June 2025

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

The Queen’s Gallery is an underrated sight in London. A lot of people don’t know it exists and miss out on visiting this fantastic sight.

The Queen’s Gallery is located right beside Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews (two other great sights to visit while in London)!

This post will help you plan your perfect trip to the Queen’s Gallery and help you decide whether it is a sight you want to see while in London.

The Queen’s Gallery is a public art gallery that hosts up to 450 pieces from the Queen’s private collection. The exhibition is changed three to four times a year, so you have the chance to see a variety of different artwork.

The exhibitions at the Queen’s Gallery are curated and displayed based on a specific theme. All the artwork in that specific exhibition revolves around that theme, so you get an in-depth understanding of it.

A lot of the themes appeal to a wide audience and some are more appealing to a specific niche. The website has a listing of the exhibitions for the year, so you can decide if you’re interested in it or not.

Some of the previous exhibitions included:

• Leonardo Da Vinci (a collection of his drawings)
• Kind Edward VIII (a collection of photographs from his explorations)
• King George IV (a collection of artwork he collected)
• Russia (a collection of royal artwork and photographs from Crimea)

All of the exhibits are nicely curated and span a number of rooms. It can get a bit crowded for popular exhibits like the Leonard Da Vinci one, but it is often pretty quiet. This is especially true if you visit on a weekday.

You can purchase tickets directly from the Royal Trust Collection website or purchase them on-site when you arrive at the Queen’s Gallery.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• Adult: £13.50
• Over 60: £12.20
• Student: £10.80
• Under 17/Living with a Disability: £6.70
• Under 5: Free
• Family (2 adults and 3 under 17): £33.50

There are also discounts for groups of 15 or more. Information for that can be found on the Royal Trust Collection website as well.

You also have the option of purchasing combo tickets. These tickets allow you into additional Buckingham Palace sights at a lower cost than purchasing each ticket separately.

This combo ticket allows you entry to the Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews. These two royal sights are open all year around, so you can visit whenever you’re in London.

Ticket prices for The Queen’s Gallery and Royal Mews combo ticket are as follows:

• Adult: £23.00
• Over 60: £21.00
• Student: £19.50
• Under 17/Living with a Disability: £12.00
• Under 5: Free
• Family: £58.00

There are also reduced fares for groups of 15 or more.

The savings don’t come out to more than a few pounds per ticket, but a combo ticket still saves you a little bit of money.

Strangely enough, the price for the combo ticket is different whether you go to the webpage for The Queen’s Gallery or the Royal Mews. The Royal Mews shows the price as being a few pence higher than The Queen’s Gallery webpage.

I’m not sure if the price would get sorted at checkout or if it is a typo on the website. Just to be save, you should purchase your tickets through The Queen’s Gallery website rather than the Royal Mews website.

The Royal Day Out gives you access to The Queen’s Gallery, the Royal Mews, and Buckingham Palace.

It is a full-day ticket with entrance times for each sight and is perfect for any royal lover! You start the day off by visiting The Queen’s Gallery, then head to the Royal Mews, and finally end at Buckingham Palace.

Ticket prices for the Royal Day Out are as follows:

• Adult: £49.00
• Over 60: £44.50
• Students: £42.00
• Under 17/Living with a Disability: £26.50
• Under 5: Free
• Family: £142.50

Again, the savings aren’t huge with the Royal Day Out ticket, but it is worth it if you’re interested in all three sights.

Your ticket includes an audio guide that describes the artwork you’re viewing. It includes information on the artist, historical information, and information about the artwork itself.

It is very detailed, and there is the option to click through to a different recording to learn even more about various pieces. The audioguide is put together by the curator of the exhibit and often has experts explaining certain aspects as well.

Your ticket also includes free locker use and coat check if you don’t want to carry your coat or bag around. You may be asked to put your bag in a locker if it is on the bigger side so be prepared for that.

This is one of the best features of visiting any Royal Trust Collection sight! You’re able to convert your single-day ticket to a year-long pass when you exit.

Simply visit an employee on your way out and ask to convert your ticket. They will stamp the back of your ticket with the date and have you sign it. Once you’ve done that, you’re able to visit The Queen’s Gallery anytime you want for the next year!

It is the perfect way to keep going back and visiting all the different exhibits the gallery hosts throughout the year for one low price.

Technically when you do this, you’re telling the Royal Trust Collection that they can treat the price of your ticket as a donation rather profitable income. It is a win-win for both you and the Royal Trust.

I highly recommend you convert your ticket to a year-long ticket when you leave even if you don’t have another trip to London planned.

You never know when you’ll be back, and you may be thankful you now have free entry into The Queen’s Gallery rather than having to pay all over again.

How you get to The Queen’s Gallery will depend largely on where in London you’re staying. Most people will take the Underground but some neighbourhoods (like Victoria) are close enough for you to walk.

For people taking the Underground, the three closest stations are:

• Victoria (Victoria, Circle, and District lines)
• Green Park (Piccadilly line)
• St. James’ Park (Circle and District lines)

Each of these three stations are within a ten minute walk of The Queen’s Gallery. St. James’ Park is probably the furtherest away and Victoria and Green Park are pretty similar.

Don’t forget to use your Oyster card if you’re using public transportation.

There are a number of bus routes that run right by Buckingham Palace. The bus is probably the best option for people who don’t want to walk very far after they alight public transportation to get to Buckingham Palace.

Be sure to check the bus routes before you leave to see what bus you want to catch and how often it runs. Don’t forget that the Brits drive on the opposite side of the street as North Americans so be sure you’re heading the right direction!

You’re able to use your Oyster card on buses as well. You only need to tap when you get on the bus and don’t need to tap when you get off.

This is a difficult question to answer and is highly dependant on how interested you are in the artwork being displayed.

The average person can easily spend an hour viewing the artwork and listening to the audioguide.

People who are very interested in the artwork can spend upwards of 90 minutes at The Queen’s Gallery and possibly even two hours.

The Royal Trust Collection website recommends budgeting 75 minutes at The Queen’s Gallery in order to see it all, so that is a pretty good guide to follow.

There is a large gift shop in the entryway of The Queen’s Gallery. It has everything from fine china to keychains to guidebooks to jam. Nearly everything you want to purchase as a souvenir can be found at the gift shop.

The gift shop is a bit on the pricey side, but it is all branded to Buckingham Palace and the royal family, so you can find a number of unique items.

Be sure to have a budget for the gift shop and stick to it! It is easy to get carried away and purchase a bunch of stuff that looks cool that you really don’t need.

The Queen’s Gallery is a great addition to any London itinerary. It is central and easy to get to, allows you to see artwork you can’t see anywhere else, and is relatively inexpensive for a royal attraction.

The fact that you can convert your ticket to a year-long pass makes The Queen’s Gallery even more attractive. It is the ticket that keeps on giving throughout the year. The fact that you can go back an unlimited number of times is great for budget travellers.

Whether you end up going back to The Queen’s Gallery or not, it is a sight that shouldn’t be missed. It is truly fun for the whole family!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

For such an international city, the public wifi in London is severely disappointing.

It isn’t like many other international cities where you can hook into public wifi at nearly every cafe, restaurant, and museum.

You have to work for your wifi in London, and it gets frustrating at times.

The public wifi in London isn’t very accessible. It is difficult to find a cafe or restaurant that allows you to access their wifi, the complimentary wifi at museums is very slow and oftentimes so overwhelmed that it doesn’t work, and the Cloud and O2 public wifi systems in the United Kingdom is unreliable at best.

You need to have a plan for accessing wifi before you arrive in London.

In this article, you’re going to learn about the public wifi in London (including the Cloud and O2) and discuss alternatives to public wifi you can consider.

Spoiler: if you know you’ll need access to internet throughout the day, don’t rely on public wifi in London.

I’ll help you find a better alternative!

If you’re used to travelling in countries like Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Singapore, and Taiwan, you’ll probably be disappointed with the wifi in London.

I’m not saying public wifi is impossible to come across in London, but it isn’t as easy as you think.

You can’t walk into just any cafe, restaurant, or pub and expect there to be free wifi for you to tap into.

It’s unfortunate, but it is the truth.

I’m never not surprised by how few dining establishments have free wifi that guests can use.

It is a nice surprise and not an expectation.

While many restaurants don’t offer free wifi to guests, you can count on a few chains to always have wifi available to customers.

If your’e desperate for wifi, head into one of these places, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to find some free wifi to use:

• McDonald’s
• Starbucks
• Costa
• Pret a Manger (my personal favourite)

There are a few other chains that offer free wifi, but the establishments listed above are the easiest to find, and you can order a drink and be able to use the wifi.

Many mom and pop restaurants and pubs offer complimentary wifi to guests, but you never really know who does and doesn’t before you commit to eating there.

A lot of places will advertise they have free wifi for guests, but you have to connect through the Cloud. I’ll get into the Cloud more later, but it isn’t the best option and many foreigners have trouble using the Cloud.

So while a restaurant may have a sticker on their door advertising free wifi, you may not be able to easily access it.

London is famous for having a lot of free museums! It is a wonderful way to save some money while in London.

Kensington is home three world-class museums that are free to enter. If you’re looking to hang out in a museum, this is the place to go!

On of the best things about most of the free museums in London is that they have complimentary wifi!

You can easily hook into the museum’s wifi and access the glory of the internet. It is public wifi so be sure you have your VPN turned on to protect your online data!

The free wifi at museums is fairly reliable.

On your average day, you’ll be able to access fairly high-speed internet.

The issue is when the museum is busy (a.k.a. on weekends and evenings).

There are so many people trying to access the internet at one time that it slows down to a screeching halt. In many instances you won’t even be able to access the public wifi at all.

So don’t expect to be able to access the free museum wifi during peak hours.

You’ll just get frustrated!

While museums are my favourite place to access public wifi in London, there are a number of other tourist attractions that offer free wifi to guests:

• Tower of London
• Royal Alberta Hall
• Hampton Court Palace
• The gardens and shop at Buckingham Palace
• The British Library

A few of the most popular tourist attractions in London have free wifi, but, as you can see, a lot of them don’t.

It is unfortunate, but at least you know what to expect before you arrive!

O2 wifi is the most reliable public wifi in London in my experience.

You can access O2 wifi in many restaurants, pubs, and public spaces around London.

You need to register and create an account the first time you connect to O2 wifi, and then you will automatically connect whenever you’re at a location powered by O2.

In my experience, the automatically connecting part doesn’t happy every time I’m somewhere serviced by O2. I find myself having to log in manually more than half the time.

My issue with staying logged in and automatically connecting to O2 wifi may boil down to the fact that I have a Canadian SIM card.

There have been instances where I haven’t been automatically connected to O2 wifi in London while my friend with an Irish SIM card has.

There may be some correlation between how successful you are at using O2 wifi and where you’re from. I don’t have enough data to back that hypothesis, but it is my working theory at this point.

All things considered, I’ve had more luck using O2 in London than the Cloud.

Please don’t forget to have a VPN on your phone if you’re using public wifi in London. It is so important to protect your online data and information!

I had heard about how great the Cloud is and how easy it is to access free public wifi in London before the first time I visited in 2014. I was anticipating being connected to wifi nearly all the time and was super excited about it!

My experience in 2014 and every time I’ve been to London since (which is a lot) hasn’t lived up to my expectation.

The Cloud has literally only worked on my phone once in all the time I’ve spent in London.

And even that one time lasted for minutes before it disappeared again.

Nobody I’ve travelled with- no matter where their SIM card is from- has had any luck accessing the Cloud either.

I’m not sure if it is because I don’t have a Sky account (TV and internet provider in the UK) or what the issue is, but it is a bit frustrating at times.

You shouldn’t expect to rely on the Cloud when you’re in London.

If you need access to reliable internet, the Cloud is probably not the right choice for you. You don’t want to be in dire need of internet for work or personal business and not be able to connect.

Then you have to pay an outrageous amount of money to tap into your phone’s data!

Many hotels in London are providing guests with a complimentary cell phone in their room that has unlimited data on it.

You can take the cell phone with you when you go out exploring for the day and use it to access as much internet as you want.

It is so helpful to have access to Google maps if you’re exploring London by foot!

You can Google to your heart’s content, look up what restaurant you want to visit, or keep up on the news.

I don’t recommend you sign into your personal social media accounts or use the hotel’s phone to order anything that you have to put your credit card details into to purchase.

It simply isn’t safe, and you’re risking your personal data’s privacy.

Other than not being able to access social media, I’ve quite enjoyed it when I’ve taken the hotel’s cell phone out into London with me.

I don’t know how people survived before Google maps!

The major downside to the cell phones that the hotels provide is that you’re not able to hot spot them and use that data to power your personal cell phone’s internet access.

I’ve tried multiple times and have never been successful.

But it isn’t that big of a deal. It would be a nice addition, but at least I’m able to keep myself somewhat entertained during meals and play intermissions and have access to Google maps if I get lost.

I’m a big fan of hotels providing guests with a cell phone to use during their stay. It adds a layer of freedom and comfort.

It seems to becoming more and more popular amongst hotels in London, so there is a decent chance your hotel will have a cell phone for you to use in the room.

Just make sure you remember to charge it!

If you need more reliable wifi in London, you can rent a pocket wifi device.

A pocket wifi gives you access to wifi no matter where you are as long as you’re in the device’s range.

I’ve used pocket wifi devices a number of times in the past, and they work really well.

They provide quick wifi, and you can connect multiple devices to them. Most of the time you can connect up to 5 devices, but it can vary depending on the make of the pocket wifi machine.

Renting pocket wifi in London is fairly inexpensive. You can often rent it for about £5 per day.

It is is the perfect alternative to relying on free public wifi or spending a lot of money from using your phone’s data.

Just pay attention to whether you can pick the pocket wifi up in London or if it needs to be mailed to your home or hotel.

Hippocket Wifi is the least expensive pocket wifi in Europe, but you can only pick it up in person in Paris. If you want to use the pocket wifi anywhere else, it either needs to be mailed to where you’re staying or to your home.

This is definitely the London wifi solution for you if you want reliable wifi and have multiple people travelling in a group.

It is so inexpensive if you share the cost between multiple people!

I invested in a Skyroam in 2019 and am so happy I did!

Skyroam is a personal wifi hotspot that you own and can take anywhere in the world! It works the same as a pocket wifi you rent, but you pay an upfront price to own the device and then have to pay for wifi on top of that.

It certainly isn’t inexpensive. This is a wifi solution for people who travel on a regular basis and want access to wifi wherever they go.

If you’re a casual traveller, then renting a pocket wifi or relying on public wifi in London is probably the most cost effective option.

But if your’e like me and travel the majority of the year, then Skyroam might be the next travel gadget you want to invest in.

It took me a long time and a lot of research before I decided to buy my Skyroam. I wasn’t sure if it was worth the cost of the machine, and I thought the rates they were charging for wifi were a bit too much for my budget.

But now that I’ve used my Skyroam on quite a few trips and on multiple continents, I’m so happy I splurged and bought one.

It has made my travels so much more enjoyable and freeing!

I don’t have to worry about sticking to a certain path because I’m relying on offline Google maps anymore. There is no way I can get lost!

Plus I’ve found some of the best restaurants I’ve ever eaten at by reading reviews of what food is around me when I get hungry.

Skyroam isn’t for everybody. But if you’re looking for a long-term wifi solution, it might be right for you.

It is so important to keep your data safe when you’re travelling.

You are at risk of having your data stolen and sold whenever you use public wifi.

This includes public wifi at hotels and cafes that are password protected.

I’ve had friends who didn’t protect themselves while using public wifi have their banking information stolen. You do not want to deal with that headache!

The best way to protect your online data is by using a VPN. A VPN (or Virtual Private Network) is basically an invisible forcefield that goes around your online activity to protect it.

Using a VPN makes using public wifi in London as safe as using your private wifi at home.

Nobody can access your online data and steal it.

Internet safety is no joke and isn’t something to be taken lightly. You need a VPN to protect yourself whenever you travel and use public wifi!

I’ve used a lot of VPNs in my many years of travel. Most of them I haven’t liked and have never renewed my subscription with.

The only VPN I’ve ever enjoyed is NordVPN.

It blows the competition away.

Most VPNs slow your internet speed down so much that it becomes frustrating to use your phone, laptop, or tablet.

NordVPN is the only VPN I’ve used that doesn’t slow down the internet speed, which is a huge selling point.

Nobody wants to sacrifice internet speed if they don’t have to!

You can connect up to 6 devices on one NordVPN account, so you can protect all your devices for one low fee.

NordVPN lets you cloak your location. You can set your location to show you’re in any country of your choosing, and you’re able to unlock that country’s Netflix catalogue and watch shows you wouldn’t have access to in the country you’re actually in.

Plus NordVPN often has killer sales where you can save nearly 70% on your purchase.

There is no excuse not to protect your online data with NordVPN before you land in London!

The wifi situation in London is disappointing at best and frustrating at worst.

It can be fairly difficult to track down reliable public wifi in London, and your best bet (as unfortunate as it is) is to head to the nearest McDonald’s and connect to their wifi.

That’s what I normally do when I’m in desperate need to wifi in London and don’t have my Skyroam on me. Just order a drink or a snack, and you’ll be able to use their wifi. I’ve never encountered a McDonald’s in London that has a time limit on their wifi, which is very much appreciated!

The most reliable way to get wifi in London is to either rent a pocket wifi device or purchase a Skyroam.

The cell phone provided to you at your hotel is a nice touch, but you won’t have access to your personal social media accounts. It kind of sucks, but it is better than nothing!

London is a very walkable city, so it is nice to have access to Google maps in case you get lost.

If you don’t have reliable access to wifi while in London, be sure you download Google maps offline to help you in case you get lost!

London also has an amazing system of having maps for tourists all over the place. You can find them every few blocks, and they’ll help you find your way if you’re lost and don’t have Google maps.

No matter how you choose to source your wifi in London, is is essential that you protect your online data by having a VPN on all of your devices!

Seville is a fairly small city in Spain, and you may be wondering is Seville worth visiting alone?

It can be difficult to decide if Seville is worth visiting. It’s a bit out of the way from the major cities most people visit in Spain.

Is it worth the effort to get there?

Is Seville worth visiting alone or should you visit another Spanish city?

It’s hard to give you a definitive answer. It depends a lot on your travel plans and what you enjoy when you travel.

But, I can give you my perspective of someone who visited Seville alone. There is some important things to know before you decide to book a solo trip to Seville.

Knowing these things will make your decision making process easier. It’s never easy deciding where to visit when there are so many places to see and so little time!

The struggles of a travel lover, eh.

What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone

I visited Seville on a whim without knowing much about the city. I found an error fare roundtrip from Canada to Paris for $300CAD.

I then picked the cheapest roundtrip flight from Paris to visit. That city happened to be Seville. It isn’t a city that I had heard of before that point and probably not somewhere I would have picked myself.

I’m glad that the cheap flight travel god decided to send me to Seville. It was an interesting experience.

The city of Seville is absolutely beautiful.

There is ton of stunning architecture, history, and culture. The Réal Alcazar (Royal Alcazar) is a must do when in Seville. It alone makes visiting Seville alone worth it.

You can even see Christopher Columbus’ tomb inside the cathedral.

At this point, I think we’re well aware that Columbus was extremely problematic and did horrendous things to Indigenous people in North America and to women. With that acknowledged, it was still pretty cool to see that tomb because it was so gorgeous. No matter who would have been buried there, it would have been a neat tomb to see.

Plus the food is incredible as long as you know where to look and what to eat.

Try to avoid eating near the most popular tourist areas. You’ll overpay and not get the best food.

The other great thing about Seville is that there are tons of day trips you can take. It is a great city to use as a hub and explore the surrounding are.

I especially recommend visiting Córdoba. It’s one of the most charming cities in Spain.

I didn’t have time to explore the surrounding area, but it is definitely something I’d like to go back and do.

How to plan the perfect solo trip

The downside to Seville for me was that the siesta tradition lives on strong in the city.

This means between the hours of 2pm and 5pm nearly every small shop and even some bigger shops and restaurants are closed.

This means there was a huge chunk of the day where I either walked around and looked at the architecture or went back to my hotel and watch Netflix for a few hours.

This may not impact everybody, but I’m an early bird gets the worm person, and a lot of the sights weren’t open first thing in the morning.

So, I was again wandering around with no purpose.

Eventually you’ve walked the main core and nearby neighbourhoods enough time that it starts to get old.

For me, the biggest issue with travelling to Seville alone was all of the down time I was forced to have because of when things were and weren’t open.

Again, this is a me issue. I only have three days in Seville and wanted to get the most out of my trip.

I’m totally aware that every culture has their own way of doing things, and it is up to the tourist to adjust to their way of life. Just from my experience, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and I should have done more research before choosing a random place to fly to just because it was inexpensive.

The other small complaint I have about Seville is that there wasn’t that much to do. It’s a little bit out of the way, and you’re not really able to visit Seville as a day trip from another popular tourist destination.

For me, I’m glad I went to Seville alone, but I don’t think I’ll be going back anytime soon.

It’s a lovely city with great architecture and history, but it just wasn’t for me. It would be a great place to visit as a day trip, but that’s not really realistic.

I would personally choose another city to visit in Spain if you had to choose between visiting Seville and another city.

If you’re able to visit multiple cities on your trip to Spain, then definitely go ahead and add Seville to your itinerary!

Okay. Now that you know my opinion, let’s talk about why you may or may not want to visit Seville alone and answer the question is Seville worth visiting alone more subjectively.

• There are bucket list sights like The Réal Alcazar (Royal Alcazar) 

• The food is delicious and super affordable

• Seville can be used as a hub to explore the surrounding region

• It has a slow pace and isn’t overrun by tourists (yet)

• Seville is super affordable even compared to other cities in Spain

• Nobody bats an eye at solo tourists or people eating alone

• It isn’t an intimidating city to travel in (great for new solo travellers)

• The city is very walkable and easy to get around in

• You have to work around siestas and the local culture. It may lead to a bit of loneliness or boredom during siesta periods

• Early mornings aren’t really a thing, so nothing is open first thing in the morning

• The city comes alive at night, and this may make some female solo travellers nervous about walking back to the hotel alone at night

• There isn’t that much to do in Seville. You can see most of the city in 1 or 2 days

• It isn’t near other major tourist cities in Spain

I hope this article helps you answer the question is Seville worth visiting alone?

My recommendation is that if you have a few weeks in Spain to visit Seville, but if you only have time to visit one city in Spain, you’ll probably want to choose Madrid or Barcelona.

Seville is a great city with an interesting history, but it is the type of city I’d rather go back to with a friend or family member.

That way you can sit around for a few hours in a coffee shop in the afternoon and chat while siestas are happening.

Of course, you can sit in a coffee shop alone and read during siestas as well if you choose to visit Seville alone.

I just personally think the laidback vibe of Seville is better enjoyed with company than alone. I found myself spending more time than normal in my hotel room watching Netflix in the afternoon than I would have if I were there with someone else.

As always, these are just my personal opinions. And opinions are different than facts. Someone else may have a different opinion.

Listen to different voices, weigh what they have to say, and make the right choice for you and your travel style.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

If you’re going all the way north to Chiang Rai, you’re probably going to visit the famous White Temple. It’s absolutely worth the visit, but there is a lesser known and equally beautiful temple you also need to check out. The Blue Temple Chiang Rai is worth spending an extra day in Chiang Rai to visit.

Trust me. You’ll regret not seeing it.

The Blue Temple in Chiang Rai is actually called Wat Rong Suea Ten, but I’ll keep referring to it as the Blue Temple Chiang Rai. That’s what it’s colloquially known as.

Plus it’s easier to remember, and everybody in Chiang Rai knows exactly what you’re talking about if you ask about it.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Blue Temple Chiang Rai, so you can plan the perfect trip to see it.

Wat Rong Suea Ten is also known as the Temple of Dancing Tigers. It’s called this because the story goes that there was an ancient temple where the Blue Temple Chiang Rai now stands.

It’s said that when the ancient temple still stood, tigers freely roamed around the temple and protected it. The ancient temple was abandoned over a century ago.

The Blue Temple in Chiang Rai is surprisingly young. Construction began in 2005 and was finished in 2008. I had no idea that the temple was so young when I visited it and only learned that after I left.

The temple was designed by Putha Kabkaew who was a student of the artist and designer of the White Temple also located in Chiang Rai. Again, I didn’t know that when I visited, but I did feel that the two temples felt a little similar even though I couldn’t put my finger on why. The main temple has a similar shape as the main temple of the White Temple.

Blue was chosen as the colour for the temple because in Thai culture blue is the colour of healing.

Most tourists who visit Chiang Rai stay near the bus station and night market. It’s the most central area of Chiang Rai and where most of the hotels are.

The Blue Temple is located on the other side of the river from the bus station and main tourist area.

You can walk from the bus station area to the Blue Temple. That’s what I did. It takes about 45 minutes. You have to walk on some unpaved sidewalks and down into an underpass to find a staircase to cross the bridge.

It took me a while to figure out how to cross the bridge and thought I might have to give up and call a car to take me, but there is a staircase even though you can’t see it when you first walk up to the bridge.

Even though I walked to the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai, I don’t recommend it. It was hot and a much longer walk than I anticipated. There also wasn’t any shade covering.

