Where to Go as a Solo Traveler in Paris

Discover the charming streets of Paris, whether you are traveling alone or with your loved ones, significant other or friends. Immerse yourself in the alluring aroma of croissants and coffee. Enjoy the delightful French cuisine, experience café culture and the soulful melodies at jazz clubs and explore the city's historical and artistic treasures. Embrace the solo adventure in Paris with confidence and curiosity.

Paris offers a wide range of restaurants, from Michelin-starred to casual brasseries. Consider your preferences and indulge in the perfect dining experience. Here are my picks.

Local bistros

• Chez René - Latin Quarter

• Bistrot de Paris - St Germain

• Bistrot Paul Bert

• Chez Gladines: St Germain classic, homemade dishes from the South of France, large portions. The salad lardons et chevre is one of the best if not the best salad I've ever had.

Local restaurants around the Eiffel Tower

• Cafe du Commerce: Onion soup and steak

• Aux Cerises: Bir Hekeim Métro stop

• Les Cocottes: École Militaire Métro stop

• Dirty Lemon Bar

Markets

• Marche Maubert: Saturday

• Place Monge: Friday, Sunday & Wednesday

• Grenelle: Sunday–Wednesday

• Marche de Enfants Rouges: Oldest covered market

• Place de Bastille: Thursday - Sunday

Seafood restaurants

• Le Dôme: Anthony Bordain’s must

• Clamato: 11th Arrondissement, incredible

Cheap eats

• Happy Nouilles: Chinese noodles

• Petit Bao: 116 Rue Saint-Denis

• Street Bangkok: Fried chicken

• Minhtdihn Banhmi: Vietnamese sandwiches

• Boulangerie and order a tradi baguette at:

  • Mamiche

  • Laurent Duchêne

1st Arrondissement (Right Bank)

The must-see arrondissement. This is what the postcards are made of. Atmosphere of elegance and regality.

• Landmarks: Louvre, Place Vendôme, Palais Royale Tuileries, Pont des Arts

• Where to eat & drink: Daroco & Danico: Italian at its best. Cocktail bar behind is Danico (50-best bar)

2nd Arrondissement (Montorgueil)

• L’escargot Montorgueil

• Frenchie to Go (FTG)

3rd & 4th Arrondissements

Les Marais is a lively neighborhood with trendy bars and restaurants (Hotel-de-Ville or the second part of Le Marais)

• Where to eat & drink: Shifu (for truffled dumplings) or Les Nautes, my go-to local restaurant and bar to watch the sunset by the Seine

• Le Marais: Where the local and small boutiques are found. Paris’ version of New York’s SoHo but still holds on to the French character and hints of Parisian distinctiveness. Touristy yet local.

5th Arrondissement (Latin Quarter)

Left bank of the Seine River. Where the Latin Quarter is found. This is a small college town, and known for its international restaurants and cafes

• Landmarks: Pantheon, Natural History Museum, Shakespeare and Co

6th Arrondissement (Saint Germain)

Left bank of the Seine River: the hangout of the intellectuals, where Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, Jean Paul Sartre and Serge Gainsbourg formerly resided.

• Landmarks: St Germaine des Pres, Jardin du Luxembourg

• Cafe de Flore: one of the oldest coffee house in Paris and a popular hub of famous philosophers and writers

7th Arrondissement (Eiffel Tower)

This central Paris neighborhood is fittingly shaped like a diamond. It’s bordered in the north by the Seine River.

• Where to eat & drink: Tomy & Co, Les Cocottes, Le Petit Pontoise

8th Arrondissement (Champs-Elysees)

The arrondissement, called Élysée, is situated on the right bank of the River Seine and centered on the Champs-Élysées.

• Landmarks: Champs Élysées, Parc Monceau, Petit Palais, Grand Palais, Pont Alexandre III (connecting 7th & 8th Arrondissements)

9th Arrondissement

A trendy district where things have not changed much in the last 30 years. A lively district with its old cafes, offices and Haussmannian architecture where we still can find a true neighborhood life.

• Landmarks: Pigalle, Opéra Garnier

• Where to eat & drink: Maison de la Truffle

10th Arrondissement (Canal St. Martin)

Linked to Canal Saint-Martin waterway and iron footbridges, this is a district of bobos (bohemian-bourgeois Parisians), with agreeable cafes and vintage shops.

• Landmarks: Gare du Nord

• Where to eat & drink: Chez Michel, Early June Paris - wine vibes and restaurant hosting traveling chefs

12th Arrondissement (Bercy)

The greenest district of Paris, here you will find local Parisian vibes with all the boulangerie, meat and cheese shops and wine shops.

• Boulangerie Brun: won the best baguette in Paris

13th & 14th Arrondissements

A charming neighborhood to walk through, called the Butte aux Cailles, including an artesian well for the locals to fill their jugs with fresh water. A multicultural residential neighborhood that includes Paris’ Chinatown and the ultra-modern Bibliothèque François Mitterand.

• Landmark: Butte-Aux-Cailles

16th Arrondissement (Trocadero)

Here, you'll find an Eiffel Tower view from the trendy cafes.

• Where to eat: Monsieur Bleu, Cafe del Homme

18th Arrondissement (Montmartre: artsy residential neighborhood)

• Landmark: Sacre Coeur church

• Where to eat and drink:

  • Le Sanglier Bleu: close to Moulin Rouge — the duck confit escargot and asparagus risotto are must-tries

  • Bouillon Pigalle: Steak and fries that are reasonably priced

  • Le Bon Bock: French cuisine

  • Fric-Frac: Savory croques monsieur

  • Broceliande: Crêperie

  • Relais de la butte: Charcuterie

  • Café Suzanne

  • Louise Café

• Picnics: Parks and gardens and by the Seine River

• Spas: Help beat jet lag or enjoy a post-trip relaxation to rejuvenate your skin and soothe your aching muscles after walking 20,000 steps a day

  • O'kari

  • Ablutio Spa (Sinner Paris Hotel)

  • Biologique Recherche

I always encourage my clients to fully embrace every moment and indulge in the Parisian atmosphere instead of rushing from one landmark to another. It's important to tailor the itinerary to match their interests, budget, preferred travel pace and desire to sample local cuisine. By taking it easy, they can truly immerse themselves in cafe culture, live like locals for a few days and savor the experience. This kind of travel creates lasting memories rather than just a hazy recollection captured in a photo. Traveling solo in a different culture can be a truly enriching learning experience that allows you to connect with your inner self. Embrace the limitless adventures that the city of love and lights has to offer. Reach out and let me curate your perfect Parisian vacation.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Paris. In need of further inspiration? Check out Caitlyn Cronin’s guide, A Guide to 48 Hours in Paris.