Can you travel to Paris alone without speaking French?
I sure have, and there are thousands of other people that have done it too.
I get why you might be nervous about traveling solo. The sheer thought of not having travel buddies to help you translate is quite scary.
But don’t fret; it’s not as terrifying as it sounds. My first time visiting Paris was as a solo traveler, and I had such a fantastic experience even though I didn’t speak French.
From that incredible experience, I’ve traveled to Paris a handful of times and spent a month in Paris last summer!
We’ll talk about how to explore Paris when you speak very little or no French at all. We will cover three main areas: how to navigate Paris on the metro, dining out in Paris, and doing tourist activities.
Knowing how to do these three things will be what you need to explore Paris alone confidently.
How To Travel Paris Without Speaking French
Before we begin, let me ease your anxiety about solo traveling Paris and not speaking French. Paris is a tourist-friendly city that is more than welcoming to tourists. I mean, it’s one of the top tourist destinations in the world!
If you ask anyone where they would love to travel, I guarantee they’ll say Paris.
So, I want to clarify that visiting Paris won’t be difficult because there are MILLIONS of other tourists just like you: They speak little to no French.
The next thing is to remember French is a Roman language, so many words in French sound similar to English. Because of this, French won’t sound completely foreign to you like Mandarin or Japanese.
Even without speaking French, you might be able to understand some of the languages!
Finally, you will find that some communication is universal, no matter where you are. For example, red means STOP, and green means GO.
My point is you will figure out a lot even though you don’t speak any French.
I want to present these three points to you to ease your worry and remind you that you can go to Paris and have a fantastic trip even if you don’t speak French.
Navigating Paris Alone and Not Speaking French
First, let’s talk about how you can navigate Paris alone without speaking French. I’m assuming most of you use the metro when exploring Paris, so I will thoroughly explain how to do so.
Make sure you stay connected while in Paris. You can purchase a SIM card and have it shipped directly to your house. Your phone will be all set for Paris!
1. Get Directions From the Google Maps App
I recommend you use the Google Maps app in Paris. It works perfectly fine in France. You enter where you’re going, and then directions will populate. The first part of the directions will show you how to get from your accommodation (or wherever you are) to the metro station.
It will show the trains you must take, the stop you need to get off, and the necessary walking directions.
If you’re not used to taking the subway, download the Google Maps app as soon as possible to familiarize yourself.
If you’re in the U.S. and want to test this process out, you can enter your hotel or Airbnb address and enter a tourist attraction to see how the directions look on the app. For example, search the Eiffel Tower directions band to see the results of your accommodation.
Play around with the app and get used to it so you will have the hang of it when you’re in Paris.
2. Enter the Metro Station and Buy Your Ticket
Now that you are at the metro station, you must enter the station and buy your ticket. The metro station might be above ground or below ground. It all depends on the station.
You will then go to the ticket machine to get your ticket. There are usually three or four machines available, depending on the station’s size. Don’t worry, the ticket machines are easy to find!
You should buy your ticket from the ticket machines and avoid going to the ticket seller just in case they don’t speak English or can’t be bothered to speak in English.
There is an option on the machine for you to select English. From there, it’s self-explanatory. I included a few images below to help you. Also, at the end of this blog post, I have a video showing me using the ticket machine.
3. Get on the Right Platform
Now that you have your ticket, you need to insert it into the turnstile to gain access to the platform. Make sure you hold on to your ticket, as some stations require you to insert it into the turnstile when exiting.
Next, you would have to determine which of the train platforms is the right one for you. There is always a sign on the wall of the station with the train’s final destination and the different stops the train makes. Go back to your Google maps app to see which direction your train is going and the stop you will get off.
After you figure out the right platform, you can now go and wait for your train!
4. Get Off at the Right Stop
Do not rely on hearing the conductor announce your stop to know when it’s time to get off the train. You shouldn’t rely on the announcement because the metro stops you read on Google Maps will NOT sound like what the conductor is saying!
Reading French and hearing French are two different things.
All the stops the train will make are displayed somewhere on the train, usually above the train doors. All the future stops are highlighted in a bright light circle, while all the stops that have passed will be in dark black circles.
So you can always know where you are and see how many stops you need to go until your destination. Also, don’t worry too much, when you get to your stop there’s going to be the name of the station written on the station walls, you can’t miss it.
5. Exit the Metro Station
Now that you have arrived, you will need to know where to exit the station. You can follow where everyone else is going or look for a blue sign that says a SORTE, which means exit.
