Discover Paris’s 200 best spots for a Solo Travelers' trip

Maison La Roche was designed by Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret in 1923-25 for the art collector Raoul La Roche, and stands as one of the earliest built expressions of Le Corbusier's modernist principles — pilotis, ribbon windows, and open floor plans that would influence architecture worldwide. It's now run by the Fondation Le Corbusier and open to the public as a museum.

Shakespeare and Company is an independent English-language bookstore on the Left Bank, selling fiction, poetry, rare editions and its own branded titles. Beyond books, it hosts author events, podcasts and a small cafe, drawing on a literary history tied to figures like James Joyce.

Shelves are packed across cosy, winding rooms, with staff picks and themed sections for browsing.

The Salle Ovale reopened to the public in 2022 as part of the restored Richelieu site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, its elegant oval design and glass-domed ceiling making it one of the most beautiful free public spaces in Paris. It functions as both a working reading room and a striking architectural sight, popular with students and visitors alike.

The Musée de l'Orangerie houses Claude Monet's Grandes Décorations, immersive Nymphéas paintings displayed in oval rooms designed for the works. It also holds the Walter-Guillaume collection, featuring paintings by artists such as Renoir, Cézanne, and Picasso.

Set in the Tuileries Garden, the museum offers guided tours, family workshops, and accessibility-adapted visits alongside its permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Opened nearly two centuries ago, Père-Lachaise is an active cemetery spanning 15 km of paths shaded by lush greenery. Its romantic, sculpted monuments and chapels draw around 3 million visitors a year, alongside notable figures interred within its grounds.

The main entrance, built in 1825 by Etienne-Hippolyte Godde, leads into six themed walking routes. Entry is free, though visitors are asked to respect the quiet of the site.

Musée d'Orsay occupies a former Belle Époque railway station, its grand hall and glass roof forming a striking backdrop for the collection inside. The museum specializes in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, alongside sculpture and decorative arts.

Timed-entry tickets help manage visitor flow, and many describe the building itself, with its ornate architecture and large clock, as a highlight alongside the artwork.

This landscaped garden links the Louvre to Place de la Concorde, offering tree-lined paths, fountains, and statues alongside a central café. Visitors can expect a peaceful escape amid manicured lawns and gravel walkways, with occasional attractions like a Ferris wheel.

It's a popular spot for a quiet stroll or rest between museum visits.

Facing the Louvre, the Palais-Royal is a former royal residence set around a landscaped garden classified as a Jardin Remarquable. Arcaded galleries lined with shops surround the grounds, often described as a 'village within the city.' The site has long been linked to French political power and to theatre, and today hosts art installations, exhibitions and events amid its historic architecture.

The Louvre occupies a former royal residence along the Seine, displaying tens of thousands of artworks and artifacts spanning ancient civilizations to the 19th century. Its collection includes the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

The museum's modern glass pyramid entrance, added in 1989, has become a landmark in its own right.

A guided evening pub crawl visiting several bars around Paris, including jazz bars and lively spots, with drink deals along the way. The night ends with skip-the-line entry to a well-known Parisian club, with a guide keeping the group together and the energy up throughout.

Housed in Paul Marmottan's former private mansion with preserved Empire-style decor, this museum combines period rooms with an outstanding art collection. It holds the world's largest fund of Claude Monet's works alongside pieces by Berthe Morisot, plus medieval and Ancien Régime paintings, sculptures and illuminations.

Temporary exhibitions and a garden café add to the visit.

Set within the Luxembourg Gardens, this museum focuses on temporary art exhibitions rather than a permanent collection. Past shows, including one on Leonora Carrington, have drawn praise for being well organized and informative, though the exhibition space is fairly compact.

Staff are noted as welcoming, and the galleries are air-conditioned, making it a comfortable stop on warm days.

This elevated promenade stretches from the Bastille area to rue Édouard-Lartet, planted with greenery along a former rail viaduct. Multiple access points, including stairs and lifts, connect it to surrounding streets such as rue de Lyon and rue Jacques-Hillairet.

It offers a quiet, green route for walking above the traffic of the 12th arrondissement, accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

Set in the Hôtel Scheffer-Renan in the 9th arrondissement, this museum traces the Romantic era through the former residence of painter Ary Scheffer. Permanent collections, free to visit, include period furnishings and artworks, while temporary exhibitions require a ticket.

A leafy courtyard garden houses a Rose Bakery tearoom serving sweet and savory dishes year-round, adding a relaxed coffeebreak stop to the visit.

This museum recreates an aristocratic 18th-century residence, though the house itself was built between 1911 and 1914 beside Parc Monceau. Collector Moïse de Camondo assembled fine furniture, paintings, tapestries, porcelain and silverware within its rooms, offering a glimpse into an elegant private world tied to a family later devastated during the Second World War.

