Solo Travel in Paris: 14 Best Things to Do in Paris Alone

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Are you planning a solo trip to Paris and wondering about the best things to do in Paris alone? Whether it’s your first time in Paris or your first solo trip, Paris is a great destination for solo female travellers.

Paris has a reputation. It’s romantic, stylish and busy. And if you’re travelling solo, you might be asking yourself: Will I feel safe? Will I feel lonely? What are the best things to do solo in Paris without feeling awkward?

I’ve been to Paris six times, four of those trips on my own. I’ve wandered through quiet side streets, eaten my body’s weight in pastries, watched the sunset from the Eiffel Tower, and explored countless museums.

Many people visit Paris as a couple due to its status as the world’s most romantic city, but I believe travelling solo in Paris is one of the best ways to experience it.

In this guide, I’ll share 14 of the best things to do in Paris alone, along with practical safety tips for solo female travellers and advice on where to stay. Whether you want culture, food, long walks, or slow café mornings with a book, you’ll find ideas here to help you feel confident and inspired.

14 Best Things To Do Solo in Paris

Paris is full of incredible activities and things to do alone. From guided tours and museums to churches and famous monuments, there isn’t really anything in Paris that you can’t do alone.

Here are my favourite things to do in Paris when I’m travelling solo, whether you are visiting Paris for one day or one week.

1. Climb the Eiffel Tower

Let’s start with the obvious one first! You simply cannot go to Paris without going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It’s a must-do activity in Paris and one that’s great to do when travelling solo.

The Eiffel Tower is open from 9:30 am until late (usually 11 or 12 pm), making this a great activity to do in the evening, if you’d rather not sit in a bar by yourself.

I’d suggest heading up just before sunset, so you get to see the views over Paris in the daytime before enjoying the sunset and watching the city twinkle as it starts to light up.

Avoid the long queues and book your tickets in advance. And be sure to wrap up warm as it’s always chilly and windy at the top!

If you feel like treating yourself, stop at one of the many restaurants inside the Eiffel Tower itself. The Eiffel Tower boasts two fine dining restaurants, a buffet restaurant, a champagne bar and a macaron bar!

After you’ve enjoyed the view from the top, don’t forget to head over to the Trocadero to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle on the hour every hour after dark.

Sit on the steps of the Trocadero with a drink and a snack while you people-watch and wait for the twinkling lights. I once spent a whole evening like this, just revelling in the magical atmosphere.

2. Browse Shakespeare & Company Bookshop

If it’s raining, or if you just love a good bookshop, an afternoon spent at the world-famous bookshop, Shakespeare and Company, is an afternoon well spent.

With the original store opening in 1919 (sadly now closed), it was a haunt for many of history’s famous writers, such as James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway.

So, grab a book from their public reading library and while away the hours before closing time. The shop is a treasure trove and a rabbit warren where you could easily spend a couple of hours hunting for the perfect book. Get lost in one of the many corners of the shop and forget time.

3. Take a Cooking Class or Food Tour

If there’s one place in the world to take a cooking class, it’s Paris. Whether you want to perfect the art of French pastry, learn to make the perfect macarons, take part in a full-day cooking class, or enjoy a cheese and wine tasting, there are plenty of food tours and classes to suit your interests.

Taking a cooking class is one of the best things to do solo in Paris, and a great way to meet other people, too. What’s more, you’ll come away with a newfound skill you can show off to your friends and family when you get home.

4. Shop in Galeries Lafayette

I don’t often shop when I’m travelling as I’d rather be out seeing the sights, but Galeries Lafayette is one of the sights. Although Galeries Lafayette has several locations throughout Paris, it’s the Boulevard Haussmann location you should visit.

Pick up a souvenir from this beautiful department store, or simply grab a chair at one of the cafes and admire the intricate ceiling and beautiful balconies that make this store a must-see.

And while you’re there, don’t forget to head up to the roof terrace for a free view over the rooftops of Paris.

5. Visit the Opera Garnier, and Catch a Show, Ballet or Opera

During my last visit to Paris, I finally got to visit the Opera Garnier, which, in my opinion, is more impressive than the Château de Versailles! Although I didn’t get to see an opera while I was there, I did sit in the auditorium during ballet rehearsals.

