Solo weekend in Paris, or somewhere nearby?

[Letsnotargue]

I have a work event in Paris in November, that covers two weekends. OH is coming out for the second weekend, but the first one I will be there on my own. I’m pretty happy to wander round by myself, but I want the real exploring to be with OH.

I could either do some weird and wonderful sightseeing that I wouldn’t ordinarily do, or I could jump on a train and go somewhere else for a couple of days. I quite like this idea as I don’t usually get the chance to do things ‘just because’, but there are lots of options.

Any suggestions for either solo things in Paris or other cities within a couple of hours on the train would be gratefully received!

I had a couple of days to fill alone in Paris when I went with DP when he was working there for a few days.

One day I just wandered around the city seeing the main sights and I went in the Marie Curie museum.

The other I took the train to Versailles for the day, neither of which DP would really enjoy so it was nice to do these things without having to keep track of another person on the Metro etc.

We then met up for dinner each night and had a bit of a wander so see the Eiffel tower on the last day.

How about a baking class/workshop? We did a 3-hour croissant and pain au chocolat class at Cook’n With Class. It was all in English and the staff were so helpful. I think they do other workshops like macarons and eclairs.

Bordeaux or Lyon? Although I never get bored just walking around Paris on my own if the weather is OK.

I think there's plenty to do in Paris on your own that you won't need to repeat with DH. . I'd probably have a lazy morning, a very nice lunch, a museum in the afternoon and repeat the next day.

But Versailles. ...

Epernay or Reims. Sights to see, champagne to drink!

Flea Market at Puces.

Well, what do you like doing? Lots of chateaux and cathedrals within an easy train journey of Paris — Chantilly, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Reims, Chartres? If you’re interested in art — Giverny? In your shoes, if I wanted to get out of Paris for a day, I’d probably go to the Camille Claudel museum in Nogent sur Seine. If I wanted to stay out of Paris for a night or two, I’d probably take the TGV to Bordeaux — about two hours. But I could equally spend days solo in Paris at exhibitions.

Agree with some PPs there’s so much to do in Paris, without needing to tap into stuff you want to save for OH.

years ago I had a week to myself in Paris and one particularly enjoyable thing (ended up going twice) was visiting a hammam. Paris has lots of them and most have ladies only sessions. Found it pretty good value to spend time in a beautiful marble surrounded spa environment and then have a nice scrub!

there’s also just so many museums you probably wouldn’t have time in one weekend. Eg foundation LVMH costs a bit of time as it’s a bit out of the city, but sooo worth a visit !

A friend if mine has recommended the hammam of the Grande Mosquée. She says "No need to be a Muslim, but you can be sure that it's all-women!".

@samarrange bet it's a beautiful building too!!

The one I went to was women only, called O'Kari and not far from Les Halles. Worked well for where I was staying and had good value packages. You've got me daydreaming for a solo Paris trip!

Thank you so much for your suggestions!

An idea of what I enjoy might have been useful, sorry about that. I like looking at big things - buildings, sculptures etc but am not too keen on museums generally (although some have blown my mind!)

I would never have thought about a hamman or a baking course, both of which I would love and neither of which wokld be good for OH. I’m loving the idea of having two very different weekends. I just hope the weather is relatively kind.

Now I just have to decide where to stay…

A quick update if anybody sees this…

I went low-key and decided to just wander around Paris, and I’m so glad I did. The architecture of the place is just jaw-dropping. I hadn’t been that keen on going to Paris until I had to for work, but the place made me eat my words.

I did find the cafes a bit intimidating as there seem to be rules over where you can sit for a drink rather than food, and I ended up eating delicious baguettes on the hoof. Lots of parts of it do smell of wee - yes there is a lack of decent public toilets but I’m not sure that means you should resort to weeing up ornate doorways.

I felt like I was in a film set, just following my nose and seeing what came up. I saw Notre Dame as they had just removed the scaffolding, and I was so impressed by the Eiffel Tower, despite having written it off as a tourist trap.

My moral of the story is not to be so cynical as I took things as they came and enjoyed every minute of it.

Just don’t sit at a table that’s laid with a knife and fork etc if you only want a coffee or a drink — those tables are intended for people who want to eat.

Glad you enjoyed yourself! It’s a city I’m very fond of.

So glad you enjoyed it, I never get bored with it.