18 Safety Tips For Solo Female Travelers in Paris

 

This post is all about the absolute best safety tips for solo female travelers in Paris (traveling to Paris alone female).

 

Traveling solo has always been on my bucket list. I have a remote job, and when I got the idea to work remotely from somewhere else in the world, I just knew I had to ask my manager.

Well, I asked and they said yes, and within a few days I had planned a week long trip to Paris as my first ever solo trip.

Whenever I heard about other women traveling by themselves, I couldn’t help but think about how badass and brave they were. And I wanted to experience that same feeling. I wanted to challenge myself in that same way. And I am so glad I did.

Going to the city of light solo was something that made me feel equal parts excited and scared. I am definitely someone who tends to be a little paranoid and worry a lot, so this trip was very much out of my comfort zone.

But I’m here to tell you that if you’re anything like me, you can absolutely travel to Paris safely AND have the time of your life. Sometimes you just gotta do things scared!

By the way, this post is specifically about safety tips in Paris, but you can definitely use most of these tips no matter where you plan to travel alone!

 

Is Paris safe for a woman alone?

Yes! As a female solo traveler in Paris alone, I had a great experience. Throughout this post you will read about a few instances that I experienced that were a little weird, but I never legitimately feared for my safety.

So if you ask me, “is Paris a safe city to travel alone?” I’d say, yes – absolutely. As long as you take the necessary precautions (and I think this post will help you a LOT), Paris is one of the best places to travel to alone.

 

Where to stay in Paris as a solo traveller?

I think one of the best things I did was stay in the Latin Quarter, which was an area located in the 5th and 6th arrondissements (neighborhoods) of Paris.

Paris is a big city and in the Latin Quarter specifically, there were so many people around at all times, and so many nearby restaurants and cafes, that I truly always felt safe here.

It was the perfect place and a safe area to stay!

For solo female travelers, staying in the Latin Quarter is a great idea.

Now let’s get in to the safety tips!

 

The Best Safety Tips For Solo Female Travelers In Paris

Here are all the tips you need if you are planning to travel solo to Paris as a female.

 

1. Stay in a Hotel instead of an Airbnb

This tip may be a bit controversial, but it’s what I did to make me feel safer which is why I want to share it!

When I solo travelled to Paris, I decided to stay in a hotel instead of an Airbnb or an apartment, and I am so glad I did.

Staying in a hotel was a little more pricey, but it was worth it to me because I wanted to stay somewhere where there was a 24 hour concierge service/front desk that was always there in case I needed them.

I didn’t want to have to deal with the possibility of being locked out of an Airbnb, or worse – arriving to Paris by myself and being totally ghosted by Airbnb owners.

That has never happened to me, but I know people this has happened to, and I didn’t want to take that risk being alone and all.

I stayed at Hotel Le Lapin Blanc in the Latin Quarter of Paris (which was also right by the Luxembourg Gardens), and it was absolutely wonderful.

I felt completely safe, the hotel staff were so nice and quick to give recommendations, and I would recommend this hotel 10/10 to any female solo travelers interested in going to Paris.

 

2. See if you can take the RER train to where you’re staying

Because this was my first time traveling solo, I didn’t really want to take Ubers or Taxis by myself. Even in the United States, I don’t really like being in a car by myself with someone I don’t know.

So when it came to planning Paris, I started researching alternatives.

The best thing I came across was the RER train. This train can take you from the Charles De Gaulle (CDG) airport to multiple spots all around Paris.

So I wouldn’t have to take a Taxi by myself from the airport to wherever I was staying, I strategically chose a hotel that was a short walk from one of the RER train stops.

This way, I could take the train from the airport to my hotel, and not have to take an Uber or Taxi by myself on the long ride from the airport to the hotel (CDG airport is kind of far from the Paris city center).

Personally, I felt pretty safe using Paris’ public transportation.

The RER train one way cost me just over 10 euros. Sure, it might take a little longer, but I was willing to do it if it meant feeling more comfortable and safe.

 

3. Use a bag that is secure and close to your body

In preparation for Paris, I did read that there are a decent amount of pick pocketers, so I knew it was important that I had a bag with a zipper that I could keep close to my body at all times.

I used this Lululemon fanny pack and it was absolutely perfect. It’s a great bag for keeping your items close to your chest at all times. Because of this bag, I always felt like my items were secure on my trip.

 

 

4. Avoid making extended eye contact with strangers

I noticed pretty quickly that if you make eye contact with strangers for too long that they almost took it as an invitation to come speak to you.

