Things to do Alone in Paris

UPDATED JULY 2024By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
A woman studying a map by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Paris is a playground for solo travelers, with easily enough activities to fill a few days. Think world-class museums, beautiful parks, Instagrammable monuments and some of the best shopping on the planet. So, brush up on your French phrases (the locals will like you better for it), pack a map and some comfortable shoes and dive in to our top recommendations for things to do alone in Paris.

Take Yourself on a Tour

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There’s a whole host of ways to get around Paris’s relatively compact center, but for pure convenience a trottinette (electric scooter) is hard to beat. Available to rent just about everywhere, these zippy little machines give you the flexibility (and speed) to tick off several attractions in a single day. Or for a more sedate self-guided tour, rent a Vélib bicycle to pedal your way along the Seine, pausing to visit the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art at the Musée d’Orsay and to pick up some sugary chouquettes from a Marais boulangerie along the way.

A hop-on hop-off bus tour is another great way to see the city when traveling solo. Grab a seat on the top deck on sunny days for the best snaps along the route. Or take to the water to get a different perspective on Paris. Seine sightseeing cruises run throughout the day and are particularly enchanting in the early evening as the sun sets over the city and riverside attractions including the Louvre and Eiffel Tower begin to light up.

Make New Friends!

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If solo tours aren’t your bag, there are literally hundreds of guided group tours to choose from around the city. Hear about the scandals and passions of Père Lachaise Cemetery’s most famous permanent residents, fill your belly on an award-winning foodie tour of the capital or discover the hidden gems of the Marais. Classes such as the macaron-making experience at the iconic Galeries Lafayette have the combined benefits of learning a new skill, meeting new people and having some delectable French pastries to scoff at the end.

Have a wheely great time at one of Paris’s great rollerskating events. Locals take to the streets every week for the Sunday Skate, with dedicated routes temporarily closed to traffic as skaters – both good and bad – roll through en masse. Night owls might prefer the Pari Roller, a skating tour that sets out from Montparnasse every Friday at 10PM and concludes in the wee small hours.

Take in a View or Two

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Ask Parisians where to find the best view in town and you’ll likely get a hundred different answers. Many rate the Montparnasse Tower for its 56th-floor views of the Eiffel Tower and beyond (and for the fact that, because you’re inside it you can’t see the Montparnasse tower itself – it’s considered a bit of an eyesore by locals).

Hop aboard the Ballon de Paris Generali. This tethered helium balloon in the Parc André Citroën rises 150 meters into the sky, affording panoramic views of all of the city’s landmarks. Ride the glass elevator up to the Eiffel Tower’s second floor. Or take the stairs if you’re a masochist: there’s a quadricep-numbing 674 of them.

There are also some great views to be had from terra firma. Pack a Parisian picnic of pain, vin and fromage and grab a spot on the Champ de Mars, a huge grassy lawn by the Eiffel Tower. Or head to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement. It’s less crowded than the city-center parks and its hilly terrain makes for some superb city views while you munch on your lunch.

Wander around Montmartre

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Montmartre’s boho village vibe, cute cafés and atmospheric bars make it a favorite hangout for solo travelers. After exploring the Sacré-Cœur and admiring the view from its steps, take a stroll through the cobbled streets to the Musée de Montmartre, where exhibits include works from Toulouse-Lautrec’s Moulin Rouge series, plus many more Impressionist masterpieces from the likes of Modigliani and Renoir, a former resident of the 17th-century building the museum now inhabits.

Just around the corner, the Place du Tertre takes the art theme and runs with it. Order an espresso and flakey French pastry at one of the cafés that dot this cobbled square (une table pour une personne is a fairly commonplace request at cafés and restaurants across the city) and watch the local artists ply their trade. For a unique souvenir of your time in Paris, you can even sit for a portrait or caricature!

Shop til you Drop

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Part of Paris’s enduring charm is its mazes of hidden lanes, alleyways and passages for the curious wanderer to discover and explore. An early form of shopping arcade, the city’s covered passages are a treasure trove for souvenir hunters and are conveniently mostly to be found in the central 1st–9th arrondissements. Wander beneath stained-glass ceilings, admire intricate mosaic tiling and explore old-fashioned wood-fronted stores selling everything from antique books and prints to fine wines and the latest fashions.

