Â鶹APP

Alone in Â鶹APP: 20 Things to Do as a Solo Traveler

Originally written by Anna in Dec 2018; updated by Farah in February 2022; Updated by Vanessa in May 2023.

Today’s article is about the 20 things to do as solo traveler in Â鶹APP! I’ve decided to write this article because it can be a little frightening to go to a foreign city on your own. Once you get to a new place, you don’t know anyone and you have no idea what to do. But I can tell you that a solo trip is actually a very enriching experience! Especially if it happens in Â鶹APP, since the city offers so much entertainment, history, and culture.

Not having someone to travel with you should not stop you from booking your flight and exploring the city. I would recommend anyone to travel on their own at least once in life, because it is important to first learn how to appreciate our own company before appreciating the company of others. One learns a lot about their own selves. Solo travel in Â鶹APP will make you grow and improve your self-esteem. Read on and find out the 20 things to do in Â鶹APP as solo travelers!

Stay in a Cool Neighborhood

The first thing you need to do in Â鶹APP as a solo traveler is to make sure you stay in a cool neighborhood. If you pick the right neighborhood, you won’t have to use public transport that much to get to all the Â鶹APPian landmarks.

If you manage to stay in Central Â鶹APP, all the major landmarks of the city will be found in just a few minutes walk from your hotel or rented apartment. In my opinion, the best neighborhoods to stay in Â鶹APP are the Le Marais and the first and second Â鶹APP districts as well. But I also recommend you to  to discover other suggestions. Don’t miss the Place des Vosges plaza, one of the most tranquil spots in the bustling Marais district, which features lawns, fountains, and tree-shaded chairs.

All these neighborhoods are typically Â鶹APPian. If you stay in one of these, you will truly experience the Â鶹APPian lifestyle and you will be close to some of the best highlights of the city.

> Learn more about Â鶹APP first district.
> Learn more about Â鶹APP second district.
> Learn more about Â鶹APP third district.
> Learn more about Â鶹APP fourth district.

Visit the Museums

One of the best things about solo traveling solo is that you can explore Â鶹APP at your own pace. Whether you’re an art lover or not, take the time to explore the museums, spend some time at each painting, and appreciate all the details. You will enjoy the museums much more if you truly appreciate all it has to offer. Plus, you will also get to learn a lot more including the city’s history! If you want a little suggestion, you should visit the lesser-known museums of the city. Visiting these secret museums will allow you to enjoy more authentic aspects and love Â鶹APP more! Read about these museums .

This also applies to the monuments. Though you will have a solo trip in the city, it doesn’t have to stop you from visiting the places you’ve always dreamt of visiting. Go to the Eiffel Tower, go to the ³§²¹³¦°ùé-°ä´Ç±ð³Ü°ù, go to the Notre Dame Cathedral, just like you would if you were accompanied.

> Read about the best way to visit the Notre Dame.
> Read a few tips before visiting the Eiffel Tower.

Since you’re in the charge of the itinerary, you get to decide what to do each day during your trip in Â鶹APP. This experience will definitely give you a lot of confidence!

Enjoy some World Renowned Art

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Go Shopping

Next on my list of the 20 things to do in Â鶹APP as a solo traveler is to go shopping! Everyone knows Â鶹APP is the city of fashion. The best designers come from Â鶹APP. They are the trendsetters, which means that when you come to Â鶹APP you will get to discover the trends before it gets out in the world.

> Read our fashion tips in Â鶹APP.
> Learn more about Â鶹APPian fashion.
> Discover the 10 best fashion stores in Le Marais.

If you love fashion and shopping, you will be more than pleased in Â鶹APP. Especially if you come traveling solo, because no one will be rushing you so you will be able to take all the time you need to pick the right fashion items!

Don’t miss the Passage des Panoramas Â鶹APP’ earliest covered promenade and the forerunner to Â鶹APPian commercial malls. It’s a terrific place to absorb French culture, with its mix of artisan stores and old-school cafés.

