15 Places to Make Friends Easily in Paris


 

Updated by Vanessa M in September 2023.

Making friends in Paris can be daunting. The French are a beautiful people, but the language barrier can be a bit of a challenge for visitors from out of town therefore making it considerably harder to form connections.

Technically all of Paris is a suitable place to make friends. Depending on your temperament, the queue to get into the Eiffel Tower could be the prefect place to meet your new mates.

For others, forming friendships while traveling is slightly less natural. You’re displaced, you may not speak the language and you have no idea where you’re going; friends aren’t exactly top of the list in your day-to-day survival.

Making friends – by Kelsey Chance – Unsplash

I’ll give you the advice I wish I’d gotten much sooner in Paris: it is far more enjoyable when shared with someone. Friends, lovers or family… Paris is a place where you want someone present to witness you experiencing the city, and you witnessing them. After all, it is the city of love.

Roaming the city alone is perfectly doable and highly enjoyable at that! But sometimes its nice to have someone to text to meet you at the nearest street bistro for a glass of wine as the sun descends over the Seine.

To get you on your way, here are the ten best places to make friends easily in Paris.

1. Hostels in Paris

Probably the most obvious option of the lot, hostel culture is notorious for being the best place to make friends fast! The reason being that the people at the hostels are just like you; solo, free and in search of adventure.

Most hostels offer communal areas in addition to the rooms that they rent out. In these communal spaces guests meet, mingle and interact day in and day out. Some hostels are even centered around partying, meaning you won’t have to try very hard to find drinking buddies.

The Loft Hostel, Paris – by The Loft Hostel – Sourced from their website

In Paris there are hostels available all around the city. They are affordable and usually well located or at the very least near a main metro station.

In terms of being near the more social scenes I’d recommend finding one in one of the following areas: Bastille, Oberkampf, Saint-Germain-des-Prés or The Latin Quarter. A hostel in any of these areas will have you forging friendships in no time!

2. Bike Tours in Paris

It’s no secret that Paris has an abundance of free guided walking tours going on at any given time. Past the Louvre, down the Seine, right through to Notre Dame and the university town.

Not many people take note of the many bike tours on offer as well. What’s more, nor do they consider this to be the perfect place to meet like-minded individuals and potential friends.

A biking tour requires companionship, small talk and a basic interest in the sport at the very least. You’ll be surprised how many people walk away from these excursions with new friends.

Boutique Bike Tours – by Boutique Bike Tours – Sourced from their website

Fat Tire Tours and Boutique Bike Tours are two of the better names in the business. You can easily apply to join their various tour options by visiting their websites or you can find bike tour in Paris on Viator's website.

Before the tour, you’ll meet with fellow riders at a central meeting point where you can mingle amongst yourselves until it’s time to ride. Afterwards riders often head to a nearby cafe or restaurant for a drink and snack post-ride through the arrondissements.

3. Music Concerts in Paris

The music scene in Paris is booming. It is a place that brings together both tourist and locals into a melting pot usually in the form of a concert hall or music venue. Here, spirits are high and connections are formed by the minute, between the bars, dance floor and lest I mention restrooms.

My favorite place to catch a big concert is defiantly the Olympia Music Hall over in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The venue is one of the more significant ones in Paris and hosts the bigger names of artists that come to the city.

Click here for How & Where to Meet Celebrities in Paris

Olympia Hall – by Moonik – Wikimedia Commons

I’ve only seen a few shows here, but I found the space one of the easiest places in Paris to meet people. For starters, you already have the same taste in music — so the worst is over.

Aside from Olympia Hall there are many other venues to catch impressive performances. The La Cigale is another favorite of mine along with the Paris Opera that also holds musical gatherings.

Tickets can be bought online in advance for all of these venues, or at the box office just before the shows (provided they aren’t sold out).

4. Free Guided Walking Tours in Paris

As mentioned earlier, the streets of Paris are alive with free guided walking tours going back and forth from all ends of the city.

The better walks of the bunch will take you past all of the most notable attractions of Paris. From the heart of Bastille through to the Champs-Élysées on the Left Bank in the 8th arrondissement.

Walking the city is the best way to experience the best of what Paris has to offer. It also happens to be one of the best ways to meet new people.