I’m a really curious person by nature and love to people-watch, but I learned quickly that it’s best not to look people in the eye when you are traveling alone, unless you are trying to talk to strangers.

 

5. Share your location with loved ones

Before I left for my trip, I made sure to share my location with all of my family and my close friends. This way, in case anything went wrong, they would know where I was.

They could also track me, too, if ever I forgot to update them on where I was going or what I was planning on doing that day.

 

 

6. Keep loved ones updated on your travel plans

Paris is 6 hours ahead of the East Coast, USA time, so oftentimes, I practically got a full day in before my family and friends were even awake!

Because of this, I always sent a text to update my family on where I was or what I was planning on doing that day – even if it was 2am in the morning their time.

Not only is this a good safety measure to practice, because it lets people know where you’re going to be, but it also gave my family peace of mind.

Prior to my trip, I also created an itinerary that I shared with my family. In my itinerary, I include my flight details (the airline(s), dates and times of departure and arrival), hotel details (name of hotel, address, and phone number) , and a schedule of activities that I was planning to do while there.

The more information you can share, the better. This way, people generally know where you are and what you’ll be doing on the days you are abroad.

 

7. Don’t share too many details with strangers

There were a few times that I was in conversation with strangers. One time in particular, I was at a small venue for a Jazz concert and an older man sat next to me.

I’m pretty sure he was totally innocent, but he did ask me a few more personal questions like how long I was traveling for and why I was traveling in Paris. I gave him very vague answers like “just a little while” and “I’m here for work” – which wasn’t completely true.

I actually told a few people that I was traveling for work. I liked this answer because it makes people think that you might be traveling with others from your work and that your work is aware that you are in Paris in general.

All that to say, use common sense and don’t share personal details with strangers. They don’t need to know what you are up to, and you shouldn’t feel bad about communicating in a more standoffish way if you don’t feel like talking to someone – you have to put yourself and your safety first.

 

8. Have good access to cellular service

Make sure before you go on your trip that you feel confident about your cellular service/whatever data you will be using when you are abroad.

If you’re going to be relying on your phone to give you directions, you don’t want your data to run out when you’re miles from your hotel or Airbnb and not sure how to get home.

Make sure that you feel good about your cell phone provider’s wireless service – you want to be able to use this and rely on it in times of need.

Another option to always be mindful of is that the cafes and restaurants usually always have wifi! So if you need internet service and don’t have it, just dip into a cafe, ask for their wifi login credentials, and access their internet.

 

9. Look up directions and screen shot them

A good tip – just in case your cellular data fails you at any point – look up directions for getting to and from wherever your going before you leave and then screenshot these directions and saving them on your phone.

This way, if your cellular data does fail you, you have a reliable backup plan.

Side note – download the Moovit App if you want the best, most simple directions for navigating around Paris. I used this app while there and I loved it!

You can put in your exact location and your desired destination, and the app will tell you the best way to get there, whether you want to walk, take the metro (underground trains), take a taxi, etc.

The Moovit app was super easy to use and SUPER helpful!

 

10. Download Google maps

Before I left for Paris, many people suggested I download Google maps. This is another great way to protect yourself if your cellular data goes out (or if you decide to travel without cellular data in general).

By downloading specific Google maps and areas on your phone, you can always pull up these maps if you don’t have service.

 

11. Be mindful of your alcohol intake

When traveling alone, it’s a good idea to always be in the best state of mind possible.

You have to be alert and aware of your surroundings, and if you drink too much alcohol, your judgment and therefore your ability to protect yourself will be inhibited.

Don’t take a silly risk like getting drunk by yourself in a place you’re not familiar with – you want to be able to navigate back to your place of stay as safely as possible.

Personally, I never drank more than two drinks in one sitting, and even that was rare. I typically stuck to a glass of wine or one cocktail when I went out to dinner, just to be safe!

 

12. Avoid walking alone at night unless there are a lot of people around

I stayed in the Latin Quarter of Paris, and always felt very safe here, even at night.

That’s because there were always a bunch of people around, and I felt that the streets were pretty well lit so you could see your surroundings easily.

Another aspect of the Latin Quarter that gave me a lot of confidence at night was that there were so many young, French women my age walking alone by themselves at night.

This told me that if they were all walking alone, that this must be an area where I could feel safe walking alone, too.

I still didn’t let my guard down, though.

There was one instance where I had to walk back to the metro at night time on a street that wasn’t very populated.

Instead of just taking a chance and braving it, I asked a girl my age that was working at the restaurant I ate at if that particular street was okay to walk down.

She told me with confidence that yes, it’s safe. And that she walks down that street all the time. She actually told me to “put my head down” and essentially walk with purpose – so that’s what I did.

