This unforgettable solo weekend in Paris has easily become one of my favorite travel experiences of the year. On my third visit to the City of Love, I chose to venture off the beaten path, dedicating my time to discovering its hidden museums. Spending three days exploring Paris on my own was pure joy from start to finish.

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Solo Weekend in Paris

Traveling to Paris Solo

Although my unforgettable solo weekend in Paris happened back in January, I still feel a spark of wanderlust every time I reminisce about it. Paris is famously hailed as the ultimate romantic destination for couples, but to my surprise, I found that exploring the city alone was even more rewarding.

Since it was my third visit to the French capital, I decided to skip the usual tourist hotspots and instead immerse myself in the city’s quieter charms. I spent the weekend wandering through lesser-known museums, stumbling upon cozy neighborhood cafés and quirky boutiques, and simply letting myself get lost in the enchanting streets. There’s something about Paris – just one look at its elegant boulevards and you can feel its magic running through your veins.

Someone once said that waking up alone in a new city is the most beautiful feeling in the world. I never truly understood that until this trip. And, if I’m honest, I’m relieved my husband doesn’t read my blog – he’ll never know that Paris, experienced solo, felt even more inspiring than when we visited together! There’s a strange discomfort in hearing your family say how much they miss you, while you’re sipping coffee at a French bistro, secretly wishing you could stay in Paris forever.

This adventure made me realize just how vital solo travel can be. No one in my circle really understood why I’d want to go to Paris alone (even though I had a perfectly good reason: I was meeting a childhood friend from Canada I hadn’t seen in a decade). In my traditional family, solo travel for pleasure is unheard of – neither my husband nor our parents have ever done it. I’m pretty sure my in-laws thought we were headed for divorce when I mentioned my solo plans!

But honestly, doesn’t that make the idea of solo travel even more appealing? For me, it’s all the more reason to embrace it wholeheartedly.

Wanderlust in Paris

When you travel with someone, planning often takes precedence over spontaneous decisions. However, the true spirit of exploring new places is all about going with the flow, especially in vibrant European capitals like Paris. Charming local shops and hidden cafes await around every corner. For this trip, I’ve only researched a few lesser-known museums in Paris; the rest of the places featured here came to me as I explored.

A few times during my solo weekend in Paris, I hopped off at random metro stations and searched online for the highest-rated nearby cafes. Making impulsive, intuitive decisions and fully embracing them is one of the best aspects of solo travel.

By and large, I have spent in Paris 3 days, but the unique experiences of this city break outnumbered those of all my Mediterranean Cruises together. You can check more details via my IG highlight Paris.

Where to stay solo in Paris

I really loved my hotel for this solo weekend in Paris – Motel One Paris Porte Doree: it was both budget-friendly and beautifully decorated. The location was not extremely central, but I felt like it was more of an advantage (since right on the other side of the road there was a huge park Bois de Vincennes, perfect for jogging or having a relaxing morning walk). Also, the metro station was close to the hotel, so sightseeing in Paris was easy anyway.

The last time in Paris with my husband, we stayed at Hotel Notre-Dame Saint Michel – a cute boutique hotel with views of the Notre Dame Cathedral. We haven´t used the metro at all (only a taxi several times), because every major landmark was close to our hotel. Living in the heart of Paris felt way less quiet, but had its perks too.

For my future trips to Paris, I have been eyeing Maison Albar – Le Diamand, Hotel Vinci Due & Spa, Hotel Jardins de Cluny, Hotel du Petit Moulin, and Hotel Louis II.

All About My Solo Weekend in Paris

My Epic Paris Weekend – Day 1

Coffee & Croissants

Since my flight from Valencia to Paris Orly arrived in the morning, I left the suitcase at Motel One Paris- Porte Doree and headed to the Paris city center.

After a quick research, I have discovered that the easiest way to get to the city center from Orly Airport was by taking the Orly Bus Shuttle to Place Denfert-Rochereau and then switching to the metro towards Porte Doree (near my hotel). This itinerary has worked perfectly for me.

Once my suitcase was taken care of, I couldn’t miss a chance to have a blue latte with a croissant at a popular Parisian Boulangerie Creative Bo & Mie Louvre Rivoli (address: 91 Rue de Rivoli). I ordered a cup of coffee to go and enjoyed a promenade along the Seine River.

Passages of Paris

My next stop was Galerie Vero-Dodat, one of the popular Parisian passages from the first half of the 19th century. These were the French ancestors of malls and were supposed to offer the clientele a comfortable shopping experience. Nowadays, most of the passages have been renovated and are located right in the city center. All of them feel so Parisian and chic.

Other unique passages to check out are Passage des Panoramas, Passage Jouffroy, Passage Verdeau, Gallerie Vivienne, and Passage du Grand-Cerf.

Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection

While I typically gravitate toward the more classy museums of Paris, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the Pinault Collection at the Bourse de Commerce. Originally a grain exchange, this space has been beautifully transformed by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando to house the collection of François Pinault, one of the world’s leading contemporary art collectors.

I was also meeting a friend from Canada during this visit. After a quick tour of the modern art exhibits, we made our way to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, followed by a stroll through the Jardins du Palais Royal. It’s a lovely spot to wander in spring or summer, though in January, it was a bit lackluster.

Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Located in a wing of the famous Louvre, this museum houses one of the world’s largest collection of decorative arts, organized by different periods: the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the 17 and the 18th centuries, the 19th century, the Art Nouveau, and Art Deco.

We only had an hour and a half to explore Musée des Arts Décoratifs before the closure, but one could easily spend the whole afternoon inside. What I especially enjoyed about this place was the vintage haute couture outfits of the iconic French designers.

Dinner at Grand Cafe Capucines

For dinner, we headed to the nearest Grand Cafe Capucines, a French restaurant with the traditional brasserie spirit. The menu was a bit overpriced, but the food was good. The Parisian-style onion soup and Normandy scallops were both delicious.

Paris Weekend – Day 2

Montmartre

On the second day of my solo weekend in Paris, I couldn’t wait to spend the whole morning soaking in the artistic vibe of Montmartre. After visiting the Wall of Love near the Abbesses metro stop, I wandered through the charming streets of one of Paris’s most iconic neighborhoods, making my way to the Musée de Montmartre. Along the way, I stopped for a delicious coffee at Clove Coffee Shop (14 Rue Chappe).

The Montmartre museum offers a deep dive into the history of this creative hub, which attracted painters, writers, and musicians from the 1870s onward. The walls are adorned with paintings from legendary artists who frequented the area, including Auguste Renoir, Raoul Dufy, Émile Bernard, Suzanne Valadon, and Maurice Utrillo. I also couldn’t resist picking up a cute guidebook, So Parisian, and a tin of La Vie En Rose tea from the museum shop.

I was lucky enough to catch a temporary exhibit on Fernande Olivier, an iconic figure in the Parisian avant-garde. A muse for many Montmartre artists, she was also Pablo Picasso’s companion from 1905 to 1911. To my surprise, the museum wasn’t crowded at all – so peaceful and immersive. Afterward, I headed over to Sacré-Cœur Basilica, where I found the throngs of tourists.

A la Mere de Famille

Next on my itinerary was a stop at À la Mère de Famille (35 Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre), a beloved and historic chocolate shop that’s a must for anyone with a sweet tooth. Established in 1761 during the reign of Louis XV, it’s one of the oldest and most iconic chocolate shops in Paris. I picked up several boxes of chocolates to bring back as gifts for my family, and of course, a special one just for myself.

For lunch, I made a quick stop at the cute local cafe La Compagnie du Café (address: 19 Rue Notre Dame de Lorette) and enjoyed their delicious French quiche.

Musee Gustave Moreau

The entire afternoon was devoted to the Musée Gustave Moreau, which has quickly become one of my favorite lesser-known museums in Paris. This former studio-home of the French painter Gustave Moreau is brimming with stunning artworks and fascinating personal artifacts. Moreau lived and worked here from 1852 to 1898, and the space has a truly unique atmosphere. One of the most captivating features is the elegant spiral staircase, which adds a mysterious touch to the museum’s charm.

I was honestly surprised at how few visitors there were – given how distinctive and enchanting the museum is, it felt like a hidden gem.

Paris Weekend – Day 3

The last day of my solo weekend in Paris started with a coffee and croissant at Au Bois Doree (address: 270 Av. Daumesnil ) near my hotel. Then I took a metro towards Musee Maillol.

Musee Maillol

This museum contains the largest in the world collection of works of Aristide Maillol. It was opened back in 1995 thanks to the enthusiasm and determination of the artist´s muse Dina Vierny. Part of the museum is dedicated to temporary expositions (during my visit it was a peculiar hyper-realism expo).

Musee Rodin

After visiting the Musée Maillol, I made my way to another popular museum just around the corner: the Musée Rodin.

This was probably the most visited museum of all the places I explored during my weekend in Paris. Despite its popularity, I was able to enter without a reservation and enjoy the incredible works of the renowned French sculptor, Auguste Rodin.

Rodin used Hôtel Biron, where the museum is now located, as his workshop starting in 1908, and later donated the entire property to the French State. The museum is home to some of his most iconic sculptures, including The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Gates of Hell.

The French Bistro

For lunch, I made a stop at Bistro du Perigord (address: 71 rue Saint-Jaques). I initially picked this place since it was close to my next stop the Cluny Museum. But the food was so delicious and homemade: I ordered the goat cheese salad and duck breast.

