Doing Things Alone Archives - A Merry Loner

Books on Traveling Alone to Feed Your Wanderlust

Merry — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:28:07 +0000

Stories to push you forward.

For those born with an innate sense of wanderlust, it can be difficult to imagine there are others who don’t share the same yearning to move. But for some, traveling isn’t a series of glittering memories. When prompted to pack a suitcase and brave the rails, road, or sky, be it across the world or a stone’s throw away, they see not picturesque walks along riverbanks, new aromas wafting their way, or foreign tongues catching their ears. They see long queues, packing restrictions, and suffocating crowds. Above all, they see the unknown.

The idea of traveling alone can be even more jarring. Still, even if you’re afraid of traveling alone, you might feel a quiet stirring within to test yourself and see how far you can go, both on the map and in your mind. Doing so requires quieting the anxieties bubbling beneath the surface and turning your attention to the voice of optimism pushing you forward. These books will feed that voice.

The shortlist: 4 books on traveling alone to feed your wanderlust

Instructions for Traveling West — for encouragement when travels are difficult
Wild — for courage to push yourself out of your comfort zone
The Barbizon — for inspiration to chase a dream
Roundabout to Moscow — for a reminder to always stay curious

4 books about traveling alone to inspire your next trip

The clichés of traveling are true, I fear. It, quite literally, expands your horizons and pushes you past the geography, language, and culture that have contained and shaped you. You meet new people, smell new smells, savor (or spit out) new tastes, and learn that the world and its inhabitants, customs, and philosophies are far more numerous than that which you’ve encountered—or will ever. For no matter how many flights we board or rails we cross, we simply can’t see everything, leaving many lessons unlearned and stories unread.

All this to say, traveling is always worth the effort because we always return home with a new perspective about ourselves, the world, and everything we thought we knew. If you’ve never traveled alone before and you’re hesitant to try, let these stories inspire you.

1. “Instructions for Traveling West: Poems” by Joy Sullivan

About the author: Joy Sullivan (unknown) is a poet and educator. She was the poet-in-residence for the Wexner Center for the Arts and has guest-lectured at Stanford, Florida State University, and other institutions. She now leads writing workshops and writes the newsletter, Necessary Salt.

I love this book so much that I no longer own it. I gave it to a friend last year who had recently moved into a new apartment in a new city by herself. I hoped it would give her the same balm it did me. Written by Joy Sullivan during the pandemic, this collection of poems recounts the emotional aftermath of leaving: getting a divorce; quitting one’s job; moving across the country.

As in solo travel, there’s loneliness in leaving. But loneliness is the necessary precursor to self-discovery, growth, and paths towards greater things:

“First, you must realize you’re homesick for all the lives you’re not living. Then, you must commit to the road and the rising loneliness. To the sincere thrill of coming apart.”
— from “Instructions for Traveling West” by Joy Sullivan

During your solo travels, there will likely be moments where you feel you’re “coming apart.” That means you’re on the road to somewhere worthwhile. Keep trekking.

This book is top-tier on my bookshelf. I’ve also included it among my recommendations for Books for Existential Dread, Books You Can Read in a Day, and Poems About New Beginnings for When You Need to Start Again, because when you’re short on strength and need respite fast, poetry is an always reliable cure.

2. “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed

About the author: Cheryl Strayed (1968—) is an American writer and podcast host. In addition to “Wild,” she’s written two nonfiction books, “Tiny Beautiful Things” and “Brave Enough,” and one novel, “Torch.”

A sensation of the 2010s, Cheryl Strayed’s memoir also lives on in a 2014 film adaptation, in which Reese Witherspoon portrays the author’s daring quest to hike 1,000+ miles of the Pacific Crest Trail — without training, guidance, or companionship. It’s another poignant memoir that gives credence to the cliché: Particularly in periods of transition when what we thought were constants in our lives begin to give way, voluntarily displacing ourselves (however temporarily) is sometimes the only way to regain balance and rediscover ourselves. Or as is blithely summarized in small talk at parties, “Solo travel helped me find myself.”

The loss of a parent and the end of a marriage are likely more relatable to a middle-aged audience, but younger readers can also find comfort in Strayed’s story as a reminder that the power to redesign your life and start anew is always within you. The presence (or absence) of others, though, can be a powerful force and, in some cases, the deciding factor of how we live our lives. Read How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone for proddings to regain your independence and stop waiting on other people’s permission to live your life.

3. “The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free” by Paulina Bren

About the author: Paulina Bren (1966—) is an American writer, historian, and Adjunct Professor of Multidisciplinary Studies on the Pittsburgh Endowment Chair in the Humanities at Vassar College. Born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, her early work focused on postwar Europe. In recent years, she’s turned her attention to women’s history. In 2024, she wrote “She-Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall Street.“

This book tells the story of a different kind of solo travel. Not one of visiting foreign lands for cultural or self-discovery but to begin a new life — and leave an old one behind. In “The Barbizon,” Paulina Bren tells the history of the Barbizon Hotel and its evolution from a respectable women’s boarding house to “the go-to destination for any young American woman with a dream to be something more.” Up until its closure in 1981, the women’s-only hotel hosted was a temporary home to “young women with artistic aspirations,” including names such as Sylvia Plath, Joan Didion, Grace Kelly, and Betsey Johnson.

The most courageous solo trip one can take is with a one-way ticket, leaving behind all that is familiar for the promise of a better life. Though your next (or first) solo trip may include a return ticket, the stories of the young women who journeyed to The Barbizon are an inspiring reminder to take risks, move outside your comfort zone, and actively pursue becoming the person you want to be.

Are you the person you want to be? Learning about who we are (and who we want to become) is a never-ending journey, but it helps to know where you’re starting from. These books on self-awareness can help you meet yourself.

4. “Roundabout to Moscow an Epicurean Journey” by John Bell Bouton

About the author: John Bell Bouton (1830—1902) was an American newspaper editor, journalist, and author. He also published a novel exploring male friendship, “Round the Block: An American Novel.“

Published in 1887, this travelogue captures John Bell Bouton’s journey to Russia and his experiences of new-to-him cuisine, landscapes, and people.

Without the ease of modern technologies that make it easy to feel at home even when we’re on the other side of the world, it goes without saying that traveling (and traveling alone) in the 19th century was an altogether different kind of experience than we know today. Still, Bouton’s reflections remain relatable as they underscore one of the timeless benefits of traveling alone: freedom to let our curiosity lead us. Like “Instructions for Traveling West,” “Wild,” and “The Barbizon,” this solo travel book focuses not on destinations but on the desires to begin traveling and the many complications and delights encountered along the way.

It’s much easier to let your own curiosity guide your travels when you’re not constantly tned into the voices of others. Getting off social media (or at least reducing your time spent staring into the void) makes a big difference. Learn How to Quit Social Media, without deleting your accounts, to turn your focus from algorithms to the real world.

Books on solo travel — my top pick

Poetry is always a good idea. Maybe you’re contemplating a cross-country road trip or a spontaneous trek to the other side of the world. Perhaps you just need a change of scenery, and a cozy weekend alone in the next over will do. Joy Sullivan’s poems can help you tune into heart’s yearnings so your feet can lead you where your soul needs to go.

Books on traveling alone remind us of what is possible

There’s something inherently stirring about the open road. When we move beyond our known territories (even just for a weekend), we allow ourselves to move into new ways of thinking and consider different realities. For embarking on the open road alone is as much a journey within as it is outward, giving you the chance to explore not only different tastes, sights, and sounds but different vesions of yourself.

When travel feels out of reach, overwhelming, or otherwise unmanageable, books on traveling alone remind us that it’s never too late to begin the journey. We need only the courage to take the first step forward.

Next Steps:

Choose the first book that piques your interest. Don’t overthink it (and don’t put it off and keep scrolling). Not sure where to start. Just read a few pages to start. Joy Sullivan’s “Instructions for Traveling West” is short but powerful reading.

Pick a day your next (or first) solo trip. It doesn’t have to be far to be worthwhile. Why not take a day trip to a neighboring town where you don’t know anyone and the streets are unusual?

If you’ve never traveled alone before, practice doing things alone first in a place you feel comfortable in. A Merry Loner’s 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge guides you through a week of bite-sized challenges to get more comfortabel (and confident) doing things alone without feeling lonely.

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Books on Traveling Alone: FAQs

What are some good travel books to invoke wanderlust?

“Roundabout to Moscow” by John Bell Bouton is a 19th-century travelogue that inspires dreamy fantasies of crossing Europe by train. If you’re tired of RyanAir and crowded airports and want a slower, more romantic way to travel, start here.

What are the most inspirational books on traveling that you have read?

Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild” tells the tale of a recent divorcée who sets off to hike 1,000+ miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone. It’s an inspiring story of challenging yourself, quite literally moving outside of your comfort zone, and finding it in you to anew when life comes undone.

What is the best book you have read which has inspired you to travel and live abroad?

“The Barbizon” by Paulina Bren isn’t a modern memoir on becoming a digital nomad or bacpacking around the world. But in my eyes, it does much more to incite solo travel and inspire you to leave what you know a build the life you’ve been dreaming of.

What are some good books to read while travelling?

While traveling alone, I suggest bringing along Joy Sullivan’s collection of poems, “Instructions for Traveling West.” Compared to a dense novel, it’s easy to start or end each day of your journey by reading one poem—and her verses on “commit[ting] to the road” and “the sincere thrill of coming apart” will help you stay the course even when things get tough.

The post Books on Traveling Alone to Feed Your Wanderlust appeared first on A Merry Loner.

Things To Do Alone in the Summer

Maja Krasnicka — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:40:00 +0000

Solo summer activities you’ll love—no matter your relationship status.

I usually spend winters hibernating. Living in the UK, where you essentially experience six to eight months of gloom every year, I find my life energy reawakens with the return of spring and summer.

But this summer hits differently. It’s my first-ever summer living alone.

Since I’m in my early thirties, many of my friends are busy with their kids and/or are away on holidays with their partners, so I’ve found myself spending a lot of time alone—but I didn’t want that to stop me from making the most of these scarce, sunny months.

So I created a bucket list of solo summer activities. Turns out, there are plenty of things to do alone in the summer that are just as—if not more—fun to do without a partner or screaming babies in tow.

Are you on your own this summer? Soak up the sunny days with this guide of what to do alone in summer:

The shortlist: 8 things to do alone in the summer

More articles on the Loner Mindset:

How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone

Living Alone as a Woman: Why Every Woman Should Live Alone at Least Once

No Date? No Problem—A Guide to Dating Yourself

1. Spend time in parks

Making use of local parks or other green spaces is such a great way to enjoy the summer weather while doing other activities.

Whether it’s reading, listening to a podcast, journaling, or just simply relaxing, all of these activities can be made even more enjoyable with some sunshine, ice cream, or an iced beverage.

Merry’s tip: What to bring to take a day in the park to the next level?

A book. Duh. Go paper instead of digital to give your eyes a rest (and read more easily in the sun). Since we’re about halfway through the year, I like to take this time to dust off my new year’s resolution list and do a little soul-searching. That’s when I turn to this list: 7 Books on Self-Awareness to Become a Better Person.

A cool drink. I’m frugal and particular, so that means I like to make my own drink before heading out. I’m crazy about sparkling water with fresh lemon (it’s the little things). But if I have a bit of extra time, I love to brew up some homemade iced tea. Not sure which tea makes the best iced tea for you? Check out my guide on the Best Tea for Non Tea Drinkers.

A journal. For doodling. For daydreaming. For writing. All of these options are better than doomscrolling—and better yet, they’re free! If political angst, family troubles, or work stress is getting you down, let it all out at the park with these 20 Journal Prompts for Anger.

2. Attend events solo (even if it feels scary)

Many Londoners will tell you that the capital is a bit of a transient city, where a lot of people come and go— even more so since the pandemic. With the rising cost of living and the growing popularity of working from home, I’ve found my friendship circle shrinking year after year.

So this summer, I’ve been making a conscious effort to push myself beyond my normal circle of friends and find opportunities to get out and meet new people on my own.

To my surprise, I discovered a whole host of events (even free ones) available locally. I’ve found free yoga classes, run clubs, book clubs, clothes up-cycling workshops, and more.

Signing up for these solo events is a great way to meet people who have similar interests—but even if you don’t make friends, you still get to spend a couple of hours doing something you enjoy. And isn’t that the point?

Not at ease doing things alone?

I recently signed up for a book club. Earlier this month, I attended a crafts event. And I’m already scheduled to attend an after-work drinks meet-up and a free university lecture next month.

While it’s still early days and I haven’t made meaningful friendships through these events (yet), it’s been a great way to meet new people and hear different perspectives. Plus, chatting books and doing crafts is a really fun way to spend my afternoons.

If crafts or after-work drinks don’t sound like something you’d enjoy, there are lots of other events you can attend. For example, in my city, I’ve seen events like:

Volunteering
Baking classes
Flower-arranging classes
Art workshops
Psychology or history talks

You can find events like these through local universities, libraries, museums, and small businesses, as well as Facebook groups and apps like CLIQ or Meetup.

And if you can’t find any events near you that you’d like to attend, why not organize one yourself?

3. Learn a new skill

Summer often brings a slower pace at work, making it the perfect time to learn something new. Plus, picking up a new skill isn’t just a great way to fill time when you don’t know what to do alone in the summer—it can also be really rewarding! You never know, you may discover a new favorite hobby in the process.

This year, I focused on learning skills that were a little less business and a bit more fun.

I’ve been learning (or, should I say, clumsily attempting to learn) how to knit. I’ve also been brushing up on my German. And a couple of summers ago, I took a photography course—and actually learned how to use my DSLR camera that had been gathering dust in my desk drawer for years.

With so many resources (including free ones) available to learn new skills, it’s never been easier to start learning something new—and summer is the perfect time to do it.

4. Go to galleries, museums, and exhibitions

Museum-hopping usually gets the most attention in the darker winter months, but I think it’s actually one of the best things to do in the summer by yourself.

For one, galleries and museums rotate their exhibitions all year round, so if you only visit them in the winter, you’ll miss out on many temporary exhibits you might also enjoy.

I also like heading to museums and art galleries as a bit of a quiet escape from our loud, hectic world. Especially in the summer months when the city is extra lively (and crowded), ducking into a museum for a few hours of solo time is a nice way to chill out and recharge.

And honestly? When there’s a heatwave and crowds feel stifling, a calm, air-conditioned museum filled with art and sculptures is the best place to be.

5. Take yourself on a solo movie or theater date

I’m not going to lie, it took me forever to muster up the courage to go to the movies alone.

Even though it was something I’d been wanting to do for a while, I felt really embarrassed to approach the counter and buy a ticket for one. I was convinced that everyone would notice and judge me for being there alone. In reality though, I realized that nobody cares.

Now, going to the movies alone is actually one of my favorite ways to spend time by myself—and it makes sense if you think about it.

Both the movies and the theater require you to sit quietly in the dark, and (ideally) there’s no talking allowed. It’s the perfect thing to do alone—especially in the sweltering months when you’re looking for things to do in the summer by yourself where you can escape the heat.

Merry’s tip: Still feeling a little awkward going to the movies or theater by yourself?

It’s normal. Those are typically billed as very “date-y” activities, which can make it feel super lame at first when you approach the counter to buy a ticket for one.

But there’s nothing lame, embarrassing, or cringey about it.

For a little dose of courage before taking yourself on your own movie date, read How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone.

6. Do something you've been putting off for a while

I know this doesn’t sound too glamorous, but if you find yourself with a lot of time on your hands and you’re truly at a loss for things to do alone in summer, then this is a good way to use that extra time productively.

Yes, I know “summer” and “productive” don’t necessarily go hand in hand. But do you know that feeling when you cross something off your to-do list? The little dopamine rush? That’s what we’re going for here.

Case in point: Last month, I spent one whole weekend doing a big bedroom declutter.