The inside of the opera house is jaw-dropping and definitely worth a visit. You’ll need about an hour to wander around the interior to enjoy the architecture. But if you can get tickets for a ballet or an opera at the Opera Garnier, you’ll be able to enjoy it for an entire evening.

When I travel solo in a city, I always try to get evening tickets to an opera, ballet or play, as it’s a great thing to do in the evening to avoid sitting in a bar alone or spending the evening in my hotel.

6. Stroll through Jardin du Luxembourg or Jardins des Tuileries

Paris is home to many beautiful parks and gardens, including the Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardins des Tuileries. The gardens are a lovely place to visit on a sunny day. When travelling solo in Paris, I often take a baguette, or a bag of pastries or macarons, to one of the parks and enjoy the atmosphere.

In many parks in Paris, you’ll find free benches and chairs lying around, and you may even spot a couple of gentlemen playing chess on one of the free chess tables. I love people-watching, reading my book and enjoying a makeshift picnic in the sun. It’s also a great budget-friendly thing to do in Paris.

7. Visit One of Paris’ Many Museums

Paris has over 150 museums to suit every interest. Every time I visit Paris, I try to visit a new museum. If you’re an art lover, visit the Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Musée de l’Orangerie, or for modern art, try Musée d’Art Moderne and the Centre Pompidou.

If you’re interested in fashion, visit the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, which I really enjoyed when I last visited, or the Musée Christian Dior.

Some museums offer free tickets on certain days, and some are open in the evening, making this a great thing to do when travelling solo in Paris.

8. Climb the Arc de Triomphe

One of my favourite views in Paris is from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Not many people know you can climb to the top of this famous monument, but it’s one of my favourite things to do in Paris alone.

From the top, you can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance, with the busy Champs Élysées in one direction and the business district, La Défense, in the other.

The Arc de Triomphe is open from 10 or 11 am until late, usually 10:30 or 11 pm, each night, which means this is a great after-dinner activity to do in the evening when travelling alone.

Book your tickets in advance – choose from a guided tour or enjoy a self-guided visit.

9. Visit the Château de Versailles

A visit to the Palace of Versailles is a great way to spend a day in Paris alone. The Palace is about 1 hour away by train from the centre of Paris, so it requires an early start to join the usually gigantic queue.

The Chateau and Gardens of Versailles are beautiful, but are popular tourist attractions, which means it gets very busy, so make sure you book tickets in advance.

When I visited, I had to wait up to 2 hours in a queue before I even gained entry, and then spent the time looking over people’s heads as we shuffled around the Palace.

Entry to The Versailles Estate is free of charge to visitors on the first Sunday of the month between November and March. The Palace is closed on Mondays, but the Gardens and Park are still open.

Avoid visiting on Tuesdays, as this tends to be the busiest day of the week, as the Louvre is closed every Tuesday, which means more people head to Versailles. Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be quieter days to visit.

10. Take a Walking Tour

Walking tours are a fantastic way to meet new people and see more of the city at the same time. Whenever I travel solo, I always try to book a walking tour on the first day as it helps me to get to know the city and learn more about the best things to do. Here are some of my favourite walking tours in Paris…

Walking tour of Montmartre with a local guide – Explore the famous arts district of Paris with a small group guided walking tour on the hillside in Montmartre. Start at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, stroll along cobbled streets and travel back in time to the roaring 20s as you learn about the lives of artists such as Picasso.

Walking tour of the Ile de la Cité (Notre Dame) with a visit to Sainte Chapelle – this tour includes an entry ticket to Sainte Chapelle, my favourite church in Paris. The stunning stained glass windows are breathtaking and I highly recommend a visit. You’ll learn more about the small island that Notre Dame calls home on this walking tour.

Emily in Paris Guided Tour – Emily in Paris is my guilty indulgence. If you’re an Emily in Paris fan and want to visit the filming locations, this guided walking tour is for you.

11. Take a Boat Trip on the Seine

See Paris from a different angle with a boat trip along the Seine. A boat trip is the perfect way to see the sights when travelling solo in Paris.

