Solo Travel Destination: Paris, France
We are pleased to present a new Solo Travel Destination Post from Cathy, a member of the Solo Travel Society on Facebook. Cathy is from the United States and submitted the following report about Paris. Do you have a solo travel destination that you would like to recommend? Submit your description here, along with a few photos, and share it with fellow travelers!
Solo travel rating: 1.5 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult. Please see chart below)
Languages spoken: French, English
The lovely Luxembourg Gardens.
Reasons to go: Yes, Paris is the city for lovers but for solo travelers this city is also ideal. It is not very large, and it is easy to navigate, with great public transportation so you can get places quickly and safely. It’s not hard to find a decent hotel where you can base yourself and there are restaurants and cafés on every corner.
Start your day at the corner café with a “café crème” and a croissant, while you look though “Le Parisienne.” (French is surprisingly easy to read – many of our English words are based upon French.)
Then begin your day of sightseeing. You could choose to visit any of the amazing museums (my favorite is the Musée D’Orsay) or to wander through one of the lovely neighborhoods, like the Left Bank or the Marais.
At lunch, find a little bistro, and order something off the menu on the wall. Continue your day by spending some time in one of the gorgeous parks, such as the Tuileries or Luxembourg Gardens, and take in the beauty around you.
And you can always stop in a café, order a coffee (it’s very inexpensive) and people watch. In fact, they are set up for exactly this, with chairs facing the street. Unlike the North American “grab and go” culture, the French take the time to sit and enjoy their coffee – which is a perfect way for the solo traveler to relax and observe the culture.
Paris may be the city for lovers, but it’s also the city for food.
Paris street scene.
Strolling near the Arc de Triomphe.
Solo Travel Destination Rating System
Safety - 2 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
Language - 2 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
Navigation – 1 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
Culture – 1 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
Average Rating – 1.5 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult)