I listened to a great audiobook, ordered take-out, made myself lots of iced tea, even treated myself to a glass of wine at the end. As much as I had dreaded doing this task, it ended up being almost fun—and I’m definitely glad to have finally gotten rid of some very unnecessary clutter.

Merry’s tip: Can’t bring yourself to do that chore you’ve been putting off for ages?

You’re not the only one. But keep this in mind: Little by little, healthy habits have a way of snowballing into an overall healthier (and happier) life.

If your home is already clutter-free and you’re not sure where to start, check out this list of 13 Habits to Start Now in Your 20s (or Whenever) for Long-Term Physical & Mental Wellbeing.

7. Be a tourist in your own city

Or if you’re feeling brave enough, go travel by yourself.

While I’ve moved abroad by myself twice, I’ve never traveled alone. For a reason unknown even to me, I find the idea of solo travel a lot scarier than moving countries. But since I’m focused on saving money this summer, I decided against traveling this year—instead, I’ve been rediscovering the city I live in: London.

But even if you don’t live in a big city, there are usually plenty of places to see and new things to do alone in the summer.

For example, you could:

Visit a garden, park, or local nature reserve
Tour a local historical landmark
Enjoy a solo picnic
Explore new coffee shops
Take a bike ride around town

Or if you’re feeling fancy, you could even treat yourself to an overnight hotel stay in your hometown—ideally, one with good room service and an outdoor swimming pool.

Taking a good, old staycation is a great way to try new local summer activities and get to know yourself a little better in the process.

Merry’s tip: Feeling nervous about solo travel?

You’re not the only one. For a little inspiration on pushing yourself outside your comfort zone and finally taking the big trip, read:

Scared of Traveling Alone: How to Deal with Solo Travel Anxiety

What I Learned Traveling the World Alone Without My Partner

I Don’t Like Traveling Alone—But I Keep Doing It Anyway

8. Eat out alone

Since warm, sunny weather doesn’t last forever, make sure you take advantage of the summer by treating yourself to an outdoor dinner for one.

Eating out alone is another one of those solo activities that initially seemed too intimidating to me—until one day I didn’t have a choice.

I was waiting for a dentist appointment after work and I was starving, so I decided to go out to dinner alone. After settling in and enjoying a tasty meal for one, I realized that it wasn’t as scary as I had built it up in my head.

Funnily enough, the restaurant I went to must not get many solo diners, because they assumed I wanted to get my food as takeaway—they even packed it up at first before serving it to me on a plate. But I didn’t let this discourage me. I enjoyed my first solo dinner with a book and even treated myself to a dessert after.

Tips for eating out alone for the first time:

Avoid the crowds; If you find the idea of eating out alone uncomfortable, try going outside of peak times.

Sit at the bar. It can also be helpful to pick a restaurant with bar seating. You’ll often find other solo diners seated at the bar, which can make your first time eating out alone feel less awkward.

Bring a distraction. And if you’re worried about spending the whole time doomscrolling or not knowing what to do with your hands, bring along a book.

For reading list inspiration, check out Easiest Classic Novels to Read | 18 Easy-to-Read Classics for Beginners.

Conclusion: How to Enjoy Summer Alone

Doing things alone can be scary, even in the best of times. And in a way, summertime can make it even more intimidating to do things alone since so many people’s social calendars are seemingly packed to the brim.

But you know those moments when you feel scared to do something new? And then when you finally push yourself to do it, you’re left wondering, “What was I so scared about?”

The truth is, most things aren’t quite as bad as we build them up to be in our heads—and that’s definitely true when it comes to doing things alone in the summer.

Over time, I’ve realized that enjoying doing things alone is like a muscle: The more solo summer activities you try, the easier it becomes.

So put your sunglasses on, pack your favorite book, treat yourself to an iced coffee, and do whatever makes you happy—all on your own.

I can guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

Maja Krasnicka

Maja Krasnicka is a project manager and freelance writer based in London. Her recent articles were published in Betches and Business Insider. In her free time, Maja likes to learn new skills, read, and obsess over interior design.

Next Steps:

Pick one solo summer activity from this list and schedule it. If it’s eating out alone, make the reservation. If it’s a meet-up group, commit to the event. Then, put it your calendar—making a countdown is (fun) but optional.

Find a book for your solo reading in the park. Borrow it from your local library or order it now from one of these Amazon Alternatives for Books.

Plan your summer solo travel trip. Even if it’s just a weekend away or a small day trip. Get wanderlust inspiration with these 21 Quotes for Traveling Alone.

Use the image below to save this post to Pinterest so these ideas are there when you need them.

Things To Do Alone in Summer: Common FAQs

What can you do alone in the summer for fun?

There are plenty of things to do alone in the summer, no matter your budget.

If you’re looking for free things to do alone in the summer, why not spend the day luxuriating in a local park with a good book and a homemade iced tea? Dreamy sunset strolls and cloud-gazing are also free and accessible to all.

If you’re spending the summer alone and you want to treat yourself, how about leveling-up your staycation by booking a hotel in your hometown for the weekend? Think room service and chilling poolside—without the hassel of going to the airport.

How do I spend my summer when I have no friends?

If you find yourself spending the summer alone and aren’t sure how to fill the time, first of all—don’t despair! Alone time is a great opportunity to get to know yourself better and to make progress towards your personal and/or professional goals.

Start by getting in the right mindset. Find inspiration from these 7 Books on Self-Awareness. Then, follow these tips to learn How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone.

What to do on a summer day at home?

Whether it’s scorching hot outside or unseasonably cloudy, sometimes you have to get a little creative with solo summer activities inside.

That’s when I turn to my Ultimate Guide to Self-Care with 100 Self-Care Ideas, like working on DIY projects, doing a little yoga or meditation, or going analog with a puzzle or paperback book.

What are some things you can do at home instead of going on holiday when you're alone and have nothing to do during your summer vacation?

There are plenty of things to do in the summer by yourself when you need to stay at home. The classic advice is to learn to be a tourist in your own city. For example, you can take yourself to the movies; try a new restaurant; explore a local musuem; stroll in a park or nearby nature reserve.

If you’re at home alone during the summer, check out 100 Self-Care Ideas to turn your boring summer into some serious pampering time.

Discover how the merry loner lifestyle makes life more enjoyable:

LONER MINDSET: fresh perspectives on learning to genuinely enjoy your own company

BOOKS: reading lists for people who love being alone with a good story

ANALOG LIVING: inspiration to step back from the screen and live a life offline

SOLO TRAVEL: guides on where to go and how to enjoy it alone

MINDFUL CONSUMPTION: vetted recommendations for a simpler, less wasteful life

LONER Q&As: interviews from global voices on how to live a meaningful, enjoyable life

The post Things To Do Alone in the Summer appeared first on A Merry Loner.

How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone

Merry — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:24:26 +0000

When the presence (or absence) of others becomes the deciding factor for how you live your life, your life isn’t your own anymore.

I have always valued my independence. Being an unabashed loner means I can do what I want, when I want, without waiting for other people to approve, text me back to make plans, or otherwise give me the green light.

But not everyone has a natural inclination to do things alone, and that’s normal. I’ve had friends flat-out tell me they would never even think of going out to dinner by themselves. Others have called me up to join them at the grocery store because they didn’t want to run errands alone. There’s nothing wrong with enjoy the company of others’; spending time with friends is fun, healthy, and a key part of what makes us human. It becomes problematic, however, when you feel you can’t do something by yourself; when you’re dependent on the presence or approval of others to do the things you want and you’re afraid to act without them. For example, what if there’s a new restaurant you want to try, a film you want to see, or a weekend trip you want to take? But no one’s free, so the plan gets put on hold indefinitely as it’s simply inconceivable to think you’d do it alone.

If that’s the case, then it might be time to work on your loner mindset.

The loner mindset isn’t about shunning others or being anti-social. It’s not even about being an introvert. It’s about self-confidence, self-esteem, and feeling happy, calm, and at ease on your own. Learning to achieve this is really the best gift you can give yourself. Because if you can be happy on your own, then you can do anything.

In this post, I share five simple ways to get better at doing things alone so you can do things on your own without feeling self-conscious, lonely, or like everyone is staring at you.

The shortlist: 5 simple ways to get better at doing things alone

Understand what’s really making you nervous
Start small with low-stress activities
Imagine the worst-case scenario (so you can prepare for it)
Remind yourself: no one is actually looking at you
Try again—even if you didn’t like it the first time

1. Understand what’s really making you nervous

Being a human is a complicated mess, and a large part of that mess comes from social interactions. Even the most extroverted social butterflies can still get nervous in a room full of strangers. In fact, research from PLoS ONE posits that social anxiety disorder (which is “one of the most common psychiatric disorders characterized by a persistent and over-whelming fear of being negatively evaluated in one or more social or interactional situations”) can happen to lots of different people.

To get better at doing things alone, the trick isn’t to totally eradicate feelings of nerves or anxiety. (They’re kind of part of the package deal of being a human creature.) But you can learn to deal with the feelings, and that’s easier to do when you know exactly what’s making you nervous. Though nerves and anxiety can often feel like one big, foreboding cloud, there is a source. Finding it is the first step to overcoming it.

For example, suppose you want to take yourself out to dinner at that new Japanese restaurant. What are you anxious about? Do you think sitting at a table alone will make it look like you got stood up? Are you worried about what you would do if you didn’t sit on your phone the whole time? (Like stare into blank space like a weirdo while couples and friends canoodle around you?) Are you dreading telling the host “just one” and watching them smile kindly at you with what you can only assume is pity?

If you can specify the thing(s) that are making you nervous, then you can: 1) try to rationalize it away; and/or 2) come up with a strategy to tackle it.

Let’s take that dinner for example. If you want to go out by yourself and not doom-scroll the entire time (you’re already winning), be prepared to fight the urge to fidget by bringing along a book. Not that much into reading? Go analog and old-school with a stack of magazines. (You can buy those at the drugstore, by the way, for my readers who may have never touched a glossy stack in their Gen Z lives.)

Need a book for your solo dinner? See my curated reading lists, classic and contemporary book recommendations, and themed round-ups to accompany you on your solo night out.

Key Takeaway: To learn how to overcome the fear of doing things alone, first you need to understand that fear. Take time to really think about what’s making you uncomfortable. Once you can name it, you can plan for it, challenge it, or let it go.

2. Start small with low-stress activities

Sometimes, baby steps can make all the difference. In August 2024, I flew from Paris to Warsaw to see The Eras Tour all by myself. I’ve been told this is living The Merry Loner Lifestyle on expert level. If you’re not there yet (and you don’t plan to ever be there), that’s okay. Just start small.

If you’re getting ready to learn how to start doing things alone, go slow and easy with low-stress, everyday activities. Here are few ideas of beginner-friendly activities to start doing things alone:

Sit in a coffee shop for a few hours, but don’t use your phone. Instead, read a book. Bring a pack of cards and play solitaire. Knit. Draw. Hell, you could even just sit and sip and people-watch. The point is: Don’t do anything that takes you away from yourself or the present moment, i.e., scrolling on social media.

Go on a long walk. Again, no distractions. No listening to podcasts. No phoning a friend. Music is okay, but it’s even better if you can just really let yourself be alone with your thoughts for a bit to daydream.

Take yourself to a matinee movie. Remember those? ICYMI, movie theaters have gotten a facelift since the pandemic. The snacks have improved. The seats are more comfortable. There’s even booze. Alone at the movies, you don’t need to share snacks or agree on a time. Plus, no one’s paying attention to the empty seat beside you; they’re focused on the screen, just like you.

By starting with a gentle, low-stress activity, you’ll get to try out how it feels doing things alone in a low-pressure environment.

Try This: If hitting up coffee shops on your own is already the norm for you, let’s step outside of the box a little bit. For more inspiration on activities to help you learn how to get better at doing things alone, check out 5 New Things I Want to Do Alone This Year.

3. Imagine the worst-case scenario (so you can prepare for it)

Sometimes, a little doomsday thinking can actually help you look on the bright side.

Say you want to sign up for a cooking class, but none of your friends are into it and you’re worried about looking awkward when everyone else pairs up. Lean into that anxiety. What if no one talks to you? What Iif you’re the worst in the class and everyone notices? What if you feel like the odd one out the whole time?

What if? Are any of these outcomes really that bad? So no one talks to you; chances are, they’re nervous too. A small smile and an introduction from your part could be just the thing to put you (and them) at ease, and maybe even make a new friend.

The “worst case” is never as bad as we think.

Once you take the time to imagine your worst-case scenario and truly picture it happening, you can often poke holes in it and realize that even if it did happen, you’d still be okay, and perhaps even proud of yourself for trying. It’s called decatastrophizing, a technique “that explores the reality of a feared stimulus as a way of diminishing its imagined or anticipated danger,” as defined by the American Psychological Association. You can use it for help the next time you’re in an anxiety spiral, worrying about how to do things alone without feeling self-conscious.

Key Takeaway: Even if something embarrassing happens, it’s not really the end of the world. By imagining your fear in detail, you can give yourself a little reality check and realize that feeling awkward and embarrassed is a totally surmountable problem.

Curious how else a little doomsday thinking can (strangely) help you be more optimistic? Read “Life Is Sad, and Then You Die” for a surprising revelation that can help you find peace.

4. Remind yourself: no one is actually looking at you

If going to a concert by yourself or taking yourself out to that new French restaurant seems a little daunting, you’re not being weird. This is actually a totally normal reaction. It’s called the spotlight effect. As defined in a study by T Gilovich et al. for the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the spotlight effect describes the phenomenon where “people overestimate the extent to which their actions and appearance are noted by others.” In other words, you think people are paying attention to you a lot more than they actually are. As part of the study, some participants were asked to walk around wearing a tee shirt with either a flattering or embarrassing picture; most people overestimated the number of observers who remembered what they were wearing, i.e., nobody cares that much about what you’re doing.

Unwittingly, I was referencing this phenomenon when I was giving advice to fellow students back in high school.

If a friend was feeling nervous before giving a presentation in front of the class (again, a totally normal feeling), I would say to them: “There’s no need to be nervous. Were you paying attention to anybody else’s presentation on the potato famine? No, you were bored and daydreaming. No one is going to be listening attentively to your presentation.”

In hindsight, that probably came off as a little cold, but my intention was pure: Don’t sweat it. People aren’t paying as much attention to you as you think. What are they paying attention to? Themselves, probably.

It’s a brain thing, apparently. A paper by Meghan L Meyer et al. published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience observed that “the same part of the brain that supports self-reflection…also spontaneously engages by default whenever the brain is free from external demands to attention.” In other words, when we have a free minute, we default to thinking about ourselves, yet another reason to remind yourself that when you’re out in public doing something alone (whether that’s dining solo in a restaurant or going to a concert), nobody is paying attention to you. So feel free to do what you want, anxiety-free.

Key Takeaway and Tip: When you’re eating dinner out alone, going solo to the movies, or taking yourself out on another solo date and you start to feel self-conscious, remind yourself that people are not hyper-focusing on you like you worry they are. You’re just yet another person experiencing the spotlight effect (and everyone else is doing it, too).

5. Try again, even if you didn’t like it the first time

You know what they say: “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” Turns out, there’s a bit of psychological truth to that. Per the Cleveland Clinic, exposure therapy is “a type of therapy in which you’re gradually exposed to the things, situations, and activities you fear.”

I’m not saying that people need to go to therapy to learn how to get better at doing things alone. But the idea behind this technique is that by gradually facing your fears in approachable, manageable steps, you can little by little reduce anxiety, build your confidence, and make the intimidating thing less intimidating.

Again, it’s good to start with baby steps, like that coffee shop visit or solo walk in the park. But if your first solo outing feels uncomfortable, awkward, or makes you come home with your palms sweating, don’t give up after the first round. Stick with it.

Try a new solo activity altogether

There are literally infinite things you can do by yourself. Go to the cinema. Go see a play. Go ice skating. Sign up for a painting class. Take a sketch pad, head to the park, and do your best to capture nature’s beauty. Buy a Sudoko book and spend 30 minutes using your brain (and ignoring your phone) outside in the sunshine.

