While I know there's a thousand threads on this forum for Paris suggestions, I figured I would add my own anyway. I'm American, mid-20's, male, and will be taking the Eurostar to Paris over the U.S. Thanksgiving break (27-30 November). I'll arrive very late on Turkey day, and leave Sunday afternoon. I'll be staying in Boulogne near the Marcel-Sembat metro station.

This is my first trip to Paris and I know I will be wanting to see the popular sites such as Arc de Triumphe, Montmarte, Notre Dame, Napolean's tomb, etc. I like scenic views if the weather is right, and it looks like the Tour Montparnasse skyscraper and the towers at Notre Dame would be winners. I'm also Jewish, so a visit to the Marais/Bastille area would be fun I think... even found a good Falafel restaurant through the Lonely Planet encounter book.

My main question is what would be some good places to explore, and to find good food/drink in the evening traveling alone. I'm not against going to a restaurant and asking for a table for one, though would love to find somewhere where I can interact eating at a bar, etc. I would also like to find a good place to have some beers at night... I'm not much into the big club/dance scene but somewhere relatively quiet where I can once again sit, interact, and enjoy some (preferably) beers. Keep in mind my French is very limited to non-existent!

I took a chocolate walking tour and met the most incredible people. It started near Rue Rivoli metro and was brilliant. I also start each day having coffee in the same coffee shop, within two days, I was accepted and everyone spoke to me. Finally buy your local newspaper from the International newsagency and prop on a street walk cafe and read it. These are 3 sure ways to meet people and that's from someone who didn't want too, not that I minded, it was just that I was so busy at the time, regards bkkrop

I was in Paris alone for nearly two weeks and had an amazing time. I did go out with some coworkers a couple of times but since they were all there for a meeting and I took vacation after the meeting was over, they all left and I was alone. Anyway, a lot of people were very friendly to me and I had no problems finding someone to chit chat with. I wasn't out too late at night though because I was so dead tired from walking 12 hours every single day. My French is also terrible... but I try. lol

In the evening, I usually ended up over in Saint Germain. Lots of bars and restaurants over there and plenty of people around in the evening.

Food bloggers David Lebovitz (a cookbook author and former pastry chef from California) and http://chocolateandzucchini.com/ (young French food writer who honed her English in Silicon Valley -- scroll down lefthand sidebar for Paris City Guide in archives) have recommendations on where to eat and how to navigate the Paris restaurant culture (hint: reservations are almost always recommended).

Meeting the French might have a tour you can take while you're there. I enjoyed the Gerard Mulot chocolate/pastry tour, but there are other events.

As for walks, I recently enjoyed a long ramble through the 9th and 10th arrond. -- grand 19th c. Haussman Paris meets ethnic diversity.

My favorite view remains the one from the steps of Sacre Coeur. Also OF the Sacre Coeur.

Can't help you with nightlife but the above websites might. The Latin Quarter is traditionally full of youthful energy but I think the 18th-19th-20th arrondissements are the happening neighborhoods right now.

Second the suggestion to find your neighborhood cafe. You're staying in a less touristy neighborhood so the locals might be a bit friendlier to an outsider -- you'll certainly be more noticeable than in the center of town.

For a person like yourself, I think the Rough Guide Paris and the Time Out Paris would be useful in giving the advice you're interested in. Also very useful would be Rough Guide's French Hotels and Restaurants, which is basically the English language version of the French Guide Routard, and includes many Paris neighborhood restaurants that don't get in other guides. (No, I have no connection with those publishers.)

Meeting the French is a great program! I also did the Gerard Mulot tour and highly recommend it. The tour of a bakery near the opera was canceled, not because I was the only person signed up, but because he didn't speak English and I speak no French.

I rented a small apartment for 7 solo days in the 7th arrond. and had a great time. I also second the recommendations on finding a nearby cafe and using it regularly.

I've had some good times when unaccompanied (unencumbered?) walking around Montparnasse and St-Germain areas. The crowds in Latin Quarter were a bit of a turn-off after the novelty wore off, but maybe that's just me.

I too speak little French, but I keep trying and find that this is appreciated, especially when some humility is shown when asking (in FR) if someone speaks English.

I suggest getting familiar with Metro/RER, and soon you'll be zipping around Paris with confidence.

hope this helps. I jump at any opportunity to go to Paris!

bonne chance et bonne voyage,
-benzguy80

Have a great trip! I went to Paris alone for a week over the summer and had a fabulous time. I really kept myself busy - went to tons of museums and walking around and it sounds like you've identified some places you want to go. Don't discount the idea of just wandering around and giving yourself plenty of time to check out a place you've just stumbled across.

