Paris is known as the “city of romance”. Romantic walks along the Seine, scenic picnics at the garden of Versailles, taking in the view from the top of Eiffel Tower- sounds like scenes straight out of a romance movie!

However, I did not experience any of the above activities with a romantic partner- I did them during a solo trip to Paris. 

Traveling to Paris alone was an amazing experience. Paris is the perfect city for taking things at your own pace and enjoying the city exactly as you see fit. Hungry? Grab a crepe! Want some dessert? Hunt down the best croissant! Tired? Take a seat along the Seine! Solo travel in Paris is the perfect opportunity to prioritize yourself and do exactly what you want, when you want.

I have had experiences traveling to Paris alone, traveling to Paris with friends, as well as traveling to Paris with my fiance. I have had an equally as incredible time during each of these trips. There is no need to wait until you find the perfect partner or travel buddy- I highly recommend traveling to Paris as soon as you can, even if it means traveling to Paris alone.

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Solo Travel in Paris: Top Things to Do

1) Visit the Eiffel Tower

When I think of Paris, I think of the Eiffel Tower. Seeing it in photos does not do it justice- it is truly breathtaking to see in person. There are many different places to get a good view (and a good photo) of the Eiffel Tower. Here are a few of my favorite spots:

Trocadero

Seine River

Side streets such as Rue de l’ Université or Rue du General Camou

Champ de Mars

Bir Hakeim Bridge

If you want to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, you can buy a ticket to the second floor or to the summit. Tickets cost $20-$30 but are half the price if you are under 24. There is usually a very long line to buy a ticket and the whole process can be time consuming, so I would only plan to do this if you are spending an extended amount of time in Paris. 

At night the Eiffel Tower has a five minute light show every hour on the hour. Bring a bottle of wine, find a seat somewhere along the Seine River, and enjoy the show! 

2) Stroll along the Seine River

The Seine River runs through the center of Paris. Some of my favorite memories from traveling to Paris alone involved strolling along the Seine River and enjoying the sights. The river itself is quite beautiful, and there are several interesting spots along the river such as pop up beaches, art stands, and famous bridges. There are also many nice places to sit down and enjoy a picnic (which is a great way to save money while traveling solo in Paris. Packing a picnic is much more affordable than going out to eat at a restaurant!)

3) Take in the sights, sounds and tastes of Montmartre 

Montmartre is a beautiful neighborhood located in Paris’s 18th arrondissement. It is where “Rue de l’Abreuvoir” is located, which might sound familiar to you if you watched the show “Emily In Paris”. According to the show, it was voted the prettiest street in the world.

The neighborhood of Montmartre has many restaurants and bars with outdoor seating to choose from, and if you are traveling to Paris alone you can sit outside and allow the excitement of this neighborhood to be your company. I recommend having a drink at “Au Clairon Des Chasseurs” to listen to live music and to see the excitement of “Place du Tertre”, a bustling square where many artists paint and sell their work. Afterwards, have a delicious and affordable meal at “Un Zèbre à Montmartre” and a pastry from “Boulangerie Alexine” for dessert. 

Some other highlights in Montmartre include seeing the house where Van Gogh lived, visiting the Sacre Coeur, and learning about the history of Moulin Rouge. While on a self-guided walking tour of Montmartre, be sure to snap a photo at “The Sinking House”, “La Maison Rose”, and “Le Moulin Radet”. As you walk around Montmartre, be on the lookout for street art painted along the walls of the neighborhood.

4) Explore the Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter was another one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris. The Latin Quarter is home to many colleges and got its name because of college students in the 13th century who lived in the neighborhood and spoke Latin. It is home to the bookstore “Shakespeare & Company” where many famous artists have stayed and visited. 

Still a college neighborhood, I found The Latin Quarter to be a great place to get budget food and drinks. “Au P’Tit Crep” is a popular spot for huge and affordable crepes. Afterwards, grab a three euro beer at “Cafe des Arts”. 

The Latin Quarter is home to my favorite music venue in Paris,“Le Caveau du Hutchette”. The live music takes place downstairs in an old cellar/cave, and the building dates back to the 1500’s. Be sure to get your tickets ahead of time and arrive early to find a good seat. 

5) Picnic in Versailles 

The Palace of Versailles is located a little over an hour from Paris by train. The grounds of Versailles are huge, so I recommend exploring Versailles by bike in order to get around more quickly. I did a bike tour of Versaille by Fat Tire Tours and had a fantastic experience. In addition, doing group tours when traveling to Paris alone is a great way to meet people. 

Before entering the grounds of the palace be sure to visit Marche Notre Dame, a street market where you can buy fresh produce, bread, and cheese for a picnic at Versailles. Note- wine is not technically allowed on the grounds of the palace, but people have been known to easily sneak it in (not speaking from experience, of course…). 

6) Go Museum Hopping

Solo travel in Paris would not be complete without seeing some of the amazing museums such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou. The Louvre is home to the famous Mona Lisa and gets incredibly crowded. If you would like to get a close look at this famous painting be sure to visit during off-peak hours. 

7) Take a day trip to the Champagne region 

Fun fact: did you know that in France it is illegal to call sparkling wine “champagne” if it is not made in the Champagne region? The Champagne region is located 1-2 hours outside of Paris and is a must-visit if you are a champagne-lover. Two popular towns in the Champagne region are Épernay (home to Moët et Chandon) and Reims (home to Veuve Clicquot). I chose to visit the town of Épernay which was really beautiful and had a lot of great restaurants. We toured the underground wine cellars and caves of Moët et Chandon and also visited a smaller champagne house called Champagne Janisson-Baradon.

We chose to do a full day tour from Paris to Champagne from Walks Tours   and had a great experience. It is also possible to visit this region yourself by taking the high speed train. Visiting the champagne region is different from wine tasting in the United States- reservations are required at the champagne houses and usually they involve a detailed tour with a limited tasting. If you want time to sit and enjoy the champagne you can buy a bottle to take with you or go to a restaurant.

8) Stroll along the Champs-Élysées

The Champs-Élysées is a famous avenue in Paris home leading to the Arc de Triomphe. It is well known for its beauty and its abundance of high-end stores. 

9) Enjoy delicious food

My favorite part of traveling is eating. The best part of traveling to Paris alone is getting to eat exactly what you want, when you want, and not having to compromise with anyone about which restaurant you would like to go to. A few of my favorite restaurants in Paris are “La Petite Bretonne” on Rue des Lombards for crepes, “Le Potager du Marais” for vegan food, and “Le Becane a Gaston” for traditional French cuisine. 

10) Do a free walking tour

Doing a tour is a great way to get to know the city as well as meet other people during a solo travel in Paris. There are a few companies that offer free (or very cheap) walking tours such as Walks Tours and Sandemans New Europe Tours.