When you exit the train, you may need to do some walking, so be sure to go back to your Google Maps app for walking directions.
I hope that explanation on how to use the metro was helpful. It’s much easier than you would think. All you need is Google Maps.
Dining in Paris Without Speaking French
Next, let’s talk about how to dine out in Paris without speaking French. I hate to break it to you, but this will be your most challenging task. One thing Parisians do not cater to is English speakers at restaurants (for the most part).
First, when you enter a restaurant, ensure you greet your host. If they do that thing where they start speaking French fast and assuming you speak French, wait until they finish, and then you can say in French, “I’m sorry I don’t speak French” (désolé Je ne parle pas) or “I’m sorry my French is not so good” (Je suis désolé mon français n’est pas si bon).
But one thing you shouldn’t do is enter a restaurant and start speaking English to the staff, assuming that everyone speaks English.
That drives French people crazy!
Your entire menu will most likely be in French unless you’re in a very touristy neighborhood, for example, near the Eiffel tower. If you are lucky, you might find an English translation under the menu items.
However, the day’s meals (plat de jour) are usually written in French. Whether on a chalkboard outside the restaurant, somewhere in the restaurant or on their menu.
The solution to ordering from a French menu is the Google Translate app. I’m not joking when I say this app will save your butt in Paris.
Here’s what you do:
Open the Google translate app and click on the camera symbol. Then hover over whatever it is that you want to translate, and it automatically translates it for you. It’s super cool, and of course, you can use this app for many other things written in French when exploring Paris.
When translated, you can figure out what you want to eat on the menu and not go hungry in Paris! You can now tell your host what you want to eat on the menu. You can try to say your order in French or point to it on the menu.
Remember, the same mannerisms and phrases you would use in your home country are the same ones you should have when dining in Paris.
You would, of course, say thank you when the waiter brings your food and drinks (merci beaucoup). And you would say please when asking for something (s’il vous plaît).
Doing Tourist Activities and Not Speaking French
Finally, let’s talk about how to do tourist attractions in Paris when you don’t speak French. Believe it or not, visiting tourist attractions in Paris is very easy.
As I mentioned earlier, Paris is a tourist-friendly city.
The tourist sites EXPECT visitors not to be fluent in French. Evenmore they cater to English speakers because English is a common language.
At major tourist sites like The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, or the Musée d’Orsay, you will see that all of the information meant for tourists has a French version and an English version near it. There are usually other translations available like Spanish, Japanese, and Dutch.
But let me tell you, there’s ALWAYS an English translation. So don’t stress about it!
What NOT To Do in Paris if You Don’t Speak French
One thing you should never do as someone that doesn’t speak French is to approach someone in Paris and start to speak English, assuming that they understand you and thinking they want to talk to you in English.
It’s rude and annoying to do that. I heard that French people do not like when Americans bully them into speaking English. The truth is, English speakers tend to assume everyone speaks English or expect everyone to speak English to accommodate us, which can come off as pretty rude and entitled.
I’ve traveled worldwide and have had no trouble communicating because English is catered for, just like in Paris. And also, English is usually the common language among foreigners.
Is It OK To Speak English in Paris? Is It Rude?
It is perfectly fine to speak English in Paris if someone starts speaking English to you FIRST. Speaking English in Paris becomes rude when you aggressively push people to communicate with you in English. Forcing non-English speakers to communicate with you is the problem.
If you are having trouble communicating politely, ask if they can speak to you in English. You can say parlez-vous anglais?
If people hear you speaking English or pick up on your American accent and are kind enough to talk to you in English. In that case, of course, you can speak English.
Remember that not everyone is required to or wants to speak English with you.
Do French People Know How To Speak English?
Yes, the French know how to speak English but not as much as other countries worldwide. Around 39% or just under two-fifths of the French population, can speak English to some degree.
So, why do the French have such difficulty communicating in English?
There are a few possible explanations. First, the French education system does not place as much emphasis on learning English as other countries do. Second, the French are very proud of their language and culture. This can make them reluctant to use English, even when they can do so.
Finally, the French tend to speak English with a strong French accent. This can make it difficult for native English speakers to understand them.
So, while the French may not be as fluent in English as other countries, they are certainly making progress. And with time and practice, they will continue to improve their language skills.
I truly hope you now have the confidence to go to Paris alone with your current level of French. Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it’s a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. And also, it’s the PERFECT location for solo travel!
Just remember to be confident, be polite, and always have a smile on your face. I’m sure you will do just fine!
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