If Passage du Jouffroy’s delightful antiquarian bookstore Librairie du Passage has whet your appetite for all things literary, pay a visit to the Bouquinistes of Paris on the banks of the Seine. Bookworms of every literary persuasion could spend hours browsing for bargains here, with some 300,000 books available from hundreds of second-hand sellers between the Quai Voltaire and Quai de la Tournelle on the left bank and the Pont Marie and Quai du Louvre on the right.

Serious shopaholics should of course make a beeline for Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. More religious experience than mere shopping mall, this five-story cathedral to retail carries hundreds of brands from Armani to Zadig & Voltaire beneath its iconic 43-meter-high steel and stained-glass dome. Meanwhile, vintage clothes, toys, vinyl records, artworks, books and homeware (and just about every other kind of gadget and trinket under the sun) are the order of the day at Les Puces de Montreuil out in the 20th arrondissement. Seasoned hagglers are sure to find this vast weekend flea market well worth the pilgrimage.

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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Relaxing Things to do in Paris

What could be more idyllic than a restful break in the City of Love, with its multitude of parks and gardens, tranquil canals and cute pavement cafés, perfect for watching the world go by? Check out our guide to the 10 most relaxing things to do in Paris... Go Boating in the Bois du Boulogne Over twice the size of Central Park, Bois du Boulogne is one of the biggest parks in Paris. Its location a little off the beaten track in the 16th arrondissement also makes it one of the least busy. Rowboats are available to rent on the Lac Inferieur (Lower Lake), meaning you can while away a pleasant hour or two bobbing gently on its tranquil waters. Afterwards, take a stroll through the forest to smell the (many) roses in the beautiful Parc de Bagatelle botanical garden. If you’re lucky you might also encounter the park’s resident peacocks and elusive red squirrels along the way. Have a Hammam Stunning, intricate mosaics and an epic 33-meter-high minaret are not the only reasons to pay a visit to the Grande Mosquée de Paris in the Latin Quarter. There’s also a beautiful byzantine-style hammam with a marble steam room and babbling fountain. Book an exfoliating scrub or vigorous massage for a near-religious experience and complete your transition to a zen-like state by lingering for baklava and mint tea in the leafy courtyard. For religious reasons, there are separate times for men and women to visit the hammam. Walk the Coulée Verte Nothing soothes the soul like a bit of greenery and this central Paris walkway – literally ‘the Green Corridor’ – is no exception. A disused railway line that runs across a viaduct in the heart of Paris, it has been converted into a peaceful elevated walking route that’s alive with lush vegetation and foliage. Enjoy views of the Paris skyline from your verdant vantage point and refill your bottle with sparkling water (yes, really!) at the free fountain in Jardin de Reuilly, one of just a handful of its kind dotted around Paris. Visit a Garden You’re never very far from a park or garden in Paris, so it’s easy to take time out from the hubbub of the city streets and pause to smell the roses – literally. Handily located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, the 17th-century Jardin des Tuileries is a peaceful formal garden with two ponds, statues by the likes of Rodin and Giacometti, and plentiful seating. You can also put your feet up in the sculpture garden at the Rodin Museum, where ornamental ponds, perfectly manicured box hedges and a variety of famous pieces by the celebrated sculptor, make for a relaxing place to while away an hour or two. People-Watch at a Café For Parisians, the act of sitting at a pavement café, slowly sipping espressos and peering at passers-by over dark glasses, is something of an art form. Pull up a chair, order a croissant or three and join the locals in a spot of people-watching. Your server won’t bring the check until you ask for it, so you have all the time in the world to sit back, relax and watch what some would say is the best show in town. Save on relaxing things to do in Paris Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info. So grab a Paris pass and save while you sightsee!
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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Adventurous Things to do in Paris