Luckily, there are other easier ways to get to the Blue Temple.

The first is to take a Tuk Tuk. They’re all over Chiang Rai, and your hotel could even arrange one for you. There are also lots of Tuk Tuks waiting in the Blue Temple parking lot waiting to bring tourists back to their hotel.

If you want to take a Tuk Tuk, just be sure to negotiate a price before you get in. Otherwise there is a chance that you’ll be overcharged and end up paying way more than you thought. And once you’ve already arrived at your destination, it’s pretty hard to get the price lowered.

Grab

The next option is to take a Grab. Grab is the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber, and I rely on it a lot when in Southeast Asia. You have to download the app and input your credit card information while you’re in your home country. If you try to add a foreign credit card while already in Thailand, it won’t work.

Once you have the app downloaded, you use it just like you would Uber. A car or bike will come pick you up and drive you to the Blue Temple. It’s super affordable, and I recommend everybody going to Southeast Asia get the Grab app before their trip.

The final way to travel to the Blue Temple Chiang Rai is by Songthaew.

Songthaew is a form of shared taxi in Thailand. They’re big trucks with a covered back, and you sit on benches in the back. They’re very common in Thailand and one of the most affordable ways to get around.

The downside of using Songthaew is that they don’t always run on a set schedule. Drivers tend to wait until there are enough people wanting a ride to make it worth the money.

If you’re visiting the White Temple, they run every 10 or so minutes, so you never have to wait long, but that isn’t always the case with the Blue Temple.

A Songthaew left about five minutes before I was ready to go. I waited for about half an hour for another one to show up but none did. So I walked home. I’m weirdly stubborn about walking if I can. About 10 minutes into walking, a Songthaew drove past me. I assume it was coming from the Blue Temple.

Just like with a Tuk Tuk, if you take a Songthaew, be sure to ask the price before you get in. I’ve never had a driver tell me the price, and I’ve always had to ask.

Songthaew are very affordable, so they won’t break the bank.

In Chiang Rai, they typically drop the tourists off at the bus station. If there is somewhere else you specifically want to go, you have to ask the driver before getting in.

The Blue Temple is first and foremost a temple for the locals. It was built for the locals because there were no other temples in the area, and it’s primarily used by the locals.

It isn’t a tourist destination like the White Temple. Tourists just happen to visit it.

Since it was built for and used by the locals for their religious practices, there is no costs to visit the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai. Even if you’re just visiting it as a tourist and not using it for religious reasons, there is no fee to enter.

This is a nice change to a lot of the popular temple tourists visit in Thailand that often have entrance fees.

Now that you know how to get to the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai and that there is no fee for visiting, I’m sure you’re wondering when you can visit this beautiful temple.

The Blue Temple is open every day from 7am to 8pm.

It gets pretty crowded in the late morning until the early evening. If you want to avoid the crowds, be at the temple as close to 7am as possible.

I got there around 11am, and it was pretty busy especially inside the main temple. It was hard to get good pictures without a ton of people in the frame. I often had to stand around for five or so minutes to get a quick picture without people in it.

I mentioned earlier that the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai is primarily used by the locals. You should be respectful at every temple you visit in Thailand, but I think it’s even more important when you’re visiting a local temple and not a super touristy temple.

This means taking off your shoes before you go inside. There are lots of places to store your shoes on the outside of the temple. There are lots of signs reminding you to take off your shoes before you go inside, and you’ll remember when you see everybody else doing it.

If you’re like me and have a weird thing about not having your bare feet touch the floor, be sure to store an extra pair of socks in your purse or bag just in case you’re wearing sandals when you visit a temple.

The Blue Temple like most temples in Thailand is a Buddhist temple. It’s often considered rude to take pictures of Buddha, but there aren’t signs in the Blue Temple telling you not to take pictures.

Almost everybody is taking pictures of the Buddha in the main temple, so you shouldn’t have any issues if you want to take a pictures.

That being said, if someone asks you not to take pictures of the Buddha or if signs appear in the future saying no pictures of the Buddha, it’s important you respect those signs.

Along the same lines, please don’t take pictures of people praying or of random people. It’s just rude. Nobody consented to you taking their picture.

People end up in the background of photos all the time. That’s not the issue. It’s rude when you make someone who hasn’t consented to being in your photo the primary focus of your photo. Tourists need to stop doing that.

There are rules on how you must be dressed to enter a temple in Thailand and normally there is someone watching people who enter and stopping people who don’t meet the dress code.

You have to have your shoulders and knees covered to enter the temple.

A lot of tourists don’t realize this when they plan their trip to Thailand and only pack shorts and tank tops. That’s why you see so many tourists wearing those elephant pants with a shawl over their shoulders inside temples.

There aren’t really any clothing stores or stands near the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai, so you can’t quickly go out and buy something if you don’t meet the dress code.

So make sure you’re wearing the right clothing or have extra clothing packed before you leave to visit the Blue Temple.

Otherwise, you’ll be disappointed and not be able to visit the temple.

The final reminded is to keep your voice hushed if you’re talking to someone else. The Blue Temple is a religious place, and it’s respectful to keep your voice down and whisper if you’re going to talk inside the temple.

Technically, it’s possible to visit both temples on the same day, but I don’t recommend it. You’ll be rushed and tired. But if you only have one full day in Chiang Rai and want to visit both temples, it is possible.

The easiest way to visit both temples in the same day is by using Grab. You don’t have to rely on the timing of public transportation and can move at your own pace. It is going to be the most expensive way to see both temples though.

The next best option is taking the 8:10am bus from the bus station to the White Temple. The White Temple opens at 8am, and you’ll arrive around 8:30.

Arriving this early also means there won’t be many other tourists, and you’ll get some amazing pictures!

After you’re done at the White Temple, take the bus or Songthaew back to the bus station. From there, take a different Songthaew or Tuk Tuk to the Blue Temple.

Your Songthaew driver from the White Temple probably won’t drive you all the way to the Blue Temple, but you can ask. Maybe you’ll get lucky.

I recommend people allot at least four hours to visit the White Temple. This includes the time to get to and from the bus station to the White Temple and visiting the temple.

This is the minimum amount of time. You can easily spend an entire day at the White Temple it’s such a huge complex with so many things to see and do.

I recommend people allot about two hours to visit the Blue Temple including the time it takes to get to and from the bus station.

So, while it is possible to visit both temples in a day, you’ll be tired at the end of the day and won’t be able to see much else of Chiang Rai.

There aren’t a ton of other tourist things to do in Chiang Rai, but it is nice to not be rushed.

I think a day and a half is the perfect amount of time to spend in Chiang Rai. Most people come to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai by bus.

Catch a morning bus and be in Chiang Rai by noon. The day you arrive, you can visit the Blue Temple and the next day you can visit the White Temple.

The only tricky part about this is that a lot of people travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai every day.

When I travelled between the two cities, every blog post I read said that you could just show up at the bus station and easily get on a bus to Chiang Rai. That’s not the case anymore.

I got to the bus station at 8:30 hoping to get on a bus that left just after 9am, but the first bus that had an empty seat left at 1pm.

The only way your 1.5 days in Chiang Rai plan is going to work is if you buy your bus ticket in advance and don’t rely on just showing up at the bus station.

Learn from my mistakes!

You rely on public wifi when you travel. Even if you have an esim on your phone, which I highly recommend, you at least rely on the hotel’s wifi when you’re there to save your data for when you don’t have access to wifi.

Using publici wifi, especially when travelling, puts you at high risk of having your personal and private online information stolen. Even if you use a wifi network with a password, anybody who knows that password can use it, and it isn’t very secure.

Trust me when I say you don’t want to have your banking information stolen while you’re abroad and have to deal with the headache of cancelling your bank cards while trying to enjoy your relaxing vacation.

It’s a nightmare I wish on no one!

The only way you can protect yourself while using public wifi networks is by installing a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts an invisible forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for prying eyes to access your online information and steal it.

A VPN makes using public wifi networks just as safe as using your home wifi network where you’re the only person who knows the password. It is one of the simplest ways you can stay safe while travelling.

I always say that if you can afford travel, you can afford to protect your online information.

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs over my years of travel and hated most of them. VPNs are notorious for slowing down your internet speed. I would get frustrated at how slow my internet was and then would turn off my VPN and put myself at risk.

That all changed when I started using NordVPN. It is consistently ranked the fastest VPN on the market, and that’s why I love it so much. I never notice a slow down in my internet speed.

I use my phone a lot when I travel, and I’ve never been tempted to turn off my NordVPN because of internet lagging.

It even works perfectly with my esim.

I’ve been using NordVPN for over 5 years and have no plans of ever stopping. It’s the VPN I make all my friends and family sign up for when they travel as well.

You can protect up to six devices with a single subscription, so you can easily protect all your devices with one account.

The best part is that a two-year subscription costs less per month than a single Starbuck’s latte.

You really have no excuse not to install a VPN on your devices and keep your online data and information protected and safe.

Visiting the Blue Temple Chiang Rai is a must do activity in Northern Thailand. It’s one of the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand, free to enter, and easy to get to.

It’s well worth arranging a little bit of extra time in Chiang Rai and adding the Blue Temple to your itinerary. You’ll probably regret it if you don’t!

I put up an Instagram poll after my trip to Chiang Rai asking people if they thought the White Temple or the Blue Temple was more beautiful.

The overwhelming majority of people voted for the Blue Temple. I still can’t decide which one I liked better, but if the poll is any indication, the Blue Temple can’t be missed when in Thailand!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Paris is one of the most popular cities in the world and for good reason! It is full of world-class attractions and great food. Paris is also great for solo travellers! But there are a few important things to know before you take a solo trip to Paris.

Taking a solo trip to Paris is a great introduction to solo travel. It is (mostly) safe, English is widely spoken, and it is easy to get around. But that doesn’t mean it is always smooth sailing. Travelling alone in Paris can be overwhelming at times, but if you know the 10 tips in this article, your solo trip to Paris will be nothing short of amazing!

You will learn how to save money in Paris, how to stay safe, and how to avoid the crowds.

It is all important information for any tourist visiting Paris, but it is extra important for people visiting Paris alone.

You are 100% responsible for your and your trip and don’t have anybody to rely on. That’s not a bad thing though! In fact, it is one of my favourite parts of solo travel!

Be sure to give number 6 a good read. It is really important!

PS- you can browse all my solo travel posts here!

This could be generic advice for any city, but it is even more important advice for Paris.

The restaurants around major tourist attractions should be avoided at all costs!

They are painfully overpriced and tend to serve barely edible food (from my experience).

Restaurants around Notre Dame, the Louvre, and especially the Eiffel Tower should be avoided unless you want to pay three times more for a bad meal.

It can be tempting to just pop into the closest restaurant but resist the urge!

You are way better off walking 10 or 15 minutes away from the attraction or eating in the neighbourhood near your accommodation than eating at restaurants near tourist attractions.

I know you’re hungry, tired, and alone in Paris, but grab a quick snack and head over to a more local restaurant.

That’s where you’ll find the French food everybody raves about!

Disclaimer: This is a general statement. I’m sure there are some restaurants next to tourist attractions that are great. These are the exception and not the norm. If you want to dine with a view of that tourist attractions, be sure to research a decent spot beforehand and don’t just show up and pick a restaurant at random.

It pains me to tell you this, but free public wifi in Paris is hard to find.

There isn’t a city-wide public wifi system like there is in Taiwan, so it is up to each individual location to decide whether or not to provide guests with complimentary wifi.

And most places choose not to.

I haven an entire post about wifi in Paris you can read here.

It goes in-depth about where you can find complimentary wifi in Paris and some tips to help you find free wifi.

But just know that if you don’t have a Skyroam or similar product, you will be without wifi for the majority of the time you’re out exploring Paris.

I wish free public wifi was more prevalent in Paris, but we aren’t that lucky (yet).

One of my top goals in the travel-sphere is to bring more awareness to the need to be internet safe when travelling!

You need to protect yourself and your online data/privacy when you use public wifi networks.

Anybody can access public wifi networks (yes even hotel wifi and public wifi networks that are password protected).

While 99.99999% of people who access public wifi networks are average people like you, there are a few people that have bad intentions.

You do not want to leave your online information exposed to people who may want to steal it.

Seriously! You do not want to deal with trying to freeze a bank account while abroad because someone stole your information when you could have easily protected yourself.

The only way to protect yourself when using public wifi networks is to install a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts a forcefield around your devices and cloaks them.

It makes using a public wifi network as safe as using your private home wifi where you’re the only person who knows the password.

There is no excuse for not spending a few dollars a month to protect your online data and privacy with a VPN.

If you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online information!

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs in my day and canceled all but one of them after the first year.

VPNs are notorious for slowing down your phone, tablet, or laptop.

Most VPNs are so slow that I end up turning them off and just using my devices without them. Which, of course, leaves me open to having my information stolen.

That cycle of slow VPNs and frustration ended when I found NordVPN!

It is the fastest VPN on the market, and you barely notice a difference in the speed.

You also have the ability to change your location in the app and make it seem like you’re in a different country. This allows you to access the Netflix library from that country and watch shows and movies you don’t normally have access to!

I honesty love my NordVPN. It is the only VPN I’ve used and actually enjoyed.

Plus the monthly subscription fee is less than that cost of a latte, so there is no excuse not to get one!

Oh. You can also protect up to six devices with a single subscription!

Solo travellers are often targeted by pick pockets, and Paris is known for being a city where pick pocketing is a major issue.

It is so important when you’re alone in Paris to be aware of your surroundings and watch out for potential pick pocketers.

Easier said than done though!

The pick pocketing game has gotten pretty advanced. A lot of the times you don’t even realize that someone is trying to pick pocket you.

And that is where so many people get in trouble.

I’m not saying you have to do anything extreme to protect yourself from potential pick pocketers. Nor am I suggesting that a lot of Parisians are bad.

Pick pocketing happens in every major city. With Paris being such a huge tourist hub, it just makes sense that pick pocketing is increasingly becoming more and more of a problem.

Here are a few quick tips to help you avoid getting pick pocketed:

• Don’t leave money or valuables in a place where they are easy for someone to quickly grab

• Keep your purse (if you have one) as close to the front of your body as possible. If you’re carrying it on your side near your back pocket, it is super easy for people to quickly grab something out of it without you knowing. (Trust me- I’ve had it happen to me before!)

• Don’t keep your cash all in one place. If you have your money in multiple locations, even if you do get pick pocketed, you don’t lose everything.

• Occasionally look behind you. Pick pocketers normally approach from behind. A slight glance back once in a while can deter potential pick pocketers from targeting you.

• Pay attention to signs. A lot of tourist attractions have signs warning you that it is a popular place for pick pocketers to target. When you see one of those signs, be extra cautious and be even more aware.

Again, pick pocketing happens in every city in the world, and this isn’t just an issue in Paris.

You should always be as aware of your surroundings as possible when you travel alone.

But I couldn’t let you plan a solo trip to Paris without warning you about pick pocketing and giving you some tips!

If you’re not keen on standing outside in a long line, then it is in your best interest to purchase attraction tickets online in advance.

I know it takes some of the spontaneity out of your solo trip to Paris, but it is well worth it.

No matter what time of year you visit Paris, the major tourist attractions are always busy, and there is always a line to get in.

I’m not talking about a short line either. You can wait well over an hour even during off-peak times.

Tickets to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Versailles should be purchased in advance.

It is such a nice feeling walking past the long line of people waiting to purchase tickets and get right into the attraction!

During peak season (a.k.a. summer and spring break), you need to purchase your tickets well in advance. Perhaps even up to a month in advance.

You don’t need to plan too far in advance if you’re visiting Paris alone during off-peak season.

3 to 7 days in advance should be sufficient for most tourist attractions, but that isn’t a guarantee.

The earlier you can purchase tickets, the better.

The longer you wait to purchase tickets, the less choice you have. You may not get the time slot you want, but any time slot is better than waiting in the normal line!

I know one of the exciting parts of planning a solo trip to Paris is being adventurous and doing whatever you want.

But I highly recommend buying tickets in advance for the most popular attractions and being as spontaneous as you want the rest of the time.

Also, think how dreadfully boring it would be to stand in a long ticket line alone without another human to chat with!

You might not realize it, but Paris is a fairly walkable city!

I certainly did not realize that the first time I visited Paris and spent too much time and money on the metro when I could have walked places!

You can walk from Notre Dame to the Louvre in less than 20 minutes or from the Eiffel Tower to the Champs-Elysées in less than 25 minutes.

Not many people talk about how walkable Paris is, so most tourists don’t realize they can walk between sights and rarely use the metro if they plan their trip strategically.

I love walking when I travel. It is the perfect way to see different parts of a city that you wouldn’t see if you took public transportation everywhere.

Walking is especially fun when you’re visiting Paris alone!

You can wander as quickly or slowly as you want, stop to take as many photos as you want, and pop into any café that has a delectable pastry you can’t pass up!

So strap on your best walking shoes and plan to walk the city when you’re planning your solo trip to Paris.

One of the best parts of Paris is how beautiful it is!

You never know what you’ll stumble on when you’re walking from one attraction to the next!

I’ve been all over the world and normally feel pretty comfortable walking alone at night. I never feel as comfortable as I do during the day, but most of the time I can find my way home without my heart pumping out of my chest.

There are a few exceptions to that though (including my home city of Edmonton), and, unfortunately, Paris is one of them.

It isn’t that it isn’t safe to walk alone in Paris at night.

You just might feel a little uneasy.

I can’t explain why. It isn’t like the city changes, but it just has an eerie feeling to it when you’re not a local.

But tourists can often feel more on alert than normal when walking in Paris when it is dark. Keep your wits about you, keep your head on a swivel, and you should be safe.

Just be sure to avoid dark alleys. 😉

I’ve talked to a lot of other travellers who have had the same experience.

I’m by no means trying to deter you from being out at night and having the solo trip to Paris of your dreams.

The night might just be the time to hop on the metro to get home rather than walking.

Paris is a walkable city, but you’ll still be using the metro system.

It is unavoidable!

The metro in Paris is decently priced and certainly more affordable than London!

But there is still a way to save a little money and time!

I recommend you picking up a Carnet when in Paris. It is a book of ten metro tickets that can be used inside central Paris.

The book lowers the cost of each ticket, so you save some money!

It also saves you a lot of time!

You don’t have to stand in line at a ticket counter or machine to purchase a ticket every time you use the metro.

That is annoying, and the ticket lines can be painfully long. Especially during rush hour or during peak tourist times!

Grab a Carnet the first time you use the metro and just pull a ticket out of the book every time you hop on the metro.

This is a lesser known tip, but it can be a life saver.

I also think this is a fun tip people visiting Paris alone. Sometimes the times notice that they’re travelling alone the most are quiet moments like buying a metro ticket.

You’re waiting in a line and don’t have anyone to talk to, and it can feel a bit uncomfortable or awkward at times.

Purchasing your metro tickets in bulk totally eliminates that possibility, and I think that’s pretty cool!

Plus it means you have a better chance of catching that train before it leaves and not have to wait for the next one! 😉

PS- if you want to learn more about using the Paris metro system, check out this post. It goes into depth about some of the peculiarities of the system you need to know!

You can navigate Paris pretty well with just a credit card, but you should still have some cash on hand.

It is a safety precaution in the event your credit card is stolen or your bank has to freeze your account.

It also comes in very handy when making small purchases.

Some street food vendors don’t even accept credit cards, and it would be a shame to miss out on a Crêpe just because you didn’t have a little cash on hand.

I like to exchange some money before I arrive in Europe. I don’t have to hunt for an ATM, and I don’t have to risk paying high ATM fees.

France uses the Euro, so even if you don’t use all the cash you bring to Paris, there is ample opportunity to keep it and use it next time you’re in Europe!

How much cash you should have depends on how long you solo trip to Paris is, your spending habits, and how much you intend to use your credit card.

Don’t forget about the currency conversion and potential pesky foreign transaction fees! It may be beneficial to rely more on cash than cards while in Paris.

I recommend having no less than €50 cash when you visit Paris.

And because you’re travelling to Paris alone, you probably want to have even more cash than that!

You are, again, 100% responsible for everything.

If you lose your bank card, it is on you to figure out how to survive. Since the Euro is so widely accepted, it doesn’t hurt to have a little more cash than you think you need!

It is so important to take the time and take a day trip from Paris.

Paris is such a small part of France, and it is a shame if you don’t get to see a different part of the country. Even if it is only an hour outside of Paris!

Some people (especially if they’re new to solo travel) may find it intimidating to take a day trip outside Paris.

You have to pick a place, figure out how to get there, find your way around once you arrive, and get yourself back to Paris.

It can seem like a lot of work and effort!

But it is so worth it!

I recommend Giverny, Versailles, or Strasbourg if you want to get a taste of a different aspect of French culture.

If you’re a big kid like me, you may want to check out Disneyland Paris! I even have an entire post on visiting Disney alone you may want to check out.

PS- Be sure to check out my library of posts on Disneyland Paris to help you plan the perfect trip!

No matter where you choose to go, I highly, highly, highly recommend you take a day trip outside of Paris.

You get to see a nice part of France and build up and exercise those solo travel skills!

One of the worst parts about solo travel is that you’re 100% responsible for every expense.

You don’t have a travel buddy to split the cost of accommodation with, and that is honestly one of the most painful parts of travelling alone in Paris.

Paris is a popular city in Western Europe, so it makes sense that accommodation isn’t inexpensive.

But it still hurts!

It can be difficult to find decent budget-friendly accommodation in central Paris when planning a solo trip to Paris.

Hostels are an option, but they will still run you about €50 a night for someplace worth staying. Plus not everybody (me included) enjoy staying in hostels.

I don’t really have any tips to help you out with this one. I just want to make you aware before you commit to a solo trip to Paris that accommodation will eat up a large portion of your budget.

While I don’t have any tips to help you save money on your accommodation, I will say that I think it is worth spending an appropriate amount of money on your accommodation.

Accommodation is not the place to cheap out!

I think it is worthwhile spending a little bit more on a room in a safe area in central Paris.

You don’t want to stay in the suburbs and spend over an hour every morning and evening commuting to and from the city.

You also don’t want to pick the cheapest place in central Paris.

It pays to spend some extra money per night to feel safe and comfortable.

There is hardly anything worse than staying in a place you don’t feel comfortable or safe. It destroys your sleep and raises your anxiety.

Trust me. I’ve cheaped out on too many accommodations over the years. Learn from my experience and book a place to stay that is in a decent area and you think looks safe.

I personally use Hotels.com to book 90% of my hotels/hostels.

They have a great rewards program that gives you a free night’s stay after staying 10 nights at hotels you book through their website.

Hotels.com also has a great search function and competitive prices.

I find it easy to use. Even if you only use it to browse for hotels and book on another site, I think they make searching for hotels super easy.

Paris is a fantastic city.

Travelling to Paris alone is very easy, and you don’t need to be an experienced solo traveller to plan a solo trip to Paris and have a good time!

English is widely spoken, it is easy to get around, and the only trouble you’re likely to run into is some petty crime.

But you know how to protect yourself from that now!

If you’re thinking about planning a solo trip to Paris and just aren’t quite sure yet, I hope this post helped you decide whether or not Paris is the right choice for your solo trip.

I think it is a great European destination for solo travel!

If you decide against Paris, you may want to check out this post on the top countries in Europe for solo travel.

I think you’ll have an amazing solo trip to Paris if you take the leap and book that trip!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Taipei and Kaohsiung are two of the most popular cities in Taiwan for tourists, but they are quite a distance apart. 358km apart to be exact. Luckily it is very easy to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung!

There are three ways you can get from Taipei to Kaohsiung: high speed rail, train, and bus.

You can also fly between the two cities, but that isn’t the most practical option, so I’m not going to discuss it.

This post will go over all the different ways you can get from Taipei to Kaohsiung and help you pick what transportation method is best for you and your style of travel!

The quickest and most expensive option is the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR). It is also the most popular way to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung, so it is also the busiest.

The trip takes between 1.5 to 2 hours on the HSR, so it is a great option for people who need to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung quickly.

You can purchase tickets on the Taiwan High Speed Rail website or at the ticket counter at the train station. You can pay by credit card online or by cash or card in person.

If you don’t have access to a printer, you’re able to pickup tickets you ordered online at the train station. This is an ideal option for people who book their HSR ticket while in Taiwan rather than before they leave.

The price of tickets varies a little bit depending on what time of day you leave and the time of year, but, on average, tickets cost approximately NT1,500.

This converts to approximately $50USD, so it is not an inexpensive ticket. The cost of tickets can really add up if you’re travelling with a larger group or family.

This depends on the time of year, week, and day you’re travelling. There are some instances in the off-season during the week where you could purchase your ticket a few minutes before the train departs, but that isn’t the norm.

Trains from Taipei to Kaohsiung can sell out. Especially during the summer and on the weekends. They certainly don’t sell out as quickly as the trains from Taipei to Hualien, but they still do sell out.

I recommend purchasing your ticket at least two or three days in advance to ensure you get a seat.

Trains from Taipei to Kaohsiung depart from Taipei Main Station.

