How to meet people in Paris

Want to expand your social horizons on your next Paris vacation? Here are some safe, surefire ways to meet people and share some unique experiences:

1. Walking Tours

Paris is extremely walkable, as any guidebook can surely tell you. If you want a more interactive amble through any number of arrondisements, try an English-language walking tour courtesy of Paris Walks (paris-walks.com) or Classic Walks (classicwalksparis.com). Informative, energetic guides take you back in time to the French Revolution, enlighten you on the secrets of Montmartre, usher you on a journey through Hemingway’s Paris, or share the major sites, to name just a few possibilities. One special sweet treat is Paris Walks’ Chocolate Tour, which entitles you to private tastings at some of the city’s finest chocolatiers. All walks begin and end at iconic Paris locations, so you can carry on the sightseeing with new friends.

2. Meet Ups

Want to hook up with some like-minded people while you’re visiting Paris? Consult the long list of Paris Meet Ups (meetup.com/cities/fr/paris/), gatherings of anywhere from 5 to 75 people with similar interests. Grab aperitifs with international expats, join a doubles game of tennis, attend a live music show, get your gourmand on with a foodie club, or much more. Participation is free, but you must register membership online with a particular Meet Up in order to get details about event times and places. RSVP-ing to specific Meet Up events is recommended.

3. Language Exchanges

Want to brush up on your conversational French with a native speaker? Joining a French-English language exchange is an affordable—and fun—way to do so. You and your interlocuteur meet for an about an hour, speak French for half the time and then English for the other half. Not only can you get a local perspective on Parisian life, you can solidify your language skills and learn loads of colloquialisms that you’ll never find in books. C’est nickel! Try Parler Parlor (parlerparlor.com) or Let Them Talk – Parler in the Park (letthemtalk.com/parler-in-the-park.html) for organized, weekly language exchanges.

4. Treasure Hunts

And now for something completely different…Do old maps, riddles, and literary references get you going? Do you want an adventure that takes you into the historical heart of Paris? Then you’d probably love an English-language treasure hunt, courtesy of Ravenchase Adventures (classicwalksparis.com). Join a team of daring tourists and locals to unravel clues, encounter mysterious secret agents, and unlock ciphers—while taking in iconic Parisian landmarks along the way. Ravenchase holds monthly events in Paris and can be hired for private events any time.

Photo of Brasserie de l’Isle Saint-Louis’ terrace in Paris 4th Arrondissement originally posted by Mr.Mystery

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About the author

Jessica Mordo, a New York City native, spent nine years in San Francisco before moving to the third arrondisement in 2007. After receiving a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, she worked as a writer and editor for a major travel company and then as a high-school English teacher. Now teaching English to Parisian businesspeople by day, she spends her free time messing around with a camera and blogging about life in France from a wry, American perspective.