Are you considering a solo trip to Paris? This may seem like an intimidating prospect, but I want to give you the inside scoop on how to do it in just six steps. A solo trip can be one of your best travel experiences and it is much easier than most people think.
In fact, Paris is one of the best cities in the world for a solo traveller. There are several reasons that make Paris a great destination for solo travel.
Best Tips How To Visit The City Of Love On Your Own:
Step 1: Figure out your budget and reserve accommodations with a hostel or AirBnB.com
If you are visiting during school break, book in advance to ensure you get your pick of rooms and cash in at great rates. Booking early is important because the French are notoriously fickle when it comes to hostels, especially during high season.
Step 2: Reserve cultural activities to enhance your Parisian experience
Paris has a host of museums and galleries that can be visited on your own. Other activities include meeting local Parisians and dining in the surrounding area. Your Parisian experience will be much more enriching if you schedule at least one activity a day.
Step 3: Eat and Drink like the locals
Book a cooking class or plan to dine in a local area. One place to start is by checking out the “Eat Like A Parisian” blog. You can also check out Frenchmen Street and get great ideas for things to do and places to eat, drink, and enjoy life with other travellers in New Orleans style surroundings.
Step 4: Explore the city on foot
Paris is not a big city, so much of the experience comes from walking from place to place around the map. You can easily walk to most destinations, but it is also easy to use public transportation and a metro pass is only $6 (and you can use it as often as you like during your visit).
One of the amazing things about Paris is that there are trees, greenery and parks all over. Paris is a very green city. It’s amazing how many parks and gardens you can walk to from many locations around the city. I highly recommend walking from place to place over a taxi (which are very expensive in Paris) or taking public transportation.
Step 5: Get lost!
The best way to get a true feel for the city is by getting lost once in a while. Paris is very walkable and you can easily find your way by asking for directions. If you are lost, just ask someone who looks like they know what they are doing for directions.
Most people in Paris speak English and will point you in the right direction. Walking in a new place can be daunting and it’s hard to get a real feel for the city if you are walking with a tour group or being led around by an audio guide so get lost once in a while to enhance your cultural experience.
Step 6: Plan a trip around a special event
There are many special events that make Paris a more dynamic city. Some of the best ones include The Marche De Noel (Christmas Market), La Fete de Saint Honore [celebrates the patron saint of bakers, pâtissiers (pastry chefs) and others in the food trades] and Jazz Festival.
There is always something going on in Paris, so plan your trip around The Marche De Noel or La Fete De St Honore (fireworks and marching bands) or Jazz Festival. You can also enjoy many other special events like art shows, theatre, and concerts.
Step 7: Eat Dinner at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant
Don’t make the mistake of skipping out on this amazing dining experience. The Eiffel Tower Restaurant is the most romantic place in Paris and you will get a meal you won’t soon forget.
I highly recommend it for your trip and it’s not expensive, especially if you go during the week for lunch or a special discount early bird menu.
Step 8: Book an activity like a horse drawn carriage or visit a museum to celebrate your trip
Paris comes alive at night during the summer, so plan some activities that will make your trip special. You can also visit one of the city’s mega-museums such as Louvre, Musée D’Orsay and Musée Jacquemart Andely that all have special events throughout the year.
Visit one of these museums early in the day on a day when it is not crowded to enhance your Parisian experience. You can also take Louvre Museum Tour to experience this.
Step 9: Schedule a visit to the Eiffel Tower to walk up and look down at the City of Love
The view from the Eiffel Tower is amazing and you will also hear music as well. One of my favourite past times is to take a long leisurely stroll around the city, stopping by a café or restaurant for lunch or drinks. I don’t like to eat in the same café or restaurant twice because I want each café or restaurant to be a unique experience for me.
The Eiffel Tower is also open until midnight, so there’s nothing better than taking an evening stroll around the city and ending with a sightseeing trip to the Eiffel Tower.
Step 10: Take a ferry boat ride on the Seine River
After you have walked all over the city, take a Seine River Tour. Taking in a night view of the city from your boat is amazing and will enhance your cultural experience. It’s easy to get around Paris on foot, but if you want to really enjoy the city then take a taxi or ride the metro or bus just to get around while you are there.
Taxis are expensive and public transportation is easy to use. Once you have found your way around town, the next step is to plan a visit to Napoleon’s Tomb, the Arc De Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. After you’ve walked all over Paris, it will be a quick trip for you to visit Napoleon’s Tomb, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.
Parking is difficult in Paris and you can very easily find plenty of street parking if you want. There is no shortage of places to visit in Paris.
Also Read: The Best Travel Accessories For Traveling Routes
Step 11: Plan a day trip to Versailles and see the palace’s gardens and architecture
Versailles is an amazing place to visit when in Paris, especially if you stroll through the gardens or just sit by a pond and soak it all in. You can easily get there on the metro or bus or you can take a taxi if you prefer. It’s a nice day trip and it’s easy to get to since it is not far from Paris.
Step 12: Bike through the streets of Paris
Biking in Paris is another way to get around and see the city in a different perspective. You can rent bikes and bike through the city or you can bike around one of the parks like Tuileries Gardens or Jardin des Plantes.
Paris is an amazing place to visit and you will be glad you came. I hope this post helped answer some of the questions you may have and help plan your trip. You can find more information on Paris at the following sources: Lonely Planet, Wikitravel and Paris Tourist Board.