As the old saying goes: “Only boring people get bored.” So if you haven’t had any luck enjoying spending time with yourself, it’s not because it’s impossible; you just haven’t found the right fit yet.

Try your first solo activity again, but change one thing

Maybe reading solo in a cafe isn’t your thing. But reading in a cocktail bar with a gin and tonic? That could be the ultimate relaxing experience. Or maybe instead of setting up camp with your sketchpad in the busiest part of the park, you try heading to a calmer, quieter corner.

Learning how to start doing things alone can take a bit of experimenting, but that’s half the fun of it. Part of the beauty of learning to enjoy spending time with yourself is that you’re always on a great, big, magical quest of getting to know yourself. What piques your interest? What makes you curious? What do you find annoying? What did you use to find annoying, but with time and a new perspective, you’ve come to love?

Revert back to step one: understand what’s really making you nervous

Now’s the time to whip out your journal, your Notes app, a nearby paper napkin, or wherever else you can turn your thoughts into written word. If that first solo activity didn’t click, why? What went wrong? How did it make you feel? And what didn’t you like about that feeling?

The first step in solving a problem is to name it. Then, you can tweak your approach and try again next time. For example, if going to a museum by yourself made you feel too fidgety, bored, and stuck in your own head, then how about trying something a little more hands-on next time? Like signing up for a painting class, gardening outside, or going for a hike.

Key Takeaway: If you didn’t have the time of your life on your first solo date, that’s okay. Just don’t give up here. Reflect on what you didn’t like. Think about what you can do differently next time. And then try again.

Learning how to get better at doing things alone takes more than one shot, and that’s kind of the point. With every solo date, you’re learning more about yourself and building your confidence.

This isn’t about doing everything alone all the time; community is still important

The point of figuring out how to get better at doing things alone isn’t to avoid doing things with other people.

Belonging to and participating in a community plays an important role in enduring mental and even physical health. The research is all there:

Social interaction is good for your health. A study from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America found that more social interaction “was associated with lower risk of physiological dysregulation,” AKA, your body’s ability to keep internal systems stable and balanced. In contrast, the same study found that people who are socially isolated can have greater risk of hypertension than those with diabetes.

The benefits extend to both physical and mental health. Per a study from SSM – Population Health, a weaker sense of community was associated with “poorer general and mental health.” And that goes for all three age groups studied: from 18 to over 60 years old.

Having strong social relationships may even make you live longer. After assessing the findings of 148 studies, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist at Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah, came to the conclusion that “the size and quality of people’s social relationships either equalled or outmatched almost all the other factors in determining people’s mortality.” Source: BBC

So, why prioritize alone time? Spending time alone, caring for yourself, and learning more about who you are ultimately makes you a better you — and a better person to participate in and support your community, who, in turn, can better support and nurture you. It all comes full circle. Learn to fill your own cup, and you can better pour into others. Everyone wins.

Solitude isn’t a problem to be solved

There’s nothing wrong with craving company. We’re social animals and hardwired for community and connection. But when the presence (or absence) of others becomes the deciding factor for how you live your life, your life isn’t your own anymore.

Doing things alone isn’t lame. It isn’t embarrassing. And it doesn’t have to be anxiety-inducing. It’s a skill and something you can learn (and get better at) over time. Yes, sometimes it feels awkward, especially at first. But every time you take yourself out (whether that’s for a dinner, a walk in the park, or a weekend trip), you realize that you’re capable of creating your own happiness.

That’s freedom, not loneliness.

Next Steps:

Plan a solo date. Because if there’s something you really want to do, why wait for a date? This Guide to Dating Yourself explains why you should prioritize spending time with yourself and shares a few easy-breezy solo date ideas.

Get inspiration for your first (or next) solo trip. It could be as simple as a day trip to the next town over, a weekend away a few hours from your home, or something bold and bucket-list-worthy, like a solo trip to Paris.

Learn how to feel more comfortable going to social events alone, like going to a wedding solo (it’s not as daunting as it sounds).

Practice doing things alone, step by step. A Merry Loner’s 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge gives you bite-sized daily challenges to help you experiment with doing things alone—no stress, no judgment.

How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone: Common FAQs

Why do I not like doing things alone?

A lot of us were taught that it’s shameful, lame, or embarrassing to do things alone. Oh, that must mean that no one picked you. Or you got stood up. Or you were left out of the party. Too often, people seem to forget that spending time alone can be a choice—not a consequence of lack of an invitation. Unfortunately, a lot of us picked up this bad habit. But you can start getting over it and learn how to get better at doing things alone with A Merry Loner’s 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge.

How can I enjoy doing things alone and not feel the need to have someone to accompany me?

Reframe the scenario. Instead of thinking, “I have no one to go to dinner with tonight,” remind yourself: “This is pretty sweet. I can pick the restaurant. I can pick the time. And I can linger over dessert as long as I please.”

It can feel awkward, nerve-wracking, or even a little scary to start doing things alone if you’re always used to having a wingman. So if you still need a little emotional support on your first solo outing, why not bring along another kind of wingman? It could be a book, a journal, a sketchpad, a crossword puzzle. Just don’t let your phone be your wingman. The idea is to disconnect and focus on some in-the-moment you time—no FOMO or doom-scrolling allowed.

How to get used to doing things alone?

It’s like any skill: practice. If your first solo data feels uncomfortable or just weird, try not to overthink it. No one was staring at you. You didn’t have spinach in your teeth. And even if you said something a little lame, I can promise you that everyone has forgotten it by now.

The most important thing is that you get back out there again, whether that’s at the coffee house, restaurant, or yoga studio. The more you try new things alone, the more comfortable (and confident) you’ll feel about yourself.

How do you stop being scared of doing things alone?

Remember as a kid, how your mind would play tricks on you after watching a scary movie? Your imagination is where most of the fear lives. So bring yourself back to reality. Use the worst-case scenario trick from earlier. Ask yourself: “What exactly am I afraid of? What would I do if that actually happened?” Upon a little deeper reflection, you’ll find that most fears (like awkward glances or feeling out of place) are totally survivable.

Plus, courage builds over time. The more you push yourself outside of your comfort zone and spend time doing things alone, the easier (and more rewarding) it will be.

Solo Travel to Paris: Itinerary for Traveling to Paris Solo + 26 Things to Do Alone in Paris

Merry — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:58:54 +0000

Your cheatsheet for solo travel to Paris, including a solo Paris itinerary and a list of the best things to do alone in Paris.

Oh, Paris. One of the most romantic cities in the world. So what do you do if you’ve booked yourself a solo trip to Paris? First of all, don’t despair! (Remember: There’s nothing to fear in being alone.)

Instead, pack a trench coat and a Breakfast-at-Tiffany’s-inspired pair of sunglasses and get ready to romantically wander the streets like you’re in your very own movie montage. (Spoiler: The cigarette smoke is aplenty (no, duh). And like any big metropolis, the streets are dirty.)

Ah, Paris.

Here’s your cheatsheet for traveling to Paris solo, including:

More guides on solo travel?

Yes, please. Sign up for A Merry Loner’s newsletter to get the latest in your inbox.

Fun Things To Do in Paris Alone: How to Sightsee Solo in Paris

IMHO, sightseeing alone can actually be really fun.

For one, you don’t have to make any compromises. If you feel like hitting the ground running at 08:00 to pack in four museums, you can. Or if you don’t feel like a tourist chomping at the cultural bit, you can also be super lazy and spend the day doing little more than wandering around from café to café.

After all, when you’re A Merry Loner, you’re in charge.

When I went to Paris for the first time, I was completely on my own.

This was back in 2017 when I had just turned 20 years old. Full of optimism, curiosity, and all the clichés I’d heard about Paris throughout my life, I boarded a plane (my second flight ever, at that time) from Boston to Paris. I was en route to Rennes for a six-month study abroad program but would spend the first weekend exploring Paris.

Here’s a recap of some of things I did while traveling alone in Paris:

1. Eiffel Tower

Of course. Because can you go to Paris for the first time without visiting the Eiffel Tower?

Since I was visiting the city in the first week of January, it was still blasted cold. (But I was wearing a new furry headband I had just gotten for Christmas, so I felt unstoppable.)

Naturally, on the day I decided to visit the Eiffel Tower, it was completely gray and overcast. I waited in line alone probably for 40 minutes, schlepped up the stairs and tiny elevator by myself next to couples and families with tiny, shrieking kids, and then peered out over the horizon.

Nothing but gray skies and murky clouds.

It was great! Even though I couldn’t see a Goddamn thing, I was full of that first-time-in-Paris, giddy excitement, and I didn’t care.

My advice for solo traveling in Paris: Don’t skip the Eiffel Tower. Even if it seems super lame and touristy. I’ve been to Paris several times since and have never gone again (and I probably never will). But, being the quintessential icon of the City of Lights, this is one moment you don’t want to miss.

2. Arc de Triomphe

After my first day alone in Paris, I met up with a family friend who was living in the city at the time. She was studying for her master’s (some engineering something, I don’t remember) and was kind enough to take me on a little tour around the city.

Our first stop? The Arc de Triomphe.

Really, this is just a quick photo-op moment. Located at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe is at the center of an enormous roundabout. (Yes, even the roundabouts are fancier in Paris.)

TBH, we didn’t stay here for more than a few minutes. But if you’re in the area (which if you’re a tourist traveling solo in Paris, then you probably will be), make sure you remember to stop for a look.

Pro tip: Visit the Arc de Triomphe at sunset like my friend and I did for the best Kodak moment.

If you want to learn some actual historical information about the famous monument (Fun Fact: Its full name is Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile), you can read this article about the history of the Arc de Triomphe.

3. Seine River Cruise

While I did spend quite a bit of time walking along the Seine River during my solo weekend in Paris, I didn’t have the time (or the cash) for a Seine River Cruise. (I did go on a river cruise in Strasbourg a few months later, but that’s a different story for a different day…)

Checking out the Seine River is a must-have on any trip alone to Paris. And honestly, if you’re spending any amount of time walking around the city, it’s pretty hard to miss it. But if you want to do more than just look at the river and actually go for a little joyride, you could check out a Seine River cruise.

This is particularly a great option for a woman traveling in Paris alone. If you want to do some sightseeing at night but are wary of wandering around on your own, then consider booking a river cruise with a group of other tourists. This way, you can see the sparkly Parisian lights on the water’s surface—without feeling nervous about walking alone in the street.

If you’re worried about river cruises that look like scams, try doing a search on TripAdvisor. You can read reviews from people who have already booked so you get a few insider tips before you sign up.

4. Gardens

In my first weekend solo in Paris, I didn’t have enough time to head to any of the city’s famed gardens, but I wish I had. Even in winter, I hear this is one of the best things to do in Paris by yourself. After all, who doesn’t love a little romantic stroll through a luxuriously manicured garden?

So don’t be like me. As you plan your solo trip to Paris itinerary, make sure add a stop to one of the city’s better-loved gardens, like:

Luxembourg Gardens
Jardin des Tuileries
Coulee Verte Rene-Dumont
Jardin du Palais Royal

Need some inspiration? Read the reviews from TripAdvisor to help you plan which gardens you want to visit.

5. Sacre Coeur

I visited Sacre Coeur on my very first night in Paris. But while the view was certainly dazzling, it’s not necessarily my favorite memory.

Long story short, it was late at night. It was dark. I was lost. I didn’t have a phone. And I was pretty sure I was being followed by some questionable fellows …

Fortunately, nothing bad happened. But as always, when you’re traveling alone in Paris (or otherwise), remember to play it safe.

My recommendation: Sacre Coeur is a must-see. But if you’re traveling alone, you’re likely better off visiting during the day.

6. Museums

No, duh. No matter where you go, visiting museums is usually the #1 recommended thing to do if you’re traveling alone. And Paris is certainly no exception.

With all of the millions of travel blogs out there, I’m not going to stun you with any “insider” travel tips by telling you to visit a museum in Paris. So I won’t bore you with a list.

Instead, here’s some advice for visiting museums alone in Paris: Don’t try to visit more than two museums in a day.

Why? Museums are tiring. I think we all know that. No matter how much of a history/art buff you are, at the end of the day, there’s only so much museum the average human can take. So don’t push it.

By not trying to pack in too many culture trips, you can slow down and fully explore all the exhibits you want to. Better yet, you can skip the paintings you don’t like (because WGAF?) and stand for seven minutes staring in silence at that one painting that really says something to you. After all, that’s what museums are for. Not for saying, “Look at me. I went here and did this and saw ALL the things.”

Bonus: You’ll save money by only buying admission for 1-2 museums!

Related Posts:

Exploring Paris Alone? Reserve a Table for One.

We Merry Loners are not afraid to go to a restaurant, walk up to the hostess and say, “Table for one, please.” In fact, we like it! So if you’re exploring Paris alone, don’t hesitate to book yourself a fancy Parisian dinner for one.

French cuisine is pretty damn rich. And I’m not just talking about the flavors. There’s A LOT to talk about here. But for the non-foodies, I’ll keep it short and sweet.

Here are my recommendations for foodie things to do in Paris alone:

1. Go on a food tour

Some people think they’re dorky, but you know what? I’m actually a big fan of tours! I think they’re a pretty fun, easy way to see a lot and learn a lot while traveling.

If you really want to ~~stuff your face with~~ try a lot of different French dishes, then a food tour is your best bet to maximize variety in a short amount of time.

Since I have celiac disease and, thus, can’t eat gluten, this is sadly an activity I can no longer partake in. To find good food tours in Paris, I recommend checking out TripAdvisor and reading their traveler reviews.

Expert tip: If you want to learn more about French cuisine (from an anglophone!), I invite you to check out my friend Ally’s food blog, Nigella Eats Everything.

2. Go on a wine tour

No gluten to be found here! Which means a wine tour is still totally up my alley. (In fact, my drink of choice used to be a pint of beer before getting diagnosed with celiac disease. But after working in a wine bar and moving to France, I’ve since become accustomed to a nice glass of Bordeaux.)

But I digress. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Paris alone and those fun things sound like wine to you, then why not go on a wine tour? Sure, you can cruise into any old bar solo. But maybe you’re shy. Or maybe you want to imbibe in a few glasses and are worried about getting a little tipsy on your own.

A wine tour, then, is the perfect scene for a solo traveler in Paris to do a little mingling while you let that Bordeaux flow.

Plus, did I mention cheese? I think that’s ‘nough said. For example, this champagne and cheese tour in Paris, um, exists. Seriously … I live down south in Toulouse right now, but this is making me want to visit the capital again. (It’s been awhile.)

3. Take a cooking class

Ugh! To be able to take a cooking class in Paris! Since I have celiac disease (diagnosed about three years ago), this is sadly now off the table for me. But just listen to these:

Learn How to Make Macarons
Learn to bake French Croissant with a Pastry Chef
Paris Evening Cooking Class with 3-Course Dinner and Optional Market Visit

Sigh. (Not going to lie—I’m getting a little FOMO just reading these. If you don’t have a problem with gluten (You lucky, bastard! *shakes fist*) and you like the sound of taking a cooking class during your solo trip to Paris, you can explore these options and more on TripAdvisor.)

If you’re allergic to gluten, you’re gluten intolerant, or you have celiac disease like me, don’t despair. While we can’t indulge in a croissant, a Croque Monsieur, or pretty much any typical French pastry, there IS still French cuisine we can enjoy while traveling solo in Paris.

In fact, I’m working on a blog post about gluten-free travel in Paris. If this interests you, you can sign up for A Merry Loner’s Newsletter to be notified when it’s published.

4. Have a traditional French breakfast

If you’re touring Paris on your own AND you’re doing it on a budget, then signing up for extra tours and classes may not be the most economical choice. But don’t fret!

In fact one of the best things about France is how affordable the food is. (Okay, this may not necessarily be true in Paris, where food is about 7.2% more expensive than the French provinces … But still. You’re likely to find that it IS cheaper than most American cities. (But that’s a topic for another today.)) [Source: Statista]

Long story short: While you’re traveling alone in Paris, you can definitely get yourself a traditional French breakfast without having to spend more than a few euros.