Taipei Main Station is serviced by buses, the red and blue metro lines, and the Taoyuan Airport MRT, so no matter where you’re coming from, it is easy to get to Taipei Main Station from anywhere in Taipei.

To get to the HSR station, simply follow the over-head signs for that say “HSR”. The HSR station is near the Taiwan Railway platforms. If you reach the metro lines, you’ve gone too far.

Taipei Main Station is huge, but it is easy to navigate by using the signs and maps all around the station. You can always ask an employee for help if you get really lost.

HSR trains arrive at Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung. Zuoying Station is a little bit outside of downtown Kaohsiung, so you’ll probably have to take the metro or a bus to get to your accommodation.

Just like Taipei Main Station, Zuoying Station is serviced by buses and the metro. It is located at R16. There are only two metro lines in Kaohsiung: the R and O. If you need to transfer to the O line, you need to take the R line to Formosa Boulevard and transfer there. It is the only transfer station along the metro lines.

• It is by far the quickest way to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung
• There is dedicated luggage storage in each train car
• You have an assigned seat

• It is the most expensive way to get between the two cities
• The train arrives as Zuoying Station, so you probably won’t be able to walk to your accommodation and will need to take public transit

The second option is taking the train from Taipei to Kaohsiung. This is a slow train operated by Taiwan Railways and is much slower than the high speed rail.

The train journey takes 4.5-6 hours depending on train traffic, so it isn’t great for people who don’t have much time to explore Taiwan and need to travel between cities quickly.

You can purchase your train tickets on the Taiwan Railways Administration website, through their app, or in person at the station.

The best part of purchasing tickets online or through the app is that you can download an electronic copy to your phone, so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of a paper ticket.

Tickets cost between NT800 and NT900. This coverts to $27-$30USD, so it isn’t that much cheaper than the HSR but takes significantly longer.

You’ll need to factor in what your time is worth when deciding whether you want to take the HSR or train. Is saving $20USD-$30USD worth the extra two and a half to four hours?

Only you can decide that. If you have a long time in Taiwan, it just might be, but if you only have a week, it probably isn’t.

It is easier to purchase last-minute tickets for the slow train than it is for the HSR simply because it is less popular. You can probably show up at the train station and get on the next train pretty much any time of year.

That being said, I recommend purchasing your ticket at least the night before your departure. This way you know exactly what train you’ll be on and be able to download the ticket to your phone.

Trains from Taipei to Kaohsiung depart from Taipei Main Station just like the HSR. You simply follow the signs for Taiwan Railway, and you’ll easily be able to find your platform.

The train from Taipei to Kaohsiung departs at the same location as the local trains used to get places in Taipei the metro doesn’t cover, so if you’ve used one of those trains, you’ll know exactly where to go!

Trains arrive right in central Kaohsiung at Kaohsiung Main Station. This is R11 on the metro line and is only one metro stop away from the transfer station Formosa Boulevard.

This makes it quite convenient to get from Kaohsiung Main Station to anywhere in central Kaohsiung you need to go.

Kaohsiung Main Station is also well connected by bus if you prefer that over taking the metro.

• The train arrives in central Kaohsiung, so it is easy to get anywhere quickly
• You can easily purchase last-minute tickets without the train being sold out

• It takes significantly longer than the HSR and isn’t much cheaper
• There isn’t dedicated luggage storage in each car, and you have to lift your bag overhead to store it

The final option is to take a bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung. This is the least popular way to travel between the two cities and should probably be your last resort if you can’t manage to get on a train.

The bus ride takes between 5 and 6 hours, but it can be significantly delayed because of traffic. This means your trip could take a whole lot longer than you planned on!

Tickets can be purchased at the bus station before you get on the bus and at convenience stores around Taipei.

You need to purchase your ticket before you get on the bus. Your EasyCard will not work on this bus, so you cannot tap when you get on and off for money to be automatically deducted from your account.

Bus tickets between Taipei and Kaohsiung cost between NT400 and NT 700. That converts to $13USD to $23USD.

If you’re able to get a less expensive ticket, then it is considerably less expensive to take the bus than the train; however, the most expensive tickets are pretty close in price to train tickets.

It is probably worth the few extra dollars to take the train, so you don’t risk getting stuck in a traffic jam.

The bus is a fairly popular method of transportation amongst Taiwan locals, so it isn’t uncommon for buses to be full to capacity.

You’ll be getting on the bus at the first stop, so it is likely that there will be room for you, but I recommend purchasing your ticket a day in advance or at a minimum a few hours in advance.

This way you’ll have a guaranteed seat and won’t be delayed if the bus you want to get on is full.

Buses depart from the Taipei Bus Station. It is adjacent to Taipei Main Station near Q Square.

There are maps all around Taipei Main Station that show where the bus station is, so it is really easy to find. Taipei Main Station has free WiFi, so you can always put “Taipei Bus Station” into Google Maps and follow the directions if you’re worried about getting lost.

Buses arrive at Kaohsiung Main Station, which is the same place the slow trains arrive at. It is in central Kaohsiung, so it is easy to get to where ever you need to go from the bus station.

Everything in central Kaohsiung is just a few minutes away on the metro, so it is quite convenient.

• Your luggage is store under the bus, so you don’t need to worry about storing it yourself or lifting it overhead
• It is the least expensive way to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung

• It takes the longest time and can be delayed due to traffic
• You can’t get up and walk around to stretch your legs on the long journey like you can on the train or HSR

I personally think the HSR and slow train are the best ways to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Which one you choose between the two of them has a lot to do with personal preference.

The HSR is great for people who aren’t in Taiwan long and want to get between the two cities quickly. It is how I always travel between Taipei and Kaohsiung, I like that it is quick and efficient.

The train, on the other hand, is great for people who have a long time to explore Taiwan or are on a tight budget. It does take quite a bit longer than the HSR, but it gives you more of an opportunity to enjoy the scenery outside your window.

You really can’t go wrong with either option. No matter what train you choose, you’ll have a pleasant experience and trip.

There is so much to do in both Taipei and Kaohsiung that it would be a shame to miss either city on your trip to Taiwan. Luckily Taiwan has a great public transportation system, and it is easy to get between the two cities!

Just a reminder that it is considered rude in Taiwan to be loud or chatty on public transportation and to always clean up after yourself if you have a snack on the train or bus! The Taiwan locals and train and bus employees will appreciate it!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Jiufen is the most popular day trip from Taipei. It is charming, full of delicious food, and the best place in and around Taipei to buy souvenirs. The best part is that it is incredibly easy to travel from Taipei to Jiufen!

Not having to worry about figuring out transportation makes a day trip so much better!

The best and easiest way to travel from Taipei to Jiufen is to take the bus. It takes just over an hour and costs 90NTD (approximately $3USD). Most bloggers will tell you to take the train, but it isn’t nearly as convenient since you have to transfer to a bus at the end of your trip since the train doesn’t go all the way to Jiufen.

This post outlines all the different ways you can travel from Taipei to Jiufen. Knowing all your options will help you choose the best method for you and your travel style.

We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each options, so you know all the information before you commit to a transportation method.

It may only take an hour or so to get from Taipei to Jiufen, but it can feel like a lifetime if you choose the wrong transportation method!

I suggest visiting Jiufen in the morning and early afternoon. It gets uncomfortably busy in the afternoons, and the trip isn’t as enjoyable.

You’ll also have better luck with transportation earlier in the day. It won’t be as crowded, and you’ll be able to get on the first bus that stops rather than waiting in a long queue and it taking multiple buses before you can get it. You’ll also be more likely to find a seat on the train rather than having to stand.

I write a lot of these transportation guides. There is hardly any aspect of travel I hate more than figuring out how to get from one place to another.

I write these comprehensive posts, so you can have all the information you need in one place and don’t have to waste a lot time figuring out what transportation method you want to take.

Here are the other Taiwan transportation guides I’ve written:

Hopefully they come in handy when you’re planning your trip to Taiwan!

But, now, back to our regularly scheduled content on how to travel from Taipei to Jiufen!

Taking the bus is the easiest and most convenient way to get from Taipei to Jiufen.

You just get on the bus and hop off when you get to Jiufen Old Street.

You don’t have to worry about transferring like you do on the train. It is so easy, and it is impossible to get lost.

There are two types of buses you can take from Taipei to Jiufen. You can take a tourist shuttle bus or a regular public bus.

The tourist shuttle bus is a coach bus, and the public bus is just like any other normal public bus in the city.

Both work perfectly fine, and it comes down to which bus comes first, is closest to where you’re staying, and whether you want a guaranteed seat on the tourist bus or are willing to possibly stand on the public bus.

The number of the buses that travel from Taipei to Jiufen are:

• 795 (tourist shuttle)
• 856 (tourist shuttle)
• 956 (public bus)
• 1062 (public bus)

PS- don’t forget to check out my where to stay in Taipei post and my best hotels near Taipei Main Station post if you haven’t decided where you want to stay in Taipei yet!

The bus ride from Taipei to Jiufen takes between 1 hour and 1.5 hours.

The length of your journey depends on which bus you take and where in Taipei you’re departing from.

From Taipei Main Station, it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

You can expect anything departing from central Taipei will take about that long as well. If you’re departing from New Taipei City, the journey will take closer to an hour.

This all depends on traffic, of course.

Your journey could take a lot longer if there is a traffic jam.

This, again, depends on what type of bus you take.

The tourist shuttles are slightly more expensive than public buses, but the difference isn’t big enough that it will impact your decision.

The public bus costs 90NTD (approximately $3USD) and the tourist shuttle costs 100NTD (approximately $3.50NTD).

You pay for your bus ride when you get on the bus.

You can either pay by cash or by tapping your transportation card (known as EasyCard) when you get on and off the bus.

Using your EasyCard is the easiest and most convenient way to pay your bus fare.

You don’t have to worry about having exact cash. Bus drivers don’t have change, so you need to have the exact cost of the bus fare in cash or live with slightly overpaying for your ride.

You can purchase your EasyCard at any metro station in Taipei or at most convenience stores.

If you want to choose your design rather than getting a generic EasyCard, you’ll want to purchase it at a convenience store.

It isn’t expensive to purchase an EasyCard, and it is well worth the convenience to get one.

You can reload it with money at any metro station or at any convenience store.

Buses depart from many different locations.

There are stops all over the city, so there is most likely a bus stop near where you’re staying in Taipei.

I was staying near Taipei Main Station, and there was a bus stop across the street from Taipei Main Station.

The bus also stops near Ximending Shopping District, Banqiao in New Taipei City, near Taipei 101, and so many other places.

The easiest way to figure out the closest bus stop to you is put “Jiufen Old Street” into your GPS and walk to the bus stop it tells you to.

There are often many buses that stop at one bus stop, so you need to be sure you’re standing in the right place. There are signs at each bus stop telling you which bus stops where.

Read the signs and stand near the stop that has your bus number on it.

The bus drops you off right outside of Jiufen Old Street.

It is super convenient! You just step off the block, walk about a hundred feet, and you’re in Jiufen Old Street!

It is important to note that the bus picks you up in a slightly different location.

The pick up location to return to Taipei is up the hill from the drop off location. When you exit Jiufen Old Street, turn to the right, walk for about 200 feet, and the bus stop is on the left.

There is a shelter and sign at the bus stop, so it is easy to find. There are also people waiting there basically all day there.

Since there are two buses that pick people up at that station, there are two lines (and markings on the pavement to show you where to stand).

Be sure you’re in the right line (there is information and maps at the bus station to help you figure out what bus you want to take).

• Most direct route (no transfers required!)
• Basically have a guaranteed seat (outside of peak hours)
• Inexpensive

• It takes slightly longer than the train
• The bus is slightly more expensive than the train

Your next option is to take the train from Taipei to Jiufen. Most other bloggers list this as the best option, but I disagree.

The train doesn’t take you all the way to Jiufen.

You have to transfer to a bus for the last part of the journey, and it isn’t the most convenient option. A lot of the time, you have to wait for a few buses to arrive and depart before you’re able to get on one.

The buses are busy because they are already full of the people they picked up in Taipei and New Taipei City.

It is true that the train costs slightly less than the bus and takes slightly less time, but it comes down to convenience for me.

I’m willing to pay a few extra pennies and sit on a bus a few minutes longer to have a direct journey. It is nice to get on the bus and get off at Jiufen.

Not having to worry about transferring always makes the journey more enjoyable in my opinion.

It takes about 45 to 70 minutes to travel from Taipei to Jiufen on the train.

The train ride itself takes about 30-40 minutes, and the final bus to Jiufen takes about 10-20 minutes. It could take even longer if you have to wait for multiple buses before you get a seat.

The train ride can also take longer- especially if you’re travelling during rush hour. You have to take a slow train from Taipei, so it often has to wait at stations for a few extra minutes to let high-speed trains pass.

Psst- be sure to check out my wifi in Taipei post to learn about how to access wifi while you’re in Taipei!

The entire trip (bus and train ticket included) will cost you less than 100 NTD (less than $3.50 USD).

It is a pretty good deal considering it takes at least 45 minutes to get to Jiufen from Taipei.

The train ticket costs between 50 NTD and 75 NTD (approximately $1.50 USD to $2.50 USD).

The bus costs about 15 NTD (approximately $0.50).

You purchase your train ticket at the train station, and you pay for your bus ticket on the bus.

No need to worry about getting your ticket in advance or sticking to a set schedule based on what time your ticket is for.

Easy peasy!

You can catch the train at basically every train station in Taipei.

This doesn’t mean every metro station in Taipei.

There are some metro stations that have train stations attached to them, but not every one does. Make sure you’re going to an actual train station because it is different than a metro station.

You can find the closest train station by putting it into your Google Maps, and you’ll be on your way in no time!

You need to get off the train at Ruifang Station.

After you get off the train, you need to walk a few hundred feet to the bus station.

The bus departs from outside the police station, so it is really easy to find. You need to get on the bus that picks you up on the side of the road that has the police station.

You’ll be headed in the wrong direction if you get on the bus across the street from the bus station.

You need to get on one of the following buses:

All 5 of those buses stop at Jiufen, so it doesn’t matter which one you get on.

Just hop on the first bus that comes, and you’ll be at the entrance of Juifen Old Street in about 15 minutes!

Since you’re taking a bus to Jiufen and not the train the entire way, the arrival location is the same as in the first section of this post.

You will be dropped off right at the entrance of Jiufen Old Street. The entrance is less than 100 meters away from where the bus drops you off, so it is super convenient!

• Least expensive option
• Quickest option
• Doesn’t get delayed if there is a traffic jam

• You have to transfer from the train to a bus for the last leg of your journey
• May have to wait for multiple buses to arrive before you get on one
• You may not get a seat on the train and have to stand for over half an hour

Your next option is to take a guided tour from Taipei to Jiufen.

This isn’t my favourite option. I find tours overpriced and not my cup of tea. I very much prefer to travel alone and travel on my own schedule.

But if you enjoy tours, there are plenty of tours to choose from.

Most tours to Jiufen include stops of Shifen and Yehliu as well, so you’re seeing more places than you would on your own.

I found this tour particularly interesting. It includes a pastry baking class, so you get to learn a new skill in addition to sightseeing.

It is pretty cool!

Klook is the top tour provider in Asia. They have a bunch of half and full-day trips from Taipei to Jiufen. You should be able to find a tour that suits your interests!

If you don’t find one on Klook, Get Your Guide is another great place to look.

Ice cream burrito from Jiufen Old Street- A MUST try!

Your final option is taking a taxi or Uber from Taipei to Jiufen Old Street.

This is a great option if you want to travel on 100% your own schedule and not be held back or reliant on a bus or train time schedule.

It is surprisingly inexpensive to take a taxi or Uber to Jiufen.

This is especially true if you’re splitting the cost between a few people.

A taxi will cost you about 1,300 NTD (approximately $45 USD), and an Uber will cost you about 1,000 NTD (approximately $35 USD).

That’s a really fair price considering the distance you’re travelling.

I’ve taken a number of Ubers in Taiwan and have had nothing but amazing experiences. I only took one taxi in Taiwan, but it was a great experience as well.

Taking a taxi or Uber is a great option for people who are in a rush or larger groups of people.

If you have a family of four, it may be more economical and relaxing to take an Uber or taxi than piling onto a bus or train.

It is definitely and option to consider when planning your trip from Taipei to Jiufen Old Street.

There you have it!

The four best and easiest ways to travel from Taipei to Jiufen.

Visiting Jiufen Old Street is one of the best day trips from Taipei. It is so different from the city and is extremely beautiful with the mountains in the background.

It may seem daunting to travel from Taipei to Jiufen, but it really isn’t. I almost didn’t go to Jiufen the first time I was in Taipei because I didn’t want to have to transfer from the train to the bus.

To be honest, I really don’t like transferring if I can avoid it.

I honestly didn’t even know there was a direct bus from Taipei to Jiufen Old Street until I put it into Google Map.

So it doesn’t have to be complicated, and is, in fact, very easy to get to Jiufen Old Street from Taipei.

Just hop on a bus and get off in a little more than an hour. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

If you’re considering not going to Jiufen because you’re not sure if the journey is worth it, take it from somebody who was in the same boat and go!

You’ll regret not going. It is truly one of the best places in the Taipei area!

As a side note and important safety reminder, don’t forget to install a VPN on your phone before you start travelling and connecting to public wifi. You’d be surprised how many people want to steal your online information and how easy it is to do!

Today, we’re going to learn how to travel from Paris to Marseille!

Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, but I think it is important to get outside of Paris and visit other cities in France. Lucky for you, it is super easy to travel within France.

Paris and Marseille are quite a ways away from one another, and it may seem at first glance that it isn’t easy to travel from Paris to Marseille.

That isn’t the case at all.

Technically, you can take the bus, train, or fly to Marseille from Paris. However, the only real option is taking the train.

It takes significantly less time than the bus and is realistically quicker than flying as well.

I don’t recommend visiting Marseille on a day trip from Paris because it is too far away, but it is the perfect place to visit on a weekend trip!

How to use the Paris metro system like a local

I personally hate figuring out how to travel from one city to another. I find it tedious.

That’s why I enjoy writing these guides for you so much! Hopefully I make your planning process a little bit easier by giving you all the information you need in one handy place.

If you’re planning a trip through France, these posts might be useful to you:

• How to travel from Paris to Lille

• How to travel from Paris to Strasbourg

• How to travel from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau

• How to travel from Paris to Brussels

• How to travel from London to Disneyland Paris

Without a doubt the best way to travel from Paris to Marseille is to take the train. It is the quickest and most convenient way to travel between the two cities.

Plus you get to ride on a high-speed train, and that’s always super fun.

The train ride to Marseille from Paris takes just under 3.5 hours.

That’s pretty quick considering you’re travelling almost 800km!

It is a bit tricky to tell you how much you’ll pay for a train ticket to Marseille from Paris.

The price depends a lot on when you travel, what day of the week you travel, and how far in advance you book your ticket.

In general, you can expect to pay between €130 and €200 each way. That’s about $135USD to $260USD.

Of course, you could end up paying much less and could pay much more.

France has an annoying train system where ticket prices increase based on how close your departure date is.

The further in advance you book your ticket, the less you pay.

You can book your ticket up to three months in advance, and I highly recommend you book your ticket as close to three months in advance as possible.

Otherwise you’ll be stuck paying an absurd amount for your ticket. Or you wont’ be able to visit Marseille at all because the ticket is out of your budget.

Booking a ticket for off-peak hours on a weekday will also result in a cheaper fare. Travelling during peak times on a weekend will cost you a pretty penny.

There are two ways you can purchase your train tickets:

• Online in advance
• At the train station

Without a doubt the best way to purchase your ticket is online in advance.

It can be purchased through the SNCF website. They accept foreign credit cards, and the website is extremely easy to use.

Before you purchase your ticket, read the ticket page closely to see whether or not you need to print your ticket or if an electronic ticket is sufficient.

If you don’t have the ability to print your ticket before your departure, do not choose a ticket where you’re required to print it.

Be sure to choose a ticket where an electronic version is accepted.

It is super easy to miss on the website whether you need a hard copy of your ticket or not, but you need to remember to check that.

You don’t want to show up at the train station with an electronic ticket only if you need a physical one!

That’s a headache you don’t want to deal with!

Your other option is to purchase your ticket at the train station.

This will most likely result in you paying more for your ticket because you’re buying it closer to the departure date, but it is a great option for people who don’t want to pay with a credit card online or want to be spontaneous.

At the train station, you can either purchase your ticket with a ticket agent or at a ticket machine.

Just be sure you go to a machine that says SNCF on it.

That is the only ticket machine that will sell you a train ticket from Paris to Marseille. The other ticket booths are for the Paris metro system.

The train from Paris to Marseille departs from Gare de Lyon.

Gare de Lyon is one of six major train station in Paris. It is extremely large, and you want to give yourself plenty of time to find your departure platform.

There is a metro station connected to Gare de Lyon, which is quite convenient.

However, it is quite a long walk from the metro station to the train station, and people tend to get lost during the walk.

I suggest giving yourself at least 10 minutes to walk from the metro station to the train station.

A complete guide to solo travel in France

The train arrives at Saint-Charles train station in Marseille.

The train station is a little less than 2km outside the city centre.

The walk from the train station to the city centre takes less than 30 minutes and is super easy.

If you’re not keen on walking, you can take a bus, tram, or metro!

Overall, the arrival location is very convenient.

• The quickest way to travel between the two cities

• Is relatively inexpensive

• Convenient arrival and departure locations

• Have to book your ticket far in advance to get a good price

• Limited luggage storage options

• Only a couple of departure times per day

The next you can travel from Paris to Marseille is by bus.

This isn’t terribly desirable since it takes an extremely long time. I only recommend this option for people on a very tight budget that are travelling around France for a long time.

If you’re on a short holiday, you don’t want to waste an entire day taking the bus to Marseille from Paris.

The bus trip to Marseille takes almost 10.5 hours. It can even take upwards of 12 hours depending on the time of day and traffic.

That’s a very long time to be stuck on a bus, and it eats up an entire day.

A bus ticket is significantly cheaper than a train ticket, which is why it is a good option for budget travellers.

On average, a bus ticket will cost you between €25 and €55! That’s approximately $30USD to $65USD.

That’s way more reasonable than a train ticket, but you also have to factor in the cost of your time since the travel time is significantly longer.

Just like the train, you can either purchase your tickets online in advance or in person at the bus station.

Buses don’t fill up nearly as quickly as the train, so you don’t have to worry about buying your ticket too far in advance.

Buses also don’t charge you more for your ticket the closer to the day of departure you purchase it.

You can show up at the bus station and purchase a ticket for the next bus, and it’ll cost you the same as someone buying a ticket online in advance.

If I purchase bus tickets online in advance, I like to use the website Omio. They have great prices and are super easy to use.

But, realistically, you can check the timetable online in advance and just show up at the bus station and buy your ticket on the same day.

Just be sure you arrive at the bus station 30 or so minutes early, so you can find the ticket window, buy snacks, and not be rushed if there is a queue.

Buses from Paris to Lille depart from Bercy Seine Station.

The nearest metro station to the bus station is Cour Saint Émilion, and it is less than a five-minute walk away.

The bus arrives at Saint-Charles station, which is the same location the train arrives at.

Again, this is a very convenient arrival location, and there are plenty of cheap public transportation options that quickly take you into the city centre.

• Don’t have to book tickets in advance

• Guaranteed luggage storage under the bus

• It takes a very long time

• Not easy to walk around and stretch your legs

• Departure point less convenient than the train

Your last option is to fly from Paris to Marseille.

I don’t recommend this option. Once you factor in the time it takes to get to and from the airport, checking into your flight, going through security, and collecting your baggage, it ends up taking longer than the train.

It also tends to be more expensive than the train.

The only time I see flying from Paris to Marseille as a decent option is if you land in Paris and immediately catch a flight to Marseille without leaving the airport.

If you are already in central Paris, it is definitely a better option to take the train.

Even though Paris and Marseille are on opposite sides of the country, it is extremely easy to travel between the two cities.

France has a wonderful train system that makes it super easy to travel long distances in a short period of time.

The only downside is it can be expensive to travel from Paris to Marseille, and you can’t do it in a day trip.

But, it is a great entry point to southern France if you want to explore that region (which you definitely should!).

A lot of European tourists want to visit both Paris and Brussels on their vacation. The good news is that it is very easy to travel from Paris to Brussels!

You can even visit Brussels as a day trip from Paris if you choose!

Although I suggest spending at least two days in Brussels to see all the city has to offer!

The two easiest ways to travel from Paris to Brussels are taking the train or a bus. Most people choose to take the train from Paris to Brussels. It takes half the time as the bus, but it is significantly more expensive. If you’re on a tight budget and not in a rush, you should consider taking the bus rather than the train.

It all comes down to your travel preferences though!

If you only have a short time in Europe and want to pack in as much as possible, it is well worth paying the extra money to take the train to Brussels from Paris.

If you’re on a longer European trip and want to stretch your money as far as possible, the bus is the best option for you.

And this post is going to help you figure out what the best choice for you is!

We’re covering all the different ways to travel from Paris to Brussels and breaking down the pros and cons of each method.

You’ll have a much better idea of how you should travel from Brussels to Paris after reading this post!

You’ll probably have to take the metro from your accommodation to the train/bus station. Read this post on how to use the Paris metro like a local!

