Solo Trip to Paris: 12 Things To Do in Paris Alone
If you’re dreaming of a solo trip to Paris, use my guide to start planning!
After three trips to the city, I finally got to visit Paris solo for the first time this year. I’ll admit, I had mixed feelings. I’m usually more comfortable traveling alone to a city I’ve been to before, but it’s been a long time since my last trip to Paris, which was with my ex-spouse and his family. I was overdue for a redo and a solo trip was exactly what I needed!
Despite its reputation as a romantic city, or perhaps because of it, Paris is perfect for a solo getaway. Strolling the picturesque streets, soaking in the culture, sitting and savoring a cappuccino or a warm bowl of French onion soup – everything was just a little sweeter solo.
There’s so much to do in Paris alone, whether it’s your first trip and you want to visit all the big attractions and museums, or you prefer a slow-paced escape where you wander and discover.
Below, I’ve rounded up a list of things you can do solo in Paris. Most are the top things you wouldn’t want to miss, but I recommend working some free time into your itinerary so that you can explore and follow what catches your interest.
For ideas on how to put it all together, I wrote these two days in Paris and four days in Paris guides that incorporate the top bucket list sites. Paris was made for a solo city break, and I can’t wait to see what you get up to (tag me in the Instagram shots so I can follow along).
Curious what a solo trip to Paris costs? I share my Paris travel budget in this post.
Things To Do on a Paris Solo Trip
Stroll the Gardens
One of my absolute favorite things to do in Paris alone is to stroll and picnic in the many beautiful gardens and squares. Popular ones like Luxembourg Gardens attract crowds, but it’s also easy to just stroll around and find quieter spots.
Luxembourg Gardens in the 6th arrondissement has always been one of my favorite spots in Paris to hang out and people watch, and it was no different on my solo trip. This was actually the first place I headed after my train arrived and I grabbed some picnic supplies from the market. There’s a huge fountain where kids float boats in the summer and lots of monuments and flower displays around the whole park.
On my most recent spring solo trip to Paris, I loved seeing the tulips in Jardin des Plantes in the 5th arrondissement. The park is home to a couple of museums and has benches under shady trees. The Jardin de la Grande Mosquée de Paris is also right by it and looks beautiful, though I haven’t explored it yet myself.
The Tuileries Garden between the Louvre museum and Place de la Concorde is also lovely. You’ll likely find yourself there when you’re out sightseeing, since it’s centrally located along the Seine river. There’s a large fountain pond here surrounded by chairs for lounging, lots of cool sculptures, and a view of the Eiffel Tower. Musée de l'Orangerie is also here and has a collection of Claude Monet’s “Water Lillies” paintings.
Visit Sainte-Chapelle
Located on the same island in the Seine as Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle is Gothic church from the 1200s with absolutely stunning stained glass. It’s hard to describe just how beautiful it is standing inside the sanctuary with light streaming in through the colorful, tall windows that line both sides and ends of the building. It’s something you have to see for yourself and it’s totally worth the ticket price.
Climb the Notre-Dame Towers
Notre-Dame is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Paris, and thankfully it’s back to all its restored glory after a devastating fire in 2019. The Gothic cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and holds several important religious relics, including a long-designated “crown of thorns” and nail from the cross.
It’s free to visit the interior of the cathedral, though it’s best to make a reservation a few hours in advance to avoid waiting in long lines. You can also join free tours outside the cathedral on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
While I haven’t done this yet on a solo trip to Paris, my favorite activity at Notre Dame is climbing the towers. The tour goes up 424 steps, into both towers and a courtyard between, where you can see the bells and gargoyles up close. The view of the city from up here is beautiful and includes the Eiffel Tower in the distance. You need to reserve a ticket for this activity. I’ve climbed the towers twice and would have done it again on my solo trip, but the tickets were sold out before I could grab one.
Shop at Shakespeare and Company
Though it’s gotten extremely popular since the first time I visited in 2015 (and it was crowded even then), Shakespeare and Company is one of the coolest bookstores I’ve been in. It opened in 1951 on the Left Bank across from Notre Dame and is named after a 1919 bookstore where famous writers like Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce hung out. The history of both bookstores is actually super interesting (you can read more about it here).
Every corner is absolutely stuffed to the brim with books, and the upstairs has little reading rooms where you might catch a group of writers gathering. There’s even a nook with a typewriter where you can write notes to leave behind.
