Hi everyone!
I'm going to paris alone for the first time, I've been there some years ago but i was too little to really hang around on my own so i don't know much about paris itself.. so i was wondering which is a rather "safe" zone to stay,maybe not to far from the city centre, could you help me please?? 😊 i found a nice hostel, at least it seems so, in rue oberkampf,near place de la republique..what do you think?can i go around at night without being robbed or else? thank you very much guys!
Reply to this Hello Elisabetta 😊
Yes, Place de la Republique is dead center. Once you get in the city departments with double digits, you have to pay attention, but the inner city is as safe as any city in my experience and from what I've heard.
Mel
Reply to this I'll second the recommendation about arrondissements in the double digits being slightly less safe. Where you have chosen sounds just fine. I have been to Paris several times and I just take the same precautions that I would take at home as a single woman. If you stay away from quiet areas and stick to busier places you should not need to worry about being robbed. Unfortunately that can happen anywhere but like I say, take the usual precautions, and follow your common sense, if you feel uncomfortable somewhere, go back to somewhere where there are more people. I don't worry about travelling around Paris city centre on the Metro in the evening in central areas however I would avoid going too far out on my own at night.
Reply to this I did two weeks in Paris November and December 2008, alone. I stayed in the 11th and walked everywhere; averaged 10 miles a day. I had a great time and never felt unsafe. Paris is amazingly and walking around you see so much more. I did sometimes take the metro to get back to the hotel in the evening, but even walking in the dark was not problematic.
Reply to this HI Hkpowell
How's the weather in Nov and Dec? I'm planning to go to planning in Oct/Nov this year, alone and first time too. btw, where to go in paris apart from shopping area? I'm planning to go to france for about 5 days, thinking about to go to the southern/like Nice, wouldnt it be too hurry?
Reply to this Hi Shiry,
The weather was cold but generally clear. I was there two weeks and had one day that was significantly rainy. I spent the day doing museums and such. There is so much to see in Paris that filling 5 days will only leave you hungry for more. Get a decent street map and a guide book and go for it. I also carried a compass which helped to orient me since the streets radiate from a multitude of "places", like starbursts. I'm not a huge fan of art museums, but some are well worth visiting for the architecture and historical significance: The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, The Orangerie, The Pompidou Centre, The Cluny. If you can do it, take a full day to visit Versailles. You can purchase a Passport for Versailles from one of the train stations that includes round-trip train ticket and admission to more than you'll have time to see. It is truly fantastic. For amazing architecture and views of the city, be sure to visit Notre-Dame including its tower, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and go to the top of the stairs, and Sacre Coeur. One of my favorites sites was the Pantheon, the sheer size is awe-inspiring and don't miss the crypt downstairs. The Catacombs are fabulous. If you don't mind the Catacombs, then you are ready for Pere La Chaise cemetery in the 11th - that's where Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf now reside as well as many others.
Walking around you'll find tons of shopping. During December there were a number of Christmas Markets setup throughout the city - crafts, imports, local goods, light, hot wine, candy, specialty items. Many neighborhoods have regular street markets one or two days a week. Some of the best shops are little boutiques that you won't find in any guide. Paris is an incredibly pedestrian-friendly city.
So let me get to answering your question about how to spend 5 days. Stay in Paris. Everyone wishes they had spent more time there. So stay, there is more to see than you can possibly do in 5 days and why waste time going from Paris to the south? Plan another trip where you can spend time in the south. In fact I'm going back in two weeks.
Reply to this I would recommend checking out www.contiki.com, they have long trips as well as 2-4 day trips which make travel safe and fun because you meet people while you're there! You might even end up traveling with them again. I would definitely recommend them if you're going to be in Paris for a few days and if you want to see more of Europe you can add the few nights in Paris onto a longer trip! It's a really amazing way to travel, I went to Greece with Contiki and had the best trip of my life. I'm going back to Europe with them this summer! I hope everything works out for you!!
Reply to this In this URL http://www.ruba.com/guide/Donna_Cornelius/5_Places_to_See_in_Paris, a user who has gone to Paris before has created a guide of all the "safe" places in Paris. It's great, I used it on my trip Paris, and diddn't get mugged. Though you should know there is no "safe" place anywhere, we could....die....or get mugged.
Reply to this Definitely be careful where you plan to stay. My first time in Paris alone I was so proud of myself for finding a cheap hotel online in the middle of the city. Until my French friend told me it was in the middle of the red light district. As he was going to show me around anyway he kindly booked a room in the same hotel so i wouldn't be walking alone in the area at night. I didn't have any problems.
Reply to this The red light discricts are often not so dangerous in Europe. They are often just part of the rest of the night life in a certain part of the city. Not a place I would stay if I was travelling with a child, but for adults it can be safe, depending on which city you are in.
Reply to this If I were you, I would stay in the 1 digit arrondissements.
And among them, for sure, the 4th gay district: very lively and central. But a bit expensive...
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