One of my least favourite parts about travel is figuring out how to travel from one city to another.

It is a time suck, and you normally have to go to a number of different websites just to figure out how to travel between cities.

That’s why I write these transportation guides for you!

I want to make your travel experience the best it can be and give you all the information you need in one place!

Here are the other France transportation guides I’ve written. Hopefully they help you plan your perfect vacation!

• How to Travel from Paris to Strasbourg

• How to Travel from Paris to Lille

• How to Travel from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau

• How to Travel from London to Disneyland Paris

The first (and in my opinion the best) way to travel from Paris to Brussels is to take the train.

It is the quickest and most convenient way to travel between the two cities.

Plus who doesn’t love taking a high-speed train. I know I do!

The downfall of taking the train to Brussels from Paris is the price. It is certainly the most expensive way to travel between the two cities, but it is worth it when you consider what your time is worth!

The train from Paris to Brussels is equipped with pretty reliable wifi. I’ve never had an issue connecting to it, and it makes the trip go by that much faster!

Just be sure you’re being internet safe and have a VPN installed on your phone to keep prying eyes out of your personal and private online information!

The train from Paris to Brussels takes less than 90 minutes!

That’s super fast considering the two cities are over 300km apart!

There can be some variability on the time it takes to get between the two cities depending on the time of day and train traffic.

But, in general, you’ll be in Brussels about an hour and a half after you depart Paris!

Well, this is where it get a bit painful.

Train tickets to Brussels from Paris generally cost €99 as a base price and go up from there.

You get a better price on your ticket the earlier you book it, so be sure to buy your ticket as soon as you know what day you’re travelling to Brussels.

Tickets go up for sale three months before the departure date.

If you can book it exactly three months before you travel, do it! You’ll save a lot of money.

You do not want to leave booking your train ticket until the last moment. You will be paying a premium price for it and run the risk of tickets being sold out.

I know a lot of people (me included) don’t like to do a ton of planning and kind of wing their trips.

I get it, but this is not the time for it.

Your wallet will thank you for being prepared and pre-buying your train tickets well in advance!

There are a few different ways you can purchase train tickets.

You can purchase them online or buy them at the train station in Paris.

I highly recommend you buy your tickets online in advance. It saves you money and is super easy to book online.

They have an English version of their website and accept foreign credit cards with no issue!

I like to buy my train ticket to Brussels from Paris through the Thalys website, but you can also purchase them through the Rail Europe website if you prefer.

I’ve had better luck finding less expensive tickets through Thalys, but I know people who have found cheaper tickets through Rail Europe.

You should check out both websites before making your final purchase!

If you’re purchasing tickets in person at the train station, I highly recommend you go to the train station a few days before you leave for Brussels and buy them in advance.

You can either purchase them at an in-person ticket booth or use the electronic ticket booth.

Just make sure you use the right electronic ticket booth! You want the one that is yellow!

You won’t be able to find the tickets you want if you go to one of the other electronic ticket booths.

The electronic ticket booth accepts foreign credit cards, so you don’t need to worry about having enough cash on hand to pay for your tickets!

The train to Brussels from Paris departs from Gare du Nord.

Gare du Nord is the busiest train station in Paris, so you want to arrive early and give yourself time to navigate the station.

Plus you want to be one of the first people on the train, so you can get a good place to store your luggage!

Learn everything you need to know about wifi in Paris

Trains from Paris arrive at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussels-Zuid train station.

It is a slightly outside the main core of Brussels, but it is really easy to get there.

You can take a metro from the train station to the centre of Brussels in less than five minutes.

Alternatively, you can walk from the station to the core of the city in about 25 minutes. It is an easy walk and is essentially a straight line, so it is nearly impossible to get lost along the way!

I love walking and highly recommend walking from the station to your accommodation. It is a nice way to stretch your legs and get a feel for the city.

• The quickest way to travel between the two cities

• Central departure and arrival locations

• It is the most expensive option

• You have to book your tickets in advance

• Most of the luggage storage space is overhead, which might be a problem for people living with disabilities or older/younger people

This is the best option for budget travellers.

The bus is significantly less expensive than the train, but it takes significantly longer.

You need to weigh out the pros and cons of saving money versus saving time.

Like I said at the beginning of this post, if you’re spending quite a while in Europe and aren’t in a rush, then the bus is a great option.

Probably the best option!

If, however, you’re only in Europe for a week or two and want to make the most out of your trip, the bus probably isn’t worth it.

Sure you save money, but you’re spending a lot more time travelling from Paris to Brussels than you need to.

It is a little bit harder to peg down exactly how long the bus to Brussels from Paris takes. It all depends on the traffic and if you get stuck in a traffic jam or not.

You can expect the bus journey from Paris to Brussels to take at least 4 hours.

It will probably be longer on weekends and if you travel during peak hours when the roads are busy.

As you can see, the bus takes more than twice as long as the train does!

The bus from Paris to Brussels cost anywhere from €9 to €35.

It all depends on what time of day, week, and year you travel.

Your ticket will be more expensive during peak times on weekends in the summer and less expensive during off-peak times on a weekday in the winter.

But, overall, the price of a bus ticket is at least three times less expensive than a train ticket!

You also don’t have to worry about purchasing your tickets in advance.

Bus tickets don’t fluctuate in price as dramatically as train tickets.

Buying your bus ticket early doesn’t necessarily mean you’re paying less than if you purchase your ticket the day of departure.

Learn why Paris and Brussels are two of the most overrated cities in Europe

You can either purchase your bus tickets online in advance or purchase them at the station right before you depart.

The bus from Paris to Brussels normally doesn’t sell out (excluding super peak times like summer), so you can purchase your ticket at the bus station right before you depart with little to no issue.

My preference is to buy my tickets online in advance still.

That way you know for sure you’ll get a seat on the bus you want and can sometimes (but not always) select what bus seat you want directly on the website when you’re booking it.

There are a few website where you can purchase bus tickets online in advance:

I’ve tended to have the best luck with the Omio website, but you should check them all out to find the best price before you purchase your ticket.

Buses depart from Bercy Seine Station.

It is about 5km south of The Louvre, and Cour Saint Émilion is the closest metro station.

The bus station is about a five minute walk from the metro station.

Just like the train, buses from Paris arrive at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussels-Zuid station.

It is a super convenient arrival location, and it is easy to get anywhere in Brussels in just a few minutes with public transportation.

• Significantly less expensive than the train

• Designated luggage storage under the bus

• Convenient arrival location

• It takes more than twice as long as the train

• Departure location is a bit out of the way

• Most buses don’t have wifi on board

There are a few other ways you can travel from Paris to Brussels.

I don’t really recommend any of these travel methods, so I’m not going to go into great detail about them.

I still wanted you to be aware of them though!

Both Paris and Brussels have airports, so you could fly between the cities.

I don’t recommend it though!

It will end up being more expensive and time consuming than the train.

Especially when you take into consideration the fact that you have to arrive at the airport early enough to check in, go through security, and board the plane.

You also have to wait for any checked luggage you have and get to and from the airports in both Paris and Brussels.

It is a major pain, and you are infinitely better off taking the train than flying to Brussels from Paris.

You can rent a car and drive from Paris to Brussels, but it isn’t the best option.

You have to go through the process of renting a car, navigating how to drive between the two cities, figure out parking, and return the car when you’re done.

The only time I recommend driving between Paris and Brussels is if it is part of a larger road trip across Europe.

Don’t rent a car for the sole purpose of driving to Brussels from Paris!

The final option you have is to take a ride share from Paris to Brussels.

Europe has an extensive network of ride shares available that drive between cities and countries.

You can hop in a car and split the cost of the trip with the rest of the passengers.

I don’t really recommend this though!

They often cost the same (if not more) than a bus ticket, and you’re stuck sharing a car with strangers you may or may not get along with.

Plus you’re completely dependant on the driver.

When they choose to stop, you have to stop. If their care breaks down or runs out of gas, you’re stranded.

There are just too many things that could go wrong in my opinion!

The bus is the superior option in my mind.

If you’re interested in the ride share option, you can look for available rides through this website.

As you can see, there are a few different ways you can travel from Paris to Brussels, and it all comes down to your travel preferences and budget.

Without a doubt the two best options are taking the train or bus to Brussels from Paris, so you should choose between those two transportation methods.

One important thing to remember is that while both countries are part of the EU and have open boarders, you may still be asked to show your passport when you enter Belgium.

This rarely happens (and most often happens when you take the bus), but you need to have your passport on you just in case you are asked to show it.

You do not want to be in a situation where you left your passport in Paris and get turned away at the Belgium boarded.

I know Europe is a magical place, and we often forget that we are crossing into other countries because there are rarely boarder checks, but you need to be prepared in the rare instance they occur.

Because the one time you don’t have your passport will be the time you’re asked to show it!

Lille is one of the most underrated cities in France. It is often overlooked for more glamorous cities, but it shouldn’t be. It is super easy to travel from Paris to Lille, and you can easily visit Lille as a day trip from Paris.

There is no excuse not to visit this beautiful city!

The best way to travel from Paris to Lille is the train. It is the quickest way to travel between the two cities, but it comes with a cost. You will get to Lille in under an hour, but you will be paying twice as much as the bus, which is the next best way to travel from Paris to Lille.

It all comes down to how much time you have, your budget, and your preferred mode of transportation.

I personally think it is worth the price to take the train.

There is something to be said about arriving at a destination three times quicker even if it is double the cost.

This post covers the different ways to travel from Paris to Lille.

We’ll go over the pros and cons of each transportation method, so you can decide on the right option for you!

PS- you most likely have to use public transportation to get to the bus or train station. Check out this article on how to use the Paris metro like a local.

I write a lot of these transportation guides. I hate researching how to travel from city to city, so once I’ve figured it out, I want to give you all the information in one place.

Here are the France transportation posts I’ve written to date:

• How to Travel from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau

• How to Travel from Paris to Strasbourg

• How to Travel from London to Disneyland Paris

I hope they help you when you’re planning your trip to France!

I think the Paris to Lille train is the best way to travel between the two cities.

It is extremely efficient, comfortable, and gets you to Lille from Paris in no time!

Yes it does cost more than the bus, but it is well worth the extra money in my eyes. It is three times faster than the train, so it makes sense you’re paying a higher price for the ticket.

There is always some variability to how long the train take.

It depends on what time of day it is, what day of the week, and if there are any delays on the train track. This is uncommon, but it does happen.

On average, you the Paris to Lille train take around an hour!

In rare instances if you’re not able to get on a TGV train (a fast train), you will have to take the TER.

The TER is slower and takes a little over two hours to travel to Lille from Paris.

It is very unlikely you will have to take the TER, so you can expect the journey to only be about an hour!

There are a lot of factors that go into how much you pay for your train ticket in France.

It depends on your age, what day of the week you travel, the time of day, and how far in advance you book your seat.

There isn’t really an easy answer to how much a ticket is going to cost you!

You receive a discounted ticket price if you’re under the age of 26, over the age of 59, living with a disability, or assisting someone living with a disability.

Tickets are also become increasingly expensive the later you purchase them.

You can purchase tickets up to three months in advance, and that is when they are the least expensive.

So plan as far in advance as possible!

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay somewhere between €10 and €65 for a ticket on the Paris to Lille train.

Remember! The earlier you book, the less you’ll pay for your ticket!

At a minimum, try to book a week out from your date of departure.

The sooner the better though! Although I completely understand that is easier said than done if you’re the type of person who doesn’t plan a lot in advance.

You have two options when it comes to purchasing your train tickets:

• Online in advance (recommended)

• In person at the train station

I highly recommend you purchase your tickets online in advance.

Tickets can be purchased through the SNCF website quite easily. Just be sure to pay attention to whether or not you have to print your ticket or if an electronic copy will work.

There will be a little note before you purchase your ticket. It is easy to miss, but it is important information to note!

Your other option is buying your ticket in person at the train station.

You have to purchase the ticket at the departure station, and it can’t be purchased at other train stations in Paris unfortunately.

If you choose to purchase your ticket in person, I suggest going to the station a few days before you leave and buying it in advance.

It is worth the extra effort! Even buying your ticket two or three days in advance can save you some serious coin.

The Paris to Lille train departs from Gare du Nord.

Gare du Nord is the busiest train station in Paris so be sure to arrive a little bit early.

This give you time to navigate through the station and find your departure gate.

You would be surprised at how easy it is to get turned around in Gare du Nord. You don’t want to be sprinting across the station at the last minute trying to catch your train.

There are two stations in Lille where the train arrives at: Lille Europe and Lille Flandres.

The arrival location just depends on the path the Paris to Lille train is taking.

It doesn’t matter what station you arrive at. They are within a 5-minute walk of one another and are both located in downtown Lille.

The arrival station should not be a deciding factor when figuring out what Paris to Lille train to book.

It honestly doesn’t matter one bit!

PS- Heading to Disneyland Paris while in France? This is essential reading!

• Quickest way to travel between the two cities

• Departures and arrives at centrally-located train stations

• Up to 13 trains depart per day

• Significantly more expensive than the bus

• Have to book way in advance to get the best price

• Overhead luggage storage is basically your only option (pack light!)

If the train is a little too rich for your budget, the next best option is taking the bus from Paris to Lille.

It is more affordable than the train, and you don’t need to book your seat as far in advance.

The downside is the bus takes a lot longer than the train!

The journey time on the bus is much more variable than the train.

You always run the risk of getting stuck in a traffic jam and having your bus journey drag on way longer than you anticipated.

On average, the bus from Paris to Lille takes 3 hours and 15 minutes.

That is significantly longer the the train!

The price of a bus ticket doesn’t vary as much as the price of a train ticket.

You also don’t need to buy it months in advance to get the best price, which is a big plus!

You can expect to pay between €10 and €20 for a bus ticket to Lille from Paris.

So, the lowest ticket price is similar to the train, but the most expensive bus ticket is way less expensive than the most expensive train ticket.

You have the same two options when purchasing bus tickets.

You can either purchase them in advance online or buy them at the bus station.

Since you don’t have to worry about buying tickets in advance, you can choose whatever method if the most convenient for you.

If you’re buying them online, I suggest using the website Omio. They tend to have the best prices.

Most buses accept electronic copies of your ticket, so you shouldn’t have to worry about finding a printer while you’re on vacation.

But it is still best to read the fine print when you purchase your ticket!

Buses from Paris to Lille depart from Bercy Seine Station.

The station is about 5km south of The Louvre and Cour Saint Émilion is the closest metro station.

PS- be sure to check this post out to learn all about wifi in France

The bus arrives at Lille Europe.

It is right in the heart of Lille, and you’ll be able to walk pretty much anywhere you need to go from the station!

• Guaranteed luggage storage under the bus

• Convenient arrival location

• Takes three times longer than the train

• Departure station isn’t the most convenient

• Not as many amenities as the train

The final two ways you can travel to Lille from Paris are driving yourself or catching a ride share.

Neither are all that desirable, and I don’t recommend them.

The only time I recommend driving from Paris to Lille is if it is part of a larger road trip around France/Europe.

Otherwise it isn’t worth the hassle of paying to rent a car, driving, parking, and all the other not so fun stuff that goes along with renting a car.

There are ride shares that drive from Paris to Lille, but they are a bit of a risk.

You have no idea whether or not you’ll get along with the other people in the car. Three hours is a long time to be crammed in car with strangers you may or may not get along with.

Plus they tend to cost more than a bus ticket, so there isn’t really an advantage to them.

That’s it. That’s pretty much everything you need to know to plan your trip from Paris to Lille.

Essentially, you have to choose whether you want to take the train or the bus.

Not too difficult of a choice in my eyes. The train is superior choice for me!

If you end up taking the train, be sure to book your ticket as early as humanly possible.

You do not want to end up paying last minute prices when they can easily be avoided.

And don’t forget to get any discounts you’re eligible for.

The French are pretty generous at handing out reduced fares to people, and you don’t want to pay full price for a ticket if you don’t have to.

No matter how you choose to travel from Paris to Lille, the journey is worth it!

Lille is a gorgeous city and is well worth taking the time to explore.

You can visit Lille as a day trip, but spending two or three days there will give you a chance to better understand the city and all of its charm.

Paris is one of the most popular cities in the world and for good reason! It is full of world-class attractions and great food. Paris is also great for solo travellers! But there are a few important things to know before you take a solo trip to Paris.

Taking a solo trip to Paris is a great introduction to solo travel. It is (mostly) safe, English is widely spoken, and it is easy to get around. But that doesn’t mean it is always smooth sailing. Travelling alone in Paris can be overwhelming at times, but if you know the 10 tips in this article, your solo trip to Paris will be nothing short of amazing!

You will learn how to save money in Paris, how to stay safe, and how to avoid the crowds.

It is all important information for any tourist visiting Paris, but it is extra important for people visiting Paris alone.

You are 100% responsible for your and your trip and don’t have anybody to rely on. That’s not a bad thing though! In fact, it is one of my favourite parts of solo travel!

Be sure to give number 6 a good read. It is really important!

PS- you can browse all my solo travel posts here!

This could be generic advice for any city, but it is even more important advice for Paris.

The restaurants around major tourist attractions should be avoided at all costs!

They are painfully overpriced and tend to serve barely edible food (from my experience).

Restaurants around Notre Dame, the Louvre, and especially the Eiffel Tower should be avoided unless you want to pay three times more for a bad meal.

It can be tempting to just pop into the closest restaurant but resist the urge!

You are way better off walking 10 or 15 minutes away from the attraction or eating in the neighbourhood near your accommodation than eating at restaurants near tourist attractions.

I know you’re hungry, tired, and alone in Paris, but grab a quick snack and head over to a more local restaurant.

That’s where you’ll find the French food everybody raves about!

Disclaimer: This is a general statement. I’m sure there are some restaurants next to tourist attractions that are great. These are the exception and not the norm. If you want to dine with a view of that tourist attractions, be sure to research a decent spot beforehand and don’t just show up and pick a restaurant at random.

It pains me to tell you this, but free public wifi in Paris is hard to find.

There isn’t a city-wide public wifi system like there is in Taiwan, so it is up to each individual location to decide whether or not to provide guests with complimentary wifi.

And most places choose not to.

I haven an entire post about wifi in Paris you can read here.

It goes in-depth about where you can find complimentary wifi in Paris and some tips to help you find free wifi.

But just know that if you don’t have a Skyroam or similar product, you will be without wifi for the majority of the time you’re out exploring Paris.

I wish free public wifi was more prevalent in Paris, but we aren’t that lucky (yet).

One of my top goals in the travel-sphere is to bring more awareness to the need to be internet safe when travelling!

You need to protect yourself and your online data/privacy when you use public wifi networks.

Anybody can access public wifi networks (yes even hotel wifi and public wifi networks that are password protected).

While 99.99999% of people who access public wifi networks are average people like you, there are a few people that have bad intentions.

You do not want to leave your online information exposed to people who may want to steal it.

Seriously! You do not want to deal with trying to freeze a bank account while abroad because someone stole your information when you could have easily protected yourself.

The only way to protect yourself when using public wifi networks is to install a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts a forcefield around your devices and cloaks them.

It makes using a public wifi network as safe as using your private home wifi where you’re the only person who knows the password.

There is no excuse for not spending a few dollars a month to protect your online data and privacy with a VPN.

If you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online information!

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs in my day and canceled all but one of them after the first year.

VPNs are notorious for slowing down your phone, tablet, or laptop.

Most VPNs are so slow that I end up turning them off and just using my devices without them. Which, of course, leaves me open to having my information stolen.

That cycle of slow VPNs and frustration ended when I found NordVPN!

It is the fastest VPN on the market, and you barely notice a difference in the speed.

You also have the ability to change your location in the app and make it seem like you’re in a different country. This allows you to access the Netflix library from that country and watch shows and movies you don’t normally have access to!

I honesty love my NordVPN. It is the only VPN I’ve used and actually enjoyed.

Plus the monthly subscription fee is less than that cost of a latte, so there is no excuse not to get one!

Oh. You can also protect up to six devices with a single subscription!

Solo travellers are often targeted by pick pockets, and Paris is known for being a city where pick pocketing is a major issue.

It is so important when you’re alone in Paris to be aware of your surroundings and watch out for potential pick pocketers.

Easier said than done though!

The pick pocketing game has gotten pretty advanced. A lot of the times you don’t even realize that someone is trying to pick pocket you.

And that is where so many people get in trouble.

I’m not saying you have to do anything extreme to protect yourself from potential pick pocketers. Nor am I suggesting that a lot of Parisians are bad.

Pick pocketing happens in every major city. With Paris being such a huge tourist hub, it just makes sense that pick pocketing is increasingly becoming more and more of a problem.

Here are a few quick tips to help you avoid getting pick pocketed:

• Don’t leave money or valuables in a place where they are easy for someone to quickly grab

• Keep your purse (if you have one) as close to the front of your body as possible. If you’re carrying it on your side near your back pocket, it is super easy for people to quickly grab something out of it without you knowing. (Trust me- I’ve had it happen to me before!)

• Don’t keep your cash all in one place. If you have your money in multiple locations, even if you do get pick pocketed, you don’t lose everything.

• Occasionally look behind you. Pick pocketers normally approach from behind. A slight glance back once in a while can deter potential pick pocketers from targeting you.

• Pay attention to signs. A lot of tourist attractions have signs warning you that it is a popular place for pick pocketers to target. When you see one of those signs, be extra cautious and be even more aware.

Again, pick pocketing happens in every city in the world, and this isn’t just an issue in Paris.

You should always be as aware of your surroundings as possible when you travel alone.

But I couldn’t let you plan a solo trip to Paris without warning you about pick pocketing and giving you some tips!

If you’re not keen on standing outside in a long line, then it is in your best interest to purchase attraction tickets online in advance.

I know it takes some of the spontaneity out of your solo trip to Paris, but it is well worth it.

No matter what time of year you visit Paris, the major tourist attractions are always busy, and there is always a line to get in.

I’m not talking about a short line either. You can wait well over an hour even during off-peak times.

Tickets to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Versailles should be purchased in advance.

It is such a nice feeling walking past the long line of people waiting to purchase tickets and get right into the attraction!

During peak season (a.k.a. summer and spring break), you need to purchase your tickets well in advance. Perhaps even up to a month in advance.

You don’t need to plan too far in advance if you’re visiting Paris alone during off-peak season.

3 to 7 days in advance should be sufficient for most tourist attractions, but that isn’t a guarantee.

The earlier you can purchase tickets, the better.

The longer you wait to purchase tickets, the less choice you have. You may not get the time slot you want, but any time slot is better than waiting in the normal line!

I know one of the exciting parts of planning a solo trip to Paris is being adventurous and doing whatever you want.

But I highly recommend buying tickets in advance for the most popular attractions and being as spontaneous as you want the rest of the time.

Also, think how dreadfully boring it would be to stand in a long ticket line alone without another human to chat with!

You might not realize it, but Paris is a fairly walkable city!

I certainly did not realize that the first time I visited Paris and spent too much time and money on the metro when I could have walked places!

You can walk from Notre Dame to the Louvre in less than 20 minutes or from the Eiffel Tower to the Champs-Elysées in less than 25 minutes.

Not many people talk about how walkable Paris is, so most tourists don’t realize they can walk between sights and rarely use the metro if they plan their trip strategically.

I love walking when I travel. It is the perfect way to see different parts of a city that you wouldn’t see if you took public transportation everywhere.

Walking is especially fun when you’re visiting Paris alone!

You can wander as quickly or slowly as you want, stop to take as many photos as you want, and pop into any café that has a delectable pastry you can’t pass up!

So strap on your best walking shoes and plan to walk the city when you’re planning your solo trip to Paris.

One of the best parts of Paris is how beautiful it is!

You never know what you’ll stumble on when you’re walking from one attraction to the next!

I’ve been all over the world and normally feel pretty comfortable walking alone at night. I never feel as comfortable as I do during the day, but most of the time I can find my way home without my heart pumping out of my chest.

There are a few exceptions to that though (including my home city of Edmonton), and, unfortunately, Paris is one of them.

It isn’t that it isn’t safe to walk alone in Paris at night.

You just might feel a little uneasy.

I can’t explain why. It isn’t like the city changes, but it just has an eerie feeling to it when you’re not a local.

But tourists can often feel more on alert than normal when walking in Paris when it is dark. Keep your wits about you, keep your head on a swivel, and you should be safe.

Just be sure to avoid dark alleys. 😉

I’ve talked to a lot of other travellers who have had the same experience.

I’m by no means trying to deter you from being out at night and having the solo trip to Paris of your dreams.

The night might just be the time to hop on the metro to get home rather than walking.

Paris is a walkable city, but you’ll still be using the metro system.

It is unavoidable!

The metro in Paris is decently priced and certainly more affordable than London!

But there is still a way to save a little money and time!

I recommend you picking up a Carnet when in Paris. It is a book of ten metro tickets that can be used inside central Paris.

The book lowers the cost of each ticket, so you save some money!

It also saves you a lot of time!

You don’t have to stand in line at a ticket counter or machine to purchase a ticket every time you use the metro.

That is annoying, and the ticket lines can be painfully long. Especially during rush hour or during peak tourist times!

