Things to Do Alone in Paris: My Solo Day of Perfume, the Opéra Garnier, and My Favorite Museum

Looking for things to do alone in Paris that fill a whole day without feeling like a checklist?

On a crisp October day in 2026, I spent a full day in Paris on my own. I made my own perfume at Galimard, walked to the Opéra Garnier and lost two hours in the details, then finished at my favorite museum in the city, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.

The short answer: my favorite things to do alone in Paris are making your own perfume, touring the Opéra Garnier at your own pace, seeing the gowns at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, shopping without waiting on anyone, and ending the day with a drink near Saint-Michel. Below, I share the exact route, what each stop costs and how to get around, so you can copy my day stop for stop.

Why Paris Is So Easy to Explore Alone

Paris works beautifully for a solo day because so many of the best-known sights on the Right Bank sit close together. After my ride into the city, I didn’t take a single metro. I walked from the 9th arrondissement to the Opéra, down to rue de Rivoli by the Louvre, and across the Seine to Saint-Michel.

We were staying outside the city in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, so I scheduled a Bolt to pick me up at the house. The ride took about an hour and cost €35. You can easily take the metro instead. I just wanted to get there without thinking about it.

Where to Stay for a Solo Day in Paris

My favorite areas to stay in Paris are Montmartre and the 6th arrondissement. Both are walkable, lively at night and well connected by metro. I stayed at Hôtel Dalila in Montmartre and Hotel Saint Paul Rive Gauche in the 6th, and I’d point any solo traveler to either neighborhood.

On this trip, we stayed in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, just outside the city. It’s a budget-friendly option, but it involves a lot of commuting. If you only have one day, staying central buys you time. You can also compare hotels near the Opéra on Booking.com, which puts you a short walk from the first three stops on this route.

First time in Paris? My one-day in Paris itinerary covers the big sights on foot.

Map of My Solo Day in Paris

Here’s the full walking route, from Galimard in the 9th to dinner near Saint-Michel. Tap any pin for the address, then open the map in Google Maps to follow it on your phone.

Morning: Make Your Own Perfume at Galimard

I started the day at the Galimard perfume workshop at 43 rue de Provence, a short walk from the Opéra Garnier. Galimard is a perfume house founded in Grasse in 1747, and in the Paris studio you blend your own 100 ml Eau de Parfum in about two hours.

I walked in planning something warm and spicy that reminded me of traveling through Morocco, then built a perfume around how I felt that day instead. I named it Autumn 2026.

Lunch Near the Opéra

I’ll be honest about lunch. I ate at Chipotle around the corner from Galimard. After living abroad as a military spouse for the better part of eight and a half years, I wanted to see if it tasted the way I remembered.

If you’d rather sit down for a French lunch in the same neighborhood, I’ve eaten at Corner Haussmann, a brasserie in the 9th, on another visit. It’s an easy stop between Galimard and the Opéra.

A Quick Stop at Sephora

Everyone says to shop at French pharmacies for skincare, and they’re worth a look on a first trip. I live in Belgium and already buy most of those products at home, so I went to Sephora instead and picked up things I could still find in the States if we ever move back.

That’s what makes shopping one of my favorite things to do alone in Paris. You get to shop, eat, and change plans on your own terms without explaining any of it.

Afternoon: My Self-Guided Opéra Garnier Tour

From there, I walked to the Opéra Garnier, also called the Palais Garnier, and did the self-guided visit. I planned to stay an hour. I stayed two hours because every single detail deserved a second look.

The Salon du Soleil: My Favorite Room in the Opéra Garnier

My favorite room was the Salon du Soleil, the Sun Lounge. It sits at one end of the Grand Foyer, the long gilded hall Charles Garnier designed for opera-goers to stroll and mingle during intermission.

The room is black and gold from floor to ceiling. Gold rays burst across the dark walls and ceiling, making it feel like standing under a sky full of stars. Look straight up, and you’ll find a dragon and a salamander worked into the ceiling, and the mirrors repeat the gold in every direction.

At the opposite end of the Grand Foyer is its twin, the Salon de la Lune, or Moon Lounge. It’s black and silver, with a domed ceiling painted with night animals like owls and bats. Walk the full length of the Grand Foyer so you see both rooms, and save the Salon du Soleil for last.

You can add a virtual reality experience for an extra fee. I skipped it because I wanted to take in the building’s grandeur, and I’m glad I did. Moving through a building this ornate at your own pace is exactly why the Opéra belongs on any list of things to do alone in Paris.