The museum is currently closed for renovation, with reopening planned for 2030.

This 16th-arrondissement house in Passy was where Honoré de Balzac lived and wrote several works. Permanent collections, free to visit, include manuscripts, portraits and personal objects tracing his life and literary output, displayed alongside a garden and library.

The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and a café, offering a quiet stop away from central Paris crowds.

This guided visit provides entry to the Louvre along with an introduction to its permanent collections, from ancient antiquities to European masterpieces. A guide leads visitors through key galleries, offering context on the museum's history and highlighted works.

Guided tours are also available through temporary exhibitions. Reservation is required, and is mandatory for all visitors between 1 July and 31 August 2026.

Managed by the French Senate, this garden features landmarks such as the Médicis Fountain, the Orangerie, ornamental gates, statues and notable trees. Visitors can join guided tours, free horticulture courses, family-friendly trails and games, or explore the on-site Musée du Luxembourg and Davioud pavilion.

A music kiosk and beehive school add to its varied attractions across the grounds.

La Caféothèque de Paris has focused on specialty coffee since 2005, roasting beans sourced from origins such as Guatemala. Beyond serving coffee, it runs tasting workshops and professional training courses covering coffee tasting and brewing methods.

Its shop also sells roasted beans by weight for takeaway. The space suits visitors curious about coffee culture and craft roasting.

Completed in 1919, this Romano-Byzantine basilica sits atop the Montmartre hill and is known for its striking white dome and travertine stone facade. Inside, visitors find an ornate choir mosaic, chapels, stained glass, and the Savoyarde bell, alongside an active community offering daily Mass, confession, and continuous adoration.

Its terrace and dome offer panoramic views over the city.

Verlet has roasted single-origin coffees and blended teas since 1880. Its tasting salon offers a chance to sample the house coffees and teas alongside breakfast fare, in a setting tied to the shop's long history as a Parisian roastery.

Coffee beans, teas, chocolates, and accessories are also sold on site.

Set in the Hôtel Salé, a 17th-century townhouse in the Marais, this museum holds a vast permanent collection tracing Picasso's career alongside personal archives and his own art collection. It also hosts rotating temporary exhibitions and a rooftop café.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30am to 6pm, with the third floor currently accessible only by stairs.

Also known as the Palais Galliera, this museum near Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie is dedicated to the history and craft of fashion. It holds no permanent collection display, instead organizing themed temporary exhibitions exploring clothing, textiles and fashion trades.

Guided tours, family visits and craft workshops are offered alongside each exhibition, with an online resource library including videos and podcasts.

Built in the early 1600s under Henri IV, Place des Vosges is lined with matching brick-and-stone townhouses over arcaded walkways. A central garden with fountains and lawns makes it a popular spot for picnics and relaxation.

Victor Hugo's former home, now a museum, sits on the square's southeast corner.

This museum occupies the apartment where Victor Hugo lived on the Place des Vosges, tracing his life through furnished rooms, manuscripts, and personal belongings. Visitors can explore the space as it appears today alongside insight into how it looked during Hugo's own time.

The museum also holds a heritage library and hosts temporary exhibitions related to the writer. It is one of fourteen museums run by the City of Paris.

Set in the Hôtel Donon in the Marais, this museum displays 18th-century paintings, furniture and decorative art collected by department store magnate Ernest Cognacq and Marie-Louise Jay between 1900 and 1927. Highlights include a Canaletto view of Venice's Grand Canal.

The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, talks and a café, though it is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

Le Passage du Grand Cerf is a covered shopping arcade with a tall glass roof that fills the space with natural light. Its iron-framed architecture creates a quiet, airy atmosphere away from the street.

Independent boutiques selling jewelry, home decor, and fashion line the passage, making it a spot for browsing and a short, scenic walk through one of the city's historic covered galleries.

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont is a Catholic parish church in the heart of the Latin Quarter, known for its distinctive architecture and rich artistic heritage. It houses the relics of Sainte Geneviève, patron saint of Paris, and the tombs of philosopher Blaise Pascal and playwright Jean Racine.

The church remains an active place of daily worship, with a community engaged in parish life and celebrations.

Notre-Dame de Paris is a medieval Gothic cathedral known for its sculpted portals, stained-glass windows, and towers overlooking the Seine. It houses relics including the Crown of Thorns and a treasury of tapestries, icons, and liturgical art.

Visitors can attend Mass, explore the nave and chapels, or view exhibits on its architecture and history.

This small museum occupies a former artist's residence and displays the work of 19th-century painter Jean-Jacques Henner, including numerous portraits and nude studies. Visitors move through four floors of the townhouse, which retains period architectural character.

It draws few crowds, making it a quiet stop away from busier Paris attractions.