Best Hotels in Paris for Solo Travelers: Reader Recommendations

If now is the time to visit Paris (read Solo Travel Paris on a Budget: Now Is the Time), the question is where to stay. What are the best hotels in Paris for solo travelers? Which arrondissement (I explain these further down) should I choose? What about hostels? And, in an expensive city like Paris, how much do I have to budget?

Of course, the answers to these questions will be different for each one of us. We all have different priorities when visiting Paris. We have different ways of spending money. This is why we went to our community to ask for their recommendations for the best Paris accommodation for solo travelers.

Fortunately, their answers ran the gamut from budget to luxury.

How much does it cost for a hotel in Paris? Anything under US$100 is super budget accommodation. When it comes to luxury stays in Paris, as you would imagine, the sky is the limit. However, in our recommendations below, we have tried to put a limit on the price to get you the best value for your money.

Where to Stay in Paris: Choose an Arrondissement

Let's start by giving you the lay of the land in Paris.

The city is divided into 20 arrondissements which appear to a traveler's eyes to be neighborhoods. In fact, each has its own mayor, town hall, and attractions. There are 14 arrondissements on the Right Bank (north of the Seine) and 6 on the Left Bank (south of the Seine).

The 1st Arrondissement is on the Right Bank and is full of some of the most popular attractions for a first visit to Paris. Here you'll see the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Royal Palace, the Tuileries Gardens, the Conciergerie, the Louvre Museum, and the Seine River. You don't need to stay in the 1st to enjoy the city, but if you want to be close, I would recommend the Hôtel L’Echiquier Opéra Paris.

Le Marais is a fashionable district in the 4th Arrondissement on the Right Bank, also known as SoMa (South Marais). Explore boutiques, galleries, including the Musée Picasso, and gay bars. To stay in Le Marais, consider the highly-rated Hotel Saint-Louis en L'Isle.

The 10th Arrondissement is also on the Right Bank and the location of the Canal Saint-Martin district, which is highly recommended for a local, Parisian experience. The Gare du Nord railway station is in the 10th Arrondissement as well, which is great as it is your gateway for trains to and from Charles de Gaulle airport.

The Left Bank also has major attractions for a first Paris visit, including the Eiffel Tower, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Pantheon. Hotel Amelie is a reader recommendation for a place to stay in the 7th Arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower and Musée d'Orsay.

While the Right Bank is best known for artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Left Bank is known for jazz, the Latin quarter, and writers, artists, and philosophers for the same time period. Gertrude Stein's residence, a magnet for artists of all types, was located in the 6th Arrondissement on the Left Bank. Hotel Esmeralda is another reader recommendation for the Left Bank. It is close to Notre Dame Cathedral and the famous bookstore, Shakespeare and Company.

Each arrondissement of Paris has a lot to offer. It is a very walkable city and, if the distance is too far, the Metro is incredibly efficient.

If you're ever unsure as to which arrondissement you are in, simply look at the street signs. Above the street name you'll see, for instance, “8^e Arr”.

Budget to Luxury: Hotels in Paris for Solo Travelers

There are not many hotels under US$100/night in Paris. I didn't come up with one I could recommend. But we start this section with a reasonably priced hotel at US$104/night, which isn't bad. You can also check the hostel section below if you want to get the price down further.

As for the upper end, I interpreted the concept of luxury to mean a full-service hotel. I don't think people looking to spend thousands of dollars a night are researching their own accommodation.

The prices/night quoted below are all for October 2nd, 2022, for one night or one week later if the 2nd was not available.