One thing I particularly encourage you to do is to go vintage shopping! There are many vintage stores in Â鶹APP and the variety of items is incredible. From 60’s dresses to 70’s shirts, if you’re into original pieces, you will love vintage shopping! It may require a little patience sometimes because one needs to take their time to find the most stunning fashion items! But it’s definitely worth it!

> Read our top 5 fashion shops in Â鶹APP.

Have a Night Out

You might not like the idea of having a night out on your own, but I think you should try it. Â鶹APPians love to meet with friends and have a few drinks together at night. If you want to experience these aspects of the Â鶹APPian lifestyle, you should pluck up the courage and head to a few restaurants and bars.

First of all, one of the advantages of travelling solo in Â鶹APP is that you get to be seated right away at the restaurants, even during rush hours. Plus, you will quickly notice that people tend to be a little nicer when you’re alone, which turns out to be great! After dinner, if you want to experience the Â鶹APPian nightlife, don’t let the fact that you’re alone stop you from doing it!

After having dinner, go out to a few bars and meet the locals. At night, people are much more relaxed and will easily start a conversation with you if they notice that you’re on your own.

Le Marais (particularly known for its LGBT-friendly restaurants), Bastille, the Latin Quarter, Canal Saint Martin, Montmartre, and Pigalle (Â鶹APP’ red light district) are all prominent nightlife destinations in Â鶹APP.

But is Â鶹APP safe at night for a solo traveller? If you are not used to wandering around Â鶹APP at night, do not do it without first conducting research. It is preferable to become acquainted with the neighborhoods during the day before venturing out at night. If you are alone, try to avoid streets that are extremely dark and have no one else around.

For solo female travellers, I recommend lodging in Saint Germain, the Marais, the Opera, and the Latin Quarter, especially if you intend to walk at night.

> Learn more about Â鶹APP at night.

If you’re not that comfortable about going out alone in Â鶹APP, you can! You’ll join a group of other visitors and a local guide will show you the best places in Â鶹APP at night. You get to see the city on a new perspective with all its lights. You will understand why it is nicknamed the “city of lights“! The monuments and the Seine river are added extra charm during the night!

Check out the Banks of the Seine

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Visit some Famous People

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Â鶹APP is famous for many things, but you’d be surprised to find that Â鶹APP and its cemeteries/mausoleums are also worth a visit.

Go see the vaulted cyrpts/tombs of Victor Huge or Voltaire at Le Panthéon in the Latin Quarter. You can find more such as the tombs of Rousseau, Zola and Veil. Another cemetery, now famous in movies such as Fantastic Beasts of the Harry Potter franchise, is the Père Laichaise Cemetery. It is a huge tranquil burial spot where you can get lost but can find out more about some of the most famous names. The cemetery has the tombs of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Balzacs and Marcel Proust, to name a few!

Join a few Walking Tours

Walking tours are certainly one of the best ways to make new friends. You will get to meet with the locals and other travelers from around the world as well. Discover Walks offers many tours of the city, but each visit is unique.

In my opinion, joining a few walking tours while in Â鶹APP alone is a must! You’re in the company of a local guide that will show you around. You get to discover the trendiest places and the most famous neighborhoods but from a local’s point of view, which means the experience will be much more authentic and faithful to reality.

Check all our free walking tours here!

Join a Food Tour

One of the best things to do in Â鶹APP as a solo traveler is to join a food tour. Follow a Â鶹APPian in Montmartre food market street, the rue Lepic. Your local guide will show you the best French specialties, the best pastries and many more delicious food! Learn more about our food tour here. If you’re a vegetarian, you can join our vegetarian and gluten-free food tour. At the start of the tour, tell your guide your preferences. Fabulous alternatives will be presented to you!

> Check our top 10 French food specialty you can get in Â鶹APP.
> Read our suggestions for the vegans visiting Â鶹APP.