Grab a Carnet the first time you use the metro and just pull a ticket out of the book every time you hop on the metro.

This is a lesser known tip, but it can be a life saver.

I also think this is a fun tip people visiting Paris alone. Sometimes the times notice that they’re travelling alone the most are quiet moments like buying a metro ticket.

You’re waiting in a line and don’t have anyone to talk to, and it can feel a bit uncomfortable or awkward at times.

Purchasing your metro tickets in bulk totally eliminates that possibility, and I think that’s pretty cool!

Plus it means you have a better chance of catching that train before it leaves and not have to wait for the next one! 😉

PS- if you want to learn more about using the Paris metro system, check out this post. It goes into depth about some of the peculiarities of the system you need to know!

You can navigate Paris pretty well with just a credit card, but you should still have some cash on hand.

It is a safety precaution in the event your credit card is stolen or your bank has to freeze your account.

It also comes in very handy when making small purchases.

Some street food vendors don’t even accept credit cards, and it would be a shame to miss out on a Crêpe just because you didn’t have a little cash on hand.

I like to exchange some money before I arrive in Europe. I don’t have to hunt for an ATM, and I don’t have to risk paying high ATM fees.

France uses the Euro, so even if you don’t use all the cash you bring to Paris, there is ample opportunity to keep it and use it next time you’re in Europe!

How much cash you should have depends on how long you solo trip to Paris is, your spending habits, and how much you intend to use your credit card.

Don’t forget about the currency conversion and potential pesky foreign transaction fees! It may be beneficial to rely more on cash than cards while in Paris.

I recommend having no less than €50 cash when you visit Paris.

And because you’re travelling to Paris alone, you probably want to have even more cash than that!

You are, again, 100% responsible for everything.

If you lose your bank card, it is on you to figure out how to survive. Since the Euro is so widely accepted, it doesn’t hurt to have a little more cash than you think you need!

It is so important to take the time and take a day trip from Paris.

Paris is such a small part of France, and it is a shame if you don’t get to see a different part of the country. Even if it is only an hour outside of Paris!

Some people (especially if they’re new to solo travel) may find it intimidating to take a day trip outside Paris.

You have to pick a place, figure out how to get there, find your way around once you arrive, and get yourself back to Paris.

It can seem like a lot of work and effort!

But it is so worth it!

I recommend Giverny, Versailles, or Strasbourg if you want to get a taste of a different aspect of French culture.

If you’re a big kid like me, you may want to check out Disneyland Paris! I even have an entire post on visiting Disney alone you may want to check out.

PS- Be sure to check out my library of posts on Disneyland Paris to help you plan the perfect trip!

No matter where you choose to go, I highly, highly, highly recommend you take a day trip outside of Paris.

You get to see a nice part of France and build up and exercise those solo travel skills!

One of the worst parts about solo travel is that you’re 100% responsible for every expense.

You don’t have a travel buddy to split the cost of accommodation with, and that is honestly one of the most painful parts of travelling alone in Paris.

Paris is a popular city in Western Europe, so it makes sense that accommodation isn’t inexpensive.

But it still hurts!

It can be difficult to find decent budget-friendly accommodation in central Paris when planning a solo trip to Paris.

Hostels are an option, but they will still run you about €50 a night for someplace worth staying. Plus not everybody (me included) enjoy staying in hostels.

I don’t really have any tips to help you out with this one. I just want to make you aware before you commit to a solo trip to Paris that accommodation will eat up a large portion of your budget.

While I don’t have any tips to help you save money on your accommodation, I will say that I think it is worth spending an appropriate amount of money on your accommodation.

Accommodation is not the place to cheap out!

I think it is worthwhile spending a little bit more on a room in a safe area in central Paris.

You don’t want to stay in the suburbs and spend over an hour every morning and evening commuting to and from the city.

You also don’t want to pick the cheapest place in central Paris.

It pays to spend some extra money per night to feel safe and comfortable.

There is hardly anything worse than staying in a place you don’t feel comfortable or safe. It destroys your sleep and raises your anxiety.

Trust me. I’ve cheaped out on too many accommodations over the years. Learn from my experience and book a place to stay that is in a decent area and you think looks safe.

I personally use Hotels.com to book 90% of my hotels/hostels.

They have a great rewards program that gives you a free night’s stay after staying 10 nights at hotels you book through their website.

Hotels.com also has a great search function and competitive prices.

I find it easy to use. Even if you only use it to browse for hotels and book on another site, I think they make searching for hotels super easy.

Paris is a fantastic city.

Travelling to Paris alone is very easy, and you don’t need to be an experienced solo traveller to plan a solo trip to Paris and have a good time!

English is widely spoken, it is easy to get around, and the only trouble you’re likely to run into is some petty crime.

But you know how to protect yourself from that now!

If you’re thinking about planning a solo trip to Paris and just aren’t quite sure yet, I hope this post helped you decide whether or not Paris is the right choice for your solo trip.

I think it is a great European destination for solo travel!

If you decide against Paris, you may want to check out this post on the top countries in Europe for solo travel.

I think you’ll have an amazing solo trip to Paris if you take the leap and book that trip!

Strasbourg is one of the best cities in France and shouldn’t be missed. The good new is that it is super easy to travel fro Paris to Strasbourg.

The bad new is that it can be quite expensive- especially if you don’t book your ticket in advance!

You can travel from Paris to Strasbourg by train, bus, car, or ride share, but the only realistic way for a tourist to travel from Paris to Strasbourg is by train. It takes over 5.5 hours to drive from Paris to Strasbourg. The Paris to Strasbourg train takes less than 2 hours. The train from Paris to Strasbourg is slightly more expensive than the bus or a ride share, but it is worth the extra money to arrive in Strasbourg quickly!

In this post, we’re going to discuss all the different ways to travel to Strasbourg from Paris, so you can figure out what transportation method is the best for you.

But it will most likely be the train!

PS- you have to take the metro to the train station, so check out this post to learn all my secret tips on using the Paris metro like a local!

It isn’t even a discussion.

The best way to travel from Paris to Strasbourg is to take the train!

It is the quickest way to travel between the two cities and is the only real viable option for tourists. Especially if you’re taking a day trip to Strasbourg.

I’m not going to sugar coat it.

The Paris to Strasbourg train can be expensive, but we’ll discuss the best way to lower your ticket cost a little bit later.

The price is worth the convenience the train provides!

There is always some variability in the length of your train journey.

It depends on what time of day and how busy the train lines are.

On average, the train from Paris to Strasbourg takes just under 2 hours!

That’s significantly faster than any other mode of transportation!

There is a lot of fluctuation when it comes to how much a train ticket from Paris to Strasbourg costs.

Tickets range anywhere from €16 to €230. That is approximately $19USD to $275USD.

That’s a huge price difference!

You don’t want to get stuck paying a fare closer to the higher end of that range.

There are a number of things that impact the price of your ticket:

• How far in advance you book your ticket. The earlier you purchase your ticket, the cheaper it is.

• What time of day you depart. It is always cheaper to travel during off-peak times.

• What day of the week you travel. Weekends are more expensive than weekdays.

• Your age. France has discounted train fare for people under 26 and older than 60.

• What class you travel in. Second class is much more affordable than first class.

Out of all of the factors, the most important one is booking your ticket early!

You can book your train ticket 3 months in advance.

The closer you are to the date of departure, the more expensive the ticket is. Even if there is still lots of seat available, the ticket price continues to rise as the date nears.

It requires some advance planning, but it is well worth planning and knowing when you’re travelling from Paris to Strasbourg as close to three months in advance as possible.

I like to wing my trips a fair amount, but I’m 100% down to plan in advance if it saves me a lot of money!

The last time I booked a train ticket to Strasbourg from Charles de Gaulle Airport, it was around €40, and I booked it almost exactly three months in advance.

And then reluctantly had to cancel it because of COVID-19. 🙁

You can either purchase your ticket online in advance or at the train station.

I highly recommend purchasing your ticket online in advance. It will save you a lot of money!

You can easily book your train ticket through the SNCF website.

The website is super easy to use, have an English option, and accepts foreign credit cards.

One thing to note is you do need to print your ticket and have a paper copy to show the ticket checker onboard.

The other option is to purchase your ticket at the train station.

You can either purchase it a few days in advance at the station or purchase your train ticket on the day you departure.

Look out for the yellow SNCF ticket booth.

That’s where you purchase the train ticket from Paris to Strasbourg. You can also purchase it from a ticket booth employee, but, in my experience, there is always a long line to purchase your tickets from an actual human being.

Using the ticket booth is a much simpler option!

But buying your ticket online in advance is the best option by far!

You can jump on the Paris to Strasbourg train from either:

Both are convenient, and it is really a matter of what is the best station for you. Most people depart from Paris Est, but some people arrive at Charles de Gaulle and go directly to Strasbourg.

The train arrives at Strasbourg Station.

It is the only train station in Strasbourg, and it is located in the city centre!

• Fastest way to travel from Paris to Strasbourg

• Train departs and arrives in central areas

• Have to book months in advance to get a decent price

• Have to have a physical ticket (electronic tickets not accepted)

The next best option is taking the bus from Paris to Strasbourg.

It is a distant second place but second place nonetheless.

I don’t really see a reason to take the bus to Strasbourg from Paris unless you have a lot of time on your hands and are on a very tight budget.

This hurts to tell you.

On average, it takes 8.5 hours to travel the 491km from Paris to Strasbourg.

Ouch, right!

That’s three hours longer than it takes to drive straight to Strasbourg from Paris. It is a painful journey.

The journey time is the reason I don’t recommend taking the bus between these two cities.

It isn’t that much cheaper, and it is actually more expensive than the train when you factor in what your time is worth!

The bus ticket isn’t as inexpensive as you may think!

I kind of expect such a long journey that takes four times as long as the train to come at a discounted price, but it doesn’t really.

Of course the price of a bus ticket fluctuates based on what time of day you leave and what day of the week it is.

On average, a bus ticket costs €21 (approximately $25USD).

That is actually more expensive than the cheapest train ticket! It is, however, about €20 less than the average price of a train ticket.

Let’s be honest though. Those six extra hours you’re on the bus is worth a whole lot more than €20!

Just like the train, you can purchase your bus tickets either in advance online or in person on the day of departure.

There is no price advantage to purchasing your bus ticket online in advance like there is with the train.

If it were me, I would just pick up my ticket at the station the day I leave. Just make sure you leave extra time in case there is a line for tickets!

The best place to purchase bus tickets online in advance is through Omio. They historically have the best ticket prices around!

Most buses accept an electronic version of your ticket, so that is a nice change from the train. You’re good to go as long as you have a screenshot or email with the ticket code on it!

The bus from Paris to Strasbourg departs from Quai de Bercy.

It is located right along the Seine about 5km south of the Louvre.

PS- be sure to check out my post about the wifi situation in Paris!

The closest metro station to Quai de Bercy is Cour Saint Émilion, and it is only a couple blocks away from the bus station.

The bus arrives at Place de l’Étoile in Strasbourg.

It is very central and is less than 200m from the train station!

• Don’t have to purchase tickets in advance

• Can present an electronic ticket

• Dedicated luggage storage under the bus

• Not much cheaper than the train

• Departure station in Paris less central than Paris Est

I’m not going to chit chat about these last two options in too much detail.

They are by far the least used options, and I don’t think many of my readers will see them as the best option for them.

But a few of you may, so I want to give you all the information!

The third best way to travel from Paris to Strasbourg is to participate in a ride share.

You can connect with other people ride sharing through Carpool World. It connects passengers and drivers who want to ride share, save on gas, and help the environement!

It is difficult to give you an exact price for ride sharing from Paris to Strasbourg. There are just too many variables.

The biggest thing that changes the price is how many people are participating in the ride share. The more people that share a ride, the less expensive it will be!

If you drive straight from Paris to Strasbourg without stopping, it will take about five hours to make the journey to Strasbourg from Paris.

I think participating in a ride share is a good option for people who are free spirited and up for an adventure.

You’ll probably meet some very interesting people when you participate in a ride share!

Your final option is to rent a car and drive from Paris to Strasbourg.

I don’t recommend this option unless it is part of a larger road trip around France or Europe.

It simply isn’t worth the expense or stress of driving from Paris to Strasbourg when you can take the train.

Kick back, relax, and enjoy the scenery from the window of a train!

If you do choose to drive from Paris to Strasbourg, it will take about 5 hours. Most people who road trip aren’t driving almost 500km without stopping.

I highly recommend you take your time and stop at some small towns along the way to get a sense of what life outside of a big city in France is like!

Pro tip: before spending an arm and a leg on car insurance, make sure you look into what insurances your credit card has. Most travel credit cards come with extensive car insurance, so you don’t have to pay for the expensive insurance car rental companies try to sell you!

As you can see, there are a number of different ways to travel from Paris to Strasbourg.

But!

There is only one realistic and viable way, and that is taking the Paris to Strasbourg train.

It is the quickest way to travel to Strasbourg from Paris by a long shot! The next quickest option is about three hours longer than the train!

You could literally travel from Paris to Strasbourg and Strasbourg to Paris and still have an hour to kill before someone driving arrived!

I think you should most definitely visit Strasbourg. I always recommend for people to get out of Paris and see more of France.

PS- be sure to read my post on the best day trips from Paris!

Meeting Disneyland Paris characters is similar to meeting characters at Disneyland California or Disney World, but there are few unique things you need to know about meeting Disneyland Paris characters in order to have a great experience.

Knowing the 10 things on this list will help you have an amazing experience meeting Disneyland Paris characters and leave the park with magical memories.

I’ll even help you track down some ultra rare characters!

Buckle in and get ready to become an expert on Disneyland Paris characters!

And be sure to share this article with all of Disnerd friends by using the social share buttons on the top and side bars!

PS- Be sure to check out my Disneyland Paris tips and tricks post to help you plan a magical day in DLP!

This is a huge difference from Disney World and Disneyland!

You cannot get a fastpass to meet any of the Disneyland Paris characters.

You have to stand in line to meet every single character that meets and greets guests at Disneyland Paris. Even the most popular characters that can have a line that is over an hour long!

Meeting Disneyland Paris characters can be a time suck because of this!

Not only can you not get a fastpass to meet characters in Disneyland Paris, but the long lines can make it difficult to plan your day around meeting them and using your fastpasses for other attractions.

The fastpass system in Disneyland Paris is a bit tricky and has some oddities that no other Disney park has.

I have a complete post about Disneyland Paris fastpasses here. Give it a read because you need to know this information in order to plan meeting characters around using your fastpasses!

The fact that Disneyland Paris characters do not offer a fastpass option means you need to have a strategy in place for your visit to Disneyland Paris if you want to meet characters.

Having a strategy will help you see and do everything you want without feeling stressed or out of time.

The other 9 tips in this list will give you the information you need to prepare a strategy for meeting Disneyland Paris characters!

This has to be the most frustrating part of Disneyland Paris not offering fastpass for character meet and greets.

Everybody wants to meet Mickey, but the line is always over an hour long!

You have to tough it out and stand in a long, slow-moving line just to meet the mouse himself.

I’ve never had the patience to stand in the queue to meet Mickey at Disneyland Paris, which is a shame. The last time I was at Disneyland Paris, the line was almost 2 hours long to meet him!

It is a shame that they have designed it this way. It forces people to choose whether they want to meet Mickey or go on rides.

And on top of that, you need to make sure you have enough time to wait to meet Mickey between everything else you have planned for the day.

It can be surprisingly difficult to find the time to meet Mickey. Between parades, dining reservations, fastpasses, and shows, there aren’t that many opportunities in a day to wait over an hour to meet Mickey Mouse.

First thing in the morning and last thing in the evening are the best times to meet Mickey Mouse.

The line will still be long, but it will be shorter than any other time of day.

You may only have to wait 30 to 45 minutes!

If it is important to you to meet Mickey, carve out a dedicated chunk of time in your Disneyland Paris itinerary. Don’t plan anything else during that time and patiently wait in line to meet him.

He meets with guests pretty much from park open to park close, so you can plan to meet him whenever works best for you.

I’m going to let you in on a secret, but you have to promise not to tell anymore.

Disneyland Paris is one of those parks that lets guests in before the park officially opens. This helps get guests into the park and prevents people from getting grumpy and restless in line.

A few other parks do this (like Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), but only Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris let you meet with characters before the park opens!

Disneyland Paris often lets guests into the park half an hour before the park officially opens. This is the best time to meet Disneyland Paris characters.

You can only meet characters that are at the front of the park along Main Street U.S.A., but there are normally 3 or 4 characters ready to meet guests!

Most often they are Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy, but sometimes there are other characters.

I always get to Disneyland Paris early and meet the characters hanging out in the front before the park officially opens.

It is the best and quickest way to meet Disneyland Paris characters. You can knock two or three characters out before the park even opens!

The, obvious, downside to this is that you don’t get to choose what characters you meet.

You have to be happy with whatever characters are out and about on the day you’re visiting.

The other advantage to meeting characters before the park opens is it puts you in a great position to ride a few rides with no wait.

You’re already in the park before it opens, so you can be at the entrance to whatever land you want to visit first right at park open.

This basically ensures you walk right onto at least one popular attraction, and you can often ride two or three attractions with basically no wait!

It is a fantastic strategy!

You meet some awesome characters and then ride a few rides with little to no wait time.

It is worthwhile to get up early!

PS- check out my Disneyland Paris attractions guide to figure out what you want to ride!

The Disneyland Paris app will be your best friend!

It lets you check real-time wait times for attractions and lets you check the character schedule.

The app is more useful than the park map because it tells you when characters are meeting out and about and not in official locations. The park map tells you about Mickey mouse, the princesses, and sometimes when characters meet on Main Street U.S.A.

On the app, you can find out if characters are meeting in different locations around the park.

You can see if there are characters meeting in Fantasyland, Frontierland, and more specifics about what characters are meeting on Main Street U.S.A. and when.

The app is so much more useful than paper maps, so be sure you have the app downloaded on your phone before you arrive at Disneyland Paris!

The one thing the app is lacking is providing wait times for characters outside of Mickey Mouse and the Star Wars characters.

Since the characters that meet in unofficial locations don’t have a place to track wait times and rely on cast members to cut the line off when it is full, there is no current way for the app to track a wait time for these characters.

Hopefully that technology comes in the future!

The wifi at Disneyland Paris has become infinitely better in recent years!

The first time I visited Disneyland Paris, you had to pay to use their wifi, so most guests didn’t have access to wifi while at the parks.

Thankfully, Disneyland Paris has a much better wifi system now! They had to revamp it and make it available to all guests once they launched the Disneyland Paris app.

Everybody who visits Disneyland Paris can access their free wifi system.

It is pretty quick and has decent coverage considering how many people use it throughout the day. Disneyland Paris wifi isn’t perfect, and it can be spotty, but it is much better than the wifi at other Disney parks around the world. (I’m looking at you Disneyland California!)

You don’t need a password and connect to the wifi once you’re in the park.

It is available in both Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios, but you, unfortunately, cannot connect to it in Disney Village.

Hopefully that changes in the future though!

One of the major downsides to the wifi at Disneyland Paris is that it is a public network. It has to be, but there are risks associated with connecting to a public network.

Especially a public network that is used by so many people per day and anyone can access since there is no password required!

It is important wherever you travel to have a VPN installed on your phone, tablet, and laptop to protect your online data and privacy.

It becomes even more important to have a VPN on your phone when you’re connecting to a huge public wifi network like the Disneyland Paris wifi system.

You never know who is trying to spy on your online data and potentially steal your information.

You don’t want to deal with the nightmare of trying to call your bank and lock all your credit and debit card because you didn’t protect your online information and someone stole your banking information.

A VPN is the only way to protect your online data and privacy when using a public wifi network!

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs over my years of travel, and NordVPN is the only one I’ve actually liked.

VPNs are notorious for slowing down your wifi connection and making you want to cry out in frustration because it takes five minutes to open a webpage.

You don’t have that problem with NordVPN.

It is known for its high-speed connection and not slowing down your devices when you have your VPN turned on.

I can confirm that it is quick. It is by far the quickest VPN I’ve ever used, and it makes using a VPN when travelling so much more enjoyable!

You can protect up to six devices with one NordVPN subscription!

It is so nice to be able to protect all your devices with one account and not have to worry about choosing what devices you want to protect or having to purchase another VPN subscription.

My favourite feature is being able to cloak my location!

If you’re in a country that doesn’t yet offer Disney+, you can change your location in the NordVPN app to make it look like you’re in a country that does offer Disney+.

You can then log into your account and binge all your favourite Disney shows to get in the Disneyland Paris mood!

NordVPN offers sales almost all year ’round, so there is no excuse not to protect your online data!

It is super affordable. Your monthly subscription costs less than one Starbucks latte!

How can you say no to that?!

Click here to get your NordVPN subscription

This is one of the most surprising tidbits about Disneyland Paris characters.

Star Wars is popular is one of the most popular movie franchises in the world, but meeting the Star Wars characters isn’t a popular thing to do in Disneyland Paris.

You can walk up to meet Darth Vader or Chewbacca pretty much any time of day and not have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes!

This is amazing!

It gives you the chance to meet super popular characters without the wait! In the US parks, you can expect to wait about 45 minutes to meet Star Wars characters.

Not in Disneyland Paris!

The Star Wars characters are some of the best Disneyland Paris characters to meet if you only have one day in the park.

It doesn’t take a lot of time out of your day, and you leave with a super fun character interaction!

I’m not sure why the Star Wars characters aren’t that popular at Disneyland Paris, but I’m not complaining about it!

PS- check out my Disneyland Paris packing list to make sure you have everything you need for your trip!

One of the perks of staying at a Disneyland Paris hotel is getting VIP access to characters.

Every morning (and sometimes throughout the day) there are characters in the lobby ready to meet with guests.

You never know what characters will be there to meet you, but they tend to be similar to the characters you meet on Main Street U.S.A. in the morning. Pluto, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy.

But you never know who will show up!

Sometimes the Toy Story characters show up to greet guests! That’s always fun because Woody and Jessie have an incredibly long line in the parks to meet them!

Getting up early and meeting a few characters before you leave for the parks is a great way to check a few things off the to-do list without sacrificing other activities.

You really can have your cake and eat it too if you’re staying at a Disneyland Paris hotel!

It doesn’t take much investigating to realize that booking a hotel directly through the Disneyland Paris website is more of a hassle than it should be!

You can only book a hotel package through the Disneyland Paris, which is annoying if all you want is a hotel room.

The package includes the hotel room, tickets, and a dining package.

There is no way to book just a hotel room on the Disneyland Paris website!

You can call and try to book just a hotel room, but they don’t always let you. Plus there isn’t a toll-free phone number, and there are hefty long distance charges if you don’t live in France.

Trust me I know from experience! I spent a lot of money on a phone call to Disneyland Paris to pre-book a dining experience a few years back!

There is, thankfully, an easier way to book just a Disneyland Paris hotel.

I always use Hotels.com when I book a Disneyland Paris hotel.

You can book a single hotel room through Hotels.com and side step the need to book a package deal. Because, frankly, they aren’t really the best deal.

I like booking my Disneyland Paris hotel through Hotels.com because they allow you free cancellation up until the day before check-in, and you receive all the special benefits (like an extra fastpass) that hotel guests who booked directly with Disneyland Paris get.

You also earn nights towards your free night certificate, which is a huge bonus.

You get a free night’s stay certificate after you spend 10 nights in any Hotels.com property.

The value of your free night is the median cost of the 10 nights you stayed to earn the certificate, so staying at a Disneyland Paris hotel really boosts up the value of the free night you get!

Hotels.com is the perfect way to get around Disneyland Paris’ weird desire for every hotel guest to buy a package while still getting all the perks of staying on Disney property.

With the added bonus of earning towards a free night in a hotel!

A character dining experience is one of the best ways to meet Disneyland Paris characters.

It helps you plan your day, cuts down on the wait time to meet characters, and you get a decent meal out of it too.

There are four different place you can dine with characters:

• Plaza Gardens in Disneyland Paris (breakfast) to meet Pooh and friends

• Auberge de Cendrillon in Disneyland Paris (lunch and dinner) to meet princesses

• Inventions in Disneyland Paris Hotel (lunch and dinner) to meet surprises characters that are always changing

• Café Mickey in Disney Village (lunch and dinner) to meet Mickey and friends

Character dining is hugely popular, so you need to make reservations in advance.

You can reserve your table up to two months in advance, and, as of November of 2020, you can only make your reservation over the phone. You can’t make an online dining reservation at this point in time. Unfortunately.

Character dining is great for groups with children who may not want to stand in a long line to meet Disneyland Paris characters.

Character dining lets you get in and out with little to no fuss. The kids love it, and the adults get a little bit of a breather.

It is a win-win in that scenario.

On the surface, character dining may seem like the perfect way to meet Disneyland Paris characters, but there are a couple of downsides to it.

Character dining is not cheap.

The price of an adult ranges from €35 to €77 for a meal!

Yikes.

One meal can cut a rather large hole in your Disneyland Paris budget, so you need to consider whether or not it is the right financial decision for you and your group.

There are a lot of other ways you can spend that money.

On the other hand, money may not be an issue, and you’re happy to shell out that type of money for the convenience of meeting characters quickly and easily.