I’d recommend visiting at the beginning or end of the day for the best chance at avoiding crowds. A limited amount of people can fit inside, so lines can be an issue.
Explore Montmartre
The hilltop Montmartre neighborhood is one of the prettiest areas of the city and perfect for a day of exploring solo in Paris. The landmark white-domed Basilique du Sacré-Cœur sits at the peak. You can visit the inside for free, or pay a small fee to climb up the dome for a view over the city.
I recommend getting to Sacré-Cœur early, as it gets super crowded around the church by mid-morning. After, you can wander around Montmarte and stroll Rue de l'Abreuvoir, which is known as the prettiest street in the city before having lunch at Le Poulbot or Le Tire-Bouchon for traditional French dishes. I also love vintage shopping in this area – 109 The Vintage & Concept Store is a recent fave.
Walk Coulée Verte René-Dumont
It took me a few visits to make it over to Coulee Verte Rene-Dumont, a beautiful liniar park built over a an old railway in the 12th arrondissement. It runs for about 2.8 miles between the Opéra Bastille to Jardin de Reuilly. This isn’t necessarily something you need to squeeze into your first trip to Paris, but if you’re looking for an escape from the bustling tourist areas, it’s a really nice spot for a stroll.
Visit the Museums
There are so many incredible museums in Paris that you could spend your whole solo trip hopping around to them and never run out. After three visits to Paris, I’ve only made it to a handful of museums on my very long list.
If it’s your first time in the city, you’ll probably want to prioritize the Louvre to see the famous “Mona Lisa.” It would be easy to spend all day there if you wanted to, as it’s massive, but I tend to get overwhelmed and bail on large museums after three hours or so.
One of my favorite museums in Paris is Musee d’Orsay. In addition to the art, the building is spectacular and there’s a stunning view from a deck looking toward Basilique du Sacré-Coeur. I also really enjoyed Musée Carnavalet on my lates Paris solo trip. It’s the oldest museum in the city and free to visit.
If you’re looking for more ideas, Musée de l'Orangerie is home to Monet’s “Water Lilies,” Musée Rodin has a cool sculpture garden, and Musée de Cluny is all about the middle ages.
Shop a Public Market
Strolling through a public market shopping and snacking on a crepe is pretty much the ultimate Parisian experience. There are lots of markets all over the city, both indoor and outdoor.
On my latest trip, I stumbled upon the Marché de Bastille, which takes place on Sundays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. across from Place de la Bastille. This is great spot to grab some cheese and olives for a picnic, and there are also some cooked foods available (I grabbed an empanada and a crepe).
Get a Rooftop View at Galeries Lafayette
It took me a few visits to Paris to finally check out one of the coolest city views that you can access for free. In the 9th arrondissement, the beautiful shopping center of Galeries Lafayette Haussman has an open-air deck on the 8th floor with sweeping views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
I was shocked that you can just walk out to the terrace without needing a ticket or reservation. It was pretty busy, but I didn’t have trouble finding a spot along the railing to snap photos.
While you’re in the middle, you can also browse the many many luxury shops, which are far from free and probably explain how they can offer this cool rooftop for no charge. While I wasn’t tempted to buy anything (thanks to a lack of suitcase space), I thought it was very cool that the shopping center also has a (Re)Store for second-hand, high-end pieces.
There are also several places to eat, including a French bistro on the rooftop.
Show or Tour at Palais Garnier
“The Phantom of the Opera” fans will want to make note of this one! Palais Garnier is the setting of the famous novel and musical, and inside, you can see Box Five, where the phantom sits to watch the stage.
You can also check for show tickets during your trip to Paris if you’d rather visit that way! I have yet to see a performance in Palais Garnier, but it’s on my bucket list.
See the Top of the Eiffel Tower
When it comes to bucket-list experiences in Paris, it’s hard to beat the Eiffel Tower. The Paris icon has been standing tall over the city since the 1889 world’s fair, though it was never intended to be a permanent fixture.
I recommend going around sunset and then staying after dark to watch the light show on the tower from below. On my latest solo trip, I actually skipped going up the tower, since I’ve done it a couple of times already, but I still stopped by for sunset and the lights after dark.
The area around the tower is extremely busy and full of tourists, vendors, and potential pick-pockets, so stay on guard when you’re walking around solo.