I pretty much kept to myself the entire trip, but making yourself a regular at a cafe near your hotel sounds like a good idea.

As for the Marais, many places observe Shabbat, so it's very quiet from sundown Friday 'til sundown Saturday. I really enjoyed the falafel at L'As du Falafel. You can either sit in the restaurant or get a falafel to go from the window out front.

As someone else pointed out, get familiar with the metro as well as the bus. I found the bus to be a great way to get around. The maps in the bus shelters were easy to understand.

Enjoy!

My husband and I spent about a day in the Marais on our trip last month - and it is more of a gay community than a Jewish one IMO (I'd say about 70/30 - maybe 60/40).

The Jewish museum - http://www.mahj.org/en/index.php - was surprisingly good - although certainly not anywhere near like the one in Berlin. The Pompidou is there - but I found the exhibits kind of disappointing.

Lots of singles/pairs/small groups at the cafes/bars - and it is a very active scene in that regard. Just need to make sure you send out the right sexual orientation signals. No problem on our part. We had drinks at a cafe. A male homosexual couple on our left - a female couple on our right. Great talk and no negative vibes - because absolutely no one was interested in anyone else's companion . Robyn

I just spent 10 days with my teenage daughter in Paris,,,walking and taking the metro everywhere. Also went solo a few years back,,,

3 Days will not afford you much time to walk around to everything so stick to the main sights along the Seine. Go back when you have more time AND with a partner.

Along the Seine, you can see most of the major monuments and museums without having to figure out the metro. The Left bank is for "thinkers",,,the right bank is for "spenders"!!

St. Germain has wonderful Cafes' and restaurants. The Sorbonne area is full of young college hangouts and relatively inexpensive food (compared to the Opera QTR/Fauchon/Lauderee,,,et al.

Here is my list of "must do" in a short visit

Sit in a Cafe/Cafes
Rue de Bucci Morning markets
Rue Moufttard Morning markets
St. Germain
Notre Dame Cathedral
Saint Chappelle
Opera Quarter
Arc de Triumphe
Tour Eiffel
Museum D'Orsay
Tulleries Gardens
Versailles

I don't think anyone could do all of this on a short stay. Remember - places like Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle have security screening like airports. Even with a museum pass - you will spend time in a long security line (we went to Saint Chapelle at about 4 one miserable rainy afternoon - with a museum pass - and it took us 20 minutes to clear security). I really would suggest the less famous places - simply because they are less crowded - and much less of a hassle. In terms of famous museums - the Louvre seems to have things in order if you have a museum pass. No wait at all. I am not sure what all the fuss is about with regard to the Musee D'Orsday unless you are big into Impressionists (which I am not). I liked the Museum Ludwig in Cologne a lot better because I like Pop Art (and the collection there is one of the best in the world).

Anyway - I think that rather than having people tell you you must see this - that or the other thing - regardless of personal preferences - you should decide what kinds of things you want to see - and see them.

As for food markets - yes - I would go. But unless I were going to buy my weekly groceries - I'd go to one that was near other places I wanted to see that day. Robyn

There is no security screening to enter the Cathedrale Notre Dame.

Perhaps I am confusing the tower at the Cathedral with the Cathedral itself. Here is an excerpt from a recent Tripadvisor review:

"Here are a few things I learned, not yet commented on by others--the museum pass does not give you 'advance access' to climb the tower--you have to queue up like everyone else. There is a security check just before ticket sales..."

Note that we did not go to Notre Dame this most recent trip - but did go to Saint Chapelle - where there is definitely airport-like security screening and no special lines for museum pass holders. We did have a museum pass - and it noted the lack of special access for museum pass holders to Notre Dame (I can't remember whether it was just the tower - or the Cathedral itself - or both).

FWIW - one way to avoid crowds when visiting a tourist attraction cathedral is to attend Mass. We do that - even though we're not Catholic. It is also a good way to get off your feet and rest for a while during a busy day of sightseeing. Robyn

It might be too late for this message to reach you (since you're en route to Paris or already there), but if you're looking for a neighbourhood to explore for drinks and dinner where you are more likely to meet people, I would recommend that you head to Oberkampf. (We liked Chez Justine.) It has a younger, primarily French crowd and is a bit of mixed bar/restaurant scene - perhaps comparable to the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

How early to do you have to leave for the airport on Sunday? If you have a few hours in the mid-morning, the Marais for brunch is a good choice, but if you have to be at the airport by early afternoon, you won't have enough time.