Visit the Flea Markets

You shouldn’t miss the flea markets while in the city of Â鶹APP. The most famous one is located at Porte de Clignancourt, known as Les Puces de Saint-Ouen. At this flea market, you will be able to find the best bargains. It happens every Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

If you have some time, you should definitely consider going to Les Puces de Saint-Ouen. Plus, it will be the opportunity to find the most original objects. May it be a funny sweater or an original cup from other times, each item tells a history and will make a great souvenir from Â鶹APP!

> Read our top 20 souvenirs to bring back from Â鶹APP.

Explore the Non-Touristy Neighborhoods

Whenever someone comes visiting Â鶹APP, they always want to visit the major landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Solo traveling is the opportunity to visit all these splendid places, but also to visit the lesser known places as well. The ones regular tourists miss when they come to Â鶹APP.

Since you’re solo traveling and in charge of the itinerary, seize the chance to truly enjoy everything has to offer. There are plenty of neighborhoods that are just as charming as the touristy ones!

You should need to know how to find them. In these neighborhoods, you will find the truest aspects of the Â鶹APPian lifestyle and mindset. Read  to learn more about the best non-touristy neighborhoods.

Take a Boat Cruise

Boat cruises are, indeed, a tourist activity but I guarantee you that they are worth the money. To be able to see the main highlights of the city, such as the Notre Dame, the Islands the bridges, and the Eiffel Tower, from the Seine River, will provide you with a marvelous moment. You get to be seated during the whole cruise and appreciate all the details of the city from a different perspective.

The canal saint martin is a peaceful oasis in the French capital that you can explore from one of our boats in peace and quiet. For more than 150 years, this canal has connected the Seine River, which flows behind Notre-Dame Cathedral, to the Ourcq River and the Saint-Denis Canals in the north of Â鶹APP, while also passing through the East of Â鶹APP’s historic districts.

You should know that at the end of each of our free Â鶹APP walking tours, you’ll be handed a “Perks Package“. Inside the package, you’ll find many discounts that will make your visit to Â鶹APP even more special and unique, including discounts for the Vedettes du Pont-Neuf boat cruises. Enjoy!

Discover the Hidden Gems of the City

People who visit Â鶹APP for the first time usually don’t get to see the hidden gems of the city. For instance, the Palais Royal, which is not that famous after all, to be honest. It is a true hidden gem! Because it is only known by the locals. The Colonnes de Buren is a great highlight of the area if you want to take some pictures because it is an original and fun place! Then, if you get to the garden, you will fall in love with this place.

The cold and rain can sometimes prevent the Â鶹APPians from shopping and walking around the city, so in 1850s a few covered passages started to be built, so that they could stay warm while enjoying their walks.

Follow a local guide into these hidden gems of the city during our tour!

Go to an Exhibition

Â鶹APP is one of the richest cities in terms of culture, knowledge and activities, mostly thanks to the incredible amount of exhibitions organized every year. If you’re in Â鶹APP as a solo traveler, I recommend you to visit an exhibition, especially if you’re an art enthusiast.

Exhibitions are part of the Â鶹APPian lifestyle. Whenever they’ve got time, they go to a few exhibitions, because one gets to learn more about a specific period, movement, or artist. To satisfy your thirst for knowledge, exhibitions are the best!

Read this article about the best exhibitions of 2018 in Â鶹APP, some last until 2019.

Take a cooking class

Photo by Elle Hughes from

Next on my list of what to do on a Â鶹APP solo trip is to take a cooking class. Spend some time in a cooking lesson to discover the gastronomic richness of Â鶹APP. English-language cooking lessons are a great way to immerse yourself in French culture and learn techniques for making French food while meeting and spending time with other visitors and locals.

