How to make friends in Paris as an expat: language exchanges, run clubs and café life

30 October 2026 · 4 min read · By the I Am Mate team

Paris is beautiful and full of life, but Parisians can seem reserved and many newcomers feel like outsiders. Where people in Paris actually meet (language exchanges, French classes, run clubs, volunteering), the best things to do alone, and a first-month plan.

Paris is the city everyone dreams of moving to, and the first weeks often live up to it: café terraces, long walks along the Seine, a bakery on every corner. Then the loneliness can creep in. Many Parisians have tight friend groups from school and university, social life often happens at home with people they already know, and the classic Parisian reserve can feel cold if you don't know the codes. Not speaking French makes it harder still.

The way in is regular, structured activities, plus a bit of French. This guide covers where people in Paris actually meet, the best things to do alone and a first-month plan.

Why Paris can feel lonely

• Established circles. Friendships often date back to school or university.
• Reserved at first. Politeness matters: always start with "Bonjour". Warmth comes with time.
• The language. You can live in English, but it keeps you in the expat bubble.

Where people in Paris actually meet

Language exchanges

Language exchange evenings, where French speakers practise English and newcomers practise French, run in bars across Paris several times a week. They're relaxed, cheap and full of locals who actively want to meet foreigners. Go to the same one every week.

French courses

The Alliance Française de Paris, universities and the City of Paris's adult courses (Cours d'adultes de Paris) offer French classes at every level. A multi-month course gives you a group of classmates in the same situation as you.

Run clubs and sport

Run clubs meet along the Seine, Canal Saint-Martin, the Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne, often finishing with coffee. Many sports and hobbies are organised through associations (clubs registered under France's 1901 law), from football and climbing to choirs and photography.

Volunteering

Les Restos du Cœur, the food charity founded in 1985, and many other associations need regular volunteers. It's a great way to meet Parisians and practise French at the same time.

Libraries

The City of Paris runs a network of free public libraries with events and conversation groups. The American Library in Paris, a membership library, runs English-language talks and events popular with internationals and French readers alike.

Great things to do alone in Paris

• Sit at a café terrace with a book. Lingering alone over one coffee is completely normal.
• Walk along Canal Saint-Martin and up to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
• Visit the City of Paris museums, such as the Musée Carnavalet and the Petit Palais, where the permanent collections are free.
• Walk the Coulée verte René-Dumont, an elevated park on an old railway line.
• Read in the Jardin du Luxembourg on one of its famous green chairs.
• Browse a street market like the Marché d'Aligre on a weekend morning.

A first-month plan for Paris

• Week 1: Find your boulangerie, café and nearest library. Say "Bonjour" everywhere.
• Week 2: Go to one language exchange evening and one group run.
• Week 3: Sign up for a French course, an association for a hobby or a weekly volunteer shift.
• Week 4: Make one specific invite: "On fait un apéro jeudi au canal?" (Drinks by the canal on Thursday?) An apéro is the Parisian way to start a friendship.

Chat while you settle in

Every I Am Mate character chats in your language, so you can practise French small talk: write in French and they'll reply in French. Olivia, an AI chef who trained in Italy, is great for cooking with what you find at the market (see Olivia's leftovers recipes), and Isabella, an AI fashion designer in Milan, loves talking style. They're AI characters, not real people, and they're there to help you get out and meet people. The general method is in our new city friends guide.

If it gets heavy

If loneliness lasts for weeks or turns into thoughts of hurting yourself, please talk to a person. Call 3114, France's free national suicide prevention line, any time. SOS Help offers an English-language listening line in Paris on 01 46 21 46 46 (afternoons and evenings). In an emergency, call 112 or 15 (SAMU).

Frequently asked questions

Is it hard to make friends in Paris?

Many newcomers find it hard at first, because Parisians often have long-standing friend groups and can seem reserved. Language exchanges, French courses, associations and volunteering are the best ways in.

Do I need to speak French to make friends in Paris?

Not at first, but learning French makes a big difference to making French friends and feeling at home. Language exchanges are a fun way to start.

What are free things to do alone in Paris?

Walking along the Seine and Canal Saint-Martin, the parks and gardens, the free permanent collections of the City of Paris museums, the Coulée verte and the city's public libraries.

Is it normal to eat alone in Paris?

Yes. Sitting alone at a café or bistro with a book or just watching the street is a very Parisian thing to do.