If you’re a solo woman traveler thinking of visiting Paris, you might be wondering if it’s safe to come by yourself. This is a totally valid question to ask, and as a woman who’s been living in Paris for over 20 years, I’m happy to give some firsthand and honest insight into this. On the whole, Paris is safe for solo women travelers and is a fantastic destination for solo women travelers, BUT there are some important things to know that can make you feel and be safer.
In this article, I explain all of this and give you all kinds of other super useful tips on how to have a better experience in Paris as a solo traveler. This way, you can focus on what matters – having an AMAZING trip to Paris.
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Is Paris a safe city?
What’s crime like in Paris?
Like any big city, there’s some crime in Paris, but tourists are rarely the aim of “violent” crime. France has VERY tough gun control laws, so there’s almost no chance of being mugged by an armed criminal.
Pickpocketing is the most common crime that a tourist might encounter, and you usually don’t even know this has happened until afterward, when you go to take your wallet or phone out.
Even though this sort of theft isn’t aggressive, I really don’t want it to happen to you while you’re in Paris. So I recommend being mindful of your belongings on public transit and in busier tourist areas. I go into some more detail about this in the sections below.
Street harassment
Other than pickpockets, solo women travelers, especially younger ones, might be the target of minor street harassment. This is slightly more common if you’ve got long blond hair or if you’re wearing very short shorts or skirts (cue eye roll).
I’m NOT the fashion police, you should definitely be able to wear whatever you want, BUT the French tend to dress a touch more modestly than some might in the US and UK. They don’t wear super revealing or tight clothing, so wearing that kind of thing could annoyingly lead to some unwanted attention.
This would mainly be in the form of some whistling or comments, but some guys might take it a step further by following you down the street to try to chat you up. It can be hard to get rid of these “harassers,” and as soon as he hears you’re foreign, it’ll be even harder to make him go away.
Now, street harassment isn’t super widespread in Paris – it’s more likely to happen in the “areas to avoid” I’ve included below. Most of these guys are harmless, but they can be kind of annoying and make you feel a bit uneasy if you’re on your own.
This is why you might want to try to avoid attracting these types to begin with, by avoiding certain areas and maybe not wearing clothing that’s too revealing. Again– HATE that you might feel you have to take those steps and can’t just wear what you want!
Where to stay as a solo female traveler in Paris
As a general guideline, you’ll feel safer as a solo female traveler in Paris if you book a hotel in a busy central area. This means that there’ll be people around during the day and evening, and so you can feel more comfortable returning to your hotel at any time of day or night.
I’d also suggest making sure there’s a métro station nearby to where you stay so you won’t have to walk far to get back to your hotel, which is especially helpful at night.
You can find a great selection of the best hotels for solo travelers in this article, but in my opinion, here are the safest neighborhoods in Paris for solo female travelers:
Saint-Germain
This is a super safe and central area, I’d feel safe at night even on the quieter back streets. Here are some great hotels I love in the area.
The Latin Quarter
This central district is pretty safe, especially AWAY from the touristy bit near Place St-Michel, so aim for the area around the Sorbonne and the Pantheon. You might like to stay at these fabulous Latin Quarter hotels.
The Marais
The central Marais is pretty safe and lively, so you’d feel comfortable walking the streets of this area alone. It’s quieter late at night, but well lit. Here are some amazing hotels in the Marais.
The 12th, 14th, and 15th: These are all residential areas of Paris and are very safe. So if you’re on a budget, you might find a good deal in these areas, and you won’t have to feel uneasy coming back after dark. On the other side, they are a tad further away from the center, and you’ll have to take the métro a little more. Definitely double-check that there’s a métro station close by, because they are a little further apart in these districts.
South Pigalle/Montmartre/Canal St-Martin
I would only recommend these areas if you’ve been to Paris before, OR if you go to bed early. These areas in themselves are all safe, BUT certain parts of these districts (or at the edge of them) can get a little rowdy/lively in the evening. Drunk people are more likely to be bothersome (i.e., harassing) to women who are by themselves.
Walking around Paris alone as a solo woman
Overall, Paris is a safe city to walk around as a solo female traveler, but I’d suggest doing most of your wandering during the day. That way, you’ll have a better perspective of the area you’re walking around in and can feel more carefree to explore the quieter back streets.
If you’d like to feel more comfortable exploring on your own, get a copy of my Paris Itinerary. It includes SAFE walkable routes to explore both top sites and hidden gems on your own.
Avoid walking around alone in these areas
Most of Paris is very safe, but there are a few areas I really recommend avoiding. These places often have young guys “hanging out”, and while most won’t be looking to bother you, a friend of mine did have her phone stolen out of her pocket during the day in one of these areas.
- Barbès and La Goutte d’Or: The whole east side of the 18th district, the area north of Barbès métro, is a bit sketchy. Just don’t wander the backstreets over here at all, and you should be fine. This area is to the right/east of Montmartre.
- Stalingrad: This square is between the Canal St-Martin and the Basin de la Villette (the beginning of the Canal de l’Ourcq). If you’re going by here during the day, it’s usually fine, but at night, I would seriously NOT go here if you’re alone.
- Chateau d’Eau: A lot of young guys hang out outside of this métro station, again usually at night. So, try to avoid the area right around this métro station after dark.