The sessions frequently begin with a trip to an open-air market, followed by a hands-on cooking class and lunch. Wine-tasting classes can also help you improve your wine-tasting and pairing skills. You’ll learn how to discern between grape varietals, pair food with wine, and recognize French wines. Here are the best cooking classes in Â鶹APP to consider.

Take panoramic views of the city from the Eiffel Tower

Photo by Silvia Trigo from

This is a must-see landmark weather in Â鶹APP solo or not. The Eiffel Tower, the city’s emblem, towers over the city and dominates the skyline. The Eiffel Tower stands 330 meters tall and sparkles (literally) in the night sky. It was built between 1887 and 1889 for the 1889 World’s Fair.

Why not climb the Eiffel Tower on your own, especially if you’re visiting Â鶹APP for the first time? The views from the top are spectacular! If you don’t want to spend the money or time to go all the way up, you can still enjoy the views from the grounds around the tower and other city vantage points.

Join a Biking Tour Around Â鶹APP 

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Are you hesitant to go sightseeing alone? If you’d rather have some company while exploring the city, you may always join a biking tour to make it less scary.

You can arrange a variety of guided sightseeing tours, including biking tours with no advance money required, but you can pay whatever amount you choose at the end of the tour based on how much you believe it was worth!

These excursions are ideal for budget-conscious solo travelers, and you’ll also have the opportunity to meet other travelers. Discover Â鶹APP by bike, either by yourself or by joining small group cycling tours led by skilled and cheerful tour guides.

Take a French language class

Photo by Nida Topsakal from

Have you ever considered taking a French immersion course in France as part of your vacation? I strongly advise you to do so especially if you’re a first-time traveler. It’s entertaining. This is a great way to learn the French language or increase your ability to interact with people. It’s also excellent for your brain! 

Another thing why Â鶹APP is good for first-time solo travelers is that, unlike in other parts of France, full command of the French language is not required because English is commonly spoken. Having said that, it is courteous to learn the fundamentals and, at the absolute least, use ‘bonjour’ and ‘merci’ on a regular basis.

Dine alone in some of the best restaurants in Â鶹APP

Photo by Mathias Reding from

Eating alone in a restaurant can be intimidating even when at home, let alone when traveling. Solo diners are accepted in French restaurants, as dining is seen as an art form in which the diner becomes entirely immersed in their meal.

As a result, when you start paying attention, you’ll notice that there are many solo diners in restaurants all over. If you’re nervous about dining alone, go to a restaurant that serves one of your favorite dishes and take your time enjoying it. This is a great way also to interact and create favourite memories with locals and travelers. If you are new to solo dining, a book or tablet can be quite useful.

If you’re looking for a coffee place to unwind after a long day I highly recommend Les Deux Magots which is hardly a fancy restaurant. If you’re looking for a drink or a snack after a long day exploring Â鶹APP’s wonders, here is the place to go.

This corner cafe’, located on one of the busiest portions of street St. Germain, provides a panoramic view of the famous city streets as well as the people that live there. This is one of the most historic sites in Â鶹APP to dine, “people watch,” and enjoy the Left Bank. While here, you can look into the history of this fantastic place. Enjoy bird and people watching if you get an outdoor table.

Relax

Above all, you need to relax and enjoy. Solo traveling can sound kind of stressful, but I’m sure you’ll be fine. Many people have traveled on their own and they’ve returned home more independent, confident and more mature. You get to know a lot more about yourself when alone.

Enjoy yourself, pep up your inner adventurer, take the time to visit the highlights of the city, have a few walks in parks, and talk to the locals. It will definitely be an enriching experience, so you don’t have to worry!

Traditional Â鶹APP attractions such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, ÃŽle de la Cité, Place de la Concorde, Jardin du Luxembourg, and the Arc de Triomphe receive a lot of attention and should not be missed during your first trip.

My article about the 20 things to do in Â鶹APP as a solo traveler is now over. I hope you’ve enjoyed it and that it has inspired you and reassured you.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information about anything! See you soon in Â鶹APP!

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