I recently returned from my second solo trip to Paris, France. It was my fourth time visiting the city, and I have to say that there is something tres special about traveling to Paris solo. Paris has so many things to see and do that you could never fit them all into one trip, so the great thing about traveling solo to Paris is that you can pack your itinerary with the things that interest you the most… no compromising!
I’m now in the middle of planning my third solo trip to Paris (making it my fifth overall). As I’ve been planning this trip I’ve been seeing more and more questions from solo travelers, especially solo female travelers, wondering about visiting Paris alone. With that in mind, I wanted to share some of my own experiences and advice about traveling solo in Paris, France.
Is Paris safe for solo female travelers?
I’ve been to Paris four times and nothing bad has ever happened to me (on my two solo trips) or the group I was with (on the other two trips). Overall Paris is very safe for solo travelers (including solo female travelers), with the biggest risk being petty crime like pickpocketing.
Personally, I think you’re safer traveling to Paris solo than you are with a group, as there’s nothing to distract you. Pickpockets take advantage of distracted travelers, but when you’re on your own you can stay focused on your bag and on what’s going on around you. If you know you’re easily distracted you might want to use an anti-theft bag (I reviewed an anti-theft backpack and fanny pack, but you’ll probably want a purse) but it’s not a necessity.
Otherwise, you’ll just want to follow the same safety precautions you would anywhere else. Leave your most valuable items at home, don’t leave your drink unattended if you’re in a bar or club, keep a copy of your passport separate from the actual document (ideally in the hotel safe) and never engage with scammers asking you to sign petitions or find a ball under a cup in the street.
Where to Stay in Paris as a Solo Traveler
Paris is divided into districts called arrondissements, which increase in number as they spiral out from the very center of the city (near The Louvre). Generally speaking I recommend that solo travelers stay in an arrondissement that falls between 1 and 10, although there are some exceptions to that (for example, one of my favorite affordable hotels for solo travelers falls just across the border in the 18th).
The advantage of staying in the arrondissements noted above is that they are super-central and you’ll find the best of Paris at your doorstep. They’re also generally considered quite safe, especially compared to some of the areas on the outskirts of the city.
Another thing I recommend solo travelers in Paris consider when they book their hotel is the proximity to a metro station. Personally, I prefer to stay within a five-minute walk of a metro station, both for convenience and for safety. While I’ve always felt safe walking around Paris alone at night, I’ve also felt reassured knowing that it’s never more than a few minutes from the metro station to my hotel after night falls.
Finally, as a serious solo traveler myself, I understand that accommodation can be one of the biggest expenses on a Paris trip. When you’re not splitting the room cost with someone else, those euros add up! For that reason I usually book the cheapest single room in the hotel (often called a “basic” or “economy” single room). These rooms are usually small and simple, but they’re also affordable.
With those points in mind, here are a few highly-rated hotels in Paris that are centrally located, near a metro station and equipped with affordable single rooms:
- Caulaincourt Square Hotel – I’ve stayed here before and would happily return. It’s an easy walk from the Lamarck-Caulaincourt metro station in the more quiet, residential part of Montmartre. One side of the property is a hostel and the other is a hotel with private rooms (no elevator!).
- Hotel Korner Sorbonne – This Left Bank hotel in the historic Latin Quarter is just across the river from Notre Dame and directly accessible from CDG without having to change trains.
- Hotel Chopin – I couldn’t resist staying in a single room at this hotel on my most recent trip to Paris. Staying in a historic hotel inside a covered shopping arcade that dates back to 1845 is a one-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Hotel Le Regent Paris – If you can’t live without air conditioning, this highly-rated three-star hotel in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the most affordable options. Book early as the single rooms go quickly!
- Hotel Emile – I love staying in Le Marais, and this chic hotel three blocks from Place des Vosges is an excellent option for solo travelers.
- Hotel Paris Louvre Opera – Only 600 meters from the Louvre Museum, this popular hotel has single rooms with a split-floor design (the sleeping area on one level and the private bathroom on another).
- Hotel Les Deux Gares – This isn’t my favorite location for a multi-night stay, but when you’re arriving or departing by Eurostar then this funky boutique hotel is the place to stay.
