To stay in Paris on my own for three days?!

[RainbowHash]

Posting here for traffic. For reasons not relevant to this post I will find myself in Paris for three nights in August on my own. I haven't been away on my own before (recently separated) and not sure what to make of the idea. I'm looking forward to keeping myself busy during the day, but I'm worried the evenings are going to feel weird. Any tips from other lone travellers? I guess a good book will be my friend. And are there any areas of Paris that you would recommend for me to stay in, or any to particularly avoid? Thanks in advance!

I was in another European city recently and did one of these free walking tours. Lots of single travellers in the group. Really interesting and you leave a tip at the end www.neweuropetours.eu/paris-walking-tours/. Have a great time 😊

Lovely! I used to live there. I second visiting the Marais. It’s where orthodox jews rub shoulders with the gay community. Lively and equally safe.

The park cafes/restarants in the Tuileries and the Luxembourg gardens are lovely al fresco eating spots. Also look up a good value restaurant called Chartier. It’s a bouillon, an old workers canteen, but the French do things differently! Apron wearing waiters and a beautiful old building. You get told where to sit, and everyone shares tables. It’s the usual thing to chat to your table neighbours. Get there early because no one can book ever.

A day out in the grounds of the palace of Versailles is also a must.

Avoid areas near the main stations.

If you definitely decide to go, drop me a PM for more.

Lovely Paris. Can recommend hotel des balcons near Lux Gardens. Bear in mind lots of places will be closed in August, including restaurants

Stay in the Paris-Oasis, they have a single or a double room and you’ll feel looked after - it’s great!! Right next to the sacre couer - the nicer part of montmartre up the top of the hill.

There are lots of stories of gangs of immigrants storming and raping women all over europe atm, so I wouldn't go anywhere near those places as a lone woman.

Sources? My experience of living in Paris is that the victims of these attacks have been overwhelmingly migrant women and vulnerable teenagers, often rough sleepers. Which in no way makes the crimes any less appalling, but makes it very unlikely that the OP taking the same precautions you would take in any big city, will be at particular risk in central Paris.

Or are you suggesting the OP avoids all European urban areas?

Ignore @Eliza9919

Have a wonderful time! I love Paris and reading this thread has made me want to return. I have no issue travelling alone and it's often easier to meet interesting people. Plus you get to do precisely what you want. Enjoy 😊

-Bouillon Pigale - www.bouillonpigalle.com/

-Paris Plages at bassin de la villette - www.evous.fr/Paris-Plages-activites-nautiques-sur-le-bassin-de-la-Villette-1161796.html

-Les puces de clignancourt uk.tourisme93.com/saint-ouen-clignancourt-flea-market-access-and-opening-times.html

• A walk at Les buttes de chaumont en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc_des_Buttes_Chaumont

• A concert at the new le bateau phare www.sortiraparis.com/hotels-and-restaurants/bars-cafes/articles/191801-bateau-phare-and-its-new-terrace-by-the-sine/lang/en

• Drinks at ground control www.groundcontrolparis.com/

or grands voisins lesgrandsvoisins.org/

Check out LYLO (les yeux les oreilles) for small concerts on cafés and bars in the evening -> www.lylo.fr/

@Eliza9919
Should I warn all my friends visiting London about knife crime? Paris is pretty safe - I feel safe walking around as a single woman ... OP the only place to really avoid at night is round Porte de la Chapelle in the north on the top of line 12 metro (dark green)

@BarryBarryTaylor I think you're referring to Hotel Amour? There are two now - both nice but the one in the 9th - 8 Rue de Navarin - Is nicest in my opinion, I think this is the one Barry means - it's just off rue des martyrs that has v.good cheese and wine and fish. The one in the 10th has a smaller terrasse and the neighborhood isn't as picturesque but is good for morning coffee.

Café A is also nice and near gare de l'Est and in an old convent www.cafea.fr/

@BookBookBook and @springiscomming - I agree. Most of the problems in Paris do not occur in the central arondisments either. As with any city, you don’t have to be paranoid, just careful. And be wary of any reports which blame emigrants for everything.