Shop the Champs-Elysees
If you want to shop on your solo trip to Paris, it’s kind of hard to beat the Avenue de Champs-Elysees. Running just over a mile between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe, the busy street blends historic buildings with flagship chains and luxury stores.
There’s really a lot going on here, it’s likely you’ll find yourself on this avenue, even if you don’t plan to shop.
There are also a number of five-star hotels along the road, like the Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet's and Hôtel Marignan Champs-Élysées. This could be a great place to stay if you want to be in a busier area where there will be plenty of people around after dark.
Tips for Visiting Paris Solo
Get Travel Insurance
It took me a couple of years of international travel before I realized I should be buying travel insurance before a trip, and now I never go without it. I get it for any trip abroad, whether I’m solo or not, because of the peace of mind it brings.
I skip the policies offered by airlines when you’re buying your plane ticket. Instead, I get a policy that covers not only travel issues (delays, cancellations, lost luggage, etc.) but also medical emergencies. The latter is actually the main reason I buy it, because while the financial repercussions of a flight cancellation or emergency change are expensive and annoying, needing emergency evacuation or a hospital stay outside the reaches of my at-home health insurance could be financially catastrophic.
Stay in a Central Area
One of my top recommendations for a solo trip just about anywhere is to pick a hotel or hostel in a safe and centrally located area. This is especially true in a big city like Paris! Luckily, there are plenty of great options.
I’ve stayed in the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement) the last couple of times, including a solo Paris trip, because it’s walkable to so many attractions and well connected to transit options (I stay within a few blocks of the Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame station for easy access to the RER B line to the airport). But really, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th and even 11th arrondissements on the Right Bank and 6th on the Left Bank are pretty convenient to a good amount of tourist attractions. The 7th is home to the Eiffel Tower, so you’ll find the classic views there.
I recommend starting your search in the blocks closest to the riverfront in those arrondissements for walkability.
I’ve saved a few other places over the years that I’d like to try in the future, including Hôtel Delavigne, Hôtel d'Orsay, Hôtel Taylor, and Hôtel La Petite Rosa (super cute and pink). The People - Paris Bercy also is a nice-looking hostel that I considered for my last solo trip.
Download a Metro App
Riding the metro in Paris is a lot easier and probably safer, too, if you’re prepared before you head underground. You can buy tickets from machines onsite, but I recommend downloading the Bonjour RATP or IDF Mobilités app, so you can quickly tap your phone to get in and out. On my latest trip, I just preloaded my account with a few tickets at a time while I was at my hotel, which made it fast and easy to use on the go.
Is Paris Good for a Solo Trip?
In the past, I was a bit nervous about the idea of traveling solo to Paris. It’s such a big and crowded city, which can feel intimidating to navigate alone. I have been a couple of times previously, though, and after I visited New York City solo last year, I realized that if I could do that, I could also go to Paris alone.
The good thing about a solo trip to Paris and other well-touristed destinations is that there will always be people around if you find yourself in any trouble. Plus, there is so much to do and lots of hotels in safe areas. Many people working in the tourism industry in Paris speak at least some English (my native language), which makes it easy to ask for help when needed.
Learn a Few French Phrases
While you definitely don’t need to speak French to visit Paris, it is polite to learn a few phrases to greet people and ask for common things you may need. I can only say a handful of phrases, but on my latest solo trip to Paris, I found that just starting a conversion with a “bonjour” made each interaction pleasant. Some people like to complain about French people being rude, but I didn’t encounter that at all. A “hello,” “sorry,” “thank you” and a smile when appropriate can go a long way.
Here are the top phrases I try to remember in French before I visit Paris:
Hello/good morning | Bonjour
Goodbye | Au revoir
Thank you very much | Merci beaucoup
Excuse me | Excusez-moi
I’m sorry | Je suis désoléDo you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ?
I don’t speak French | Je ne parle pas françaisWhere are the toilets, please? | Où sont les toilettes s'il vous plaît ?
The check (bill), please? | L'addition, s'il vous plaît
How Many Days Do You Need in Paris?
I think between three and seven days is perfect for your first trip to Paris. With three, you can hit the sightseeing highlights and go to a couple of museums, and with four or more, I’d start adding in a day trip or two.
Almost every time I’ve visited Paris, it’s been for four days, with three in the city and one for a day trip. I never get around to everything I want to see, though, so if you have the time and budget, definitely stay for longer!