Cluny Museum

The Cluny Museum, dedicated to medieval art, is always a highlight for me when traveling through Europe. It’s best known for the iconic series of six enormous 15th-century tapestries, The Lady and the Unicorn.

But what really surprised me was discovering a collection of unique ceramic pottery from Manises, adding a fascinating twist to the museum’s offerings.

Emily in Paris Filming Locations

Although I didn’t have enough time to explore all of the Emily in Paris filming locations, I couldn’t resist the chance to visit a few of them along the way: 5 Place de l’Éstrapade (Emily’s apartment) and the nearby Restaurant Terra Nera at 18 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques (Gabriel’s restaurant). Needless to say, the area was packed with tourists taking pictures everywhere, but it was so cute to see those spots in real life. I really enjoyed the show, even though I’m afraid to openly admit it to my French friends (since they all think it’s such a pointless cliché series).

On the way back to the hotel, I stopped by the Boulangerie Anthony Bosson (address: 254 av. Daumesnil) to buy my last Paris sweet treat before going back to Spain the next morning.

Also, in the evening I met up for dinner with a friend at Juste – La Brasserie (address: 66 av. du Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny), where I enjoyed a delicious truffle pasta Mafalda.

Inspiring Paris Books

Free magazine download

In the airport, I discovered a free Paris magazine with local events and restaurants that one can easily download online for free – Paris Vous Aimes.

Guidebooks and Coffee Table Books about Paris

The Paris Guidebooks I loved at the Montmartre Museum were So Parisian and Quiet Corners of Paris. Afterward, I researched the author Jean-Christophe Napias, and came across his other cute books: The World According to Coco Chanel, Everything (or Almost Everything) About Paris: A Petite Encyclopedia, and Paris au Calme – Calm Paris Guide (French Edition).

Even though my collection of Spain Coffee Table Books is huge, after this solo weekend in Paris I felt inspired to have more French visual inspiration at home. The books I plan to get before visiting Paris next time: The Little(r) Museums of Paris: An Illustrated Guide to the City’s Hidden Gems, Doorways of Paris, Timeless Paris: Ateliers Emporiums Savoir Faire, Paris: From the Air, Paris in Bloom, and Literary Paris.

Cute bookshops in Paris

• Shakespeare and Company (address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie)
• Artazart (address: 83 Quai de Valmy)
• Sur le Fil de Paris (address: 2 Rue de l’Ave Maria)
• Librairie Jousseaume (address: 45-46-47 Gal Vivienne)

Cool Things to Do Solo in Paris:

• French Macaron Culinary Class with a Chef (check availability)
• Perfume Making Workshop & Perfume Museum Guided Tour (check availability)
• Croissant Baking Class with a Chef (check availability)
• Chocolate & Patisserie Walking Tour with Tastings (check availability)
• 2-Hour Bread Making Class in Paris (check availability)
• Classical Music Concert in Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre (check availability)

More lesser-known museums in Paris

This certainly won’t be my last solo weekend in Paris. Even if you skip the famous landmarks and dive into the lesser-known museums, you’d still need weeks to take it all in.Here are a few hidden gems I’m eager to explore on my next visit:

• Musee Cognacq-Jay ( a beautiful 16th-century mansion, full of unique objects collected by Ernest and Louise Cognacq-Jay in the 18th century)
• Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature ( a museum of hunting weapons, costumes, and trophies from the 17th-18th centuries)
• Maison de Victor Hugo ( the apartment where the famous French writer lived with his family for 16 years)
• Musee de la Prefecture de Police ( a museum of the Paris Police history with more than 2000 rare documents starting from the 17th century)
• Muse Zadkine ( a museum dedicated to a Russsian-born artist Ossip Zadkine, who is known for the unique sculptures from wood and stone)
• Musee Cernuschi ( a unique collection of Asian art of the Italian-born politician Henri Cernuschi)
• Musee Nissim de Camondo (the house-museum of the Count Moise de Camondo, which reflects the typical luxury interior of 18th century France)
• Musee de la Vie Romantique (the house museum of the 19th-century portraitist Ary Scheffer)
• Musee Marmottan Monet ( the Parisian museum housing the largest collection of Claude Monet in the world, set inside a former 18th-century hunting lodge)
• Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris (a relatively-new museum, inaugurated in 2017, and dedicated to the French designer Yves Saint-Laurent)
• Musee National Jean-Jacques Henner ( a museum dedicated to the French painter Jean-Jacques Henner)
• Maison Caillebotte in Yerres ( a large country estate of the painter Gustave Caillebotte)

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For more Paris travel tips check my Pinterest board France Travel Stories & Tips.

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