Of course, you can also stay in a hostel, if that’s your thing. The first hotel on my list above, Caulaincourt Square Hotel, is half hotel and half dorms. I also love the look of the new The People Paris Marais, although I haven’t personally stayed there yet.
How to Get Around Paris Solo
This one is easy! The best way to get around Paris when you’re traveling solo is by using public transportation. Paris has an extensive network of subways, buses and trams (and even a funicular!), which are way more affordable than using taxis or Ubers. Personally, I always feel safer in public transit with other regular people around, as opposed to being alone in a vehicle with just the driver.
While you can buy individual transit tickets, I always recommend buying a Navigo pass. You can buy a pass for one day (€12.30 at publication time) or for an entire week (€32.40 from Monday to Sunday). The weekly pass requires a photo, but you can just take a selfie on your phone, print it off at home (25 mm wide by 35 mm tall) and bring it with you for your trip – no need to get professional photos or use a photo booth!
* Note: Daily Navigo passes do not include transportation to or from Orly or Charles de Gaulle airport, so you’ll need to buy your airport transfer separately. However, weekly passes do include this route.
Activities for People Traveling Solo in Paris
The best thing about traveling to Paris solo is having the freedom to see and do what you want, when you want. So, I won’t presume to plan your entire trip for you, as our priorities and interests might be completely different.
Personally, I like to do a mix of organized activities and just wandering. On my last trip, I took a perfume-making class at Molinard and did a wine and cheese tasting in a historic wine bar. I did both of these activities solo, but enjoyed chatting with the other travelers (individuals, couples, families and groups of friends) who had also signed up.
Aside from a few scheduled activities, I spent the rest of my time just strolling and exploring. I used my Paris Museum Pass to pop into museums I wouldn’t necessarily have paid for in full, and I also spent time checking out some of the city’s pretty green spaces, like the Coulée Verte René-Dumont, an elevated walking trail through a network of parks and gardens in the city’s east (shown in the photo above).
You can totally adjust your trip depending on your interests. If shopping is your thing, consider visiting one of the weekend flea markets or wandering through the vintage shops in Le Marais. More into history? Skip Versailles and head to the lesser-known, but equally opulent, Fontainebleau instead. Passionate about science and technology? The Musée des Arts et Métiers is a cool science and technology museum that was nearly empty when I visited!
Eating in Restaurants Solo in Paris
Hundreds of thousands of solo travelers visit Paris every year. Remember, for every solo traveler coming for tourism, there is another who is in the French capital on business. So, Parisian restaurants are very used to accommodating solo diners. Having spent several weeks solo in Paris, I never once felt uncomfortable going out for a meal alone.
A nice thing about dining solo in Paris is that most cafe and restaurant tables are very small, so you rarely feel like you’re taking up space that could seat four when you’re dining alone. Also, most counter bars are just for standing and having a quick coffee, so you’re unlikely to end up seated at the bar if you’re alone.
One way to check if a restaurant is solo-diner friendly is to check their online reservation to see if it even allows bookings for one person. For example, I tried to book a table at a few restaurants in the Big Mamma group of restaurants and none would allow me to book a table for one person, at any time of day, any time in the next month. But for two people there was lots of availability as early as tonight and tomorrow for lunch. That tells me that dining at one of their restaurants will be a hassle, and I’ll go somewhere else instead.
During high season, and at popular restaurants, I recommend reserving a table in advance whenever possible. If you can’t get through to the restaurant, or they don’t take reservations, your best chance of getting a table will be right when they open or towards the end of their lunch or dinner service.
Is it worth visiting Paris solo?
In my opinion, it’s definitely worth visiting Paris solo! Don’t wait for a travel companion whose budget and vacation schedule aligns perfectly with your own. There is so much to see, do and eat in Paris – and it’s so safe for solo female travelers – that the best time to go is as soon as have the chance!
Read these Paris travel guides before your solo trip to Paris:
🎨 One Day in Montmartre – What to See & Do
⭐ 18 Beautiful Covered Passages in Paris
🏰 How To Take a Day Trip from Paris to Fontainebleau
🌹 How to Make a Custom Perfume at a Historic Paris Perfume House
🪻 The Perfect Seven-Day Provence Itinerary
❤️ The Best Things to Do in Lyon, France
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