It depends on you and your Disney travel style.

I’ve done a number of character dining experiences. Sometimes I feel like they are worth the money and sometimes I don’t.

It just depends what you want out of your Disney trip.

But you’ve been warned, and now it is up to you to decide if character dining is worth the money or not.

One of my biggest pet peeves about character dining at every Disney park is that there is no character attendant that can help you get a photo.

Somebody in your group needs to take the photo, so it is difficult to get a group shot at character dining experiences.

You can ask someone at a nearby table to take a photo for you, but that gets old really quickly and becomes rude. That person wants to enjoy their meal as well and doesn’t want to get up and down and take photos for you.

It is unavoidable that the background of your photo is going to be terrible.

There will be tables, other people, and a bunch of other unsightly things in the background of your photos.

A character dining experience is not the place to go if you’re looking for the perfect Instagram photo of your time at Disneyland Paris.

It all comes down to how you want your Disneyland Paris trip to look.

If you want to meet a bunch of characters without waiting in long lines and money isn’t an issue, character dining may be perfect for you.

If you want a more professional-looking photograph and backdrop and don’t mind waiting in a long line, then you may want to skip character dining.

There is no right option.

There are a lot of rare characters at Disneyland Paris!

Some of them only come out during special events, and some of them can be found all year ’round.

One of my favourite rare Disneyland Paris characters is the White Rabbit. He hangs out in Fantasyland almost everyday, and it is a really special character to meet.

I’ve been to a lot of Disney parks, and Disneyland Paris is the only park I’ve seen White Rabbit meeting guests.

The Chesire Cat is more difficult to find, but if you’re really, really lucky, you might get to meet him too!

Marie from The Artistocats meets guests quite frequently. She isn’t out and about every day, but you can catch her once a week or so if you’re lucky.

Her brothers Berlioz and Toulouse (my personal favourite) only meet guests during the Christmas season, so they are much more difficult to find.

The best chance you have of meeting the Aristocats brothers is booking a Sunday brunch at Inventions. That is where they are most often seen during the winter months.

No guarantee though!

During the Halloween season, Huey, Dewey, and Louie tend to be out and about in Disneyland Paris. They sometimes meet with guests at the front of the park. If you see them, jump in line!

They’re super rare. The only other place I’ve seen them is in Tokyo DisneySea.

Another amazing rare character that you can sometimes meet in Disneyland Paris is Monseigneur Claude Follo the villain in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

There is a super secret place Frollo hangs out.

It is on the back side of the castle. If you’re at the back of the castle, on the very right-hand side beside the dragon’s cellar, there is a door where characters come in and out of.

This is the best place to spot most characters and the only place you can meet Frollo.

He is super hard to come by, but you may just get lucky enough to see him! I’ve never been so lucky, so please send me photos if you get to meet him!

All things considered, you can meet some pretty rare characters you won’t find in other Disney parks around the world.

In most Disney parks around the world there are characters that roam around certain land throughout the day.

Normally you can see Peter Pan and Captain Hook chasing each other or Alice and the Queen of Hearts interacting, but that isn’t the case in Disneyland Paris.

Characters stay in their location, and there is no interacting with other characters or moving around the land in a semi-performance basis.

This is nice because guests know where and when they can meet Disneyland Paris characters, but it also take a bit of the fun out of it.

It is fun to randomly pass by characters and see them interacting with one another. It adds to the magic of a Disney park.

So you don’t need to have your camera ready to go at any moment in case you see a fun character interaction.

Photopass is one of my favourite add on when I visited Disneyland or Disney World, but you shouldn’t splurge and get it at Disneyland Paris.

Disneyland Paris’ photopass costs €60 if you purchase it in advance and €70 if you purchase it at the park.

The problem is that there aren’t nearly at many photo locations or photographers around the park.

It is really difficult to get your money’s worth with the Disneyland Paris photopass.

It is more cost effective to use your own camera or purchase a single photo that you’re in love with.

I personally don’t see the value in the Disneyland Paris photopass.

Character attendants are more than happy to take a photo of you and the character with your camera.

This is the best way to get a photo with Disneyland Paris characters.

It costs you nothing, but you still have a great memory to take home with you!

Clearly, there is a lot of information you should know about meeting Disneyland Paris characters.

My best piece of advice is be patient, expect to wait in long lines, and have a strategy.

The character system at Disneyland Paris is far from perfect.

They need to introduce a fastpass option for Mickey Mouse and make it so people don’t have to make the hard decision between standing in line for an hour to meet a character or riding an attraction.

There are definite improvements that need to be made, and, hopefully, they make them in the coming years!

But until that time, stay strong and go in search of those ultra rare characters!

Normally, I would end this post by asking you to say hi to Mickey for me, but I’m not going to ask you to stay in line for that long!

But I will ask you to enjoy your time at Disneyland Paris!

It is an amazing park. I think it is underrated and doesn’t get as much love in the Disney community as it should.

Paris is the second most visited city in Europe. It is an amazing city, and if you want to send your friends and family back home photos of your trip, you’ll need to learn about wifi in Paris.

In this article, you’ll learn about public wifi in Paris (spoiler: it isn’t great!), where to find free public wifi, how to keep your online data safe, and a few alternatives to relying on free wifi in Paris.

You’ll be posting Instagram photos from Paris in no time once you’re done reading this article!

It is important to know before you arrive in Paris that free public wifi in Paris isn’t as easy to find as you may think. It is mostly available in train stations, at cafes, and at some tourist attractions.

While finding reliable free public wifi in Paris isn’t always easy, it is significantly easier to find than reliable wifi in London.

But don’t worry!

You’ll be a pro at tracking down free wifi in Paris by the end of this post!

Or you’ll know how to bypass relying on free wifi and have wifi at your fingers tips no matter where you are!

Either way, you’ll be making your friends back home jealous of your trip in no time!

If you know where to look, there is a pretty good chance you’ll be able to find free public wifi in Paris fairly easily.

The wifi can be a bit hard to track down, but if you’re an expert (which you are since you’re reading this post!), you know where to look and how to find it even if it seems that there isn’t any wifi in the area.

One thing I want to caution you about before we discuss how to find Paris wifi is internet safety.

There is a big section dedicated to internet safety at the end of this point, but I want to stress that it is essential that you protect your online data.

The best way to do this is through installing a VPN on your phone, tablet, and laptop.

This stops prying eyes from being able to access your online activity and steal your information.

Every time I visit Paris more and more tourist attractions offer guests complimentary wifi.

It is hard to believe that the first time I visited Disneyland Paris there was no free internet for guests to use, and you had to pay for it!

Now you can find complimentary wifi at most of Paris’ famous landmarks.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but here are a few of the tourist attractions that offer guests free wifi:

• The Louvre (not everywhere in the museum has free wifi, but there are wifi hotspots throughout that you can access)

There is a pretty good chance that if you’re at a tourist attraction, there will be wifi (or at least wifi hotspots in certain areas).

It is really helpful for tourists, and I think we will see more and more cities move in this direction in the future.

It also allows museums to ask guests to download audioguides rather than provide headsets, so they’re saving money as well!

PS- If you’re visiting Disneyland Paris, be sure to check out my DLP tips and tricks article. It’ll help you plan the perfect Disney day!

The next most obvious place to find free wifi in Paris is at restaurants and cafés.

Plus you’re definitely going to want to spend some time enjoying the best food Paris has to offer. It’s a win-win!

It is pretty common for restaurants to offer free wifi, but some local mom and pop restaurants don’t.

There should be a sticker on the door letting you know whether or not they offer free wifi.

But just because there is a sticker saying they offer free wifi doesn’t always mean it is accurate. There are a number of instances where they say they offer wifi and then you can’t connect.

You may not be able to access the wifi because you need to be a customer of the company providing the wifi or because the wifi is simply spotty.

Either way, just accept that you may not be able to connect to the wifi and enjoy your delicious meal no matter what happens.

But!

There are certain restaurants and cafés that you can be pretty confident have reliable free wifi you can connect to.

They include:

• Restaurants and cafés connected to hotels

• Restaurants and cafés really close to the most popular tourist attractions

Free wifi is fairly common in restaurants in Paris.

More often than not, the restaurant you’re eating at will have wifi you can connect to.

This is amazing!

Especially considering so many Western European cities don’t have as much free wifi available as Paris.

It is by no means perfect or extensive, but it is better than a lot of other cities in the region.

Hotels and Airbnbs are without a doubt the most reliable places to access free wifi in Paris.

Nearly every hotel on the planet offers complimentary wifi to its guests!

The obvious limitation to this is that you can only access it when your’e in the hotel. This makes it difficult to access wifi for the majority of the day when you’re out exploring Paris.

It has its limitations, but it also has its benefits.

You can use the hotel wifi to download certain apps offline that you may need to access during the day. Google Maps is the most obvious one you’ll want to download and be able to access offline.

You can also download the metro map, so you don’t get lost travelling around Paris.

PS- be sure to check out my Paris metro guide to help you navigate public transportation like a local!

They aren’t perfect, but hotels are a great way to access free wifi in Paris.

But please do be careful!

Even though they seem safe and secure because there is a password on the wifi, they are still considered public wifi.

This means you’re at risk of being hacked and having your data stolen.

Please be sure to protect yourself by installing a VPN on all of your devices even if the only internet you’re connecting to in Paris is the hotel wifi.

Renting pocket wifi in Paris is the way to go if you need reliable access to wifi on a regular basis. Pocket wifi gives you access to high-speed internet 24/7 no matter where you are.

The major downfall to renting pocket wifi is that it can be fairly expensive.

My preferred pocket wifi rental company in France in Hippocket Wifi. They have the best prices and are the easiest to pick up and drop off.

It costs anywhere from €4 to €9 per day to rent pocket wifi in Paris.

The longer you rent the device for the lower the per day cost it. The amount of data you need also impacts the price. You can get a plan that is less expensive, but you only get access to 1GB of data per day. The other plan gives you unlimited data, but it is more expensive.

You need to crunch the numbers and figure out which plan fits your needs best.

It is super easy to rent pocket wifi in Paris!

The most important thing you need to know is that you have to reserve your pocket wifi before you arrive in Paris.

You rent the pocket wifi through the Hippocket Wifi website and pay for it before you arrive in Paris.

The rental process is super easy.

All you have to do is enter your personal information, the dates you want to rent the device for, where you’re going to pick it up, and pre-pay for the device rental.

You have four options to collect your pocket wifi:

• Pick it up at CDG or Orly airports

• Have it delivered to your hotel or Airbnb

• Get the pocket wifi mailed to you at your home before you leave for Paris

• Pick it up at a partner post office or partner store pick-up location

I think picking it up at the airport is the easiest option.

I had a bad experience having a pocket wifi device delivered to the hotel I was staying at one time I was visiting Tokyo Disney Resort and have trust issues now.

I’m also wary about mailing the pocket wifi device overseas (if you live outside of Europe). There are so many variables that could lead to you not getting your device in time. You have no control over any mail or customs delays.

And going to a post office or partner store seems like a bit of an inconvenience.

So I recommend picking your pocket wifi up at the airport if you’re flying into Paris.

You’re going to be there anyways, so you may as well kill two birds with on stone.

The way you return you pocket wifi in Paris is quite interesting and unconventional.

You only have the option of mailing the device back. You don’t have the option of returning it in-person at the airport.

This is quite odd because basically every other pocket wifi rental company in the world allows you to return the device in person at the airport.

Here are your return options and costs:

• Mailing it from France: Free

• Mailing it from anywhere else in Europe: €9 fee for the envelope

• Mailing it from USA: €15 fee for the envelope

• Mailing it from anywhere else in the world: At your own expense (asked to pay for tracking). This gets quite expensive!

The most obvious and easiest return method is returning via mail from within France.

It also saves you some money because you don’t have to pay for the return postage!

Just be sure you’re photographing the process, so you can prove you mailed it in case there are any issues!

There is one more really important thing you need to know before renting pocket wifi in Paris.

You need a credit card!

You cannot rent a pocket wifi device if you don’t have a credit card. A credit debit card won’t suffice and a traditional debit card certainly won’t be accepted.

The company uses your credit card as an insurance policy in case you damage, lose, or steal the pocket wifi device.

They simply charge the cost of the device to your credit card and don’t have to worry about tracking you down and trying to get money from you.

If you don’t pay, it is your credit card company’s problem and not theirs.

You won’t be able to rent a pocket wifi device in Paris without a credit card. If you don’t have a credit card, you’ll have to rely on free wifi or consider the next option we’re going to discuss.

Skyroam is the perfect wifi solution for frequent travellers.

You purchase your own personal pocket wifi device for a one-time fee and then purchase either daily or monthly wifi passes.

I’ve had my Skyroam since 2019 and absolutely love it! It has made travel so much more freeing because I don’t have to worry about getting lost and can look up restaurants near me to see what has vegetarian food.

Your Skyroam works pretty much anywhere in the world and gives you reliable access to the internet no matter where you are (excluding planes) or what you’re doing.

There is one downside to it though.

The price.

Purchasing the pocket wifi device is fairly reasonable, but the wifi can get expensive. Specifically, purchasing day passes is a bit of a rip off in my opinion.

A monthly wifi package costs less than 10 day passes, so if you’re travelling for more than a week in a month, it is worthwhile to purchase a month pass instead of day passes.

If you won’t be travelling for 9 or 10 days or more, then be on the lookout for deals and promotions.

Skyroam often runs promotions where you get extra day passes if you purchase a certain day pass bundle using a certain code. Using the proper code is very important!

Most often the promotion is get 5 days free if you purchase 10 day passes.

It is a pretty good deal and an easy way to cut down on costs.

I highly recommend Skyroam to any serious travellers. It is so convenient and cuts down on the hassle of tracking down free wifi or renting pocket wifi in each city you visit.

You can link up to 10 devices on one wifi device, so you can keep your entire group connected for one relatively low price. Especially if you split the wifi cost!

Read my full Skyroam review here!

Online safety is not talked about enough in the travel sphere. It gets pushed to the side, forgotten or ignored, until it is too late.

I’m here to remind you that you need to protect your online data and privacy.

It is non-negotiable.

You don’t want to ignore your online safety and privacy and then wake up one morning to learn that your banking information has been stolen and someone is using all your money.

It may sound like that is fear mongering, but it isn’t. I’ve had my credit card information stolen, and one of my friends had her entire bank account stolen and was locked out of it.

You don’t want to spend your precious and hard earned vacation time on the phone with your bank trying to get access to your money while you’re in a foreign country.

That’s no fun!

The solution to protecting your online safety is very easy! Simply install a VPN on your phone, tablet, and laptop.

Yup! It is that easy.

It takes 5 minutes to create an account and install it, and you’re 100% protected from prying eyes.

I’ve tried many VPNs throughout my travels and didn’t care for any of them.

Every year I would try a new VPN company and keep switching because I was never happy with what I got and how much it slowed my devices down.

That all changed when I discovered NordVPN!

I’ve been using NordVPN since 2018 and have no plans of switching to a new VPN provider!

It is the fastest VPN on the market and doesn’t slow your devices down. This is huge and a game-changer when it comes to VPNs and user experience.

You can connect up to 6 devices on one account. You can easily protect all your devices and possibly a few loved ones’ devices as well!

One of my favourite features is being able to change your location. This allows you to access different countries’ Netflix libraries and watch shows you don’t have access to where you are.

But most importantly, NordVPN keeps your devices super safe.

It is just as safe as using your private home wifi where only you know the password.

You are completely sheltered from any prying eyes. This is important when using public wifi because you never know who else is connected to the same network and what their intentions are.

Most people in the world are nice and have no interest in hacking you, but it just takes one person to ruin your holiday.

NordVPN often runs sales where you can save up to 70% off your VPN. It costs pennies a day, so there is no excuse not to protect your online data!

I’m serious. You need to protect your online information with a VPN!

As you can see, there are many different ways to access wifi in Paris.

You need to figure out what works for you and run with it!

If you’re low maintenance or on a low budget, relying on public wifi in Paris is probably the best option.

People who need reliable access to internet for work or personal reasons should consider renting a pocket wifi device.

Frequent travellers may want to invest in a Skyroam. It may end up saving you some money in the long run if you frequently rent pocket wifi or end up using your phone’s data.

Finally, everybody should be installing a VPN on their devices to keep their online data safe.

Once you know how you want to tackle and find wifi in Paris, you simply need to find a strategy that works with you and the type of internet you’re relying on.

No matter how you choose to get your wifi in Paris, you’ll have an amazing time!

It is a fantastic city with lots to see, do, and eat.

Everybody should visit Paris at least once in their lifetime!

PS- if you have more than a weekend in Paris, be sure to take a day trip to see more of the country. I have an entire post on the best day trips from Paris to help you plan a day outside the city!

The Disneyland Paris fastpass system is very different from the fastpass systems at Disney World and Disneyland California.

You can’t walk into Disneyland Paris thinking the fastpass system is going to work the same way. You’ll be disappointed and not have an optimized Disneyland Paris fastpass strategy that helps you ride a lot of attractions in one day.

This post gives you the insider Disneyland Paris fastpass knowledge, so you can be an expert!

You learn the ins and outs of the Disneyland Paris fastpass system and how to make the system work for you.

Even more importantly, you learn the most common Disneyland Paris fastpass mistakes and how to avoid them.

Make the Disneyland Paris fastpass system work for you, and you’ll be skipping the lines like a pro in no time!

PS- be sure to check out my Disneyland Paris packing list, so don’t miss packing any essential items!

Fundamentally, the fastpass system at Disneyland Paris is the same as every other Disney park in the world.

It allows you to “skip” the lines and get on a ride with little to no wait time.

You get a fastpass for whatever attraction you want to ride, wait until the return time printed on your ticket, go back to the ride, hop in the fastpass line, and get on the ride within a few minutes.

It is a great system that allows people to ride the most popular attractions without having to spend hours waiting in line.

This makes the guest experience more enjoyable, and it gets people out into the park where they’re more likely to spend money.

Both Disney and the guests win!

There are some rules about how to use fastpass, but we’ll get more into that as the post continues.

Overall, the fastpass system helps you see and do as much as possible in a single day. It cuts down on how much time you have to spend standing in line, so you can go and do other things.

This is the biggest difference between fastpass at Disneyland Paris and fastpass at every other Disney park.

You normally have a 1 hour return window where you can show up and use your fastpass anytime as long as it is within the 1 hour return window on your fastpass.

That isn’t the case at Disneyland Paris.

You only have 30 minutes where you can show up at the attraction and redeem your fastpass.

This makes it a bit more difficult to plan your day, but it is still doable.

You just need to make sure you’re not getting in a long line, watching a stage show, or at the other park in the time leading up to your fastpass return window.

You know when your return window is in advance, so it is a pretty easy thing to plan for.

It is certainly much easier at other Disney parks when you have an hour return window. It gives you more freedom to jump on a ride or watch a show because you know you have an hour when you can use your fastpass.

This is another huge difference between Disneyland Paris and nearly every other Disney park in the world.

You can’t book fastpass online at Hong Kong Disneyland, but the park is so quiet that you don’t need it. I’ve never booked a fastpass on any of my visits to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Being able to book your fastpass online is super useful. You just pop onto the app, find whatever attraction you’re looking for, and book a fastpass from wherever you are.

No need to walk to the attraction!

You don’t have that convenience of booking your fastpass from anywhere at Disneyland Paris.

You have to physically walk to whatever attraction you want to get a fastpass for and hope there are fastpasses left and they are at a time that works with your schedule.

This may not sound like that big of a deal, but it can waste a lot of time. Especially if you are in Disneyland Paris and want to get a fastpass for an attraction in Walt Disney Studios.

You literally have to walk from one park to the other to get your fastpass.

This limits you quite a bit. I don’t think many people are walking from one park to the other to get a fastpass then walking back to the first park.

Most people are going to get a Disneyland Paris fastpass for whatever park they are in.

You’re not able to optimize your fastpass usage as much as your are in other parks, and you tend to be limited to getting a fastpass for an attraction in whatever park you’re currently in.

To make matters even more annoying, Disneyland Paris doesn’t even display the fastpass times on the app.

You don’t know what fastpass return window time is being distributed until you get to the attraction.

You may walk all the way there to find out that the fastpass return window is for when you have a dinner reservation booked.

It is super inconvenient, and I wish Disneyland Paris would update their app to track and display that information.

It would make the guest experience so much better!

Disneyland Paris has a great complimentary wifi system that guests can use.

It works in both parks, but, unfortunately, doesn’t work at Disney Village.

The wifi is actually quite reliable, and considering how many guests are using it at any given time, it is pretty fast and reliable.

It is far more reliable than the free wifi at Disneyland California. I’m astonished at how bad the wifi is every time I visit!

But complimentary wifi is dangerous to use and puts your online safety at risk!

Any place there are people using complimentary wifi (especially wifi that doesn’t require a password), there are bad people trying to get into your phone and collect your data.

If they are able to hack into your phone, they can steal your personal information and sell it.

That turns a magical day into a nightmare.

The solution is to protect yourself by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN puts an invisible forcefield around your phone and hides it from prying eyes.

A VPN essentially makes your connection as safe, secure, and private as your personal home wifi where only you know the password.

Nobody is able to hack into your phone and see what you’re doing or steal your information.

You protect yourself when you travel by buying travel insurance, so you may as well protect your online life when you travel and install a VPN on your phone and other devices.

As you can image, I’ve used a lot of different VPNs over my years of travel.

I cancelled most of them after the first year and was oftentimes so frustrated at how much they slowed my devices down that I wouldn’t use them at all.

That is until I found NordVPN.

I’ve been using NordVPN for a number of years and don’t plan on cancelling my subscription with them anytime soon.

They don’t slow your devices down at all and are the most trusted name on the market.

You can protect up to 6 devices with one NordVPN account, so you can protect all your devices (and maybe all your family’s devices) for one surprisingly low fee.

NordVPN often runs sales where you can save up to 70%, so there is no excuse not to protect your online data.

You probably think it’ll never happen to you, but you’d be shocked to learn how many fellow travellers I’ve met who have had their social media or banking information hacked because they didn’t protect their online data.

Getting a VPN is a tiny price to pay in comparison to the headache of trying to get access to your banking or social media back after it has been hacked.

Not every attraction has the option to get a fastpass for it.

You need to know which ones do and which ones don’t. That will help you plan your day and have a solid Disneyland Paris fastpass strategy in place.

The following attractions at Disneyland Paris offer a fastpass option:

• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril

• Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain

• Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast

Most of the main attractions have a fastpass option, so that is very helpful!

The only really popular attractions that don’t have a fastpass option are meeting Mickey Mouse, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Dumbo.

There are far fewer rides that offer fastpass in this park. That is bad news because it means you’ll have to be very strategic and probably spend a lot more time waiting in lines.

Here is the very short list of Walt Disney Studios Park attractions that offer fastpass:

• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

• Ratatouille: The Adventure

Yup. That’ the entire list!

Just two attractions at Walt Disney Studios park offer a fastpass option.

This makes it quite difficult to get a fastpass for either of the attractions. They tend to “sell out” for the day pretty early in the morning.

If you want to get a fastpass for either of these attractions, you should grab it in the early or mid-morning, or you might not be available.

There are two situations where you can get a new Disneyland Paris fastpass:

• After you use the fastpass you currently have

• Two hours after you get the fastpass you currently have even if you haven’t used it yet

This means you don’t have to fret if you get a fastpass that has a return window 6 or 8 hours in advance. You can get another fastpass for a different attraction two hours after you got your original fastpass.

It is nice to have the extra freedom and not have to choose between getting a fastpss for an attraction you really want to ride with a long time until the return window and not being able to get another fastpass for basically the rest of the day.

Two hours is a decent amount of time to wait until you get another Disneyland Paris fastpass. It helps cut down on people hoarding fastpasses while giving other guests the opportunity to get another fastpass if their original return time is in the distant future.

This normally isn’t an issue at Disneyland Paris, but it is a good provision to have on extremely busy days.

In most instances, your Disneyland Paris fastpass return time will be within 30 to 120 minutes from the time you got the fastpass.

It is a nice fall back to have though!

There is nothing worse than getting a fastpass, waiting 5 or 6 hours to use it, and then not being able to get a fastpass for anything else because they are all “sold out” for the day.

PS- if you’re planning a solo Disney, be sure to check out this post with all my best solo Disney tips and tricks!

Most Disney parks are pretty chill if you show up a bit early or a bit late for your fastpass return time. That isn’t the case at Disneyland Paris.

Disneyland Paris is the most strict park when it comes to using your fastpass at the time shown on your ticket.

They don’t let you in the fastpass line early even if you’re only 5 minutes early. They are more lenient if you are late, but they are still pretty strict.

I witnessed a guest who showed up less than 10 minutes after his return window ended, and he wasn’t allowed into the fastpass line.

Yup. They are that strict!

It, of course, depends on the cast member. If you plead your case, and they feel bad for you, you might be able to get into the fastpass line if you’re a little late.

It isn’t a guarantee though!

The best way to avoid this is showing up durning your fastpass return window.

I suggest you plan to arrive at the attraction right at the start of your return window. That way if anything goes wrong, you still have a solid chance of making it to the attraction in time.