1. Libertel Canal St. Martin Hotel Reader recommended It’s in the 19th Arrondissement, “2 stops from Gare du Nord and 2 minutes from metro stop Jaurès. I have stayed there many times on my own and it’s great value for money. There’s a supermarket right next door to it. Also a brasserie, a café, a cocktail bar, and several bakeries. The area is safe for a solo traveler.” US$104/night
2. ibis Paris Gare du Nord Château Landon Reader recommended “I've stayed at many ibis hotels in Europe. They are not exciting but they are predictably adequate and affordable. I chose this one in the 10th Arrondissement near the Gare du Nord as it's a practical choice if arriving or departing Charles de Gaulle Airport.” US$121/night.
3. Hotel Esmeralda Reader recommended “This is a small, quirky hotel with a spectacular location (5th Arrondissement), steps from Notre Dame and Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, right on the Seine in the heart of the Left Bank, within walking distance of many of Paris’ historic treasures. It's also within easy walking distance of several Metro stations.” 4 Rue Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, Paris. US$141/night.
4. Hotel Perreyve Reader recommended “Small hotel with single rooms with a good sized ensuite and a lovely breakfast room in the lobby. The people are wonderful. Easy walk to the Metro and a block away from Jardin du Luxembourg.” 6th Arrondissement US$160/night.
5. Hotel Amelie Reader recommended “Located in the 7th Arrondissement, a mere 10-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. Surrounded by tons of restaurants, cafés, bars, Metro stations and stops. Also, it’s just a short walk to the Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre. They have a fantastic breakfast, buffet-style. Very small hotel but packed with modern amenities in each room, including flat-screen TV, modern bathroom, comfortable bed, and a mini-fridge with some drinks. And there’s a strong Wi-Fi signal in each room.” US$237/night.
6. L'Hotel des Batignolles Reader recommended My small ensuite double room was 105€ and this hotel is in my favorite arrondissement in Paris (17th, Batignolles). It’s a very safe area with lots of nice little restaurants. Skip the breakfast and instead go to the bakery that is across the street and get a coffee down the road at Café Dose. US$244/night. The hotel has a lovely garden.
7. Hotel Brittany Opera Reader recommended “I’ve stayed in a “cozy” room here before and got a discount for staying over a week. Decent buffet included.” 9th Arrondissement US$265/night.
8. Hotel Saint-Louis en l'Isle In the exciting Marais district in the 4th Arrondissement, it is 250 m from Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris and the Latin Quarter. US$266/night.
9. Hôtel l’Echiquier Opéra Paris is a Sofitel property on a side street in the 10th Arrondissement away from the crowds and noise but close to Paris' highlights. It's also just a couple of blocks from the bustling Montorgueil Quarter where Parisians really live. It's a full service hotel built in the 1850's and decorated in a beautiful Belle Époque style. It has a birdcage lift going up the center of a circular staircase. It's a real treat! US$320/night.

Paris Hotels with Single Rooms for Solo Travelers

Choosing a hotel with single rooms is not necessarily less expensive than one with double rooms. However, while you might lose by having a smaller room, you might also gain with a more elaborate hotel. This requires comparison shopping based on your preferences.

• ibis Styles Paris Cadet Lafayette Located in the 9th Arrondissement near the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann and less than a kilometer from Montmartre, the ibis hotel is a mid-market hotel that offers single rooms for solo travelers. Standard single room US$131.
• Mercure Paris Opera Garnier Hôtel & Spa Set in a Haussmann-style building in the 8th Arrondissement, the hotel is just 500 meters from the Opéra Garnier. Classic single room US$172.
• Hotel Prince Albert Concordia A modern hotel located in the 12th Arrondissement in the southwest of Paris near the Jardin des Plantes, Notre Dame, and Gare de Lyon. Standard Single room US$183.
• Hotel Noir Set in the 17th district of Paris, a 10-minute walk from the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées. The hotel boasts soundproofed rooms. Single room US$228.

Hostels in Paris for the Budget Solo Traveler

There is a lot of choice when it comes to hostels in Paris. I'm going to narrow it down for you by only recommending the best rated hostels in three great neighborhoods. All have the option of a single room, but they are expensive options at hostels. Unless you really want a single room and the hostel experience, I would recommend a hotel over a hostel.

• The People – Paris Belleville Belleville is the birthplace of Edith Piaf. It was once a working class neighborhood but is now a fun, multi-ethnic neighborhood and one of the best for street art. Definitely recommended. Dorm bed US$37/night.
• St Christopher's Inn Paris – Canal It's a popular hostel with a great bar overlooking the canal. Guests get a discount at Belushi's, the hostel's bar and restaurant. Dorm bed US$40/night.
• Caulaincourt Montmartre by Hiphophostels – Montmartre, on the hill in the 18th Arrondissement, offers cobbled streets, the Sacre Coeur basilica, artists, bistros, and more. This is a top-rated hostel in Paris. Dorm bed US$40/night.

Where NOT to Stay in Paris

There are so many hotel and hostel options in Paris, I think it's worth giving you a bit of advice on how to narrow down your choices.

• Stay within the 20 arrondissements. Doing so will ensure that you will not be wasting too much time riding the Metro to get where you're going.
• Stay in a neighborhood, not near attractions. If you stay within the 20 arrondissements, the museums and other Paris attractions will be only a short walk or Metro ride away. Book a hotel where Parisians live and soak in the joie de vivre.