Where To Stay In Paris As A Solo Female Traveler

Paris is one of the most sought out travel destinations in the world. That goes for singles, couples, and groups of people. Between the café culture, the endless art (the whole city is a work of art), and its walkability, Paris has something for everyone. Here, I’m going to focus on where to stay in Paris as a solo traveler, as that is my area of expertise.

Despite it being a relatively compact city, each neighborhood in Paris has a very different feel to it, and choosing where to stay can get overwhelming. Some areas are more lively during the day; some more in the evenings. As a solo female traveler myself, and someone who has been to Paris many times alone, I’m going to help you make the best decision as to where to stay on your solo trip to Paris.

In this guide, I’m sharing the best areas and boutique hotels in Paris for solo female travelers, as well as practical tips that will help you confidently plan and execute your trip to Paris. Your stay in Paris is going to filled with magic.

I’ve been to all the arrondissements in Paris, and I have gotten the general vibe of each. The highly central ones, such as arrondissements 1-7, are great to stay if you’re traveling solo because of how bustling they stay, day and night. I’ve been out at 2 am passed cafés that are still going strong with patrons enjoying the night air. In some of the outer arrondissements, you’ll get a more neighborhood feel that doesn’t have the nightlife and pedestrian traffic of the others. Walking at night doesn’t feel quite as secure when there aren’t as many people around.

Paris as a solo traveler requires a bit more intention when choosing where to stay in Paris. Some areas are highly central and well-lit with constant foot traffic, while others are quieter residential neighborhoods that may feel less comfortable for solo female travelers, especially on a first visit to Paris. Choosing the right neighborhood reduces the need for late-night travel, keeps you within a short walk of major attractions like the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame, and makes navigating the city much easier and more efficient.

Choosing the right neighborhood:

• Reduces the need for late-night metro travel
• Keeps you within a short walk of major attractions
• Makes navigating Paris more efficient
• Helps you feel more comfortable of your surroundings

If it’s your first visit to Paris, I definitely recommend prioritizing neighborhoods that are:

• Near a metro station
• A short walk to major landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame
• Have a busy nightlife
• Easy to walk around safely

Pont Neuf

From my personal experience, Paris has been completely safe. Every visit to Paris I’ve had has exceeded my safety expectations - you can read about it here. I’ve stayed is very central location, as well as lesser dense areas, and they’ve all been satisfactory. Even taking the metro late at night from a PSG game felt fine for me, though I don’t know that it’s for everyone to do that. Regardless, it’s a global city, and like anywhere, you want to be aware of your surroundings no matter what time of the day and where you are, especially as solo female travelers are concerned.

In my experience, Paris as a solo traveler feels:

• Very safe during the day, though I keep my purse close to me
• Comfortable at night in busy areas
• A bit less comfortable in quieter or poorly lit neighborhoods alone
• Very uncomfortable around any large train station, like Gare du Nord

The biggest concerns with crime are different from the US because they aren’t violent. They’re things like:

• Pickpocketing
• Scams near tourist attractions or on heavily walked streets
• Wandering into less safe areas at night alone

Staying in the right neighborhood makes a huge difference. You’ll want areas with:

• Late night restaurants and bars
• Good lighting
• Foot traffic

Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th Arrondissement)

A top area, and one that I discovered very early on in my Paris trips, is Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Located on the left bank, the entire area is quintessential Paris. There’s also a street named the same that you can walk down, stopping at the infamous Café Flore or Les Deux Magots to sit on the terrasse, sip a coffee, and do some people watching.

What to expect:

• Classic Parisian cafés and boutiques
• A lively but not chaotic atmosphere (mature and more upscale feel)
• Easy to access the whole city from here by foot or metro

Why it works for solo female travelers:

• Constant foot traffic
• Very well-lit streets
• Loads of cafés to sit and read a book or people watch
• Walkable to everything

I frequently wander this area on my trips to Paris. It is the version of Paris I dream of when Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald lived there.

Get directions: https://maps.google.com/?q=Saint-Germain-des-Prés+Paris

Le Marais (3rd & 4th Arrondissements)

Le Marais has always been near and dear to my heart because it’s where I have stayed many times during my visits to Paris. Though it’s become very trendy, it’s still in my top choices of where to stay as a female traveler. The proximity is wonderful, and the nightlife is just what the doctor ordered for single ladies.

What to expect:

• Boutiques galore, vintage clothing shops, museums, galleries, restaurants, and bars
• Very narrow streets, some pedestrian only, some that allow cars
• Mix of locals and tourists

Why it works:

• Always active, day and night, especially the weekends
• Central location and easy metro access
• Super energetic but not overwhelming to most
• Le Marais is one of the most perfect areas to stay as a solo female traveler. You’ll be in the mix of all the fun, and you’ll never be bored. Here are my favorite things to do in Le Marais.

Get directions: https://maps.google.com/?q=Le+Marais+Paris

Notre Dame at Night

The 7th Arrondissement (Near the Eiffel Tower)

Being close to the Eiffel Tower is on many people’s bucket lists when traveling to Paris. This is the right arrondissement for you, if that’s the dream you’re making happen for yourself, and I fully support this.