Stick to busier, brighter streets at night
No matter what part of the city you’re walking around in, it’s always better to stay on the larger, brighter streets. This way, if you do run into anyone who might try harassing you, there are better chances of finding a bar or cafe to seek help in or get the attention of a passer-by.
Check the directions to places before heading out
A good piece of advice while traveling alone anywhere is to check how you’re getting to a place before starting your route. You don’t have to memorize the directions, but checking before you leave your accommodation or before traveling between two sites, have a look at your phone to see how you’re going to get there.
If you do this, you’ll be pulling your phone out less in the street, which could potentially make you a target for phone theft or pickpocketing.
Taking public transport in Paris as a solo female traveler
The métro is pretty safe in Paris, but this is where pickpockets are the most active. You definitely don’t want to be pickpocketed when you’re traveling by yourself. It can be challenging to find out how to get help, figure out how to get back to your hotel, or find a police station when you’re by yourself.
So you’ll want to be a little extra aware on the métro. It’s a good idea to keep your phone and wallet in a zipped-up handbag (held in front of you) or right at the bottom of a tote bag (held tightly at your side). This way, you hopefully won’t have any trouble at all.
Although the métro is still safe at night, some solo female travelers might feel more comfortable taking a taxi or Uber back to their hotel, especially if it isn’t close to a métro station.
If an incident does happen to you on the métro, either during the day or at night, there are well-marked alarms near the door on the carriages and on the platforms. You can pull/push these to get some help. I’ve also included some useful expressions you can use in emergency situations below.
Dining out in Paris as a solo female traveler
Paris is actually a great city for eating out alone as a solo female traveler, and Ii’s totally acceptable to eat alone here. There’s no stigma around it, and you’ll likely even see some French dining alone. I also think that waiters are usually a little extra friendly when you’re alone, which will definitely help you feel more comfortable. Other diners might also start chatting with you, too.
Instead of fancy high-end restaurants, brasserie-style restaurants might be a better place for solo travelers. These are what you might think of as a Parisian café. They’re more casual eateries that tend to have a friendlier ambiance than gourmet restaurants, which is a better fit for solo female travelers in Paris.
You might also like places where you can sit at the bar, like Freddy’s, a wine bar in the St-Germain area that has creative small plates, or Mary Celeste, a wine bar in the North Marais that does seafood-focused small plates.
Image Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels
Going to a bar in Paris as a solo female traveler
Parisian brasseries are a hybrid between a restaurant and a bar, so you can easily go for a drink alone to one of those. Paris also has livelier bars and nightclubs. You just might want to be a little careful going to these alone as a solo female traveler.
French men and other foreigners in Paris can be fast movers, and they aren’t afraid to chat women up. So if you’re hoping to meet a dashing French man (or other), you actually might! But keep this all in mind in case you’re not looking for more than friendly flirtation. If you prefer something a bit quieter, try a high-end cocktail bar at a luxury hotel, like Le Crillon or Hotel Lutetia.
Also, be a little mindful of your drinks in bars and nightclubs. Date-rape drugs aren’t a big problem here, but you never know. Being alone might make you a bit more of a target. Again – it’s just something to watch out for, but don’t let that keep you from having fun.
Useful tips for solo female travelers in Paris
In addition to all the above, I’ve got a few other helpful pieces of info that’ll make you feel safer as a female traveler in Paris.
Learn these few useful French expressions
These handy expressions can really help you out in a pinch in Paris:
- “Au secours!” – “Help!”
- “Pouvez-vous m’aider?” – “Can you help me?”
- “Je suis perdu(e)” – “I’m lost.”
- “Parlez-vous anglais” – “Do you speak English?” This is just a good starter so that you can switch to English to explain your issue more clearly.
- “Où est Angela?” – “Where’s Angela?” is the French code word that lets shopkeepers, waiters, or bartenders know you’re in trouble or are being harassed. So if you’re at a bar, café, or being followed on the street, you can go into a café, pharmacy, or some other shops, say this expression and you can get some help.
Register with your embassy
A lot of foreign affairs departments allow you to register your travel online with them or they have online advice and assistance. If there’s any general emergencies in your travel destination, you’ll receive an alert from the embassy. There’ll also be a record of your whereabouts, too. Here are some country-specific details:
- USA – Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
- UK – Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
- Canada – Registration of Canadians Abroad
- Australia – SmartTraveler.Gov.Au
Take some group tours or classes
If you don’t want to do all your exploring or dining on your own, you might like to sign up for a few group tours or classes. This is a fabulous way to experience Paris in a safe setting and possibly make some friends while you’re at it.
You can check out all our articles on favourite Paris tours, but here are some that could be a good fit:
Know the local emergency number
Unfortunately, 911 doesn’t work in France. Instead, 112 is the emergency number for across Europe. No matter what your emergency is, you can dial this number on your phone and get some help. If the first person you speak to doesn’t understand English, they can hopefully get a colleague to help you.
Have a power bank with you to charge your phone
Lastly, it’s a good idea to always carry a power bank with you while traveling. You’ll likely be using your phone more than back at home, and you don’t want to be stuck without your handy map app or in case you run into any issues.
Despite the warnings included in this article, most solo female travelers don’t have any problems visiting Paris. I hope that the tips included here will make you feel more comfortable having a solo adventure in Paris.
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