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🌻 What I Learned from My Solo Trip to Paris
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8k words of advice from a former tourist and now Parisian resident This is your cheatsheet for solo travel to Paris, including a solo Paris itinerary and a list of the best things to do alone in Paris. Oh, Paris. One of the most romantic cities in the world. Who says it’s just for lovers? Whether you’ve already booked yourself a solo trip to Paris or you’re daydreaming of a future séjour in France’s capital, don’t despair about visiting the sights solo. (After all, remember that there’s nothing to fear in being alone.) Instead, pack a trench coat and a Breakfast-at-Tiffany’s-inspired pair of sunglasses and get ready to romantically wander the streets like you’re in your very own movie montage. (Spoiler: The cigarette smoke is aplenty (no, duh). And like any big metropolis, the streets are dirty.) But that’s the charm of the City of Lights, right? My first weekend alone in ParisWhen I spent a solo weekend in Paris, it was the first time I was in Europe, period. This was back in January 2017, when I had just turned 20 years old and was on my way to Rennes to study for a semester. Up until that point, I had only been on a plane once before—from Rhode Island down to Florida to visit family. Going on this solo trip to Paris (even if just for a few days) was a grand experiment in learning how to do things on my own. It was the first time I took the subway; the first time I was in a city that big alone; the first time I had wine! It was the beginning of a lot of learning. One of my biggest takeaways? Traveling alone can be really fun! No one ever really prepared me for that. And if I hadn’t gone on this trip, I don’t think I ever would have gone to Quebec alone or Poznan or Salt Lake City or flown alone to Chicago, D.C., Korea, etc. From a solo-traveling tourist to a full-time Parisian residentFast-forward to June 2025, and I’ve now been a full-time Parisian resident for 10 months. I’ve picked up a lot of insider goodies along the way (though there is, of course, always still much more to learn), so I put together a behemoth, all-in-one guide for anyone preparing to (or dreaming of) embarking on a solo trip to Paris. It’s over 8,000 words! I know, I went a bit over the top. But I’ve designed it to be uber traveler-friendly, so you can skip through and just pull out the parts that are helpful to you, like:
Catch it all here:
Whew! That’s a lot—and that’s all for now. Catch you next time. And happy travels, Merry 🌻 P.S. Know someone who’s dreaming of Parisian travel? Give them a nudge to make it happen—forward them this guide. 🌻 P.P.S. Are you the someone? Bonjour! Get more tips, essays, and guides on Loner Living by signing up for A Merry Loner's newsletter. |
A Merry Loner
When you can be happy by yourself, you can do anything. Subscribe for essays, guides, and recommendations on learning to love your own company.
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