Capital city in Île-de-France, France
Paris for solo travelers
Is Paris good for solo travel?
Europe's great walkable art, food and café city with superb transit and a big expat and nomad scene. Expensive rent, pickpockets, strikes and tiny apartments are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Polite but reserved |
| English | Widely spoken |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Generally fine alone. Catcalling happens, especially around Gare du Nord and the north-east; ignore it, use busy carriages and book rides late at night. |
How to meet people in Paris
Social hostels around Canal Saint-Martin and Gare de l'Est, free walking tours, language-exchange nights, run clubs along the Seine, Meetup events and coworking socials.
Good things to do alone
- Eat a long solo lunch at a bouillon
- Walk the Seine at sunrise before crowds
- Visit the Musée d'Orsay on a late-opening night
- Browse Marché d'Aligre and the Canal Saint-Martin cafés
- Take a free evening walking tour
Where to stay in Paris
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Le Marais (3rd/4th) | First-timers: central, walkable, cafés, LGBTQ+ scene |
| Canal Saint-Martin (10th) | Nomads and long stays: cafés, bars, young crowd |
| Montmartre (18th) | Village feel and views; steep, touristy near Sacré-Cœur |
| Latin Quarter (5th) | Students, bookshops, cheap eats, easy RER links |
| Oberkampf–Bastille (11th) | Nightlife, bars and mid-priced hotels |
Solo travel across France
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Nice | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Provence | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| French Riviera | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lyon | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Marseille | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Bordeaux | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Strasbourg | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Chamonix | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Annecy | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Corsica | 4/5 | Limited |
| Aix-en-Provence | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Toulouse | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Loire Valley | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Normandy | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Montpellier | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Avignon | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Biarritz | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Colmar | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Antibes | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Nantes | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lille | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Brittany | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Cannes | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Saint-Tropez | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Carcassonne | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Dordogne | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
Quick answers
Is Paris good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Europe's great walkable art, food and café city with superb transit and a big expat and nomad scene.
How do you meet people in Paris?
Social hostels around Canal Saint-Martin and Gare de l'Est, free walking tours, language-exchange nights, run clubs along the Seine, Meetup events and coworking socials. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Paris?
Widely spoken.
Is Paris safe for solo female travelers?
Generally fine alone. Catcalling happens, especially around Gare du Nord and the north-east; ignore it, use busy carriages and book rides late at night.
More about Paris
Going to Paris solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Paris meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.