Whether you fancy a brief 1-hour whistle-stop boat trip, a private river cruise, or an evening river cruise with dinner and drinks, there is a huge variety of boat trips to choose from. Here are my favourites…

1-hour boat trip starting from the Eiffel Tower – Enjoy audio guide commentary or the interactive web app and learn about the sites as you go.

Private River Cruise – Enjoy a private 1.5-hour river cruise on a small river boat, with a maximum of 5 people. Or you can book a larger boat for 8 people.

Evening River Cruise with Music – A great thing to do on an evening when travelling alone. Enjoy a scenic view of Paris after dark with this river cruise.

Bistronomic Dinner Cruise on the Seine – Dine in style as you sail past the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. Board at the most beautiful bridge in Paris, the Pont Alexandre III, before enjoying a 3-course meal. Drinks are not included in the price.

12. See the Sights of the Île de la Cité

From the famous Notre Dame to the stunning Sainte-Chapelle, the tiny island in the middle of the Seine is full of things to see and do.

Sainte-Chapelle is one of my favourite places in Paris, with the stunning stained glass windows, no doubt some of the finest stained glass you will ever see. And with Notre Dame now reopen after the renovations, it is a must-visit, of course!

13. Stroll Through the Various Arrondissements

Paris is a huge city with many districts and areas, all with their own distinct personality. My personal favourites include the arts district of Montmartre, the pretty streets of Le Marais, the lively Latin Quarter, and the iconic Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

I also love strolling around the streets of the 7th arrondissement, which is very close to the Eiffel Tower, but the streets around Rue Cler, my favourite street in Paris, are more residential rather than touristy.

14. Climb the Tour Montparnasse

For an alternative view of Paris, and one of the best in my opinion, head to the Observation Deck of the Tour Montparnasse, a skyscraper in the 15th arrondissement.

The view from the Tour Montparnasse provides 360-degree views across the city with the Eiffel Tower and business district, La Defence, in the distance.

Book your tickets for Tour Montparnasse here.

As I’m sure you can guess, I love travelling alone in Paris and will enjoy many more solo trips to the city of lights in the future!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few answers to questions I get asked regularly about travelling solo in Paris.

Solo in Paris Safety Tips

I have felt safe every time I have travelled solo in Paris. I was comfortable walking around during the day and at night, but took some safety tips for solo female travellers nevertheless.

Stick to well-lit areas

The main touristy areas in Paris will be busy long after dark, but always stick to well-lit, populated areas if possible, or opt for an Uber if that’s not possible. Download the Uber app in advance so you can get yourself home quickly and safely if needed. Also, be aware of pickpockets, which can be common around highly touristy areas such as the Eiffel Tower.

Stay in a hotel rather than an apartment

Whenever I travel solo, I usually prefer to book a hotel rather than an apartment. It makes me feel safer knowing there are a few extra layers of security between me and the outside world, and it usually means you have someone at reception to help you if you need it.

Join organised tours in the evening

If you’re worried about being alone in the evening, you could join organised tours or groups, or plan activities that mean you don’t need to sit alone in a restaurant or bar. For example, some museums are open in the evenings; you could book tickets for a show at the opera, or join a wine-tasting tour.

Learn some basic French

You don’t have to speak fluent French, but it does help to be able to say a few basic words and phrases such as ‘Hello’, ‘Thank you’, ‘Do you speak English?’ and ‘I need help’. Many people speak English in Paris, but some consider it rude if you expect them to speak English in their own country.

Be aware of common scams

It’s worth researching some of the common scams that exist in Paris. Tourists are often targeted with these. The best approach is to say a firm ‘no’ and walk away.

One of the scams I have been aware of every time I have visited is the fake petition scam. One or two individuals will approach you with a clipboard, asking if you have time to sign a petition. It’s usually pitched as a petition for blind children or something similar to pull at your heartstrings.

The idea is that while you are distracted, someone will pickpocket you, or they will ask you to donate money. If anyone approaches you asking for you to sign something, say no and continue walking.

Are you planning a solo trip to Paris? What do you love about solo travel? I’d love to hear from you! You can get in touch with me via the contact form.