What do I mean by a traditional French breakfast? Why, an espresso and a cigarette, of course.

Kidding. (Not kidding.) I don’t smoke, and I in no way, shape, or form mean to suggest that you should.

No. This is what I mean by a traditional French breakfast:

A croissant (duh). But it doesn’t have to be just a croissant. Consider a slice of bread with jam and/or butter or another sweet pastry. The most important takeaway is that the French nine times out of 10 opt for a sweet breakfast instead of savory.
An espresso. ‘Nough said.
A glass of orange juice. The French love their freshly-squeezed orange juice. And … are they wrong? This is definitely something I’ve been doing more often since moving here. And I love it.

And voila! The best part is, it’s all super cheap. So tuck in!

Not comfortable taking a solo trip yet? Baby steps.

Join A Merry Loner’s 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge to learn how to get more comfortable trying new things alone.

Daily bite-sized challenges to help you experiment with doing things alone
A judgment-free zone to share all your feels about how the day’s activity went
Daily journal prompts to help you process and learn from what you did that day

What To Do Alone in Paris? Stroll and Shop on Your Solo Paris Trip

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of shopping while I’m traveling. When I was younger, I used to love to shop for clothes as souvenirs. I picked up a leather trench coat in Korea, another leather trench coat in Poland, a hat and two pairs of boots in France, another pair of boots and a leather vest in Mexico, a suede jacket in Nashville … (Can you sense the trend?) But as I get older, I don’t feel the need to buy as much as I used to. At this point, it’s been years since I bought new clothes.

But if there’s one place where you might want to get a few souvenirs (particularly of the fashion variety), it’s Paris.

Here are a few fun places to shop in Paris on your own:

1. Strut your stuff on the Champs-Élysées

Oh, Champs-Élysées … OH, Champs-Élysées! (If you studied French in school, your teacher may have made you listen to this song by Joe Dassin. (At least mine did.) But again, I digress.

The Champs-Élysées doesn’t need much introduction. (But if you want some more background information, go crazy reading its Wikipedia page.) Remember, this is where the Arc de Triomphe is located. It’s also home to the finish line of the Tour de France cycling race and the annual Bastille Day military parade.

TLDR; what does that mean for your solo Paris trip? Shops, baby. Lots and lots of shops, like Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Longchamp.

…

… Uhh … yeah. If these are way out of your price tag, then same. And same for most people in the world, really. But it’s still fun to look at! In fact, this is probably one of the best things to do in Paris alone: spend the afternoon perusing the shops on Champs-Élysées, taking in the sights and maybe a coffee or two. Remember, it costs nothing to window-shop!

2. Dress like a French woman at Galeries Lafayette

ICYMI, Galeries Lafayette is one of the most famous luxury department stores in the world (also conveniently located on the Champs-Élysées).

To be honest, visiting a department store doesn’t exactly sound like my idea of fun things to do in Paris, solo or otherwise. But there is something different about Galeries Lafayette. For one, it’s shiny and pretty.

Plus, whether you want to buy anything or not, I do think it’s fun sometimes to check out stores in another country and see how it differs from at home.

And let’s not forget the most important reason to visit Galeries Lafayette: If you do buy a hat or a pair of shoes or an overpriced perfume or other bauble and you do happen to get compliments on it when you return home, then you can gasp and respond pretentiously, “Why, this old thing? Where did I get it? In France, darling, from the shops at Galeries Lafayette when I was traveling Paris solo. Ooh, la la.”

3. Find hidden treasures at a flea market

Even if you’re not in the market to buy, it’s always fun to kill some time strolling through a flea market. And isn’t that fun instantly intensified when it happens to be a Parisian flea market?

Personally, my favorite kind of flea market to stroll in Paris is the kind selling mostly books and artwork. Even if you don’t speak French, it can still be fun to come home with a pretty French book as a souvenir. And if you do speak French, then I highly suggest you take this opportunity to stock up!

Now that I live in France, I can (obviously) buy as many French books as I please. But when I was living in the States, I found it really hard to get my hands on French books that weren’t just for language learning. So whenever I found myself on vacation across the pond, I always made a point to buy a few French books. (Best of all, you can usually snag second-hand books at a flea market for just a few euros!)

Of course, there are a lot of other things to shop for at flea markets in Paris, other than books. For example, you could do some souvenir-shopping for:

Artwork
Postcards
Clothes
Home decor
And more

Since relocating to France, I’ve discovered Better World Books, which is an awesome online second-hand bookstore. Best of all, they sell books in many different languages, like French and Spanish. (Ironically, I discovered this website in my search for English books now that I live in France.) What I like the most about it is that you can buy new and used books—and you can get free international shipping. Like a lot of people, I detest paying for shipping, so this is a huge win for me. If you’re looking for foreign language books or just good-priced second-hand books, feel free to browse the selection at Better World Books.

4. Grab a book at Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Company is one of the most well-known and well-loved tourist hotspots in Paris—and for good reason!

Located across the way from Notre Dame, this English-language bookstore was founded by American George Whitman and has been in business since 1951. Since then, it’s become a famous meeting place for anglophones. You can read more about the history of Shakespeare and Company.

Best of all, the bookstore also has an add-on café, where you can get all the fancy coffees and cakes your heart desires. I’ve visited this bookstore several times (alone and with friends). In fact, it was one of my first stops during my solo trip to Paris in January 2017!

For all those romantic bookworms who dream of traveling to Paris solo, this is one stop you don’t want to miss.

Do you set reading goals and never meet them? Stop that.

Join A Merry Loner’s 30-Day Reading Challenge, and make reading a daily habit you love (and actually do). You’ll get:

Daily accountability emails
A free reading tracker
Book recommendations
Hand-selected author quotes to get you in the literary spirit

Traveling Alone in Paris: Best Parisian Neighborhoods for Solo Travel

Really, there’s no shortage of solo things to do in Paris. I’m pretty sure that wherever you go, you’ll be able to stumble upon something new and exciting to interest you. That said, certain parts of the city do lend themselves more to the style of European delights most tourists are looking for.

In my humble opinion, these are the best Parisian neighborhoods to check out if you’re in Paris solo:

1. Montmartre

First, Montmartre is most well known for its artsy, bohemian atmosphere. In other words, if you’re looking for a good place to stroll around in your cutest travel outfit and take Instagram pictures for your fans, then this is it.

There are a lot of tourist attractions in Montmartre, like Sacre Coeur, Place du Tertre, and many others.

Naturally, Montmartre was one of the first neighborhoods I visited when I was exploring Paris alone. Particularly, I remember spending the evening in a very cutely decorated café, where I enjoyed my first real crêpe and apprehensively spoke French with the friendly waiter. (Sadly, I can’t recommend the café, since I just waltzed into a random place.)

Note: I think I’m the only one who feels this way, since pretty much every other travel blog I look at says Montmartre is a very safe area both day and night, but I felt a little unsafe there. This is only my experience and perhaps I was just being young and scaredy, but as I walked through the neighborhood alone at night as a 20-year-old girl just out and about exploring, I definitely felt wary of the eyes following me. There were even a few strangers who approached me and tried to talk/walk with me, which I really could have done without. So it’s worth noting (no matter where you are), if you are traveling to Paris alone as a woman, take care of where you go, especially at night. And be careful.

2. Latin Quarter

Another famous neighborhood in Paris, the Latin Quarter is another hotspot to include in your solo trip to Paris itinerary.

What makes it so special? For starters, it’s located near several universities, including the Paris City University and the Sorbonne, so there’s a heavy student influence in the neighborhood. (In other words, it’s where the cool kids are.)

Plus, there are many notable tourist attractions in this area, like:

Shakespeare and Company (remember this?)
Musée Cluny (a Medieval art museum)
Panthéon (an 18th century monument, because can you get enough of those?)
Jardin du Luxembourg (for very manicured, not-very-natural nature)

3. Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Yet another place in Paris to stroll, sip coffees, take pictures, and all around feel like a gal in a music video: Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

First, for all your romantic daydreams and musings, I suggest you check out Café de Flore. This is one of the oldest coffeehouses in Paris and is supposedly where many high-profile writers used to hobnob back in the day.

Today, Saint-Germain-des-Prés remains a very literary neighborhood. If you’re a traveling bookworm, you’ll find lots of quaint bookstores to explore and you can thrill yourself knowing this quarter was the center of existentialist movement (think Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir) during the 1940s/50s. [Source: Wikipedia]

Even More (Cheap) Things to Do Alone in Paris

As I always like to say: “Sure, it’s fun to travel pretty much anywhere if you’re a millionaire.” But what about us lowly common folk? You know, those of us not swimming in a pool of hundred-dollar bills who are just trying to find some fun solo travel Paris activities that won’t bankrupt us?

Worry not. Although Paris is an uber-expensive city, you can certainly find plenty of fun things to do solo in Paris that won’t break the bank. Here are five:

1. Go for a bike ride

In my opinion, biking is a great way to get to know a city. When I lived in Toulouse, I used to take the bike almost every day to get around—but only after living there for a year. In the beginning, I mostly took the metro/tram and/or walked. But once I started taking the bike, it was like I saw the city with a whole new set of eyes!

Even if you don’t live in Paris full time and own a bike, you can still easily bike around the city. You can either rent a bike for a whole day or even a few days—or just use the city bikes to hop between neighborhoods.

It’s an affordable, healthy, and ecological way to travel. What more do you need?

2. Go on a walking tour

Years ago, I used to kind of roll my eyes at the idea of going on a tour. To me, they seemed pretty overpriced and lame, and I always preferred just exploring the city on my own.

But in the last year, my husband and I have started going on tours wherever we travel—and we love it! (Stay tuned for reports on tour recommendations in Dublin and Barcelona.)

Don’t get me wrong: I’m 100% an advocate for just wandering around and getting lost in a new city. This, I think, is the best way to get a natural feel for the city’s daily life. But if you really want to learn (about history, art, culture, whatever), then I believe the best way is with a dedicated guide. This is also an efficient use of time since they make it easy to pack the most sights, sounds, and information into your trip.

Walking tours are particularly helpful when you’re trying to figure out what to do alone in Paris. For one, you’ll be in a group with other tourists, so you can get a little social interaction if you’ve been solo traveling for a while and are starting to feel lonely. Plus, they get you out, about, and moving—which is sometimes easier said than done when you’re traveling alone and need to be your own source of motivation.

Here are a few walking tours to consider for your solo Paris trip:

3. Sip pastis in the sun

Behold, one of my favorite things about living in France: pastis. (Does that make me sound like an alcoholic?)

But really. If you don’t already know what pastis is, then let me be the first to introduce you.

Pastis is an anise-flavored aperitif most commonly enjoyed in the south of France. [Source: Martha Stewart] It has a very distinct (and to some people, very unappetizing), chartreuse hue. When you add water, it turns a pale, milky whitish-green color.

Sounds appetizing, eh? But wait—why add water?

That’s how you drink it, dude. Typically, pastis is served with one or two ice cubes and a carafe of water so you can add as much water as you like. (I usually do about 2-3 parts water to 1 part pastis. (And I find it really annoying when you go to a bar and they add the water for you instead of giving you the water carafe on the side. But I digress.))

To be honest, pastis is definitely not for everyone.

Personally, I find that the strong licorice flavor is something you either love or hate. Me? I love it! Particularly, since I have celiac disease and therefore can’t drink beer (and I don’t like cocktails), my drink of choice when out with friends is either wine or pastis.

Another big perk of pastis? It’s super cheap! One glass usually costs about 3 euros.

I rest my case.

4. Sit in a cafe and people-watch

It may sound creepy, but I’ve long been quite the fan of people-watching. (IYKYK.) And Paris is one hell of a great place to do it.

First, it’s logistically easy. Paris (and French, in general) is famous for its plethora of outdoor seating. This is a concept we in the States really only seemed to catch on to during the COVID-19 pandemic when social-distancing regulations pushed restaurants to get creative by adding extra tables and chairs to the sidewalks out front. But the French have been doing this for decades. (Is it because they smoke and are, therefore, willing to eat outside even in the winter so they can puff as they please? Maybe, maybe.)

In any case, all this outdoor seating makes people-watching one of the top things to do solo in Paris.

Plus, it’s Paris! There are so many different walks of life out there pounding the pavement, that it’s hard not to find something interesting to ponder over, e.g., the fashion, the language, the joie de vivre, the savoir faire, and all the other clichés you can think of.

On that note, I’m reminded of this interesting article I recently read in The Economist: Why French women no longer wear high heels. A drôle read, if you’re into that kind of thing.

5. Check out French pharmacies for self-care products

If you’ve been on the Internet or read a book like … ever, then you’ve probably stumbled upon the cliché of French women and their affinity for beauty products. So if you’re thinking, “Why is Merry recommending checking out pharmacies as one of the top things to do in Paris on your own?” Then you might have an idea.

In all honesty, French pharmacies are a pretty cool sight to see. At least, if you have any interest in self-care or beauty products like I do. If that’s the case, then you’ll be delighted to check out all the different brands of creams, gels, lotions, and potions.

Particularly, if you’re already a fan of French cosmetic brands, like Caudalie, then this is your chance to snag your favorites at a much cheaper price than you’ll find them elsewhere in the world.

Things to Do in Paris Alone at Night

Traveling alone is all fun and games until the sun sets. During the day, there are plenty of fun things to do in Paris alone, like visiting museums, going to bookstores, strolling through flea markets, spending a few hours in a café … But once the sun is, it can be a bit harder to find things to do in Paris alone at night.

For one, if you’re traveling to Paris alone as a female, you may feel a bit unsafe wandering the streets alone at night and/or going to certain bars. And safety aside, a lot of people are less comfortable going to a loud, crowded bar by themselves than they are going to a cozy, inviting coffee shop.

But don’t think you have to stay cooped up all by yourself at night during your solo travel to Paris! Instead, here are a few ideas of things to do in Paris alone at night:

1. Treat yourself to a fancy French dinner

For a lot of people, going out to dinner alone can feel kind of sad or embarrassing or lame. Especially when that dinner is a fancy, candlelit dinner for two that’s actually going to be “just for one, please.”

But The Merry Loner Lifestyle is all about overcoming that fear of being alone and changing the idea of what it means to be a loner.

So don’t let insecurities or worries about what other people will think hold you back from enjoying some fine French cuisine while touring Paris on your own. Instead, I highly recommend going ahead and making that reservation for one! Because screw it—who cares.

If you need some inspiration, I recommend checking out the restaurant I went to during my first weekend ever in Paris: Le Relais de l’Entrecôte. I had never been to a restaurant like this before, and it kind of blew me away.

Here’s how it works: There’s only one thing on the menu. (Spoiler: It’s steak and frites, AKA French fries, AKA fries.) Everyone eats the same thing. There’s a huge line outside the door before the restaurant opens. When they open their doors, you’re immediately seated and within what feels like five minutes, a plate of steak and frites is in front of you. It’s a highly efficient but still elegant way of dining—and I had never experienced anything like it before.

Highly recommend.

2. Explore French film at the cinema

I’ve heard people say going to the movies by yourself is pretty lame, but I just don’t get it. Okay, it may be fun to go on a hot date to the movie theater and get all cozy, but if you’re just going with friends? You’re mostly going to sit in silence, anyway. (Or at least, I hope you will for the sake of the other viewers!)

TLDR; going to the cinema is a great way to spend the night out if you’re looking for things to do solo in Paris.

Many cinemas in Paris will play foreign films (and by foreign films, I mean films that aren’t in French). So if you don’t speak the language, no worries—you can easily find an American or English film in a Parisian cinema.

But if you do speak French, then woo-hoo! This is your chance to soak up some real French cinema in an authentic setting. Even if you’re not fluent in French and only know a bit of the language, it’s a great learning experience and still a cool way to explore a bit of another culture.

