Five Tips for Solo-Traveling in Paris
For my solo trip to Europe this past summer, I put Paris last. The romanticism of Paris has kept it as one of the most pristine spheres of imagery in my mind - its essence is strong enough that sights and smells outside of Paris are enough to evoke the thought of Paris. But now that Paris is much more concrete (but not any less beautiful), it’s time to set some of the romanticism aside and share some tips for those of you who stumble into Paris for the first time with a ready heart but no real preparation:
1. There is barely any English in Paris, and the French word for "exit" is "sortie"
The first thing I noticed when I got to Gare du Nord from London was that I was very lost - having known absolutely no French except merci and bonjour (and can barely pronounce either), whipping out my phone constantly to access Google translate didn’t exactly go with my constant preoccupation with my giant backpack/life supplies. So look up some basic French words to help you through with at least that initial journey from the station to your hostel, as there will barely be any bilingual signs to greet you.
2. Plan to spend at least 4 hours in the Louvre, and spend the 5 euros for an audioguide
For those of you who love (or even like) art, the Louvre is a must-go. But the place is not just huge - it is a labyrinth. I hit well beyond my 10K steps that day just strolling around and getting lost in the complex. If you don’t plan on coming back to Paris soon and want to check out the Louvre as much as possible, the 3DS game console-audioguide is incredibly informative, as it not only gives you info on art pieces but tracks your location in the museum at real-time and gives directions to art pieces you search up.
3. Walk along the Seine if you plan to walk to sites at night
The Seine is pretty much a straight line that divides Paris into a northern and a southern half, so it serves as a natural rough compass. One night I was determined to get a nighttime picture of the Eiffel Tower (see #4) after seeing it light up from the Louvre grounds, so I walked along the Seine at 10pm all the way from Notre Dame to the Tower (at the opposite end of the city) and didn’t feel unsafe once. Parisians are lovers of nighttime river revels, and the entire path was well illuminated throughout. You can’t get lost if you’re just going straight. But that said, take the time to get lost in the winding streets during the day - you'll always get to a place you want to go even if it was not your original destination.
4. Go to the Eiffel Tower at night
I was so pleasantly surprised when I stepped into the grassy clearing in front of the Tower and was greeted by a scene of people illuminated by faint street lights, some sitting on the ground drinking beer, some, but all chatting merrily. The atmosphere was very different from the capitalism of the Tower in the day. It was crowded yet intimate, and despite being alone, I felt warm.
5. To save some cash, take out from local bakeries and eat at student hang-outs
For those of you who are money-conscious (or broke), eat more meals from local bakeries. With some gesturing at a small bakery near Notre Dame, I managed to get a meal of a foot-long baguette sandwich, two croissants, and a drink that cost less than 10 euros and carried me well through my lunch-by-the-Seine and my afternoon walks.
For my last dinner in Paris, I went to a restaurant in the Latin Quarter called Chez Gladines on Saint-Germain. It was full of 20-30 year olds, but student-friendly means cheap and LARGE proportions. For around 20 euros, I basically got two meals (a pot of escargot with baguette plus a huge chicken liver salad), and that is cheap for Parisian prices. I wish I discovered the place before my last meal in Paris, but it was a great way to end my trip. Plus, you get more local color from these places than your typical tourist traps.
But lastly,
Be sure to take your time and just stand somewhere and take in the scene. There are a lot of see, but the atmosphere is one of the most prized sights of them all.