@StarlightLady yep my first reaction to that sort of fear-mongering is n'importe quoi!

I went to Paris a couple of years ago on my own for 5 days (it was just after the terrorist attacks they had) and I felt very safe. Paris is a beautiful city and I also found the Parisian's to be very helpful and this comes from someone who speaks no French. The metro there is also very easy to navigate.
I would recommend in getting a travel guide before you go and to plan what you want to see beforehand, also Google maps is a life saver lol.
I would definitely recommend the louvre and the jardens attached. I would also recommend the st chapelle, it is known as the chapel of light and is beautiful! I also visited the prison Marie Antoinette was held. There is so much to see and do in Paris and all within distance of eachother that I am sure you will have a fantastic time :)

Just two things to be aware off though, get some comfy walking shoes as alot of Paris is cobble pavements and I had some cracking blisters to show for it and also, depending on how you are travelling there. If you are arriving at the Gate du Nord, right outside the station is a taxi rank and normally has a queue of people (but ask anyway if you are unsure). Don't go to the taxi drivers who approach you at thr station or parked up elsewhere because there is unfortunately some chancers who drive illegal taxis and will charge you well over the standard price.

cittymapper is also a good navigation app - will show you best route plus price and time for ubers/taxis etc as well as which carriage to get in the metro in to be closest to your exit

I honestly can’t think of a reason anyone wouldn’t want to do this

Paris is my favourite city. So much to do. I doubt you will be short of things to do. When I was there alone I used to go to the cinema a lot ( look out for VO unless you are fluent in dubbed French). You may find evening openings at museums too. I found it fine eating out alone ( always took a book in case!). Oh I am so very very jealous

I’m going to a different European city by myself this summer and I can’t wait!

I’m thinking about going out for an early dinner and sitting in a pavement cafe, which is quite a normal thing to do by yourself. If I don’t feel comfortable or safe at night then I’ll eat lunch out and buy snacks to eat on my hotel balcony in the evening.

Last time I went to Paris I stayed in the area by the Pantheon and it felt safe, although I wasn’t by myself. Yes to comfortable shoes and a cross body handbag. Budget enough money to get taxis back to hotel at night.

I haven't read all the replies so apologies if these things have already been suggested as ways to use your time when you aren't busy sightseeing. I saw you're recently separated so maybe start to design your ideal life?

Buy a new note book and brainstorm things you want to do & be in the next year, 5 years & 10 years. Think about all the things you could do and dream big!

Pick 3 or 4 and work out 3 steps you could take in the next week/month to move closer to those dreams.

Make a wish list of places you'd like to go in the future.

Sit in a cafe & try to guess what passers by do, what their relationships to each other are, where they're going. Think up crazy stuff.

If you're artistic you could draw.

This is a massive opportunity to start creating!

springiscoming yes that’s it Hotel amore!! It was recommended to us by a local and it was so lovely 😊
This picture was taken when I was there in April of this year.

@spingiscomming

Eliza9919
Should I warn all my friends visiting London about knife crime?

Yes. And acid attacks and shootings too.

Don’t live your life in fear, just be wise. Ignore people who want to make your life smaller than it needs to be.

Hero - I agree. I’ve lived in or near London all my life so I feel happy to travel round London on my own, although there are parts where I wouldn’t go by myself at night. I think it’s just a matter of being aware and streetwise. If I’m in a strange city then I’ll follow my instincts and keep to the main tourist areas and not wonder down empty side streets.

This thread has got me wanting a real french baguette with delicious ham and cheese for lunch.

I want a croque monsieur now. Well at least I'm making a sort of coq au vin for lunch.

StCharlotte
Did you mean Versailles? I don't think you could visit Marseilles from Paris!

Yes of course Versailles (bloody autocorrect - it just tried it again!)

Oh I'm jealous! Go and enjoy! I'd go to museums and galleries all day and do one of those food tours that my OH really isn't interested in. Read in cafés. People watch with a glass of red. I'd find a couple of spots for an early dinner or have a bigger lunch and take some cheese, bread and patisserie back to the room to eat in my PJ's.