3. Dress up and sip a Parisian cocktail

If you want to feel fancy in Paris (I’m guessing you probably do), then heading to a chic cocktail bar is the way to do it.

Of course, not all of us feel confident enough to head out to the bar alone (especially in a foreign city). So if you want to explore a bit of the bar scene in Paris but are hesitant to do so solo, try checking out some solo meetups.

You can search for these on Facebook groups or dedicated apps, like Meetup. But I usually find that these sources only pay off if you’re staying in one spot for an extended period. If you’re only traveling to Paris solo for a weekend, I believe that you’re better off booking an event in advance.

For example, on TripAdvisor, you can find sign up for meetups in Paris, like:

4. Mingle at a language cafe

If drinking isn’t so much your thing and you’d rather focus more on meeting new people, why not try a language cafe?

At a language cafe, you can meet and mingle with other travelers (and even locals!) to practice your language skills. Of course, these meetups often take place in bars, but you can also find some daytime activities in coffee shops or parks, if that’s more your style.

If you only speak English, don’t sweat it. A lot of people come to the meetups to practice English. But if you know or are learning another language, then this is a great chance to practice chatting with other language learners—and even natives.

Again, you can look for these language cafes in Facebook groups or on websites like Meetup.

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Tips for a Solo Trip to Paris

Perhaps you’re a total pro at solo travel and moving around on your own doesn’t faze you. Good on you!

But for many people, solo trips can be a nerve-wracking, daunting experience. If you’re only dipping your toe into The Merry Loner Lifestyle and still need a little support and encouragement to get comfortable spending time on your own, no worries.

My first solo trip ever was to Paris, so hopefully I can do a little to help calm your nerves.

Here are my best tips on getting ready to visit Paris on your own:

1. Plan your itinerary

It’s not ground-breaking news that uncertainty about the future is strongly linked to anxiety. [Source: PubMed Central] So if you’re new to the solo travel scene and you’re seriously stressing about being in Paris solo, you can help calm your nerves by creating an itinerary in advance.

That said, The New York Times also makes the argument that planning TOO much can actually make your trip more stressful because you can just end up worrying about packing in all your planned activities.)

In my opinion, it’s best to meet somewhere in the middle. There’s no need to schedule every day of your trip down to the hour. I agree with the NYT on this one—that would just make things more stressful. But having a loose plan of how you’ll spend your time and what things you can do in Paris solo will help you make the most of your time and calm any travel anxiety.

So try this: For your upcoming solo travel to Paris, plan 2-3 things for each day. Book tours or dinner reservations in advance if you have to, but leave room for yourself to be flexible.

2. Embrace solo activities

You know what to do! If you were wondering before what to do alone in Paris but were coming up with nada, now you know that there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Paris on your own.

A few of my personal favorite activities include:

Visiting Shakespeare and Company
Going on a Seine River cruise
Signing up for a food or wine tour
Taking a cooking class

3. Stay connected

Safety, first! Because safety is sexy. ( … Is it, though?)

But seriously. When you’re headed to Paris solo, it’s important to regularly check in with your friends and/or family. Let them know that you’re okay. This way, if, God forbid, something shady happens and they haven’t heard from you in a few days, someone can at least know that you need help.

Go a step further by letting them know where you’re staying. And if your hotel, hostel, or whatever asks for an emergency contact number, give it to them!

Better safe than sorry …

4. Stay aware of your surroundings

Remember how I said things felt a little shady while I was walking around alone in Montmartre?

Granted, wandering around alone at night in a foreign neighborhood where I knew no one (without a phone, no less!) may not have been the best idea. But I was on alert the whole time. And even when you feel like you’re in a safe neighborhood, this is always a good idea when traveling solo.

Don’t skip on this.

Seriously. Among my family and friends, I am known for often walking around with my head in the clouds. I can be really oblivious to my surroundings and miss things that are right in front of me. But as I try to tell them when they’re worried about me traveling on my own: I don’t do this when they’re not there.

Just the opposite. Whenever I’ve traveled alone (in Poland, in Chicago, in Italy, in Montreal, etc.), I pay attention. I watch out for my bag, and, more importantly, I watch out for myself. Particularly as a woman (and particularly as a young woman), this is an important tip for traveling to Paris alone (or anywhere, for that matter).

4. Learn some basic French phrases

Don’t be one of those people who doesn’t even know how to say thank you in the native language.

Just don’t.

Before you stress, you don’t have to go out there and learn French before you embark on your solo trip to Paris, but you should know at least some basic French phrases. First of all, it’s polite. And second of all, it’s for your benefit! After all, not being totally clueless is usually helpful, right?

Here are a few basic French phrases to know before going to Paris on your own:

Hello: Bonjour
Please: S’il vous plaît
Thank you: Merci
Good evening (to say when you’re leaving a place): Bonne soirée
Good day (to say when you’re leaving a place): Bonne journée
Excuse me: Pardon
Yes: Oui
No: Non
I don’t speak French.: Je ne parle pas français.
Do you speak English?: Vous parlez anglais ?

5. Use public transportation

If you don’t have a great sense of direction (same), these days it can be really tempting to just call an Uber when you need to get around.

I do not recommend you do this while exploring Paris alone.

For one, that takes all the fun out of it! Getting lost in a new city can lead you to a lot of hidden gems that are off the beaten path. Plus, learning how to use another city or country’s public transportation is an experience in and of itself and an important way to learn about another culture.

Finally, taking taxis everywhere gets damn expensive. Save your money for actually doing things in Paris and take the metro, RER, or buses in Paris—or walk!

6. Stay in well-located accommodations

Perhaps your solo trip to Paris is on a tight budget. (Aren’t we all?) That’s totally fine—you can definitely swing a fun week full of solo things to do in Paris without spending a ton of money.

But when it comes to organizing a travel budget, this is my golden rule: Don’t skimp on the accommodations.

I’m not talking about staying in a five-star hotel or anything. Actually, hostels are a great way to socialize and meet people when you’re traveling alone, and they’re cheap! But pay attention to the neighborhood in which you’ll stay.

This is the most important part. Not only do you want to stay somewhere that feels safe, but it’s useful to stay somewhere as close to the city center as you can so you don’t waste a lot of your precious vacation time shuttling from the ‘burbs to the attractions.

7. Trust your instincts

Even if you’ve never been to Paris before, chances are, you know a dicey situation when you see it.

Maybe that neighborhood doesn’t look like the best place to explore alone at night. Perhaps this isn’t the group of strangers you’d like to befriend at the bar.

Sometimes, there’s no precise reason for why something doesn’t feel like a good idea. But if you feel uncomfortable, uneasy, or something (or someone) is giving you the wrong feeling, don’t gaslight yourself into thinking you’re just overreacting. Maybe you are this time, but isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?

When in doubt, go with your gut—and get yourself out of the situation if you need to.

Tips for Traveling Paris Solo for Women

The joys of womanhood, am I right? I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’m seeing any articles out there about “Tips for Men Traveling Alone.” Sigh. But whether or not it feels unjust, the reality is that life is not the same for men and women—and we need to act accordingly.

So before you start skipping around like Emily in Paris, read up on these tips for traveling to Paris alone as a female:

1. Dress comfortably and respectfully

I mean, you do you, girl. You wear whatever the hell you want. But as always, if you’re going to be going to religious sights as part of your sightseeing, it’s usually recommended (and sometimes) required to dress modestly.

This is where the scarf becomes a superhero (though isn’t it always?). A good scarf will not only keep you warm on the airplane and keep you looking chic on the streets, but it can double as a wrap to cover your shoulders before you duck into Sacre Coeur.

Plus, pay attention to your footwear. I’m sure you know the drill: Pack comfortable shoes, and don’t whip out that new pair of kicks when you’ve got a week of sightseeing ahead of you.

And if you want to stay chic and care about fitting in with the locals, I’ll again draw your attention to this article from The Economist: Why French women no longer wear high heels. I’m definitely a fan of high heels, myself, but, yeah—stilettos are probably not the best choice for a walking tour.

2. Be cautious at night

Personally, I’m not looking for a repeat experience of my stressful evening walking around Montmartre. Not to scare you away from the neighborhood. (Everyone else online seems to say it’s very safe?) But yeah—it wasn’t one of my best ideas to wander around totally lost by myself without a phone in an unknown neighborhood at night.

Do as I say, not as I do.

Of course, it’s not like Paris is some dangerous no-man’s-land, but best practices still apply: Watch where you go at night. Pay attention to your surroundings. And remember what I said about prioritizing public transportation instead of taxis? If it’s really late and you feel anxious taking public transportation for a long journey by yourself, go ahead and call that taxi.

3. Inform someone about your whereabouts

As mentioned, this is a basic tip for staying safe while traveling solo—but I’m going to say it again for the people in the back.

As a woman traveling alone in Paris, make sure you check in regularly with friends and/or family and let them know your whereabouts. You can even turn on location-sharing on your phone with a trusted contact, if you’re into that. Plus, don’t forget to give them the details about your hotel or hostel, and always keep your emergency contact information easily accessible.

Just in case.

4. Don’t go for the cheapest accommodation you can find

Remember what I said about prioritizing well-located accommodations in your travel budget?

This isn’t just so you can get a better view from your hotel or hostel window. It’s so you can stay somewhere safe.

Whether you’re looking for hotels in Paris, hostels in Paris, or AirBnBs, do some research before booking. Check out what people have to say about the neighborhood and what the transportation options are in that area.

After all, what’s that old saying? You can’t put a price on peace of mind …

Recommended Reading:

Solo Trip to Paris Itinerary

To be honest, I’m not a big planner—at least when I travel. In my daily life, I am big into lists, trackers, spreadsheets, calendars, etc. But when I’m exploring a new city (especially on my own), I prefer to just go where the wind takes me. I’ll keep a rough idea of top sights to see, but I generally like to play it all by ear.

Understandably, this is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re a planner (or if you need planning help!), here’s some inspiration for building your solo trip to Paris itinerary:

Day 1: Landmarks

IMHO, the first day of any trip is best spent just getting a feel for the lay of the land. This is a great day to do outdoor activities and cross the most famous landmarks off your list (if that even interests you).

For example, on Day 1 of your trip, I think some of the best things to do in Paris alone would be:

Seeing the Eiffel Tower
The Seine
Checking out the Arc de Triomphe
Strolling the Champs-Elysées
Popping into Galeries Lafayette (these last three are all located near each other, so it’s efficient and easy)

Day 2: Museums

Let’s be honest: Even if you like museums, they are really tiring.

This is one I recommend front-loading your Paris trip with museums. Most likely, you’ll have more energy and enthusiasm at the beginning of your trip. Whereas, by the end, you’ll probably be so mentally and physically wiped that all you’ll want to do is sit around and eat cheese. (Good news! In France, that’s called culture)

On Day 2 of your solo trip to Paris itinerary, I would recommend visiting 2-3 museums, depending on how long you plan to stay at each one.

Some obvious museum choices include:

Musée du Louvre
Musée d’Orsay
Musée Rodin

Some less obvious museum choices include:

Petit Palais
Palais Galliera (a fashion museum)
Maison Européenne de la Photographie

Day 3: Nightlife

Now it’s time to have some fun. At this point, you’ve done what you’re supposed to. You’ve seen the sights. You’ve been to the museums. You may even have taken a boat ride along the Seine.

So perhaps you’d like to reward yourself with a fun night out?

For inspiration, you can refer back to the above list of things to do in Paris alone at night.

My top picks for a date night with myself in Paris?

Spend the afternoon at the cinema
Head to Le Relais de l’Entrecôte for dinner
Go to a solo or language meetup in a pub

Day 4: Cuisine

Next up on our solo Paris itinerary? Food, baby.

Especially if you’re maybe nursing a little hangover from the night before, a day spent absolutely ~~stuffing your face~~ indulging in all things French cuisine is the perfect way to spend a day in Paris. After all, if you’re wondering what to do alone in Paris, you pretty much can’t go wrong with spending the day visiting different boulangeries, pâtisseries, fromageries, viennoiseries, etc.

If you’ve got room in your budget, I highly recommend signing up for a food and/or wine tour.

As a solo traveler in Paris, this is a great, easy way to get out there and mingle a little bit. Plus, it gives you the chance to try a lot of different kinds of cuisine—more than you could just ordering a typical meal in a restaurant.

And a food walking tour … I mean, with all that over-eating, taking some strolls between meals is certainly a good idea.

For some booking inspiration, consider starting your search for a food or wine tour in Paris by perusing these options:

Day 5: Do something active

No matter where I travel, I always try to stay active when I’m on the road. Sure, this is DEFINITELY easier said than done. And even though I pretty much always travel with my trusty travel yoga mat, I don’t always find the time (or, honestly, the space!) to take it out.

Staying active while you travel, though, can help you:

Deal with the effects of jet lag [Source: PubMed Central]
Improve sleep quality [Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine]
Reduce stress [Source: Mayo Clinic]
Generally not feel like a total slug

Particularly after a day of feasting on French pastries, wine, and cheese, adding a day of activity into your Paris solo trip itinerary can help you put a spring back in your step. Consider:

Going for a long walk around the city
Renting a bike
Jogging in a park

Day 6: Neighborhoods

Finally, I recommend closing out the last day of your solo trip to Paris with some good, unscheduled strollin’ around. Rather than putting pressure on yourself to squeeze in one last museum visit or tour, take this time to just enjoy what the city has to offer.

Revisit that restaurant for lunch that you loved. Because why not? Grab a coffee at the cute café you passed by the other day but didn’t have time to stop in before your booked museum tour. Go to the park and stretch out in the sun. It may be your last day in Paris (for now), but who says it has to be action-packed? Sometimes, the best days are those on which we do nothing.

What I Learned from My Solo Trip to Paris

When I spent a solo weekend in Paris, it was the first time I was in Europe, period. This was back in January 2017, when I had just turned 20 years old and was on my way to Rennes to study for a semester.

Up until that point, I had only been on a plane once before—from Rhode Island down to Florida to visit family. Going on this solo trip to Paris (even if just for a few days) was a grand experiment in learning how to do things on my own.

It was the first time I took the subway; the first time I was in a city that big alone; the first time I had wine! It was the beginning of a lot of learning. One of my biggest takeaways?

Traveling alone can be really fun! No one ever really prepared me for that. And if I hadn’t gone on this trip, I don’t think I ever would have gone to Quebec alone or Poznan or Salt Lake City or flown alone to Chicago, D.C., Korea, etc.

So what do you think? Do you like solo traveling? Have you ever taken a trip by yourself? Do you want to? Where?

Drop me a line at itsmerry@amerryloner.com to let me know or leave it in the comments.

As always:

Thanks for being here,

Merry

Before You Go …

If you’re headed to Paris from somewhere in the States, there’s no two ways about it: You’re going to have to spend quite a bit of time on the plane before you arrive in the City of Lights.

I don’t know about you, but traveling is one of my favorite times to unplug from everything and dive into a good book. If you would like travel reading inspiration, please read my next article to find easy-to-read classics you’ll love.

References

Statista Price differential (Fisher index) between the Paris Region and the French provinces in 2022, by sector

Shakespeare and Company History

Wikipedia Saint-Germain-des-Près

Martha Stewart Why the French Love Pastis—Plus, How to Enjoy This Iconic Anise Aperitif at Home

PubMed Central Uncertainty and Anticipation in Anxiety

PubMed Central Jet Lag in Athletes

Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine Exercising for Better Sleep

Mayo Clinic Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress

The post Solo Travel to Paris: Itinerary for Traveling to Paris Solo + 26 Things to Do Alone in Paris appeared first on A Merry Loner.

21 Quotes for Traveling Alone

Merry — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:07:47 +0000

What makes us want to collect (dare I say hoard) quotes? Words of wisdom plucked from a writer, artist, or some other sage figure that struck some magical, harmonic chord within us.

“Yes, that’s how I’ve always felt.”
“No one’s put it that way to me before.”
“I didn’t know how to express what I was feeling—but finally, there it is.”