Guided Walking Tour Paris – by Discover Walks – Discover Walks

The pace of the walking tours tends to be glacial; this gives ample time to chat amongst your group and make connections where possible. Most people walk away from these walking tours with at the very least a list of recommendations to do around the city from a fellow walker.

You can customize these tours to accommodate the routes you’d prefer to take. Or you can join one of the prearranged ones with already organized walking routes .

5. Wine Tours in Paris

Sometimes making friends in Paris requires one to actually get out of Paris for the day. A wine tour is the perfect day trip out of the city, and requires little preparation on your part other than signing up for said tour.

The wine lands of France are extensive. France is known for making some of the best wines in the world. France is also home to the well known Champagne region that supplies the world’s bubbly.

Wine tasting Paris – by Jorge Royan – Wikimedia Commons

Not all of the wine tours in Paris require you to leave the city for the day. There are some worthwhile tours around the central city arrondissements as well. Le Marais area is known to have a multitude of wine tours to choose from where guests gather at local bistros and wine cellars to take part in them.

Bonding over wine is one of the easiest ways to make friends in Paris. The wine culture here is one that is widely celebrated and easy to bond over. All you have to do is choose between red or white and let nature take its course.

>> Find a wine tour in Paris with Viator

6. Supper Club in Paris

Joining a supper club in Paris is a good idea whether you’re in need of friends or not. They are one of the most fun evenings out that you can have in the city of lights and are treasure-trove for connection making and networking.

The most famous supper club is run by Jim Haynes and takes place every Sunday evening in the 14th arrondissement. You’ll have to book your place in advance and upon arrival you’ll be expected to make a monetary donation toward the evening. €25 is the suggested amount, more or less is also appreciated.

Jim Haynes Dinner Club – by Jim Haynes – Sourced from their website

Once in the space you’ll meet and greet people from all over Paris. You’ll dine and drink together all night long in a melting pot of conversation, laughter and activities.

Don’t be nervous to enter this space solo. You definitely won’t be the only one. Supper clubs are notorious for being the place to meet new people, make friends and even forage lovers.

Don’t limit yourself to getting into the Jim Haynes club. If this one is full there are about twenty more around the city. Some of them are even themed; requiring dress up or participation in a genre specific setting.

7. The Metro in Paris

You’ll laugh, but I’ve made some of my best Parisian friends just by sitting next to them on the metro.

At first I didn’t think anything of it. I tended to my day as I normally would and asked the stranger next to me a question of genuine curiosity. Fast forward months down the line and we are friends to this day.

The metro is a place where time is of the essence, and interactions are either genuine or not at all. The stations are distributed all across Paris’ various arrondissements. The actual stations are human hubs themselves; always things to do, art to watch or people to chat to.

Metro in Paris – by TOMOYOSHI – Wikimedia Commons

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying harass every person in your metro car until you find one who’s in the friend market. I’m simply saying keep your whits about you and look out for opportunities to offer advice, help or kindness — you’ll be surprised how far it can go.

The best part about the metro in Paris: you’ll likely never see these people again anyway! What have you got to lose!

8.  Cafes in Paris

Cafe culture is one of my favorite things about Paris. Whether people have an hour to spare or an entire day to waste it is likely they will do so in their preferred cafe somewhere in the city.

You’ll find cafes in your district just by roaming the streets until one calls your name. Alternatively you could venture to a specific one that has been noted to you via word of mouth.

Read more on; Alone in Paris: 20 Things to Do as a Solo Traveler

La Maison Rose – by Moonik – Wikimedia Commons

I personally love heading to La Maison Rose; a gorgeous little cafe in an old pink mansion just below Montmartre Hill. This cafe is a hit or miss, some days are extremely touristy, but if you can find a quite morning to spend some time here then striking conversation with willing strangers isn’t hard.

My top cafe dwelling tip would be take a book along to read in between eating and meeting people. It gives you something to do in the awkward moments and also gives you an ‘out’ should you need to get away from someone unappealing after a few minutes.

9. Hotel Bars in Paris

Many people underestimate the power of a good hotel bar and the people that it brings tougher day by day. I always imagine being a fly on the wall in the most elaborate business hotels around Paris; where people are in town for a night or two and have nothing better to do than mingle at the bar.

What’s more, hotel bars seem to come with their own twinge of escapism. An “anything goes” ambiance because no one in the space actually knows who you really are.