What to expect:

• A more sophisticated feel to the area
• Beautiful architecture
• Residential feel with fewer crowds (ironic, since near the Iron Lady)

Why it works:

• Safe and calm atmosphere
• Clean and well-maintained
• Many police officers always around (usually easy on the eyes, ladies - wink wink)
• Easy to access landmarks
• Perfect area to take professional photos if you like that sort of thing

The tradeoff is that it’s quieter at night. You have some cool spots like the bar Gatsby or things on the pedestrian street Rue Cler, but it’s not nearly as lively as Saint Germain or Le Marais. I’ve stayed in the area and it was lovely, but I like a little more action.

Get directions: https://maps.google.com/?q=7th+Arrondissement+Paris

The 1st Arrondissement (Louvre Area)

Talk about being the center of attention, the Louvre area is it. It’s got so much to offer, like Willi’s Wine Bar and Le Nemours, and you’re smack in the center of it all. Hard to beat, if you ask me.

What to expect:

• Proximity to Seine, several museums, and Tuileries Garden
• Metro stations all over
• Lots of foot traffic
• Several buskers on the bridges (a nice way to walk around)

Why it works:

• The most central
• Well connected by foot, metro, bicycle
• Near most things you’ll want to do in Paris

I find myself in the 1st a lot when I travel to Paris. Walking down Rue de Rivoli, crossing the bridges back and forth…it’s hard to beat and a great location for solo travelers in Paris.

Get directions: https://maps.google.com/?q=1st+Arrondissement+Paris

Palais Royal

The 5th Arrondissement (Latin Quarter)

It took me some time to warm up to the Latin Quarter because I always associated it with students. Over the years, I’ve really enjoyed spending more time there, and I’ll continue to do so during my solo jaunts to Paris.

What to expect:

• More relaxed feel, loads of restaurants and cafés
• More budget-friendly options compared to other central areas
• Historic streets, like Rue Mouffetard

Why it works:

• Lively but less touristy feeling
• Near Luxembourg Gardens and the Seine
• You can get active and a calm feel in the same area

The Latin Quarter is less polished than its neighbor, Saint Germain, but it’s absolutely worthy of a stay if you like the laid-back vibe of it.

Get directions: https://maps.google.com/?q=Latin+Quarter+Paris

The 9th & 2nd Arrondissements (Central, Lively, and Underrated - and My Favorites)

Here’s my little secret to where to stay in Paris: the 2nd and 9th arrondissements are two of my favorite areas to stay in Paris as a solo female traveler. There’s so much to do, but without the overwhelming number of tourists you’ll find in other parts of the city. It feels more local, while still offering endless nightlife, cafés, and things to do.

From Rue Montorgueil to Passage Vivienne, this is an area I keep coming back to again and again.

What to expect:

• A mix of locals and visitors
• Tons of cafés, wine bars, restaurants, and covered passages
• Easy access to multiple metro stations
• Walkable to major attractions

The 9th sits just above the Opéra area, and the 2nd just below it, which makes this one of the most convenient places to stay in Paris. When I stay in Paris here, I find myself walking almost everywhere—or hopping on the metro for a quick ride across the city.

Why it works for solo female travelers:

• The perfect balance of activity and ease
• Well-lit streets with consistent evening foot traffic
• Endless options for sitting at a café and people watching
• Easy to navigate, even on your first visit to Paris
• Some of the best boutique hotels in Paris
• If you want a more authentic experience of Paris as a solo traveler, where you’re in the mix of locals and visitors alike, this is one of the best areas to stay. It has that “live like a local” feel, while still being incredibly convenient and safe for a solo trip to Paris.

Get directions: https://maps.google.com/?q=9th+and+2nd+Arrondissements+Paris

Stay Near Major Metro Lines

Paris very much lives by foot and metro, and knowing which metro lines and stations you’re near is important. They’re easy to navigate once you get the hang of how they work, and you’ll find yourself taking them if you want to hop from one side of the city to the other more quickly.

Choose Areas with Evening Activity

When I’m in Paris, I’m energized at night. I’m usually staying at hotels in Paris that are near activity - no sleepy residential areas for me. Generally there is safety in numbers, and the more people out and about, the better.

Book on Main (or Near) Streets

When I’m booking hotels in Paris, I’m scouring the streets on Google Maps for what’s around it and where it’s located in proximity to popular attractions or things I want to do. You can also email the hotels for reference points to make sure it’s an area you want to stay.

Check Reviews from Other Solo Travelers

I’ve become focused on who I’m taking advice from when it comes to reviews. You’ve got to have some relativity when you’re booking things, so taking advice from similarly-minded and traveled people is important. If a grumpy man from Arkansas with 5 kids made a poor review on a place, you might want to take that into consideration and move on to a other review…

Look for Security in Your Stay

When I travel alone, I don’t book AirBnB. There have been too many stories of not great things happening with these places to make me never book them ever, but especially as a solo female traveler. Go the extra mile for yourself and get 24 hour reception at your hotel, and get friendly with the staff.

The Seine

Traveling to Paris alone has become one of my favorite things to do in my life. The number of things to do is endless, and there are so many neighborhoods to explore. When you’re booking, there’s no need to overthink it. Just stick to the areas that are central, hopping, and pick an accommodation that makes you feel cozy. After that, start exploring. You’re going to fall in love with this place like I have, and maybe want to move there like I do. Why not? Let’s live this life like the bold, brave, solo travelers that we are.

If you’re planning outfits for your trip, here’s my guide on what to wear in Paris, and if you need a general guide as to what to see in Paris, this is a great one that I wrote.

Here’s my guide on the best boutique hotels in Paris. Most located in the 9th arrondissement.

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