I highlight quotes I like in books. Dog-ear the pages. Circle entire paragraphs. If it’s a library book, I’ll even take the time to painstakingly transcribe the quote into a journal, on a napkin, or on any errant scrap I find.

These days, my quotes are now likely to get lost in the digital abyss. Copy-and-pasted into a Google Doc. Bookmarked on my browser. Saved in my Notes apps—and rarely, if ever, seen again.

Why do we do this?

Because words make you feel. They can make you heal. And put together just so, they can give you more pause than an entire photo reel (or even, she shudders, an Instagram reel).

Words are our friends when the world is screaming too loud. When small talk is insufficient and corporate speak, ubiquitous. Someone, somewhere has already found just the right thing to say to soothe you and move you and keep the existential dread at bay.

These are some of them—the traveling alone version.

Whether you need:

Quotes about traveling alone to help you sink into the bliss of solitude
Traveling alone quotes to make you feel like a free bird
Quotes for traveling alone to potentially find yourself
Quotes on traveling alone that make you focus on personal growth

Consider this your chest of inspirational delights for sometimes-weary travelers in our often-weary world: a thoughtfully curated round-up of 21 quotes for traveling alone.

Related Posts:

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Quotes about traveling alone…for when you want to sink into the bliss of solitude

Taking in the sunset solo—with only a glass of wine at your side. Wandering hidden bookshops in a new city. Cosplaying an elderly gentleman by sitting outside a cafe for hours and just calmly watching the world go by.

When you appreciate the bliss of solitude, you can find contentment anywhere.

Set the mood with these 6 quotes about traveling alone to savor solitude:

1. “Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.”

Speaker: Henry Rollins, American singer and writer (1961–)

2. “I wondered why it was that places are so much lovelier when one is alone.”

Speaker: Daphne du Maurier, English novelist, biographer and playwright (1907–1989)

3. “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world.”

Speaker: Freya Stark, British-Italian explorer and travel writer (1893–1993)

4. “In the solitude of solo travel, the mind expands, and the spirit dances to the rhythm of the open road.”

Speaker: Jack Kerouac, American novelist and poet (1922–1969)

5.“The inner journey of travel is intensified by solitude.”

Speaker: Paul Theroux, American novelist and travel writer (1941–)

6. “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”

Speaker: Mary Anne Radmacher, American writer and artist (1957–)

Traveling alone quotes…to make you feel like a free bird

Perhaps you spontaneously cut your own hair—or dyed it. Quit your job. Ended a relationship. Moved—whether across the country or to the next town over.

Even small steps can make big changes, especially when those small steps are the first on a voyage you take alone.

For the only company you need, turn to these 3 traveling alone quotes to make you feel free like a bird:

7. “The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.”

Speaker: Henry David Thoreau, American naturalist and essayist (1817–1862)

8. “Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.”

Speaker: Buddha, ascetic and religious teacher (6th or 5th century BCE)

9. “A hotel room all to myself is my idea of a good time.”

Speaker: Chelsea Handler, American comedian and actress (1975–)

Quotes for traveling alone…and potentially even finding yourself

The unspoken quest of every solo journey to be taken: “finding” yourself.

Even if you hadn’t felt lost to begin with, an independent mind, an open road, and enough space and time to think can put you face to face with the person you didn’t know you could be.

Get curious with these 6 quotes for traveling alone to find yourself:

10. “You must go on adventures alone to find out where you belong.”

Speaker: Sue Fitzmaurice, New Zealand writer, editor, publisher (unknown)

11. “When the traveler goes alone he gets acquainted by himself.”

Speaker: Liberty Hyde Bailey, American horticulturist (1858–1954)

12. “I think one travels more usefully when they travel alone, because they reflect more.”

Speaker: Thomas Jefferson, American Founding Father and 3rd US President (1743–1826)

13. “Traveling alone makes it easier to be yourself.”

Speaker: Charles Bukowski, American poet and novelist (1920–1994)

14. “It seemed an advantage to be traveling alone… we temper our curiosity to fit in with the expectations of others.”

Speaker: Alain de Botton, British author (1969–)

15. “Loving life is easy when you are abroad… you are more master of yourself than at any other time.”

Speaker: Hannah Arendt, German-American historian and philosopher (1906–1975)

Quotes on traveling alone…that make you focus on personal growth

Sometimes if you want to grow, you must first rip out your roots.

Walk where you’ve never been. Pack lightly. Breathe deeply. And keep your best photos for yourself—the most profound personal growth happens when no one is looking.

Start the process with these 6 quotes on traveling alone for personal growth:

16. “Always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one thing that is going to require the most from you.”

Speaker: Caroline Myss, American author (1952–)

17. “If you don’t get out of the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is.”

Speaker: Angelina Jolie, American actress and filmmaker (1975–)

18. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do…”

Speaker: Mark Twain, American writer and humorist (1835–1910)

19. “You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.”

Speaker: Diane Von Fürstenberg, Belgian fashion designer (1946–)

20. “A solo journey is not a solitary endeavor; it’s an affirmation of your ability to thrive independently…”

Speaker: Amy Smith, leadership coach (unknown)

21. “Solo travel not only pushes you out of your comfort zone; it also pushes you out of the zone of others’ expectations.”

Speaker: Suzy Strutner, Executive Content Director, Oracle (unknown)

A book of quotes for traveling alone—AKA the best solo travel companion

Perhaps the old Eat Pray Love clichés are true. Solo travel does teach you about yourself. It tests your patience, exposes you to new cultures, and reminds you that you are a tiny bee in a massive hive and that, for better or for worse (usually for better), you, your troubles, and your worries are really not that big of a deal.

Most importantly, solo travel forces you to spend time with no one but yourself—a surprisingly difficult feat in our always-connected, always-buzzing world of endless distractions.

A Merry Loner’s 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge

Solo travel doesn’t have to be far. It can be as close as the next town over. Ready to start? Learn how to get more comfortable doing new things alone.

Daily bite-sized challenge to help you experiment with doing things alone
A judgment-free zone to share all your feels about how the day’s activity went
Daily journal prompts to help you process and learn from what you did that day

Recommended Reading:

The post 21 Quotes for Traveling Alone appeared first on A Merry Loner.

26 Best Bars in Providence: Insider Tips from a Native Rhode Island-er

Merry — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:44:56 +0000

I’ve tried them all—these are the best bars in Providence for friends, dates, and solo time.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent many of the wee hours of the morning between the ages of 21 and 23 prowling the streets of Providence with my gang of misfit acquaintances. I worked in public relations; one guy worked with ex-cons; one girl worked at an Ivy League; one bloke was even a pilot.

It was very Cheers-y of us, and most nights felt like a sepia-toned movie montage—the part in the movie where all the wayward souls start to become friends.

And the mise en scène was always Providence, Rhode Island.

There were many golden memories in these bars. Sometimes there were tears. Maybe even a fight or two. Regrets. Sloppy kisses. Lonely nights. Victorious parades home after feeling like the life of the party, as well as shameful, tragic marches with that awkwardly uttered phrase playing in memory on repeat.

So if you’re searching for downtown bars in Providence, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll show you:

Fun bars in Providence to wear a flashy dress and a flashy smile (Winner: Riffraff Bookstore and Bar)
Best pubs in Providence to take yourself on a solo date (Winner: Wild Colonial Tavern)
Best cocktail lounges in Providence to pretend you’re an elegant lady or gentleman (or at least make someone else think you’re an elegant lady or gentleman) (Winner: Courtland Club)
Best craft beer in Providence to wear plaid and steep yourself in the nostalgia of 2012’s adorkable years (Winner: The Malted Barley)
Best bar food in Providence for when you’re that many drinks in and need a little pick-me-up (Winner: Harry’s Bar & Burger)
Best neighborhood bars in Providence to just have a beer with a friend without having to get all fashionable about it (Winner: Ogie’s Trailer Park)

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Fun Bars in Providence

These are the trendy locales that may be suggested to you by someone the Internet names a “girlie” or a “bro.”

Fun, trendy bars usually turnover fast—but Providence has managed to produce a few mainstays that have been proudly delivering sticky floors and loud music for many a time.

Related Posts:

1. Riffraff Bookstore and Bar

A bookstore AND a bar? Be still my beating heart.

Well, actually, I guess there is one flaw with this jewel of a place. If you want to stand out as the moody, brooding intellectual who brought their high-brow literature to the bar to do some sophisticated reading alone… You’re not going to feel special here. If that’s your MO, you’re better off checking out one of the best pubs in Providence or one of the best neighborhoods in Providence. (More on that later.)

BUT if you want to mix and mingle with other people who love to read (or at least claim to), set your GPS to 60 Valley St #107A, Providence, RI 02909.

2. AS220 Food & Drink

Now this one is a little something special. AS220 is technically a “non-profit community arts organization.” According to their website, they:

“provide all people in Rhode Island affordable access to galleries, performance venues, educational opportunities, residential spaces, and work studios needed to realize their full creative potential.”

You can also eat and drink stuff there.

Seriously, this is one of the more interesting places to check out, other than just for a drink for the night.

If you want to excite your cultural taste buds, check out AS220’s events calendar.

3. The Boombox

“Let’s go sing karaoke,” they said. “It’ll be fun,” they said.

“They” were two new friends who managed to cajole me to do a thing I never do: sing karaoke after imbibing in a few delirious hours at a wine bar.

“They” also ended up sounding better than Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper when they took on the Hollywood pair’s Shallow duet from A Star Is Born, which I (as the untalented singer I am) was not prepared to hear.

I digress. Whether you want to show off your singing chops or willfully embarrass yourself, this is a mighty fine place to do it.

4. The Eddy

Come to think of it, I think I’ve only been to The Eddy once. I guess I’m not cool enough.

This place is always slammed, so I guess you’ve got to be either a) willing to tolerate shoulder-to-shoulder crowds as you fight to order your basic-ass gin and tonic or b) stop by on an errant Monday night when things are probably slow.

BUT The Eddy isn’t wrong in calling itself a “stylish, dimly lit cocktail bar.” It IS dimly light, and there’s enough polished oak in there to make you feel like you’re inside a jewelry box. So if you want to show off that you’re an intellectual hipster with a little bit of cash, come on down to 95 Eddy St, Providence, RI 02903.

5. The Black Sheep

Calling everyone who wants to have a good time. I sure did the last time I found myself at The Black Sheep 397 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02903. I was celebrating a friend’s birthday, and she started the night proclaiming she wanted to end the night here.

We did. We danced. We sang. And we woke up with a headache that turned into a long-lasting memory we decided to call fun.

The best thing about The Black Sheep? Everyone fits in here. Apparently, The Black Sheep is home to “Rhode Island’s Premiere Drag Show”? And they also have Sunday brunch? (Even I’m just discovering this.) What kind of magical place is this?

6. Tiny Bar

A tiny bar where you can skip tiny cocktails with your tiny (AKA pinky) finger sticking up.

If you head into this tiny joint at 377 Richmond St, Providence, RI 02903, make sure you say hi to my old friend Analise … if she still works there. And you better hope she does because she’s one of the best bartenders around these parts.

Warning: Tiny Bar is not tiny. No, really. While they do have a large, twinkly courtyard to enjoy during the summer months (and the winter months, if you dare), this place can really only handle a few tables. So if you want to feel like a VIP (or if you want an excuse to cozy up to your date), this is the place to be.

7. Rooftop at the Providence G

This one’s for you, People Who Just Want to Go to a Bar That’s Popular. I see you. I don’t feel you. But that’s okay—you do you.

The Rooftop is (you guessed it) a rooftop bar above the Providence G, which are luxury apartment buildings in the center of Providence. I’ve spent my fair share of time at the Rooftop, usually leaning against the wall in a leather jacket with a glass of whiskey acting like I’m too hipster to be there.

But if you’re not as much of a pain in the ass as I am and you just want to have a good old time like most people, good on you. You’ll probably enjoy the firepits.

Pro tip: Make sure you make a reservation first for your night at 100 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903.

Best Pubs in Providence

You know those nights when you’re bringing together friends from different friend groups? Besides asking yourself what the hell you’re doing and why you’ve decided to create such an anxiety-inducing night where all your diverse personalities may collide, you might wonder where to take everyone.

The answer is: You can’t go wrong with a pub. IMHO, these are the three best pubs in Providence:

8. Wild Colonial Tavern

Wild Colonial Tavern has a quaint, stone facade that’s right out of a picture book. If you want to play pool, play darts, and/or throw back a Guinness, this is a pretty good place to do it. The atmosphere is relaxed and lowkey, so it’s unlikely anyone annoying will bother you.

Plus, 250 S Water St, Providence, RI 02903 is right near the Providence River, so in the warm months you can sip your cold pints outside and enjoy an easy, breezy view.

They offer “bar bites” but not a full menu, so it’s advised to fill up on dinner before heading out for all those whiskey shots…

9. The Point Tavern

If you want dinner AND drinks but can’t be bothered to call an Uber halfway through the night, The Point Tavern can be your one-stop shop for beer, burgers, and booze. Or if you don’t subscribe to the holy trinity, no worries—this pub also maintains a pretty extensive cocktail menu, including seasonal delights like Winter Sangria and more versions of a Moscow Mule than I can be bothered to list here.

It’s on the very famed Wickenden Street (302 Wickenden St #4469, Providence, RI 02903 to be precise) where you can sip your drinks outside and people watch—or duck inside for weekly quiz night.

10. Trinity Brewhouse

Ah, Trinity Brewhouse. The pub I most frequented out of the three best pubs in Providence. I like the fact that they have a very large, varied selection of craft beers. They also have a basement, if that makes you feel cool in any way. Plus, the food ain’t that bad!

At 186 Fountain St, Providence, RI 02903, United States, Trinity Brewhouse stands loud and proud on the corner and takes up plenty of space, so it definitely doesn’t give you those hole-in-the-wall vibes you’ll find at Wild Colonial Tavern. But that also means it’ll be a lot easier to find a table on a crowded Friday night.

You can’t have it all.

Best Cocktail Lounges in Providence

Cue the moody music. If you want an excuse to dress up or perhaps a dimly lit room to flutter your eyelashes in front of your date, then let me be your guide. I’ve sipped dirty martinis and strutted my best shoes in (dare I say) all the cocktail lounges in Providence—and these are the very best.

11. The Walnut Room

One of the newer additions to the nightlife scene in Providence at 245 S Main St, Providence, RI 02903, United States, The Walnut Room is a very respectable establishment. And yes—by respectable establishment I do mean the place to go with your friend to consume an entire bottle of champagne each and touch up your lipstick in the bathroom like you’re posing for the pages of Vogue.

It has little velvety chairs and wanna-be marble tables. It has lots of shiny wood. And if I do recall, it even has a luxurious black curtain in front of the bathroom door, which you can use to hide behind and sneak a peek out at your date or fling open Disney-princess style to make a grand entrance. Depends what kind of night you’re having, but having options is always nice.

12. Courtland Club

I really do quite like the Courtland Club, but I’ll express my one grievance right off the bat: On numerous occasions, they served me my dirty martini in a tumbler glass. Not a fan.

With that one demerit out of the way, I can otherwise wholeheartedly recommend the Courtland Club. There’s an exposed brick wall inside (come on, who doesn’t love that?) onto which they often project old-timey movies.

Best of all, it has kind of a hidden entrance on 51 Courtland St, Providence, RI 02909, United States. My roommate-at-the-time and I discovered it while going for an ambling walk one night in what we thought was strictly a residential area until we discovered a few too many people walking into this one door suspiciously not-residential-like door. The rest is history (and a little blurry).

13. Justine’s

My best friend and I discovered Justine’s per her mom’s recommendation—who discovered it per the pages of some RI Monthly magazine. Tucked in the not-exactly-picturesque streets of Olneyville at 11 Olneyville Square, Providence, RI 02909, United States, Justine’s lives up to its self-proclaimed title of “unassuming lounge…with moody lighting & a speakeasy vibe.”

