Secret Paris
My favorite little-known places to visit in Paris
Because i’m an American living in Paris, i get a lot of people asking me odd questions about the City of Light on Quora.
Everybody knows to visit the popular Paris attractions such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, etc. They are popular for a reason and, if you haven’t seen them, you should!
But if you’re looking for other interesting things in Paris to see, here is the list i like to share with my clients & friends who have already done all those popular things and are looking for some ideas for “off the beaten track” things to do/see in Paris:
Arènes de Lutèce - an ancient Roman theatre constructed in the 1st century AD when Paris was known as Lutetia. It’s not the Colosseum but an interesting visit and a nice place to bring a little picnic lunch.
Montmartre Cemetery - if you’ve already done Père Lachaise, this is another good one with many famous people (especially different types of artists.)
Tour Montparnasse - the great thing about the Montparnasse tower is that when you’re on the observation deck….you can’t see it. Haha, that’s what the locals say. Great views of the city from here, including of the Eiffel Tower!
Jardins du Luxembourg - everyone knows the Tuileries Garden by the Louvre but i prefer the Luxembourg gardens. Bonus points if you find the Medici Fountain, the replica of the Statue of Liberty and the apiary.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont - i love the parks in Paris and this one is huge with fantastic views and you can sit on the grass unlike many other parks.
Égouts de Paris - take a tour of the sewers of Paris and the accompanying museum.
Falafel - while technically not an attraction, the two facing falafel restaurants on rue des Rosiers, are always fun/ny. For 20 years, i’ve enjoyed going to the Marais, getting a falafel sandwich and scarfing it down at a tiny local park. In the Falafel Wars, my vote is for Mi-va-mi…but L'as du Fallafel has the better game.
Rue Mouffetard - stroll up (or down) the cobblestone street; shopping, restaurants, cheese shops, fish mongers, flowers and my favorite Mexican burritos/tacos in Paris!
Go to the rooftops of Galeries Lafayette or Le Printemps before sunset and have a drink and some amazing photos. Also, next to Paris’ main city hall, “Le Perchoir” is the rooftop terrace of the neighboring Le BHV Marais department store.
Canal Saint-Martin - stroll along the canal and see Parisians in their nature habitat.
Catacombs - with the long lines always outside the entrance, i debated putting this on the list because it seems quite known now…but i think those people are mainly locals so check it out if you’re interested in bones.
Paris Opera House - take a guided tour of the Palais Garnier and try to find the Phantom.
Other Museums - if you’ve done the big museums like the Louvre, Pompidou, d’Orsay, etc. check out this list and pick a couple new ones. i’m a fan of Musée Jacquemart-André, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Musée de la Musique, Musée des Arts et Métiers, Musée de Cluny, and Palais de Tokyo are a few of my current favorites.
Are you planning to visit Paris soon? Have any questions? Let me know in the comments!
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