Bar Hemingway, Paris – by Bar Hemingway – Sourced from their website

The Bar Hemingway located in the Ritz Hotel in the 1st arrondissement of Paris is a world of its own. Once inside you lose all sense of time and space — suddenly you’re back in the 20s drinking whiskey on the rocks with Hemingway and Picasso themselves.

Spot the loners of the hotel bar and take it as an opportunity to introduce yourself. At worst you’ll share a drink and some banter with a stranger before heading your separate ways — there are worse ways to spend an evening in Paris.

10. Plazas in Paris

Public spaces are always preferable when meeting strangers. They ensure there are witnesses around at all times and that the space is notably safer.

All over Paris there are beautiful public squares where tourists, locals and everyone in-between spend their days lazing around.

Place des Vosges – by Thbz – Wikimedia Commons

Personally I love the Place des Vosges. The ancient buildings next to the grass areas are beautiful to be near when the sun starts to descend into golden hour.

People here are calm and open; they’re keen for a chat or a laugh and who knows, perhaps you go home with a few more friends than you arrived with… pourquoi pas?

11. Parks and Gardens in Paris

Visiting popular Paris parks or gardens such as Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a great way to meet people while you appreciate the natural beauty of the parks. Parks provide an opportunity for people to meet their neighbors in person and also serve as gathering places for children and adults to meet new people who like similar activities.

Photo by Alina Rossoshanska from Pexels

If you observe someone around who appears pleasant or approachable you can strike up a conversation with them. Begin with a warm greeting a remark about the park’s beauty, or a query about their park activities. “Bonjour!” you could say, for example.

Isn’t this park beautiful today?” or “Excuse me, do you come here frequently?” I’m new to Paris and like my stay here.” If you have a good chat and feel a connection then you can share contact information such as phone numbers or social media profiles to remain in touch and organize future adventures together.

12. Bookstores and Libraries in Paris

Bookstores can be excellent venues to meet new people with similar interests. They’re venues where folks may hang out with friends, study for exams, or unwind. Begin by exploring the wonderful bookstores and libraries that Paris has to offer.

Photo by fauxels from Pexels

The city is famed for its strong literary culture and there are numerous possibilities ranging from small, local bookstores to renowned libraries such as the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Some bookstores in Paris include quiet café settings where you may read or speak with others while sipping a cup of coffee or tea.

These café sections frequently hold book-related activities and talks creating a welcoming and congenial ambiance. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with folks who are in the same section as you or who are sitting nearby in a reading area. You might discuss a book you’re reading, ask for recommendations, or simply exchange literary views.

13. Join friendly dating apps

https://pixabay.com/photos/online-dating-smartphone-mobile-app-570216/

It may appear to be a forced socialization and meeting of people, but friendly dating apps remain one of the most updated methods! Meetup and JumpIn allow you to meet Parisians, debate and exchange ideas with them about your similar interests and hobbies despite the language barrier! Websites such as My Little Paris, Le Bonbon, Nous Paris, and TimeOut also provide daily promotional codes and nice outing event plans in Paris.

14. Language Exchange Meetups

Even if it is beneficial to associate with international students or expatriates keep in mind that in order to really experience the “French way of life,” you must hang out with French people and thus develop French friends. Obviously practicing your French is the best approach to making friends and assimilating.

Here is the Small Talk Phrases You Need to Know in Paris

Photo by fauxels from Pexels                                                                                                                                                        

Don’t be scared to push yourself or make mistakes (even fluent French speakers do!). You can enhance your French by participating in language exchange groups or at language exchange events. You can enhance your French while also meeting locals who want to improve their English.

15. Sports and Fitness Classes in Paris

Joining a sports team in Paris is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and get to know them quickly. Nothing fosters bonds faster than a post-game celebration (or commiseration) at the pub. There are teams for every sport you can think of, and the possibilities are endless!

https://pixabay.com/photos/football-college-field-pitch-870283/

If rugby is your thing, check out the British Rugby Football Club of Paris, which trains once a week in Domont and plays once a week. Maybe you don’t want to leave your school days behind and instead want to join a netball, hockey, or soccer team. Baseball and quidditch are also viable possibilities!

If you’d rather stretch out with some yoga, Affordable Yoga and Fitness offers English-language yoga courses throughout the week, or if you want to burn calories, Lets Ride! offers anglophone spin lessons.

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


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