It is unfortunate that Disneyland Paris is so strict about fastpass return window. I think other parks’ policy of having a 10-15 minute buffer on either side of the return window is a much better policy.

Moral of the story for Disneyland Paris: DON’T BE LATE!

This is not the time to channel your inner White Rabbit!

There is hardly anything I like more than a single rider line at Disney!

It is the best way to minimize your wait time and maximize the number of rides you go on in a day.

A single rider line is a dedicated line that is used to fill empty seats on an attraction. If a ride has three seats in a row and there is a party of two from the normal line, one person from the single rider line will be used to fill the empty seat.

This helps ensure the line moves as quickly as possible for everybody and the ride is operating at capacity.

You do not get to ride with your group if you join the single rider line. You will be separated and and seated with strangers.

Single rider lines tend to have little to no wait, so you can get on a ride within minutes.

The best single rider line at Disneyland Paris in my experience is Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain. I’ve never had to wait more than 5 minutes. Even when the regular line is over an hour!

There is honestly no better way to save time at Disneyland Paris than using the single rider lines as often as possible.

They should become your best friend!

The problem is that there aren’t very many rides that have a single rider option unfortunately.

The following Disneyland Paris attractions have a single rider line:

• Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain

It is super unfortunate that Disneyland Paris only has one attraction with a single rider line.

But we’ll take what we can get. It is better than nothing!

This is where the single rider lines shine!

There are actually quite a few options at Walt Disney Studios Park. This is fantastic and helps counterbalance the lack of fastpass options.

Here are all the rides at Walt Disney Studios Park that offer a single rider line:

• Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop

• Crush’s Coaster (aka the best ride at Disneyland Paris!)

• Ratatouille: The Adventure

That’s a pretty good selection!

4 of the top 5 most popular attractions have a single rider line.

The only one missing is The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. It would be the perfect ride to offer a single rider option on, but, alas, we can’t have it all.

Crush’s Coaster is the best and most popular attraction across both Disneyland Paris parks.

I don’t think they realized how popular it was going to be because it doesn’t have a fastpass option.

Having a single rider line helps, but it still moves pretty slow. It is 100% worth the wait though! It is an incredible ride.

You may think you can only get fastpasses in Disneyland Paris or Walt Disney Studios in any given day. But that isn’t the case.

You can get fastpasses in both parks on the same day as long as you have a park hopper ticket.

With a park hopper ticket, you can get as many fastpasses as you can in both parks!

This is really helpful for people who are visiting Disneyland Paris on a day trip from Paris and only have one day in the parks.

You can optimize your time by getting fastpasses in both parks.

This drastically cuts down on your wait time and allows you to see more in your limited amount of time.

You can mix and max a Disneyland Paris fastpass with a Walt Disney Studios fastpass and optimize your day like a boss.

It is nice to have the option to get whatever fastpass works for you no matter what park the attraction is in.

You read that right!

Hotel guests staying at a Disney-owned hotel get an additional Disneyland Paris fastpass each day they stay at the hotel.

You can use the fastpass for any ride in either park!

It is a nice extra perk for people staying on Disney property!

You can still get a normal fastpass in the parks just like any other guest, but you have an extra fastpass in your back pocket. You can use it anytime you want during the day.

If you use it correctly, it can be a game changer.

It completely changes your Disneyland Paris fastpass strategy. You can maximize your fastpasses by getting a lot of fastpasses for the moderately popular attractions and use your hotel fastpass for the most popular attractions.

I suggest using it for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

It is the most popular attraction that offers a fastpass that doesn’t also offer a single rider option. Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain and Ratatouille: The Adventure are the two other most popular fastpass attractions.

They have a single rider line, so using your extra fastpass for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror will help you maximize your time.

Use single rider for Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain, Ratatouille: The Adventure, and Crush’s Coaster.

Use your hotel fastpass for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Focus on getting regular fastpasses for Peter Pan’s Flight, Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, Star Tours, and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast.

You will be able to ride basically every ride in both parks if you use your extra Disneyland Paris strategically.

It is surprisingly difficult to book a Disneyland Paris hotel.

It isn’t as easy as going to the Disneyland Paris website and booking a hotel through there.

I wish it were though!

The problem with booking your hotel directly though the Disneyland Paris website is that they only offer packages.

You can’t just book a hotel room. You have to book a package that includes your hotel, park tickets, and a dining plan.

I personally don’t want an entire package when I visit Disneyland Paris. This is especially true if you have a Disneyland Paris annual pass!

There are two solutions:

You can call Disneyland Paris and see if they will sell you just a room.

I’ve heard differing stories on how successful people have been with this.

Disneyland Paris likes it when you purchase a package because they make more money. They don’t always let you book just a room even when you call.

It seems that you’re more likely to be able to book just a room the closer it is to your arrival date.

Disneyland Paris opens up room-only reservations a few weeks in advance to fill up the rooms they didn’t fill with a package.

This works fine if you’re spontaneous, but if you’re like and like to plan in advance (to save some anxiety), then this isn’t a great option for you.

Calling Disneyland Paris is great, but it doesn’t always work.

Your second option pretty much always works and is my preferred way of booking a Disneyland Paris hotel.

Raise your hand if you’re part of the phone call anxiety club like me!

This is, in my opinion, the best and most convenient way to book a Disneyland Paris hotel.

You get all the same benefits as someone who books directly through Disneyland Paris, but you don’t have to purchase a package or call to book a room.

You can book just a room at any Disneyland Paris hotel directly through Hotels.com!

The prices are essentially the same as booking just a room directly through Disneyland Paris. There may be a dollar or two different per night, but it isn’t a big enough difference to make any real difference in price.

Booking is easier, quicker, and you earn those sweet, sweet Hotels.com nights towards a free night’s stay.

You’ll get a nice bump in the worth of your free night certificate after staying at a Disneyland Paris hotel.

It is definitely a splurge to stay at a Disneyland Paris hotel, so you may as well get something back in return for spending that money!

That is where the Hotels.com loyalty program comes in. This program is why I love booking through Hotels.com and have booked the majority of my hotels through them since 2015!

You get a free night at a hotel after you’ve stayed 10 nights at a hotel you booked through Hotels.com.

That’s right!

You get a free night’s stay at nearly any hotel listed on Hotels.com for staying at a hotel you would have stayed at in any event.

It doesn’t get any better than that!

The Disneyland Paris app doesn’t show what fastpass times are being distributed, but it is still a helpful tool.

It helps you figure out which attractions are most likely to be running out of fastpasses and which ones you can skip the fastpass all together and just use the regular line.

The longer the wait time, the more likely the fastpass return window is much later in the day. The shorter the wait time, the more likely you can get a fastpass for the near future.

People want to avoid waiting in lines as much as possible, so most people get a Disneyland Paris fastpass for the attraction with the longest wait time and don’t consider any other factors.

You can use the Disneyland Paris app strategically to help inform your fastpass decisions.

Don’t waste your time walking to get a fastpass for an attraction that only have a 15-minute wait.

Find attractions that have a medium to long wait and walk to them to get a fastpass.

It may sound like a simple concept, but you’ll be amazed at home much time it can save you over the course of a day!

This isn’t optional!

You need a fastpass strategy at Disneyland Paris. Especially if you only have one day in the parks or it is your first time visiting.

You should know the following before you arrive at Disneyland Paris:

• What attractions you need to ride and whether they offer fastpass

• If there are any rides that you want to skip

• What attractions are in each park

• Whether you’re going to start your day at Disneyland Paris or Walt Disney Studios

• What times any parades and shows are, so you can avoid getting a fastpass during them

• What you’re willing to miss out on if your plan doesn’t go as smoothly as you’d like

Once you know that information, it is pretty easy to build a Disneyland Paris fastpass strategy.

• Ride Crush’s Coaster first thing in the morning or last thing at night. It is the most popular attraction and doesn’t have a fastpass option. It normally has over a 60-minute wait, so it is best to try to plan your day around riding it if it is important to you.

• If you’re starting your morning at Disneyland Paris, get a fastpass for one popular attraction and then ride another popular attraction in the stand-by line. This is the most effective way to see as many of the big attractions as possible. I suggest skipping Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain because it has a great single rider line. Focus on rides like Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Star Tours, and Peter Pan’s Flight.

• Lines are normally shorter during traditional mealtimes and parades. If you can’t get a fastpass for an attraction you really want to ride, try to hit it up during these times when lots of guests are doing other things like eating or watching parades, fireworks, or stage shows.

• Get there early! Being at the parks is the best way to ensure you get a lot done at Disneyland Paris. That is when the parks are going to be the least busy, and you’ll be able to go on a number of attractions without waiting very long.

There is a lot you need to know about all your Disneyland Paris fastpass options.

Everything on this list is important, and when you use them in conjunction with one another, you’ll be surprised at how much you can see and do in one Disney day!

You, of course, don’t have to rush around doing and seeing everything.

You can take your time, explore the parks, and only go on a few attractions, but you should still have a fastpass strategy in place no matter what.

A Disneyland Paris fastpass plan and strategy help you have the most magical day that is suited to you and your Disney style.

It gives you the power to know that you’re going to have the best day you can and not spend more time waiting in lines than you have to.

Plus who doesn’t love walking through the fastpass line and passing everybody waiting in the normal line.

It is a powerful feeling!

If you liked this post, you may want to check out my post about Disneyland Paris tips and tricks! It’ll help you hack your Disney day even more.

But no matter what you do, be sure to say hi to Mickey for me please!

Disneyland Paris is the only Disney theme park in Europe, and it can be a bit intimidating for someone who has never been to an international Disney park. You’ve never been to Disneyland Paris, so you don’t have the insider tips, tricks, and knowledge to plan the perfect trip.

Disneyland Paris features two parks: Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios. Disneyland Paris is the main park with the castle and Walt Disney Studios is a smaller park that has a similar vibe to Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World.

It also has a Downtown Disney-eqsue area called Disney Village. It is full of restaurants, shops, and a dinner show. The majority of the Disneyland Paris hotels are also located near Disney Village.

The Disneyland Paris tips provided in this post will help you navigate all Disneyland Paris has to offer. They are extremely practical tips that will help you make the most out of your Disneyland Paris trip!

PS- Be sure to check out my ultimate Disneyland Paris packing list, so you’ll have everything you need to enjoy the parks!

Disneyland Paris has a number of unique attractions you won’t find anywhere else. It is important you take the time to research what attractions Disneyland Paris has to offer and what you want to ride.

The most popular attractions in Disneyland Paris include:

• Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain (a more intense version of Space Mountain)
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Phantom Manner
• Indiana Jones Temple of Peril

The most popular attractions in Walt Disney Studios include:

• Crush’s Coaster
• Tower of Terror
• Ratatouille: The Adventure
• Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster

You’ll want to have a plan about what park you want to visit first, what attractions you must ride, what attractions you want to ride, and have a Fastpass strategy.

You will waste a lot of time in the parks trying to figure out what you want to do if you don’t have a plan before you get there.

It would be a shame to not make the most out of your time at Disneyland Paris so be sure to have a plan.

Your plan will most likely change throughout the day as you discover what attractions you love and want to ride again, but it is important to have a general idea of what you want to do before you get to the parks.

This is one of the most important Disneyland Paris tips on this list. You’ll regret it if you won’t put a little effort in before your trip and research the different attractions.

It is incredibly easy to get to Disneyland Paris no matter where in Paris you’re staying.

There is a metro station at the entrance of Disneyland Paris, and trains run continuously throughout the day.

It takes about 30-45 minutes to get from central Paris to Disneyland Paris. You need to take the RER A train. Once you get on the RER A, you ride it all the way to the last stop: Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy.

You will be steps from Disneyland Paris once you get off the train.

If you’re visiting Disneyland Paris from somewhere else in France, there is a TGV station at Marne-la-Vallée. You can take a train directly to Marne-la-Vallée if it is available, or you can take a train to central Paris and take the metro to Disneyland Paris.

I have an entire post dedicated to helping you navigate the Paris Metro system. Be sure to check it out before you arrive in Paris!

You can even get from some international destinations to Disneyland Paris quite easily.

There is a Eurostar train from Brussels to central Paris, and you would just have to take the metro to Disneyland Paris. There is even a direct Eurostar train from London to Disneyland Paris!

It is impressive how easy they’ve made it to get to Disneyland Paris.

It is definitely one of the selling features of going to Disneyland Paris. You can easily visit Disneyland Paris as a day trip from Paris without spending too much time getting to and from the parks.

There are a number of different ticket options at Disneyland Paris. It is important to understand the different ticket types, so you can choose the ticket that best suits your needs.

If you’re only at Disneyland Paris for one day, it is easy to decide what ticket option is best for you. You just have to choose between a single park ticket and a park hopper ticket.

A park hopper ticket allows you to visit both theme parks in a single day, and I always recommend buying the park hopper ticket if you only have one day at Disneyland Paris. There are attractions you won’t want to miss in each park, and you can easily walk between the parks in a matter of minutes.

It becomes more difficult to pick a ticket when you’re visiting for more than one day. You essentially have to choose between a muti-day ticket and an annual pass.

In some instances it is more affordable to purchase the Discovery annual pass than it is to purchase a two-day park hopper ticket.

The Discovery annual pass is only valid certain days of the year, so the first step is to visit the Disneyland Paris website and figure out if the Discovery annual pass is valid when you plan on visiting the parks.

If the Discovery annual pass is valid when you’re visiting the parks, it is the best bang for your buck. You don’t get any special food or merchandise discounts, but you save on ticket prices.

There is one small catch with the Discovery annual pass though.

There is an automatic blackout date for the two days following the purchase of it. If you purchase the annual pass on a Monday, the Tuesday and Wednesday are blacked out, so you won’t be able to visit the parks those days.

This is a bit troublesome for people wanting to visiting Disneyland Paris multiple days in a row. Luckily there is a workaround for this problem though!

You can purchase your Discovery annual pass in advance of your trip and have it mailed to your house.

You’ll have to do the math on whether the shipping fee negates the ticket price savings, but it is often still a better deal to have your annual pass shipped to your house. This is especially true if you’re ordering annual passes for a group because you only pay the shipping once.

Disneyland Paris is one of those parks where you need to be strategic about what tickets you buy, or you could waste a lot of money.

It is easy to overpay for tickets if you don’t understand the ticketing system.

This is one of the most important Disneyland Paris tips on the list! There aren’t too many table service restaurants in the parks, and reservations are limited.

You’ll want to make a dining reservation well in advance of your trip if you want to eat at a particular restaurant.

You can making dining reservations up to 6 months in advance of your trip, and for popular dining spots like Bistro Chez Remy, you’ll want to make them as far in advance as possible.

If you book your Disneyland Paris trip less than six months in advance, book your dining as soon as you have a date. If you’re a planner and book your trip more than six months in advance, figure out the earliest day you can make reservations, put it in your calendar, and make the reservation the first day you can.

You have to call Disneyland Paris to make a dining reservation. The phone number to book dining is +33 1 60 30 40 5. International rates do, unfortunately, apply if you’re calling from outside of France.

You’ll be able to speak with an English-speaking person when you call the dining reservation number, and I’ve never been on hold for more than a few minutes.

It is definitely worth taking the effort and booking dining reservations in advance.

Language isn’t a barrier at all at Disneyland Paris! You don’t need to worry about not speaking French.

All of the cast members speak English and there are English menus, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to communicate.

There are English parks maps, and all the signs are in English as well as French.

A lot of the rides with narration even have portions of it in English! It is a great way to allow everybody to get the full experience of the attraction. The safety instructions are also in English, so you don’t have to worry about not knowing the safety procedures of each ride.

It, of course, takes a little time to get used to English not being the main and only language, but it won’t impede or restrict your Disneyland Paris trip in any way!

It is essential that you download the Disneyland Paris app onto your phone. The app will make your Disneyland Paris trip run so much smoother.

The app has everything you need to know about Disneyland Paris. It includes:

• A map of both parks and Disney Village
• Live wait times for attractions
• A list of dining locations and their menus
• Schedule of events including parade, show, and firework times

There is free WiFi in the parks, so you’re easily able to access and use the app without having to use your cellular data.

PSA: If you’re using the public wifi at Disneyland Paris, be sure to protect yourself from prying eyes with a virtual private network. You don’t want to have your data hacked while enjoying the magic of Disney!

I personally swear by Nord VPN.

You can connect up to six users with one account, so you can keep the whole family safe with one click!

The highlight of the app is undoubtably the live wait times. It is so easy to plan your next attraction when you can easily see how long the queue is without having to walk all the way to the attraction.

I highly recommend the Disneyland Paris app to anybody visiting the parks.

You may want to download it a few weeks before your trip, so you get used to using it and get a sense of what attractions have the longest wait at various points during the day.

The shortage of table service restaurants inside the parks means that the quick service restaurants can get painfully busy. The best way to avoid heavy crowds at quick service restaurants is to eat at off-peak times.

Peak dining times are between 11:30am and 1:30pm and 5pm and 7pm. You want to avoid dining at these times as much as possible.

Plan to have a late lunch or early dinner.

You will waste a lot of valuable park time waiting in a long, seemingly never ending queue if you dine during peak hours. I once spent 45 minutes in a queue for pizza at a quick service restaurant, and it was not worth it.

The wait times for rides are also slightly shorter during peak dining hours because a lot of guests are at restaurants. This is a great opportunity to get on a few extra rides while the lines are shorter!

You’ll be very busy at Disneyland Paris, and it is easy to focus all your time and attention on the parks. You’re paying a lot of money, and you want to get your money’s worth and ride everything you can.

While I understand that mentality, I also think it is a mistake.

Disney Village is well worth a visit. There are a number of shops with unique items you might not easily find inside the parks. This includes a really cool art shop that collectors will love.

Disney Village also has a lot of different dining options, and that is the biggest draw of the area. It has quite a few table service restaurants that you don’t need a reservation to eat at.

The restaurants at Disney Village are a great option for people who weren’t able to get reservations inside the parks.

Even if you’re not interested in the shopping or restaurants, it is still worthwhile to wander through Disney Village. It is a beautiful area with a scenic lake, and you’re able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the parks for a little while.

You don’t have to spend much time in Disney Village. Even just 30 to 45 minutes will be enough time to wander through the area and get a sense of the atmosphere and if you want to spend more time there.

I didn’t take the time to explore Disney Village the first time I went to Disneyland Paris and regretted it! Learn from my mistakes and be sure to visit Disney Village on your trip.

A few select attractions at Disneyland Paris have a single rider queue. Single rider queues are one of the best ways to make the most out of your time at Disneyland Paris.

People from the single rider queue are used to fill empty seats that aren’t filled with people from the regular queues.

For example, if the attraction seats two guests per row and there is a group of three, a person from the single rider queue will be seated next to third person in the party.

Attractions that offer a single rider queue are:

• Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
• RC Racer
• Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop
• Crush’s Coaster
• Ratatouille: The Adventure

You can easily save upwards of an hour by using the single rider queues.

I’ve had multiple instances where I only waited 5 minutes in a single rider queue when the regular standby queue was over an hour.

The downside to single rider queues is, of course, that you won’t be able to ride the attraction with your family. You don’t get to choose who you ride with or where you sit, so you have to be prepared to go wherever and whenever you’re told.

Of all the Disneyland Paris tips on this list, using the single rider queue will save you the most time and allow you to ride the most attractions.

You just have to decide whether it is important for you to ride with your group or not.

Disney food is expensive, and you may not want to eat every single meal and snack in the parks. You’re able to bring your own snacks into the parks as a method to save a little bit of money.

There are some restrictions on what you can bring in like no coolers or alcohol, but most food is acceptable.

Packing a few muffins for breakfast or granola bars to stop that midday hunger is a great way to save some money. Snacks are small and easy to pack, so you don’t have to worry about them taking up too much room in your Disney bag.

With they money you’ve saved by bringing your own snacks rather than paying nearly $10 for popcorn, you’ll be able to splurge and have a nice lunch or dinner at a restaurant.

Disneyland Paris is one of the most beautiful and special Disney parks in the world. It has a fantastic mixture of thrill rides, nostalgia, and unique touches you won’t find anywhere in the world.

These Disneyland Paris tips are designed to help you get the most out of your Disneyland Paris trip.

They save you time, money, and some of the stress of planning a Disney trip to a park you’ve never been to before.

Disneyland Paris is on nearly every Disney fan’s bucket list and for good reason! I highly recommend a trip to Disneyland Paris next time you’re in France.

You won’t regret it- especially if you take advantage of these Disneyland Paris tips!

Congratulations! You just booked a trip to Disneyland Paris and now you have to figure out what items to put on your Disneyland Paris packing list.

Your Disneyland Paris packing list will look similar to your Disney World or Disneyland packing lists, but there are a few changes that you have to make. This guide will help you create the ultimate Disneyland Paris packing list, so you have everything you need with you in the parks!

Disneyland Paris has free, public WiFi you can use in the parks. You can use your phone to view wait times on the Disneyland Paris app and post all your amazing photos!

You’ll be on your phone a lot, and your battery will die quicker than on a normal day.

Having an external battery will be a life saver and should be on everybody’s Disneyland Paris packing list! I prefer to carry an external battery with multiple USB charging ports. You can bring a lipstick external battery if you want one that takes up less room.

I never travel to a Disney park without an external battery! They are small and lightweight, so they aren’t troublesome to pack.

You’ll want to take lots of photos at Disneyland Paris! You can use an iPhone, but I find cameras take way better photos, and you’ll want the best photos possible to remember your trip!

I used this Canon point and shoot camera for years and still use it to this day when I don’t want to carry around my larger camera. It takes incredible photos, is lightweight, and is so small you can stick it in your pocket!

I currently use this Olympus mirrorless camera when I want to get higher-quality photos. I love it because it is shockingly lightweight for a camera of its size. It is so easy to carry in my purse, and I don’t feel like it is weighing me down!

The Olympus is also super easy to use, and even somebody with little to know knowledge of photography and cameras can use it with no problem. It is the perfect starter camera for anybody looking to upgrade to a level higher than a point and shoot.

If you decide on the Olympus camera, I recommend also purchasing the zoom lens. The lens the camera comes with is good and has a decent zoom, but the zoom lens takes your photography to the next level!

You will need a backpack at Disneyland Paris. You’ll have a number of things you want to carry with you in the parks, and a purse probably won’t have enough space.

I prefer a backpack that is a neutral colour and goes with any outfit, but there are tons of cute Disney-themed backpacks you can use too!

I recommend taking a backpack that has a place to put a water bottle on the outside. You do a lot of walking in Disneyland Paris, so you’ll be drinking a lot of water.

You don’t have to worry about where you’re going to put your bag while on the rides. You’re able to take your bag on every single Disneyland Paris attraction and store it at your feet. Even on the more thrilling rollercoasters that go upside down!

It isn’t a day at a Disney park if you’re feet aren’t sore at the end of it!

Comfortable shoes are a must on any Disneyland Paris packing list. You’ll deeply regret it if you happen to bring the wrong shoes to the parks. You want to avoid flip flop sandals, heels, or any shoe your feet get sore it.

I always wear my Columbia hiking shoes to Disneyland Paris. I’ve gone through four pairs at this point, and I keep buying them because they’re so comfortable. They are, admittedly, not the cutest shoes on the market, but you’re at Disney and nobody is looking at your feet.

You’ll be thankful at the end of a long day of walking that you have comfortable rather than stylish shoes!

If you are in the market for a more stylish shoe, I recommend the Sketchers Cleo flat. I wear them all the time when I’m travelling and often walk 25,000+ steps per day and never have sore feet. They’re by far the best pair of flats I’ve ever owned.

Okay. Technically, a virtual private network (VPN) isn’t something you physically packing, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely important!

Disneyland Paris has free public wifi that you can connect to in the parks, which is amazing! You can use the Disneyland Paris app to check ride wait times, post on social media, and reviews menus to see where you want to eat.

I always connect to the free wifi at Disneyland Paris, but connecting to it also puts you at risk of having your data compromised.

Hackers love people who connect to public wifi networks because it is so easy to pop into their devices and steal their data and possibly sell it to people and advertisers.

A VPN protects you from those people!

It creates a security bubble around your device that prevents prying eyes from seeing your data and online activities!

You 100% need a VPN when you’re using any type of public wifi (including hotels and cafes)!

I love Nord VPN and trust it to protect all my devices.

You can connect up to 6 devices to one account, so you can easily protect all your devices (phones, tablets, laptops) with one account.

Plus Nord VPN often runs huge sales, so you can protect your data for just a few dollars a month. Seriously!

Nord VPN

You’ll be walking all day at Disneyland Paris and will need to hydrate yourself throughout the day. You can purchased bottled water in the parks, but it is much better to have a reusable water bottle on your Disneyland Paris packing list!

This will save you tons of money if you’re travelling as a family and is much better for the environment! There are water fountains all over both Disneyland Paris parks, so it is easy to refill your water bottle throughout the day.

Glass water bottles are not allowed in the parks and will be confiscated during bag check! Be sure you bring a plastic or stainless steel water bottle!

If you’re anything like me, your lips are constantly chapped, and you hoard lip chap like it is going out of style.

You don’t want to get stuck in Disneyland Paris without any lip chap. I’ve had to pay Disney prices for lip chap when I ran out, and it was three times more expensive than buying it at the drug store.