From the street, Justine’s looks like a (very cheap and tacky) lingerie shop. Once you step inside, there’s nothing but a small, empty black room, where a rather undelighted bouncer checks your IDs and then ushers you past the curtain. Inside, I have memories of a glittering delight of cozy booths, accent mirrors, and lots of gold.

10/10, I recommend. This is a great spot to go if you’ve already spent a lot of time in downtown Providence and are looking for a little something different.

14. The Avery

At 18 Luongo Square, Providence, RI 02903, The Avery is not far from my old apartment in Providence, so it was easy for me to wander by from time to time on a random weekday.

Another speakeasy-inspired lounge (though far less dramatically so than Justine’s), The Avery is a dark, moody, jazzy bar that’s ripe for date nights and girl nights. (There’s even a fountain and benches out front, so it’s practically begging to be the pivotal scene in a rom-com.)

I will say that (unless things have changed) I’m taking points off for the music. Save the one time a spontaneous marching band came in and belted out a couple brassy tunes, they typically play house music that’s just not on brand with the jazzy, romantic interior design. Kind of a bummer.

15. The Royal Bobcat

Want to start and end your night out in Providence with elegance? Then I suggest you bookend your evening with The Walnut Room and The Bobcat.

Word on the street is, they’re owned by the same dude. And that tracks. Like The Walnut Room, The Royal Bobcat is a dimly lit bar with a lot of polished wood. Except The Walnut Room is on the East Side and is, appropriately, more elegant, while The Royal Bobcat is on the East Side and is, also appropriately, a little more pub-like.

Can’t really go wrong.

16. Needle and Thread

Another relatively new bar Providence nightlife scene, Needle and Thread has quickly become (as the kids say) hip and happening.

Needle and Threat gives off the same ‘20s- and speakeasy-inspired flair as do The Avery, The Walnut Room, and Courtland Club … but (sorry) with a little less sophistication. Though that’s not necessarily a bad thing! At least not all the time. Needle and Thread is easily three times the size of those other bars, so if you want to get your Great Gatsby mood on but your party is bigger than six people, it’s best to head here to 45 Peck St, Providence, RI 02903, for the night.

TLDR; here’s what you need to know about the best cocktail lounges in Providence:

The Walnut Room and The Royal Bobcat are your basic speakeasy-inspired vibe. (They’re even owned by the same person.) But one is on the East Side (The Walnut Room), and one is on the West Side (The Bobcat).
Courtland Club is your speakeasy-inspired vibe for hipsters.
Justine’s is your most authentic speakeasy-inspired vibe.
The Avery is your speakeasy-inspired vibe, dive bar version.
Needle and Thread is your speaky-inspired vibe, basic club version.

You’re welcome.

Best Craft Beer in Providence

If you don’t care about ambiance, cocktails, or trying to look cool in a dimly-lit room and you just care about the beer, welcome. There’s room for you here in the two bars with the best craft beer in Providence.

17. The Malted Barley

The perfect place to wear a plaid shirt and reminisce about watching Season 2 of New Girl. In other words, in a hip, Gen Z-er’s world, this craft beer joint is a Millennial’s escape.

Located on the very appealing Westminster Street in downtown Providence, you can come during the evening for casual dinner and strolling, and then end the night with a pint and a soft pretzel at The Malted Barley. (The soft pretzels are apparently gourmet?)

For fans of trivia night and other bar-friendly activities, this is the place to be. Plus, they even have foosball, which is never not a good thing.

18. Moniker Brewery

When I was living in Providence, Moniker Brewery was but a dream, i.e., continuously in construction. I never did get to see the opening today, but I recently spent the night hanging at its 432 W Fountain St, Providence, RI 02903 location for a rehearsal dinner.

It did not disappoint.

They don’t serve food themselves, but it seems there’s always a food truck out front, so you can craft-beer and stuff yourself with overpriced finger food to your heart’s content.

If you do want to host a party (be it a rehearsal dinner, a birthday party, or whatever hipster soirée of your choosing), then you can call in advance and book the courtyard for only your special VIPs.

And like any great craft beer bar, dogs are welcome.

Best Bar Food in Providence

Naturally, a good night out spent prowling from one bar to the next must be intersected at some point with bar food. Maybe you want the greasy kind that you tell yourself will keep a hangover at bay. Or perhaps you want the slightly overpriced hipster kind that includes something with the word “deconstructed” on the menu.

I see you and hear you, my friend. IMHO, this is the best bar food in Providence:

19. Harry’s Bar & Burger

Oh, Harry’s Bar & Burger. This might be perhaps one of my most frequented joints in Providence—and I’m not ashamed to say so.

Located on the ever popular 301 Atwells Ave, Providence, RI 02903, Harry’s was just one street away from my apartment. As someone who likes to read, write, and stare off moodily into the distance while drinking a few pints (and inhaling a few cheeseburgers), Harry’s was my neighborhood dream come true.

It became my tradition with myself to go there every Tuesday or Wednesday night for a pint(s), a burger, and a few hours of reading. (These Books for Existential Dread were often on the menu.) It was also a great stop with friends to either start the night out or end it with some bar snacks on the way home.

10/10 forever.

P.S. There’s a second Harry’s Bar & Burger on the East Side at 121 N Main St, Providence, Rhode Island.

Do you take yourself on enough solo dates?

Go on, take yourself out.

20. Xaco Taco

Another beloved stop for snacks in the middle of the night. Perfectly situated at 370 Richmond St, Providence, RI 02903 in the Jewelry District (AKA on the other side of the city from my apartment), Xaco Taco was the perfect place for a little midnight snack to keep you going.

Best of all, it’s located right next to the aforementioned Tiny Bar and Nick-A-Nee’s (a hint at what’s to come).

21. Troop

Troop calls itself a “chill hangout with funky decor for eclectic street food fare & cheekily named craft cocktails.” How much of that rings true?

I can attest to the fact that they’ve got some funky decor and cheekily named craft cocktails. Don’t know if I’d call the street food “eclectic,” but it sure is tasty. Notably, this is a good place to go if you’re looking for vegan bar food in Providence in the middle of the night.

I’m told they also often host trivia nights and other activities meant to entice?

Beware, though, that Troop is seriously lacking in the fabric department, which means it gets REALLY loud in there. If you want to whisper sweet-nothings in your date’s ear, this is not the place. But if you want to nod along and pretend like you’re listening to that friend of a friend who repeats the same (not funny) story over and over again? Troop’s got you.

Best Neighborhood Bars in Providence

Trends may come and trends may go, but the good, old-fashioned neighborhood bar is a mainstay that we as a people cannot (and should not) ever go without.

While I enjoy a cocktail lounge or a trendy, thematic bar as much as the next person, some nights you just can’t beat the classic neighborhood bar. Luckily, despite the many speakeasy-wannabe bars that continue to pop up all around town, there are still quite a few neighborhood bars for the Providence insiders to sip and imbibe a few libations on a weeknight.

These are the six best neighborhood bars in Providence:

22. Nick-A-Nee’s

Hands down, this is one of my all-time favorite bars in Providence. But you’ve been warned: It’s cash only.

Not to fear, the 75 South St, Providence, RI 02903 location has an ATM inside. It’s also got a pool table, darts, an eclectic assortment of Americana paraphernalia, and (if memory serves me well) a few model planes hanging from the ceiling.

Not gonna lie, Nick-A-Nee’s tends to attract an older and sometimes biker-esque crowd. But if you want to avoid being hit upon by lame TikTok-influencer wannabes and guys who think giving themselves whiplash to flick their hair out of their eyes is a turn on, then (like me) you’ll welcome the change in scenery.

Plus, a few times a week, it’s bluegrass night. And I think it’s fair to say no one is getting enough bluegrass in their life.

23. Muldowney’s Pub

My wardrobe may have plenty of frills, but sometimes all I want is a no-frills kind of bar. That means going to a tiny, been-there-forever, kind of dumpy bar with a jukebox, a pool table, and a bathroom in which I try to make absolutely no contact with any kind of surface while inside.

That’s Muldowney’s Pub. It’s got a very laid-back atmosphere where absolutely no one is trying to look cool and the drinks are cheap.

Plus, it’s just around the corner from Trinity Brewhouse. So if you start your evening with dinner and drinks at Trinity, you can loop all the way around downtown Providence and make it full circle back to where you started with a chill nightcap at Muldowney’s.

24. Nolan’s Corner Pub

Can there be too many Irish pubs? At least not in New England there can’t be.

At the far end of Atwells Ave (not too far down the road from Harry’s Bar and Burger and The Royal Bobcat), Nolan’s Corner Pub is another dark and quiet room where you can play pool, play darts, or play with your date’s feelings. (Just kidding—don’t do that.)

Like most neighborhood bars, it’s a good place to go if you want to head out for a casual drink without getting caught up in an active, look-at-me bar scene. No one will be wearing fancy clothes. No one will be playing whatever the kids are calling hip music these days. Though someone may card you.

25. Ogie’s Trailer Park

Okay, I take back what I said about most neighborhood bars being a place to go if you don’t want an active bar scene. Because Ogie’s Trailer Park is anything but that.

If you’re a hipster living in the Providence vicinity, then this is certainly the place to go if you want to see and be seen. It has an enormous outdoor seating area with a large firepit around which smokers will congregate once it’s near closing time. It has an indoor food truck where you can buy overpriced fries. And it has a pretty darn groovy disco theme that we all find delightful.

But be warned: If you live in the area, you’re most likely going to run into someone you know here. Tread lightly. (And dress smartly.)

26. Captain Seaweed’s Pub

Last but not least in the round-up of best bars in Providence is good ol’ Captain Seaweed’s Pub. You won’t find this pub mentioned in many “best of” lists since it’s quite far away from the rest of the downtown Providence scene, but I still think it’s worth mentioning, nonetheless.

If you find yourself over the river (through the weeds), past Brown University, and way out by India Point Park, then consider swinging by Captain Seaweed’s Pub. In addition to its amusing name, this pub’s got an equally amusing decor with (you guessed it) lots of nautical-inspired gizmos hanging around, like seahorses, buoys, and (naturally) a pirate.

It’s pretty cute for the summertime, since there’s a lot of outdoor seating with big, straw umbrellas. And for wintertime, you can challenge strangers to a game of pool and hope to score yourself a few free drinks if you win. (This is not Captain Seaweed’s protocol; it’s just something I do sometimes.)

My Top 5 Favorite Bars in Providence

Well that was certainly a walk down memory lane. After living on Atwells Avenue for a few years and circling the city on foot more times than I can count, I daresay I am an expert when it comes to the downtown Providence bar scene.

So here’s my rapid-fire run-down on my all-time favorite bars in Providence:

Bar	My Rating	Perfect for…
Harry’s Burger Bar	4 out of 5	– Nights when you don’t want to go to a bar but you still want to go out – Really good burgers (but they make you pay extra for fries—lame) – Late-night snacks
Ogie’s Trailer Park	5 out of 5	– Sitting outside – Getting cheap drinks – Seeing and being seen
Nick-A-Nee’s	5 out of 5	– Bluegrass music – Escaping the annoying trends of the youth – Really cheap drinks
The Boombox	4 out of 5	– Karaoke – Lasting memories – Hanging with friends if you’re the designated driver
Courland Club	4 out of 5	– Date night – Reading alone and looking mysterious – A calm, peaceful drink

Wrapping Up: You can’t go wrong with any of the 26 best bars in Providence

At pretty much all times of the year, the nightlife in Providence is a-booming.

In general, I’m completely convinced that Providence is a hidden gem and a true jewel in the USA—and its bar scene is no exception.

If you make the journey to The Ocean State’s Big Apple, tell me: Which bar is your new favorite?

Recommended Reading:

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No Date? No Problem—A Guide to Dating Yourself in 2025

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 13:35:36 +0000

If there’s something you really want to do, why wait for a date?

The term “dating yourself” gets a lot of flack. It brings to mind a single Bridget Jones singing into her hairbrush (which I’m totally on board with, by the way).

But dating yourself doesn’t have to be cheesy, awkward, embarrassing, or the myriad of other things you’re probably thinking. It’s about learning how to feel comfortable in your own company—and not waiting until you have a partner to do the things you love.

I have a boyfriend but I often choose to go on solo dates. Why? Because I like spending time alone. I like choosing what I do, where I eat, and where I go. In the past few months, I’ve arranged a day trip to a local city. I’ve watched a ballet. I’ve taken myself to the cinema to watch a new film. All by myself.

I’m a social person, but I make an active choice to do things alone all the time. And you can, too.

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Why should you date yourself?

The idea of dating yourself isn’t a new one. For years, it’s been used to describe the self-improvement single people do before getting into a new relationship.

But in recent years, we’ve seen a boom in people literally taking themselves out for dates. In fact, as of this writing, #solodate has over 149K posts on Instagram.

We’re recognizing that solo dating is a fun, empowering, and exciting way to get to know yourself, whether you’re in a relationship or not.

Here’s why you should date yourself in 2025:

You can do what you want, when you want

Have you and your partner ever argued about where you want to eat? Or maybe you and your friend can’t decide on an activity? Guess what—that doesn’t happen when you date yourself.

You get to decide where you go, what you eat, how long you stay, and what you do next. Trust me, it’s freeing.

You don’t have to make plans with anyone else. You can be as structured or spontaneous as you like. It’s all up to you.

Tip: Create a rough plan for your solo date. It’ll help you make decisions while you’re out, especially if it’s your first time dating yourself.

You can get to know yourself better

I know, I know. I said I wouldn’t be cheesy. But spending time alone really can teach you about yourself.

What do you enjoy? What makes you tick? What triggers your anxiety? By spending time alone, you can start to answer these questions.

Life can get busy. Spend some mindful time with yourself to gain a greater awareness of who you are and what you want.

The more you date yourself, the more you’ll get used to spending time alone. You’ll feel more comfortable going to events solo—and you might even feel more confident in other areas of your life too.

Tip: Lean into self-improvement by reflecting on your solo date. Write down the things you enjoyed (and the things you didn’t) for next time.

You don’t have to worry about finding a date

If there’s something you really want to do, why wait for a date? Dating yourself means you’ll always have someone to take you out.

So what if you don’t have a partner (or even if you do)? Treat yourself to a nice lunch, go to your local public library, go for a walk, or book a pottery class. (Extra mindfulness points if your solo date involves analog activities.)

As author Flannery O’Connor said, “In yourself right now is all the place you’ve got.” Follow her lead to do the things you want to do—partner or not.

Tip: Write down a list of places you want to visit, films you want to watch, or foods you want to try. That way, you’ll have a ready-made list of ideas for your solo date.

Still not ready to take yourself on a solo date?

Baby steps. Sign up for A Merry Loner’s 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge for help getting better at doing things alone. You’ll get:

Daily bite-sized challenges to help you experiment with doing things alone

A judgment-free zone to share all your feels about how the day’s activity went

Daily journal prompts to help you process and learn from what you did that day

The best solo date ideas for 2025

So, it’s time to ask yourself out on a date. You’re the best company you’ve got and you’re not going anywhere, so why not get to know yourself a little better?

If this is your first time dating yourself, start small. Go for a walk or visit your local art gallery to get comfortable being in your own company.

Once you get a bit more confident, go for a meal at that new restaurant. Or finally book a weekend at that spa you’ve always wanted to try. The world’s your oyster!

Here’s a bit of inspiration for your solo date:

Go to a cooking class

Or any class for that matter. Dating yourself is the perfect chance to do something you really want to try, whether that’s cooking, flower arranging, ceramics, yoga, photography, or singing.

You might find a new passion or you might not enjoy it as much as you thought. Either way, trying something new by yourself is bold and empowering.

Visit an art gallery

Sometimes, the best solo date ideas are right on our doorsteps. Don’t be afraid to explore your local art galleries, museums, and historical landmarks.

They’re a good starting point for dating yourself, and you’ll find a lot of other people who are there alone, too.

If you want to push yourself even further, hop on a train to a nearby city. A day wandering around a new place (while taking in lots of beautiful art) sounds pretty dreamy to me.

Go on a hike

A hike is a great way to spend some time with yourself. Stick on your favorite podcast or get to know yourself while you walk.

