Curator’s statement
Paris is the best place to get lost and get found at the same time. As a solo female traveler, this is my favorite city to discover what’s around the corner (there’s always something new) and go back in time (there’s always something old). Whether you prefer sitting at a Parisian café drinking an espresso, people-watching in the gardens, staring for hours at a Monet painting or walking for hours to discover each arrondissement, Paris will leave a mark on your heart that can’t be replaced.
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Things to do in Paris
RELAX IN A GREEN CHAIR! Pick a Garden, any Garden (I mean, there are about 500)
Tuileries Gardens is located in the first arrondissement (1e) and is a must. Sit by any one of the six fountains/basins in that famous green chair and people-watch, nap, read, do nothing.
Luxembourg Gardens is located in the 6e and has the most variety. Don't miss Medici Fountain, oh and the riding stables, wait wait...the sailboats in the fountain!
Royal Palace Garden is in the 1e and is so quaint and special. Don't miss!
Place des Vosges is a jewel in the 4e (grab some Dunes Blanches a 10-minute walk away).
Find your own special place and sit, be still — that's Paris.
MUSEUMS you must see!
Musée D'Orsay (7e) - The fifth floor alone would be enough, but allow time at this museum to look inside each of the rooms and wander. Read information about the artists — go back in time.
Musée Marmottan Monet (16e) – In a beautiful house and so unique! The original piece of art that started the Impressionist movement is a must-see here!
Petit Palais (8e) - Wander and view art, but then get un café and sit in the courtyard.
Not a museum, but... The Palais Garnier Opera is worth dressing up for and taking yourself out on the town in full garb! Buy that ticket!
Museé Carnavalet (3e) - Such an unexpected surprise! LOVED the history and seeing pieces from the past of Paris. Didn't hurt that the Fabula cafe had a glass of wine for me in the courtyard.
WANDER the streets!
Don't have an agenda but pick an arrondissement to start. Start walking. I can assure you: the discovery will be something wonderful. The Marais is a good beginning!
Montmartre (18e) will take you back in time where artists and writers walked the small, cobblestone streets. Take your time.
As you walk through the neighborhoods, look for all of the covered passages connecting neighborhoods and streets — veer off the beaten path and discover hidden shops, cafes and historical significance.
Book a wine and cheese tasting with Chez LouLou. She's currently located in the 11e and she's a delight. She speaks English and French — and is originally from the US — and is a master of all things cheese! A must-do for your list.
Day Trips
Claude Monet's Garden at Giverny (closed in winter)
Dijon, France by train for the day - Great shopping and meandering in town.
Places to eat & drink in Paris
Let's give Saint-Germain-des-Pres its due in restaurants!
Bar des Pres (6e) – Eat anything — it's all good.
Ralph's Restaurant (6e) – Ask for the courtyard seating — picture Ralph Lauren linens — and get that chocolate cake.
Le Procope (6e) - Sit in the alleyway from sunset to dark and watch the sky change in the oldest cafe in Paris.
Les Deux Magots (6e) - Best cafe, best waiters, best people-watching spot, read for hours.
La Société (6e) - Dressed-up dining! Across from Eglise de Saint-Germain-des-Pres — if you're fortunate, there will be a Vivaldi concert to attend first!
Bar Hemingway in the Ritz Carlton (1e) - Close it down at 2 am!
Need to know
As a solo female traveler, I have never felt more safe walking alone, at all times of the day or night, in all areas — even compared to home. There were always other females walking alone wherever I went. To have a city like Paris at my fingertips with no worries and no vehicle — there just can't be a better city to discover alone! Paris has so much area to explore and it is ALL worth seeing. But to miss quiet moments alone at a café reading a book or grabbing two green chairs at Tuileries Gardens — one for sitting and one for propping your feet up — for an hour nap, or slowly staring at Monet's lilies, or being absorbed by a Vivaldi concert in Eglise de Saint-Germain-des-Pres or walking along the Seine would have been to miss Paris. Eat lots of baguettes — you'll miss them when you are back home.
Travel Advisor
Jamie Tice
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For more travel tips, check out Fora Advisor Christina Gales's guide, Three Days in Paris - Getting the Most Out of a Short Parisian Adventure.
This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Paris.