Learn from my mistake and make sure to add lip chap to your Disneyland Paris packing list. It seems like the sort of thing you always have lots of, but you’ll probably run out at the worst time and have to overpay for new lip chap at Disneyland Paris.

You’re outside in the sun all day while at Disney, so you need to make sure your skin is protected! Sunscreen should be on your packing list no matter where you’re going, and it is even more important at Disney.

I love and swear by this COSRX sunscreen. It is a Korean skincare brand, and I love all of their products but especially this sunscreen. I always feel so protected when I wear it, and it doesn’t leave that gross white/greasy layer on the top of your skin.

Your future self will thank you for taking care of your skin now so add sunscreen to your Disneyland Paris packing list. Then bold it and underline it, so you don’t forget!

You’re going to get hungry in the parks, and Disney food is expensive! You should put snacks on your Disneyland Paris packing list if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on food in the parks.

Carrying a few snack bars with you is the perfect way to get rid of that mid-day hunger when you’re not quite ready for a full meal.

This might just be me, but my hair always gets knotted and gross when I’m a Disney. It is a combination of sweat from being outside in the heat all day and going on thrill rides.

A few hours into a day at the parks, and my hair is a disaster in the back. I always pack a hairbrush in my Disney bag and end up using it mostly every day. I’m so thankful every time I pull my hairbrush out and look presentable again after using it!

I think my fellow longhaired people know exactly what I’m talking about!

These are three essentials that need to be included on everybody’s Disneyland Paris packing list! Disney is full of germs, and you’ll want to keep your hands clean in the parks- especially when eating!

Carrying Kleenex, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer in your Disney bag will come in handy more often than you would think. You never know when you’re going to spill ice cream all over the place (guilty) or accidentally touch a sticky handrail (so gross).

Even if you’re totally fine with germs most of the time, Disney is a different animal, and the germs are everywhere!

Disney parks are always moving towards being more sustainable, and you don’t always get a plastic bag with your purchase anymore. I recommend putting a small, reusable bag on your Disneyland Paris packing list.

This way you’re able to forego the plastic bag and carry your souvenir purchases in an environmentally friendly bag. Reusable bags take up no room in your backpack, and you can easily put it back in your backpack with your purchases assuming they are small enough to fit in your backpack.

Disney parks are also transitioning away from providing single use plastic straws, so you either get a paper straw or no straw at all. You should considering bring a reusable straw with you to Disneyland Paris.

You’re able to get tiny travel reusable straws that are so small they easily fit in your pocket! The straw itself is full size, but it collapses into itself and is stored in a travel container that is about has long as your pinky finger!

They’re absolutely perfect for travelling with, and I take one everywhere I go!

It is sunny in Paris in the summer, so you’re going to need a hat to keep the sun off your face! Your hat will not only save you from getting a sunburn, but it will also prevent you from squinting all the time.

There are a lot of outdoor activities, sights, parades, and shows at Disneyland Paris. You’ll be outside looking at things for hours every day, so you’ll need something to help keep the sun out of your eyes and stop you from getting pre-mature crow’s feet.

Minnie ears are an adorable addition to any Disney outfit no matter what age you are! You can bring ears from home, but it is even more fun to buy new ears while at Disneyland Paris!

They’re the perfect souvenir to bring home, and you’ll love wearing them at Disney parks around the world and feel special knowing you got them in Paris.

Technically, this is more of a souvenir suggestion, but if you love Disney ears like me and like to wear a different pair each day, you may want to bring a few pairs from home as well!

I love wearing Disney-themed shirts in the parks, and Disney t-shirts are always on my Disneyland Paris packing list! Disney shirts are super cute and a great way to show off your Disney style and support your favourite movies and television shows.

I like bringing my own Disney shirts from home rather than buying shirts at Disneyland Paris because I don’t care for having super branded and in-your-face Disney apparel.

I love that your’e able to get more subtle Disney shirts that can be worth both in the parks and casually around my hometown.

Pin trading is a popular hobby in most Disney parks, and Disneyland Paris is no exception! You can bring official Disney pins to Disneyland Paris and trade them with cast members and other guests.

It is a super fun way to get new Disney souvenirs and make great memories. Disneyland Paris also has a lot of unique pins that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Even if you don’t go to Disneyland Paris with a pin collection, it is quite possible you’ll be coming home with one!

Please be cautious about fake pins. Some people purchase fake pins cheaply online and then trade them for authentic Disney pins in the parks. Do your research before you start pin trading and know what to look for in a fake pin!

It is important to always travel with travel insurance. You never know what can happen while travelling, and it would be terrible to have an accident and then be stuck with a large medical bill you can’t afford to pay.

Spending a small amount of money up front and buying travel insurance is the smart thing to do. It doesn’t cost you very much, but it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

I always have travel insurance when travelling, and it is one of the few areas of travel that I’m not willing to skimp on to save money.

Disneyland Paris is one of my favourite Disney parks in the world. I love it’s charm and unique attractions. While you may thing travelling to Disneyland Paris is like travelling to any other Disney park, there are a few things on your Disneyland Paris packing list that may not be on your normal Disney packing list.

The best part of this Disneyland Paris packing list is that everything on it is small enough that you can put it in one medium-sized backpack and not have to worry about carrying multiple bags.

You can enjoy your time in Disneyland Paris and not have to worry about anything else because you have everything you need in one bag!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Copenhagen probably isn’t the first city that comes to mind when you start planning your solo trip but don’t count it out just yet! Taking a solo trip to Copenhagen is actually a better idea than you might think.

Copenhagen has a reputation for being expensive and a little far away from other parts of Europe.

That is true, but that doesn’t mean taking a solo trip to Copenhagen isn’t worth it.

Copenhagen is one of the few cities I’ve immediately fallen in love with. Even though it is a major city, it has a relaxed vibe and is surprisingly calming.

The only downside to taking a solo trip to Copenhagen is the cost.

There is no way of getting around the fact that Copenhagen is an expensive city. The price tag of simply getting a hotel or hostel may put Copenhagen out of budget for many solo travellers.

However, if you can afford to visit Copenhagen, you won’t regret it.

It’s an amazing city to say the least.

And if you decide to take a solo trip to Copenhagen, here are the top things you need to know before you go to ensure you have the most amazing trip!

What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone

If you’re anything like me, you love walking everywhere and anywhere you can when travelling.

You always stumble on the most unique neighbourhoods, sights, and people you would never experience if you hopped on public transportation.

Well I’ve got good news for you!

Copenhagen is an extremely walkable city. You can walk to pretty much any tourist attraction you want to visit in an hour or less.

Not only is Copenhagen extremely walkable, but it is also a nice city to walk around. All the different neighbourhoods are beautiful, and it is relaxing to walk around.

Plus being able to walk around the city rather than rely on public transportation can definitely help lower the cost of your solo trip to Copenhagen.

If you haven’t realized already, Copenhagen is an expensive city.

Even if you try to visit Copenhagen on a budget, it’ll still cost you more than a trip to most other places in Europe.

So, budget accordingly and just accept that it is going to be a more expensive trip.

That being said, there are ways you can make your trip to Copenhagen as affordable as possible.

• Book a hostel or guest house rather than a hotel

• Buy snacks and drinks at the grocery store rather than at a restaurant

• Visit attractions on days when there is free entry (if applicable)

• Walk around Copenhagen rather than take public transportation

• Visit during off-peak times

• Buy lunch at a grocery store and have a picnic

• Book accommodation that offers complimentary breakfast

• Use your student or senior discount

Being proactive and figuring out how to save a little money when you travel alone in Copenhagen will go a long way in making your wallet happy.

It doesn’t take much effort, but it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

That being said, don’t let the cost of Copenhagen deter you from visiting the city.

If you can afford to visit Copenhagen, it is 100% worth doing!

If you want to knock out seeing two countries in one trip, I’ve got good news for you!

You can visit a number of cities in Sweden on a day trip from Copenhagen. You can jump on the train and be in Sweden in less than two hours!

My two favourite cities in Sweden to visit from Copenhagen are Lund and Malmö.

Lund is a much smaller town and is one of the top university cities in Sweden. And if you don’t know, university towns are known for their amazing food!

Malmö is bigger than Lund and has more sights to see and experience. You have to visit the Malmö Castle if you visit the city.

It also has an amazing town square, and it is lovely to sit outside sipping on a beer on a warm day.

But, you can’t go wrong with either Lund or Malmö.

One important thing to note if you’re taking a day trip to Sweden from Copenhagen is you need to bring your passport.

It’s true that you Denmark and Sweden are part of the EU and have open borders. But, it has been my experience that Sweden likes to check that everybody entering Sweden has the right to be there.

Every time I’ve taken the train from Copenhagen to Sweden, the train has stopped at the first station in Sweden.

Swedish officials board the train, look at everybody’s documents, and then let the train continue.

So, in an abundance of caution, be sure you bring your passport and supporting documents showing you’re allowed to enter Sweden.

You don’t want to deal with the headache of not having your documents and trying to explain your situation.

In the best case scenario, you’ll be sent back to Denmark. In the worst, you’ll be detained for interview.

One of the things people are nervous about when it comes to travelling alone in a foreign country is the language barrier.

That is one thing you don’t need to worry about on your solo trip to Copenhagen!

English is spoken by pretty much everybody, and you shouldn’t have an issue communicating with the locals.

Museums and major attractions have descriptions in both English and Danish, and nearly every restaurant offers their menu in English.

If you’re in need of help during your solo trip to Copenhagen, you don’t have to fret.

Basically anybody you ask for assistance will be able to communicate with you and help you out.

In the unlikely chance they can’t communicate with you, the next person you come across should be able to!

If a language barrier is what is holding you back from planning a solo trip to Copenhagen, book ahead. That won’t be an issue.

No matter where you’re travelling, it is important that you keep safety in mind when using the internet.

You’re reliant on public wifi networks, and that puts you at increased risk of having your online information and data stolen.

And, yes, your hotel wifi that has a passcode still counts as public wifi because anybody can get access to the password.

You’re probably thinking I’m being silly, and there is no risk to using public wifi networks.

That simply isn’t true. I know so many fellow travellers who weren’t internet safe and had their banking information stolen while they were on the road.

That’s a huge headache you don’t need when you’re on a solo trip to Copenhagen.

You don’t want to go through the hassel of having to cancel your bank cards and then try to figure out how you’re going to pay for the rest of your trip without access to your cards!

The only way you can safely use public wifi when travelling is if you install a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts a forcefield around your phone that makes it impossible for hackers to spy on and steal your personal information.

A VPN makes it using public wifi just as safe as using your home wifi network where you’re the only person who knows the password.

I’ve used a lot of different VPN providers during my many years of travel and hated all of them.

VPNs are know to slow your devices down and make using the internet a very frustrating experience.

All my hatred and frustration disappeared when I discovered NordVPN.

It is the fastest VPN on the market, which is why I love it and recommend it to all my fellow travel lovers.

You don’t even notice you’re using a VPN because your internet speed isn’t slowed down!

Plus you can use your VPN to change your location and access Netflix and sports games from different countries than the one you’re visiting.

You have to check out South Korea’s Netflix. It is fantastic.

With NordVPN, you can protect up to six devices with one subscription, which makes it even more affordable than you think.

A two-year NordVPN subscription costs less than the price of a single Starbuck’s latte per month.

Yeah. It is that affordable!

You really have no excuse not to protect your online data and privacy with a VPN.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online data with a VPN.

It is a small price to pay to ensure all your online information is safe and secure.

This definitely sounds like an extremely odd tip to find in an article about travelling alone in Copenhagen but hear me out!

Assistens Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world.

It is full of greenery, benches, and walking paths. If it weren’t for the headstones, you wouldn’t know you were in a cemetery.

Locals hang out in Assistens Cemetery all the time, and it is one of the most calming and relaxing places in all of Copenhagen.

Having a picnic in Assistens Cemetery is also a great way to save a little money on your trip!

Pick up a salad or sandwich at a grocery store and bring it to the cemetery on a nice day.

Find a bench and enjoy your meal in one of the most beautiful places in the city. You should also do some people watching while you’re there!

You’ll see people hanging out with friends, running, biking, and enjoying a meal just like you.

While you’re there, be sure to stop by and visit the grave of Hans Christian Andersen!

Nobody should leave Copenhagen without visiting Tivoli gardens. It is a theme park in the heart of Copenhagen and is a must-do for anybody visiting the city.

In fact, it was one of the theme parks Walt Disney visited when looking for inspiration for Disneyland, and you can see a lot of similarities between some of the rides at Tivoli and Disneyland.

You might be nervous about visiting a theme park alone, but you shouldn’t be!

I love visiting theme parks alone and actually find it to be more enjoyable than visiting theme parks with friends and family a lot of the time.

Nobody will notice you’re there alone, and there aren’t super long wait times like at other theme parks, so you won’t be standing alone in line for very long.

Tivoli is so much fun, and being nervous about visiting it alone shouldn’t stop you.

It has incredible thrill rides, kiddie rides, and rollercoasters.

Just be sure to eat before you visit Tivoli since the food is expensive and not the best.

You’ll also want to purchase an unlimited ticket option. You have to pay per ride, and it adds up quickly. That’s avoided when you purchase the unlimited ticket option.

You can go on as many rides as you want to for one price and not have to worry about running out of ticket.

You need to ride at least four rides to make the unlimited ticket price worth your while, but if you’re going to Tivoli, you’re definitely going to want to ride more than four rides!

One of the best parts about Copenhagen is that it is extremely safe.

There are a lot of places I feel a bit nervous walking around alone at night, and Copenhagen isn’t one of them.

It is one of the safest cities in the world, and you really feel how safe it is when you’re there.

You don’t feel the urge to clutch your purse a bit tighter or constantly check behind you to make sure nobody is following you.

The fact that Copenhagen is so safe is one of the many reasons it is ideal for solo female travellers. Especially people new to travelling alone.

Of course, you still need to take basic safety precautions in Copenhagen like you do anywhere in the world.

But, you don’t have to worry about as much petty crime (or serious crime) as you do in other places around the world.

Keep your valuables safe in your bag, try to blend in with the locals, and don’t draw too much attention to yourself. Follow those rules, and you’ll be more than safe in Copenhagen!

Use code TRAVELSWITHERICA for 10% off my favourite Instagram presets!

One of the only complaints I have about Copenhagen is the food. It is expensive, and it wasn’t my favourite.

It was also difficult to find vegetarian/vegan food throughout the city as well.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t possible though!

However, it is essential that you research food options before you head out for a day of exploring.

Know what neighbourhood you’ll be in around lunch and diner time and find a few choices in that area you might want to check out.

You’ll know the menu suits your dietary restrictions and know whether or not it is in your price range before you get a table and pull out the menu.

The other reason you should research food options in advance is so you know there will be places to eat wherever you plan to be during meal time.

I had an issue where I was exploring a more residential area and started to get really hungry. I didn’t have my Solis at the time and couldn’t access the internet.

I wandered around for quite a while until I stumbled on a restaurant. It was the first one I’d come across, and I went in to eat without a second thought because I was starving.

Well, the food wasn’t very good, was really expensive, and I had to modify an item because there weren’t any vegetarian options on the menu.

I leave the restaurant, turn the corner, and find two more restaurants that looked better than the one I ate at.

If I had done any research beforehand, I would have known to keep walking for two more minutes to find a better place to eat.

Lesson learned!

Tips for eating alone

I hope this article showed you that taking a solo trip to Copenhagen is super easy. It is one of the easiest cities to travel around and is very safe.

Of course, the downside is that it is an expensive city, but there are ways around that- especially if you buy food at a grocery store than than a restaurant.

If you’ve been thinking of taking a solo trip to Copenhagen, I hope this article was a sign that you should book the trip.

You won’t regret it!

PS- Don’t forget to get travel insurance before your trip!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Cijin Island is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and you don’t want to miss visiting it!

Seriously, no trip to Kaohsiung is complete without experiencing Cijin Island!

Cijin Island is the perfect way to spend a day in Kaohsiung. It is right next to the city, easy to get to by public transportation, and has breathtaking sights.

This post is the ultimate guide to Cijin Island. It has all the information you need to plan the perfect day and tips to get the most out of your day on the island.

It is incredibly easy to get to Cijin Island from Kaohsiung! It involves taking the MRT, Light Rail, or bus then a ferry.

Taking the MRT is the easiest way to get to the ferry that takes you to Cijin Island.

You take the metro all the way to the end of the Orange line and get off at O1 (Sizihwan).

If your hotel is along the Red line, you’ll have to transfer

Once you get off the metro, follow the signs in the station for Exit 1. Exit 1 is the closest exit to Gushan Ferry where you will depart for Cijin Island.

There are signs at Exit 1 with instructions on how to get to Gushan Ferry, and they are very easy to follow. The instructions are written in both English and Mandarin, so you won’t have any trouble reading them!

The ferry is about a five minute walk from the metro station. It is impossible to get lost on the walk. Don’t worry about that!

The Light Rail system is a new addition to the Kaohsiung transportation game. It modern, new, and quite enjoyable. I would highly recommend you use it at least once while you’re in Kaohsiung.

You ride the Light Rail to stop C14 (Hamasen).

From there, you need to walk to the ferry station.

The easiest way to do that is to walk to Exit 1 of the MRT station and follow the written instructions at the station to walk to the ferry station.

The Light Rail station is connected to the MRT station via an underground walkway. Using the underground walkway is the easiest way to get from the Light Rail station to the MRT station without getting lost.

You can also walk above ground. You simply leave the Light Rail station, cross the main street, turn right, and follow it until you get to the MRT station.

Easy as that!

The bus would be my last option to get to Gushan Ferry. It isn’t as fast as the MRT and Light Rail systems, and the quickness of the journey depends on the traffic.

The bus system in Kaohsiung is good and well developed, so it isn’t an issue if you are staying in an area that is better served with buses than with the MRT or Light Rail systems.

I would just try to use one of the other two options before taking a bus.

There are tons of different buses that have stops at or near Gushan Ferry. I don’t want to give any specific advise on what bus to take because that is highly dependant on what part of Kaohsiung you’re staying in.

I do recommend that you put Gushan Ferry into your Google Maps and follow the app’s instructions on what bus to get on, when the next bus will arrive, and when to get off.

Google Maps is incredibly accurate in Taiwan, so you can trust that it is telling you to get on the correct bus going in the right direction.

Just be sure you’re putting Gushan Ferry as your destination not Cijin Island. The app isn’t the best at figuring out how to get to Cijin Island and often makes it more complicated than it needs to be.

Now that you’re at the ferry station, it is time to take the ferry to Cijin Island!

The ferry ride is only five minutes long, and you can see the island from the pier. Don’t worry if you’re prone to seasickness. The ferry ride isn’t nearly long enough for you to start feeling sick!

The ferry departs every 10 to 15 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about showing up at a specific time to catch the ferry.

Simply show up whenever you want to explore Cijin Island, and there will be a ferry there shortly!

The one-way fare is $25 NTD, which is less than $1 USD! You can pay your fare by tapping your transportation card (highly recommended) or with cash.

There are two queues to board the ferry. One is for passengers without scooters and one is for passengers with scooters.

Make sure you’re in the right line!

Once you’re on the ferry, I recommend you go up to the second floor. There are a lot of seats to choose from if you want to sit and viewing areas if you want to take photos while on the ferry.

The ferry only makes one stop, so you just need to get off when the ferry stops, and you’re on your way to explore Cijin Island.

A note of caution: if you paid with your transportation card, be sure to tap it when you get off as well!

Cijin Island isn’t huge, so it is quite easy to see the entire island in a single day.

There are two main ways to get around Cijin Island:

You can rent a bike on the main road as soon as you get off the ferry. The bikes are fairly inexpensive and a good investment if you don’t want to walk around the island for hours.

The bikes are motorized, so you don’t have to worry about pedalling yourself around Cijin Island! You just hop on your bike and motor around the island.

There are a few attractions on Cijin Island that you can’t get to on your bike, so you’ll still have to walk a little bit. You can’t take your bike up to the lighthouse or the fort.

But you’ll be able to use your bike to get to most of the sights. A bike will certainly save you a lot of time walking and get you places quickly.

Pro tip: the bike rentals at the start of the street right after you get off the ferry are most expensive. If you’re looking to save a few dollars, walk halfway down the street and rent your bike from on of those vendors.

It is very doable to walk around the island. I personally walked around Cijin Island, so I know it can be done!

I will admit that it got a bit daunting to walk around the island at points. Taiwan is extremely humid and hot, so the heat really takes it out of you.

Well at least it does for me as a Canadian who is used to spending eight months of the year bundled up in jacket and scarves trying to avoid frostbite.

But if you’re used to walking around for hours in Taiwan, walking around Cijin Island won’t be any different than any other day wandering around Taiwan.

There are tons of things to see and do on Cijin Island. Luckily you’re able to see everything the island has to offer in a single day- especially if you rent a bike!

These are the top attractions on Cijin Island that you don’t want to miss!

Kaohsiung Fort is my favourite attraction on Cijin Island! I could spend hours there taking in the sights and sounds.

The fort is one of those pesky sights that you need to walk up a hill to get to even if you have a bike, but it is well worth it!

The fort was built in 1883 by the British. It was built with red brick in a traditional Chinese style, but it is mostly just ruins now.

You walk on the ruins of the fort along the walls and get the most spectacular views of Kaohsiung, Cijin Island, and the harbour.

It is absolutely incredible! One of the highlights of the island for sure.

The lighthouse is just a short walk up the hill from Kaohsiung Fort. You walk along a small pathway with flowers lining the way.

The lighthouse was also built in 1883 by the British and was used extensively but the Japanese during their occupation of Taiwan. It is an important piece of Taiwan and Kaohsiung history.

The lighthouse is another place to get incredible views of Kaohsiung and Cijin Island.

I highly recommend you taking the effort to walk up to the lighthouse. The views are well worth the effort!

Rainbow Church is one of the most popular sights on Cijin Island.

It isn’t a religious church but, rather, a colourful piece of artwork that people visit to get an amazing Instagram photo. It is extremely popular, and there is always a queue you have to wait in to get a picture.

Rainbow Church is quite pretty, but I personally didn’t think it was worth my time to wait in the long queue to get a photo there. Plus I was traveling alone, so I wouldn’t have been able to get a very nice picture.

But it does make a really nice backdrop and a great place to get the perfect Instagram photo to mark your time on Cijin Island.

Cijin Island is an island, so it obviously has a beach!

The beach is at the end of the main road, so it is impossible not to stumble on it. You can rent surf boards and enjoy the water or just relax in the sand and soak up the sun.

The portion of the beach at the end of the main road is the start of the main section of the beach and is a great spot to choose to hang out.

It isn’t too crowded there most of the time and close enough to the main road that you can pop over and get a snack or drink whenever you feel like it.

Cijin Tunnel is my second favourite place on the island.

You walk through the tunnel that opens onto a viewing point of the water. This is the closest you can get to the wild water surrounding the island.

The waves crash on the rocks, and you get to appreciate the natural beauty of the water and island. You can also walk through a forested area to get a better appreciation for the nature of Cijin Island.

I highly recommend taking the time to explore what’s on the other side of Cijin Tunnel.

A note of caution: it can be a bit difficult to find the entrance to Cijin Tunnel. It is a little bit off the beaten track and not in clear view. Be sure to follow the signs carefully, and you’ll have no problem finding the entrance.

I hadn’t heard about Chi Jin Mazu Temple when I visited Cijin Island, but I’m so happy I stumbled on it! The temple is one of the most famous attractions on the island, so I’m not sure how I didn’t know about it before I went to Cijin Island (face palm).

The temple opened in 1673 and is dedicated to the Chinese goddess of the sea Mazu. It was built by the first settlers who washed up on the island and was used to house the Mazu idol they brought with them.

It is said that Chi Jin Mazu Temple was the first building built on Cijin Island, and the community grew from there.

It is a beautiful temple located just off the main street. It isn’t always open, so you might not be able to go inside the temple. But it is well worth viewing the outside of the temple at a minimum.

Shaved ice is a traditional Taiwanese dessert. It can be found throughout the county, but I think the best shaved ice can be found on Cijin Island.

I don’t know why it tastes even more delicious on Cijin Island, but it does. So delicious!

There are many different shaved ice stores on the main road, so it is easy to stop in for a quick treat before you get on the ferry to return to Kaohsiung. All the shaved ice restaurants on the main road are great, and you can’t go wrong choosing any of them.

I highly recommend you opt for the traditional mango shaved ice. You can’t beat it!

Cijin Island is unmissable for anybody visiting Kaohsiung!

It has a number of different sights for you to visit, and you can find the perfect attraction for you no matter what your interests are. Whether you’re searching for the perfect Instagram photo, want to explore historical sights, or want to connect with nature, Cijin Island has something for you!

The best part about Cijin Island is that all the sights are free to visit! The only thing you’ll spend money on during your day trip to Cijin Island is the ferry ride, renting a bike, and food!

You can’t ask for more than that when looking for an inexpensive activity in Kaohsiung.

I suggest dedicating at least 3/4 of a day to Cijin Island, but if you’re in a rush, you can visit the major sights in half a day.

No matter how long you choose to spend on Cijin Island, be sure to bring your camera because you’ll want to capture the beauty of the island for yourself.