I love getting out into nature. It’s a chance to think through any problems in your life, get some exercise, and admire beautiful landscapes alone.

But make sure to stay safe if you’re heading out by yourself. Share your location and stick to routes you already know.

Take yourself out for lunch

The idea of going for dinner by yourself can be a bit daunting, so why not go for lunch instead?

You could visit your local café or take yourself out for a cute picnic. These activities are typically seen as romantic, so use them to get to know yourself in 2025.

Tip: This is a date, so make sure to treat yourself. Order your favorite foods—and always get dessert if you want it.

Go to the cinema

I love going to the cinema with my boyfriend, friends, and family. But sometimes, a film comes out that no one else wants to see. So I take myself.

The first time I went to the cinema alone, I thought everyone would stare at me. But it’s true what they say: Everyone is focused on themselves. No one cares that you’re there alone. So you shouldn’t either.

Going to the cinema alone is one of life’s small pleasures. No one will steal your popcorn, and no one will talk through the movie. You can just sit back and enjoy 2+ hours of uninterrupted bliss.

Dating yourself in 2025

What are you waiting for? I dare you to take yourself out on a solo date in 2025.

Ask yourself out for dinner, book a trip to the cinema, or head for a nature hike. The only drawback? You always have to pay.

Recommended Reading:

Eleanor Jones is a freelance writer based in the UK. She loves reading, writing, and walking in nature. Sometimes with her friends and family, sometimes alone. Check out her blog for writing updates, freelance resources, book reviews, and more: notsomoderngirl.com

The post No Date? No Problem—A Guide to Dating Yourself in 2025 appeared first on A Merry Loner.

5 New Things I Want to Do Alone This Year

Merry — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 19:55:16 +0000

I’m not waiting for someone else to join me

Are you ever daunted by the number of things you want to do? Besides the banalities of daily responsibilities (e.g., schedule doctor’s appointment; clean bathtub; hang up picture frames), my notebooks, Notes app, and many, many emails to myself are replete with reminders of even more things I want to do in the future.

Emphasis on the word “want.” These are not work responsibilities or household chores or personal admin tasks that seem to grow back in triplets for every one I accomplish. No, these are the things I actually want to do—goals, dreams, challenges, quests, whatever you want to call them.

Too often, these ventures get pushed to the side, neglected because we feel we don’t have enough time to dedicate to them. Even more often, I find we neglect these ventures because we think we don’t have the right person to do them with—the right set of friends, the perfect partner, whatever.

But if there’s something you want to do (or even just try out for the first time to see what you think), you really don’t need to waste time seeking out whom you might think is the requisite companion. You can just go ahead and do it, all on your lonesome. Because that lonesome can end up becoming your lifeline of wholesome in society’s chaotic maelstrom.

This year, I’m not waiting. I’m prioritizing the new things I want to do and I’m going out there and doing them—by myself. This is what’s in the calendar:

Related Posts:

More inspiration on how to live an independent life you love?

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1. Join a book club

I know, like I need more books to add to my unachievable-y long list of books to read. But I think going to a book club regularly feels retro and charming—just the kind of old-school, off-line activity that I’ve been looking for lately to make my life more analog.

I found two groups in Paris that I want to check out: a French feminist book club and a 20s-and-30s English book club. I like mixing up my reading between English and French, so I think I’m going to try both—will report back if there are any good reads.

Recommended Reading:

2. Learn how to make pottery

There’s a pottery studio directly across the street from my apartment, and I believe it’s God’s intent to lead me there.

My kitchen cupboard’s full of mismatched, flea market finds, and I’d love to add some of my own creations to the mix, however wonky such first creations may be.

Plus, I love that this is a tactile, get-your-hands-dirty hobby. Considering my work and the majority of my hobbies involve me staring at screens (or at least at the written word), a little manual manipulation should do me a world of good.

3. Start volunteering once a month

Yeah, once a month isn’t a very lofty goal, but I’m trying to be realistic. Especially since (I’m sorry to say) it’s been years since volunteering was a part of my regular routine, it’ll be a bit of an adjustment to add it back into my schedule.

I’ve been checking out some options of what I can do in Paris, and I’m thinking of joining this community where you go and spend time with the elderly, particularly isolated members of the community who may not have anyone. Or, as the DeepL translation of the organization’s website says: “combat the isolation and loneliness of the elderly, especially the most disadvantaged, and enable them to regain a taste for life.”

My mom worked at a nursing home when I was growing up, and I would often go there to spend time with the residents in the recreation room, just chatting or playing games with them. It’s small, but it really can make a big difference for a lot of people.

Plus, joining an organization like this is definitely further outside of my comfort zone than going to a book club or a pottery class—and that’s kind of the point of this whole do things alone exercise, right?

Do you get nervous trying new things alone?

You can change that. Sign up for A Merry Loner’s 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge. You’ll get:

A daily bite-sized challenge to help you experiment with doing things alone
A judgment-free zone to share all your feels about how the day’s activity went
A daily journal prompt to help you process and learn from what you did that day

4. Go to a concert

Last year, like millions of other Swiftian enthusiasts, I lived out my dream of going to The Eras Tour.

I spent an embarrassing amount of money on a ticket, crashed at a friend’s house in Warsaw, and grooved the night away. Separately, I was a bit dismayed by the lack of singing and dancing at the concert. At least considering the people next to me, I was one of the few not silently and dispassionately watching the show through the screen of my phone. But that’s another story.

I had a blast going to the Taylor Swift concert by myself, and I’m ready to party solo at another concert this year. This time, I’ll be heading to Barry Manilow’s The Last Concert in Providence. (Yes, I love these retro jams. And no, I have no shame.)

5. Complete a yoga teacher training course

This has been on my daydreaming list for some time, and I really want to make it happen sooner rather than later.

I’ve been practicing yoga since I was in high school (Spoiler: I just turned 28), but in the last 18-ish months, I’ve become really dedicated to practicing almost daily. It feels bloody great. But I want to learn more. I want to learn the deeper technicalities of proper form and mindset. Plus, going away for 2+ weeks to do nothing but practice and study yoga sounds like an absolute dream.

I’ve got my eye on a few retreats I’m considering, but haven’t done much research yet. Any insight or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Don’t put it off. Do what you want now—even if it means doing it alone.

If you don’t really love trying new things on your own, you’re not an outlier. Actually, Americans in their 20s miss out on a collective 26 experiences a year because they’re afraid of doing things alone. For 30-somethings, that number is more like 34 missed experiences per year.

I find that terribly sad. There’s a lot I want to do in my life, and if I can’t find someone to go to a concert or a pottery studio with, then I’m going to go by myself.

You only live once. Don’t spend your time waiting for other people to show up for you when you’ve been there for yourself all along.

Recommended Reading:

The post 5 New Things I Want to Do Alone This Year appeared first on A Merry Loner.

How to Get Over Yourself and Go to that Damn Wedding, Gloriously Solo

Abigail Clarkin — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

5 steps to harness your fear of going to weddings alone (and look hot while doing it)

“Okay, so the plan is to just summon a boyfriend out of thin air before I get another wedding invitation…”

Famous last words, uttered by none other than yours truly. As a member of a large family, I have been attending weddings practically every year since I was in utero. (Seriously.) But it wasn’t until after college that a slight feeling of dread began to settle in my gut every time those beautiful, embossed wedding invitations arrived in the mail. Of course, it wasn’t the prospect of marital bliss that sickened me—nor the alarmingly generous use of postage stamps required for such heavy envelopes…

The source of anxiety? I’m pretty frickin’ single. And the invitations were for me and me alone.

Related Posts:

Don’t let yourself miss out on a fun experience because of the fear of flying solo

Weddings, after all, are testaments to irreplaceable relationships: a lifelong commitment between the couple; the arms-wide-open welcoming of new family members; the reunion of long separated friends, etc. So it can feel quite awkward come cocktail hour when I don’t know a soul beyond the bride and groom. It doesn’t help if the groom’s relatives are lightly shoving me out of the way for their massive cousin group photo. (Why, yes, I’d love to be your unofficial photographer, Brittany.)

I’ve had friends tell me point-blank that they’d be too nervous to attend a wedding alone. But I decided a long time ago that I never want to hold myself back from experiencing something wonderful just because of fear.

Instead, I’ve thrown myself headfirst into figuring out how to have the loveliest time when going to all these damn weddings gloriously solo. Here’s how you can, too.

More tips on how to love the Loner life?

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1. Start the experience with gratitude

This is important to note: Weddings can get extremely expensive (believe me, I know—at one point, two of my roommates were planning their weddings at the same time and it almost cost me my sanity).

If you’ve made the cut as a guest, feel the love! I have many friendships I cherish deeply—new and old—and being invited to witness those friends tie the knot is no small thing. There’s always a bit of warmth in my chest knowing that someone important to me has found their person.

Luxuriate in the love you have for your friends, and know that that love is clearly reciprocated.

2. Take those extra steps to boost your confidence

I adore any excuse to dress up, so perhaps I find too much joy in pulling together a dress, jewelry, shoes, and makeup that fit the occasion.

If you’re a little vain like me, I say, lean into it! If not, think of it as self-care. Maybe this is a great excuse to get your nails done, book a visit to your barber or hairstylist, or simply slip into your favorite, dress-code-appropriate piece of clothing. As an extra step, I like to make a custom, little pump-up playlist (thank you, Chappell), so I can go into the wedding with my head held high.

Confidence can look different for everyone, so identify what works for you. Just please, for the love of God, don’t commit any wedding-attire faux pas, otherwise you may have to suffer not only the general indignity but also dagger-eyes from the mother of the bride.

3. Remind yourself you’re not actually alone

While it may feel like everyone is watching you drop crumbs all over the table while devouring your allotted slice of wedding cake all alone at the reception, in actuality, the world does not revolve around you. (Listen, I’m still trying to grasp this fact, too.)

Odds are, you aren’t the only person at the wedding by yourself… But you can guarantee that you have 100% more fun than anyone else, date or no date. One trick is to look up a trusty Reddit thread or an article about how other people approach attending weddings solo. This can serve as a grounding reminder that the fears—and the joy—evoked by going to weddings alone are universally experienced. And just like those other folks across the Internet, you’re going to be alright.

4. Be present

In my humble opinion, there are few occasions more aesthetically pleasing than a wedding. Think about it: The bride and groom have spent countless hours considering the venue, the attire, the flowers, the table settings, and every other detail. When I’m at a wedding alone, I like to soak up the atmosphere of romance with no distractions.

For me, it might be watching the sunset go down over the ocean during cocktail hour, glass of rosé in hand. Or closing my eyes in bliss while savoring a bite of exquisitely roasted chicken. Just looking around and seeing the tears stream down the faces of a bunch of surprisingly emotionally-vulnerable fraternity brothers during the toasts can be a truly heartwarming experience.

Being present also means that rather than taking my phone out each time I feel a bit awkward, I make a point to chat with the other people at my table during dinner. I’ve made some pretty fun connections doing this (or just heard things so unhinged that it’s prime fodder for a gossip session with the bride at a later date…).

5. Know your limits

At some point, no matter how fun it is, going solo can begin to weigh on one’s well-dressed shoulders. I’ll be the first to say that there’s no need to stay for the entire reception.

Figure out the key moments you’d like to stay for, make sure to hug the bride and groom, and if there’s an opportunity to get on the dance floor, totally do it! But don’t feel like you need to stay until the very end (unless that’s your vibe).

I usually want to stay long enough for the cake-cutting or bouquet toss, whatever comes last. Then I take a sip of water, gather my things, and disappear mysteriously into the night, intent on cozily winding down at home.

What is your fear of being alone making you miss out on?

Daily bite-sized challenges to help you experiment with Loner Living
Judgment-free zone to share all your feels about how the day’s activity went
Daily journal prompts to help you process and learn from what you did that day

Choosing love over fear

Whatever your thoughts on the suspiciously archaic societal expectations (or the tempting tax benefits) of getting married, it’s kind of a big deal. This precious milestone for your friends is one worth witnessing.

If you’re single and getting cold feet (to borrow the colloquialism) about attending a wedding solo, I encourage you to not let fear win. Instead, put on your Sunday best, crank that pump-up playlist in the car, and walk into the next wedding like the single ray of glorious sunshine you are.

Recommended Reading:

Abigail Clarkin is a writer from Providence, Rhode Island. She currently works as a
social media manager in support of small businesses in Providence. When she isn’t
chronically online, find her running, reading, or giving her unbridled opinion on whatever
cocktail is in front of her. Check out her work at abigailjclarkin.com.

The post How to Get Over Yourself and Go to that Damn Wedding, Gloriously Solo appeared first on A Merry Loner.

Doing Things Alone Archives - A Merry Loner

Books on Traveling Alone to Feed Your Wanderlust

The shortlist: 4 books on traveling alone to feed your wanderlust

4 books about traveling alone to inspire your next trip

1. “Instructions for Traveling West: Poems” by Joy Sullivan

2. “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed

3. “The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free” by Paulina Bren

4. “Roundabout to Moscow an Epicurean Journey” by John Bell Bouton

Books on solo travel — my top pick

Books on traveling alone remind us of what is possible

Next Steps:

Books on Traveling Alone: FAQs

What are some good travel books to invoke wanderlust?

What are the most inspirational books on traveling that you have read?

What is the best book you have read which has inspired you to travel and live abroad?

What are some good books to read while travelling?

Things To Do Alone in the Summer

The shortlist: 8 things to do alone in the summer

What is the Loner Mindset all about?

1. Spend time in parks

2. Attend events solo (even if it feels scary)

Not at ease doing things alone?

3. Learn a new skill

4. Go to galleries, museums, and exhibitions

5. Take yourself on a solo movie or theater date

6. Do something you've been putting off for a while

7. Be a tourist in your own city

8. Eat out alone

Conclusion: How to Enjoy Summer Alone

Maja Krasnicka

Next Steps:

Things To Do Alone in Summer: Common FAQs

What can you do alone in the summer for fun?

How do I spend my summer when I have no friends?

What to do on a summer day at home?

What are some things you can do at home instead of going on holiday when you're alone and have nothing to do during your summer vacation?

Discover how the merry loner lifestyle makes life more enjoyable:

Feeling Lonely?

How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone

The shortlist: 5 simple ways to get better at doing things alone

1. Understand what’s really making you nervous

2. Start small with low-stress activities

3. Imagine the worst-case scenario (so you can prepare for it)

4. Remind yourself: no one is actually looking at you

5. Try again, even if you didn’t like it the first time

Try a new solo activity altogether

Try your first solo activity again, but change one thing

Revert back to step one: understand what’s really making you nervous

This isn’t about doing everything alone all the time; community is still important

Solitude isn’t a problem to be solved

Next Steps:

How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone: Common FAQs

Why do I not like doing things alone?

How can I enjoy doing things alone and not feel the need to have someone to accompany me?

How to get used to doing things alone?

How do you stop being scared of doing things alone?

More articles on the Loner Mindset

Solo Travel to Paris: Itinerary for Traveling to Paris Solo + 26 Things to Do Alone in Paris

More guides on solo travel?

Fun Things To Do in Paris Alone: How to Sightsee Solo in Paris

1. Eiffel Tower

2. Arc de Triomphe

3. Seine River Cruise

4. Gardens

5. Sacre Coeur

6. Museums

Exploring Paris Alone? Reserve a Table for One.

1. Go on a food tour

2. Go on a wine tour

3. Take a cooking class

4. Have a traditional French breakfast

Not comfortable taking a solo trip yet? Baby steps.

What To Do Alone in Paris? Stroll and Shop on Your Solo Paris Trip

1. Strut your stuff on the Champs-Élysées

2. Dress like a French woman at Galeries Lafayette

3. Find hidden treasures at a flea market

4. Grab a book at Shakespeare and Company

Do you set reading goals and never meet them? Stop that.

Traveling Alone in Paris: Best Parisian Neighborhoods for Solo Travel

1. Montmartre