You’ve just arrived in Paris, you don’t know anyone yet, and you want to go out, chat, practice languages, and meet people without breaking the bank? This guide is for you. Whether you’re a student, backpacker, or digital nomad, Paris is full of accessible and relaxed social events where it’s easy to make friends from all over the world.
Here are the best tried and tested plans for a fun, friendly, and international night.
🌍 1. Couchsurfing Paris Parties – Cool & Globetrotting Community
📍 Usually in bars in the 3rd, 11th, or 5th arrondissements
💸 Free entry, you just pay for your drink
Every Wednesday and Sunday evening, Couchsurfing Paris members meet at a partner bar. International and ultra-friendly atmosphere: backpackers, Erasmus students, Parisian expats… Everyone is there to chat, toast, and exchange ideas.
You can speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, or even mime—that works too 😄
🧭 Plus: often less than 20 minutes from AIJ Paris (e.g., Le Latin Corner, Les Cariatides, O’Sullivan Grands Boulevards)
🗣️ 2. Language Exchange Paris – Practice languages over a drink
📍 Bars in Bastille, Odéon, République…
💸 Free or first drink required (~€5-6)
The concept? You come to practice a foreign language with native speakers while helping others practice yours. You switch tables, languages, and pairs… it’s ultra-social and there’s no pressure.
👉 Platforms to follow:
- https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/language-exchange-paris
- Facebook groups: Language Exchange Paris, Franglish, Tandem Paris
A great place if you want to improve your English or Spanish while meeting friendly people!
🎓 3. Student/Erasmus parties – A party atmosphere
📍 Dancing, bar crawls, boat parties, clubs
💸 Free entry or <€10 with advance purchase
If you’re under 25 (and have endless energy), student parties are for you. Festive atmosphere, commercial music, €3 drinks, relaxed dress code, and no barriers to talking to anyone.
👀 Check out:
- Erasmus Paris by ESN: boat parties on the Seine, bar crawls at Bastille
- We Discover Paris, International Student Paris, Get Your Drinks Paris
- Parties organized at clubs like Duplex, Wanderlust, La Java, Le Flow 🍻
4. Bars for Socializing
If you don’t want to go to an organized party but just want to hang out and chat with people, here are some perfect spots:
- L’International (11th) – free concerts and a very open bar
- Le Social Bar (12th) – games, challenges, blind-test night, perfect for breaking the ice
- Le Mazette (13th) – giant bar on the banks of the Seine with food, DJs, and shared tables
📲 Bonus: Tools to make sure you don’t miss anything
- Meetup App – to find themed events (games, debates, outings)
- Couchsurfing App > Events – to see upcoming events
- Tandem App – to chat online and join language cafes
🛏️ Staying at the AIJ = Having the best spot for these outings
The International Youth Hostel (AIJ), located in the 11th arrondissement, is a stone’s throw from Paris’s liveliest neighborhoods (Bastille, République, Oberkampf). Plus, you can meet other travelers in the common areas before even leaving!
🎉 Whether you’re here for a night or a week, these evenings are the perfect way to:
- Not be alone
- Improve your language skills
- Make international friends
- And… have (a lot of) fun without breaking the bank