Paris... City of Light, City of Love, City of... Adventure? Think of Paris and you’re more likely to picture yourself indulging in romantic riverside strolls and lazy pastry-based brunches than in nerve-jangling high-octane pursuits. In fact, Paris offers a surprising array of unusual and adventurous activities that will take you out of your comfort zone, from waterskiing on the Seine to perfecting the French art of macaron-making and gorging on snails and sea urchins. Read on for our pick of adventurous things to do in Paris. Adventures Above and Below Paris Fans of Les Misérables will find much to enjoy in the Paris sewage system which, as Victor Hugo so succinctly put it in his celebrated 1862 novel ‘is slime, minus the human form’. But don’t let that put you off: the Paris Sewer Museum takes you on a fascinating (and completely sanitary!) journey into the city’s underbelly, where you can wade through centuries of sewage history and learn all about the sewermen who worked here. Exhibits include antique equipment and you can take a guided tour with an expert while you’re there. Pause in the gift shop to pick up some stuffed rats for your loved ones on the way out and, most importantly, don’t forget to flush! For a somewhat more claustrophobic underground adventure, the Paris Catacombs are hard to beat. This labyrinth of bone-filled tunnels is said to contain the mortal remains of some six million Parisians, mostly displaced here from overflowing cemeteries in the 18th and early 19th centuries. You’ll notice a chill in the air as you descend the 131 steps to enter the tunnels. From here, there’s a 1.5-kilometer loop through the dead air of this underground ossuary, with walls constructed from densely stacked human bones and skulls. An unmissable adventure, but definitely not one for the faint-hearted. Paris also offers plenty of great options for adrenalin heads with their eyes on the skies. Climb the Eiffel Tower’s 674 steps to reach the viewing platform on the second floor, soar 150 meters above the Parc André Citroën aboard the Ballon de Paris Generali, a thrilling ascent that provides stunning 360-degree views across the city. And, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even fly over the city’s most famous landmarks by jetpack! Ok, ok, so this one from Flyview Paris is a virtual reality experience, but it’s no less thrilling for it. Much like a flight simulator, it’s designed to emulate the real-life sensations of jetpack flying, so you really will feel like you’re cruising over the Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Well, for a few moments anyway. Let’s Get Physical Serene sunset cruise not exciting enough for ya? Don’t worry: we’ve got you covered. Located on the banks of the Seine in the Bois de Boulogne, one of Paris’s biggest and most beautiful parks, the Ski Nautique Club de Paris offers 3.5 kilometers of water for water-skiing. It’s open to abilities of all levels so everyone from newbie to expert can get involved. Learn the basics or show off your best river acrobatics if you’re already a pro on the water. If you struggle to find your sea legs, you might prefer to join one of the city’s big rollerblading events instead. Weekends see around 20 kilometers of Paris streets closed to traffic as locals roll out of their homes in their thousands for the Sunday Skate, to weave, wobble and wend their way around major landmarks from the starting point in Place de la Bastille. The Pari Roller is a wheely great way to experience the City of Light by night, with a skating tour that kicks off 10PM Fridays in Montparnasse and rolls on into the early hours of Saturday morning. Do Something New! There’s nothing more adventurous than stepping out of your comfort zone to learn a new craft, and – let’s be honest – what skill could possibly be more life-enhancing than the art of macaron-making? These dainty, delicate and oh-so-delicious little confections are, alongside braille, pasteurization and hair dryers, surely one of France’s greatest ever inventions. This 90-minute pastry masterclass at Paris’s iconic Galeries Lafayette Haussman department store includes creation, assembly and, of course, the all-important tasting of your treats. Want to really impress your friends when you return from Paris? Find out how to transform your potato dauphinoise from a disappointing beige mush into a lip-smacking work of art at the Alain Ducasse Cooking School. And, if you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can even have a go at learning the very Parisian art of burlesque. Afterwards, head over to Crazy Horse for an evening of high-kicking, high-octane entertainment, and to see how the experts do it. Adventures in Food and Drink When in Paris... eat as the Parisians eat. Snails and frogs’ legs are just the beginning of this great nation’s culinary specialties and, if you can set your squeamishness aside, you might just be surprised. Snails in particular – plump little parcels of deliciousness served in the shell in a hot garlic-and-herb butter – may well prove life-changing. But did you know the French also do a fine line in sea urchin? That’s right: those spiny blighters that skewered your big toe off the coast of Mexico back in ‘95. These sweet, umami-tasting creatures are also said to rival oysters for their aphrodisiac power. Ooh la la! The British novelist Anthony Burgess once described the experience of snacking on durian fruit as 'like eating sweet raspberry blancmange in the lavatory'. A similar half-compliment could be made for traditional French andouillette, a sausage made from pig intestines and seasoning, and a close cousin of South American chitterlings. Its – shall we say – ripe odor might not win you many friends in the restaurant, yet locals swear by the sweet flavor, assuming of course that you can overcome your natural aversion to the smell and tuck in. A warning to the curious though: this one is strictly for those with guts of steel. Many more epicurean adventures await you in the weird and wonderful bars and restaurants of Paris, where you can variously: drink wine from baby bottles at legendary Montmartre restaurant Le Refuge des Fondus, have coffee and cake with a cat, be serenaded by opera singers as you dine and take on an actual pro-wrestler in the basement between courses. Only in Paris. Save on adventurous things to do in Paris Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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