Opéra Garnier Tickets and Practical Info

• Self-guided visit tickets cost €25 for adults from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and €15 for adults who are citizens or residents of France or the EEA.
• Ages 13 to 25 pay €20 from outside the EEA or €10 from France and the EEA. Children 12 and under get in free.
• Disabled visitors and one companion also get in free with supporting documents.
• The visitor entrance is at the corner of rue Scribe and rue Auber, and the closest metro stop is Opéra.
• Last admission is one hour before closing, and hours change with the performance schedule, so check the calendar on the Opéra de Paris website before you go.
• The optional 180° immersive experience on Apple Vision Pro headsets costs €12, is sold on-site only, and has a minimum age of 10.

Late Afternoon: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, My Favorite Museum in Paris

I walked from the Opéra down to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs at 111 rue de Rivoli, in the same building complex as the Louvre. If you love fashion, design, or costume restoration, this is one of the best things to do alone in Paris.

I made it just in time for La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress from Tradition to Modernity, which closed on November 1, 2026. The museum hosts a steady rotation of exhibitions, so check what’s on before you go. Even so, the highlight of my day was the museum’s regular fashion exhibit. The gowns!

What I loved most was the lower floor, where you can learn about the restoration process behind the garments. Upstairs, there’s jewelry on display, including pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Musée des Arts Décoratifs Tickets and Hours

• Admission is €15, and visitors under 26 get in free, subject to availability.
• The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the ticket office closes at 5:15 p.m.
• It’s closed on Mondays.
• Temporary exhibitions stay open late until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays and until 8 p.m. on Sundays. Check current hours on the museum website.

Evening: Drinks Near Saint-Michel and Dinner at Brasserie des Arts

To end the day, I walked across the Seine to the Saint-Michel neighborhood and met my husband and his cousin at Galway Irish Pub. After a day on my own, it felt good to share the highlights over a drink. Then we walked around the corner to dinner at Brasserie des Arts.

A solo day doesn’t have to mean a solo trip. If you’re traveling with a partner, family, or friends, splitting up for a day and meeting at night gives everyone a day they’ll actually enjoy. TRUST ME.

Tips for Spending a Day Alone in Paris

• Wear shoes you can walk in all day. I wear New Balance sneakers for city days like this one.
• Carry a crossbody bag that zips closed, like this Baggallini RFID crossbody, especially around the Opéra and on the metro.
• Get an eSIM before you land so your maps work right away. I use Holafly.
• Book the Opéra Garnier online and check the Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition calendar before you go.
• Skip Mondays for this route, since the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is closed.
• Build in time to sit. A café table is one of the best places in Paris to be alone.

Heading to Paris for the first time? My Paris travel tips cover the etiquette that makes a solo day easier, from saying bonjour to letting people off the metro first.

Packing for Paris? My Europe packing list covers what to bring in every season. Grab the free printable version below.

Things to Do Alone in Paris FAQ

Is Paris safe to explore alone?

For most solo travelers, yes, with the same awareness you’d use in any big city. Watch your bag in crowded areas and on the metro. I cover Paris safety in more detail in my one day in Paris guide, and I share the habits I use in every city in my guide to getting around Casablanca as a solo female traveler.

How long do you need at the Opéra Garnier?

Plan on 90 minutes to two hours for the self-guided visit. I stayed two hours. You can book a self-guided ticket here.

Is the Musée des Arts Décoratifs worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you love fashion, design or costume history. It’s my favorite museum in Paris.

What can you do alone in Paris on a rainy day?

Everything on this route works in the rain. The perfume workshop, the Opéra Garnier and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs are all indoors.

Why Spending a Day Alone Is One of the Best Things to Do in Paris

A solo day in Paris lets you set the pace, skip what doesn’t interest you and stay as long as you want where it matters. For me, that meant two hours inside the Opéra Garnier and far too long with the gowns at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Plan one day like this, even on a shared trip. For more ideas across the country, start with my France travel guide.

Research and Sources

• My own solo day in Paris, October 2026
• Opéra de Paris: Palais Garnier visit rates and visitor information
• Opéra de Paris: about the Palais Garnier (Grand Foyer, Salon du Soleil and Salon de la Lune)
• Musée des Arts Décoratifs: opening hours and admission
• Paris je t’aime: La Mode en Majesté exhibition