It ended up being fine, of course!

Asking her if the street was safe to walk down gave me a bit more information and therefore, a bit more confidence to walk there at night.

 

 

13. Get a suitcase with a lock on it

When I arrived at my hotel in Paris on that first day, I got there a little before check-in so my room wasn’t ready. I was super hungry so I wanted to get food, but I didn’t want to carry around my luggage wherever I had to go.

The hotel staff offered to watch my bags for me. I knew this would be a safe option, but I felt even more OK about leaving my belongings with them because my suitcase had a lock on it.

I got this suitcase for Christmas last year, and I absolutely LOVE it and its locking system! I highly recommend this suitcase if you want to keep your belongings as safe and secure as possible.

 

 

14. Use airpods to listen to directions on your phone

If I was using my phone to get directions from somewhere via Google maps, it really helped to hear where I had to turn next.

But… I didn’t want people around me to hear the directions and realize that I didn’t know where I was going. I also didn’t want to keep looking down at my phone while I was walking.

So instead, I popped in my airpods and listened to the directions that way.

Just be sure not to have the sound on too high. You still want to be aware of the sounds around you so that you can be as aware of your surroundings as possible.

Side note – whenever you are walking around trying to get somewhere, make sure your facial expressions don’t scream “I’m super confused and have no idea where I’m going”.

Make sure that, even if you aren’t totally sure which way you are going that you don’t look like that. It’s best not to let others around you know that you are confused or unsure.

 

15. If you are approached unwantedly, give a firm “no” and walk away

I was approached a few times by both men and women when I was in Paris.

Once was in a train station by a few guys that looked like they were just hanging out there. I simply ignored them and walked away, and that was that.

Another time, I was approached by a woman with a clipboard at the Eiffel Tower. I had read about these types of common scams near major tourist attractions before going to Paris, so I knew what to expect. She asked me if I spoke English. I responded “No” and walked away.

The last time was by a guy hanging out with his friend at a small square when I was walking to a metro stop. After I made eye contact (whoops…) he approached me and asked me if I spoke English. I said “No” again, and that was that.

I didn’t deal with anyone being persistent. Once I said “No” and/or walked away, the interactions ceased.

If I sound harsh, I don’t mean to. When you’re alone, you and your safety are #1.

I felt I could easily tell if something was a little weird or if someone genuinely needed my help. There were a few times people asked me to help them with directions, and in all of those instances, I could just tell it wasn’t people trying to pull a fast one on me.

Again, just use your common sense and intuition – if something feels a little weird, it probably is.

 

16. Keep your devices charged

Something that was a little nerve-wracking at times was when I didn’t have my phone or my airpods charged all the way.

For example, there was a time or two when I needed my phone for directions, and because I had been out and about all day and maybe didn’t charge my phone properly the night before, I’d be at like 5 or 6%.

This was very nerve-wracking when all you want your phone to do is last until you get back to where you’re staying safely.

Just take it from me and make sure (even double check!) that you are keeping your devices charged as much as possible.

 

17. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it

If you feel uncertain – maybe your phone just died and you’re not sure the direction of your hotel. Or maybe you aren’t sure how to use the machine to get metro tickets. Whatever the case may be, don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

The best people to ask, in my experience, are people who are working nearby (versus a bystander) or a female who looks about your age.

People (in my experience in Paris, anyway) are generally very friendly and helpful – so if you need to ask someone for help as a last resort, don’t hesitate.

 

18. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, trust your intuition

The last tip for a solo trip to Paris is simply to just trust your intuition. If you get a sense like something is wrong, trust it and get yourself out of that situation as quickly as possible.

When you are in a new place by yourself for the first time is not the time to be taking any risks or suppressing feelings of uncertainty or even fear.

Trust your gut. Your intuition is there to protect you!

 

Overall Thoughts

Is Paris a safe place to go? Definitely! These are just a bunch of precautions I personally took to feel safe for my first solo trip.

I don’t mean to invoke fear or make you think Paris isn’t safe in any way, it’s just important to go prepared and be careful. But you know this!

I truly had the most beautiful and magical time in Paris by myself. I got to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

The trip was also very empowering. I now know I am capable of solo travel in a brand new-to-me country – I feel like because of this trip, my confidence in myself has grown tremendously.

It makes me wonder what else I am capable of, and I am sure once you travel solo that you will feel the same way.

If you end up traveling solo to Paris, I hope you have the BEST time 🙂

 

This post is all about the absolute best safety tips for solo female travelers in Paris (traveling to Paris alone female).

 

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