo traveller is that sometimes you can’t always get the same perfect holiday snaps next to the Eiffel Tower as everyone else. Sure you can always find a friendly looking face to ask but there’s no-one there on stand by at all times! And its hard to ask a stranger to take a million pictures of you while you get your pose right!

There’s so many professional photo shoots taking place in Trocadero, the spot with the best Eiffel Tower views that it can feel kinda intimidating! No way was I gonna ask any of them to take pictures of me doing my lame awkward posing!

My best tip is even if you want to head straight to big photo-op moments like the Eiffel Tower, go back again at the end of your trip if you have chance. By then your confidence will be much higher and you will probably have asked tons of people for pictures by then!

Above all don’t waste time feeling frustrated about not getting that perfect pose next to the tower. You have to simply accept it and embrace the fact that solo travel gives you so much more than just pics for the ‘gram! It also stops you from being vain and lets the beautiful landmarks and cute cafes speak for themselves. And it saves time for people-watching everyone else having mini photo shoots!

The Best Things to Do as A Solo Traveller in Paris

Wander

Wandering is my favourite solo travel occupation and it really is best done alone. You don’t have to say – shall we go this way? Just follow your feet!

My favourite arrondissements to wander in Paris were Montmartre and Le Marais, both fed me the cute old streets the wide boulevards of the rest of Paris had me craving! Le Marais suits casual wandering in particular because it isn’t full of must-see places, its all about atmosphere and small surprises!

Watch the world go by

Top of any Paris list has to be pulling up a chair in a café and people-watching! Find a spot where you can sit inside but facing the street. It can be exhausting when you’re amongst the crowds so its always good to take a step back and watch all the variety of life strolling by. Le Saint Regis does a fantastic breakfast/brunch and is a great people-watching spot in the bustling and picturesque Ile de la Cite!

Go Shopping

We all know Paris is the shopper’s paradise and solo travel is the perfect chance to shop without somebody huffing and sighing every time you pick something new up! Even if you can only afford to window shop head to the extravagant and girlie Galeries Lafayette, marvel at the beautiful ornate ceiling and grab a macaroon from Pierre Herme for a completely sweet experience!

Read a Book

Select your favourite Paris park and for once let Paris disappear as you immerse yourself in other worlds! Place des Vosges makes the perfect choice. The stately red-brick mansion houses surrounding it give it a elegant and sophisticated feel, just the place to nerd out! It’s also quieter than some of the more well-known parks. But because it’s small it can feel very crowded on sunny days! Go on a cloudy morning for the most relaxed atmosphere.

Romance Yourself

Just because there’s much more to Paris than romantic clichés doesn’t mean you shouldn’t embrace the classic Paris moments! Dive in to your love affair with Paris and do all the tourist attractions – I’m talking sunset boat trips along the Seine, watching the sun set from the Arc de Triomphe (best view in Paris) and gazing lovingly at the Eiffel Tower at all times!

The Best Places to Eat as a Solo Traveller in Paris

Ristorante Garum [11th a/Popincourt]

64 Rue Sedaine, 75011

Small, intimate Garum could be the perfect place for a romantic meal but it’s also ideal for solo travellers as the bar is set up for dining. Eating or drinking at the bar is always a good choice to liven up a meal alone. It’s also often a good way to meet and get chatting to new people! The main draw here though is the huge bowls of rustic and delicious Italian food!

Le Saint Regis [1st a/Ile de la Cite]

6 Rue Jean du Bellay, 75004

As I already mentioned this place does fantastic breakfasts, they also do possibly the best Aperol spritz I’ve ever tasted so you have to try one!

Pink Mamma [17th a/Montmartre]

20bis Rue de Douai, 75009

With insta-worthy interiors Pink Mamma is an irresistible choice. But it’s not all good looks and no personality, the food here is delicious! Add a great atmosphere and slick service and it’s easy to see why there’s queues out the door at opening!

Tip: Get there for opening for a chance to sit on the top floor where the real beauty lies.

What to Miss

The only item on my itinerary I didn’t love was Canal St Martin, hailed as the locals answer to the Seine by many bloggers, it actually left me rather underwhelmed. Perhaps in comparison to the magical Seine!!

I think this was one activity that would actually be better enjoyed as a group or couple, rather than solo. In the evenings lots of groups of friends and young people gather along the canal and it can make you self-conscious to traverse alone! I felt like I was invading a hang-out I wasn’t invited to! But maybe that was just me!

If you really want to soak up the local atmosphere I recommend going earlier in the day when there’s likely to be less groups and more casual passers-by.

Where to Stay

Hotel Paris Voltaire [11th a/Popincourt]

This hotel is a fantastic choice for solo travellers on a budget. The area felt very safe and it wasn’t too busy. Although it’s away from the main tourist areas it’s very close to the metro so it’s really easy to get around Paris! Plus you get to enjoy the slightly more relaxed local vibe. This was probably one of the nicest room I’ve had for a while and a very decent size for one person! The reception was very bright and welcoming after a long day of exploring.

Book it here – booking.com

Have you visited Paris as a solo traveller? What was your highlights? Do you believe it’s a city worthy of a solo trip without the romance factor? Share your thoughts in the comments!

More on Paris…

Coming soon!