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Paris is home to some of the world’s best-known tourist attractions, with the likes of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the catacombs attracting visitors from all over the world. For those exploring Paris for the first time, these must-visit spots are essential viewing, but return visitors could prefer to discover some of the city’s less crowded and vibrant neighborhoods.
If you’re planning a return to Paris, or you simply love discovering secret places on your travels, you might be keen to learn about the city’s lesser-known sightseeing spots. In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the best-hidden gems of Paris to help you venture off the beaten path and explore some of the City of Light’s best-kept secrets.
Charming City Streets
Champs-Élysées is the best-known avenue in Paris, but it tends to be packed with tourists. To see a quieter, quainter side of the city, check out these four streets.
1. Rue Crémieux
If you’re roaming around the suburb of Bastille, take a stroll along the charming Rue Crémieux. The small, colorful French houses here are a popular backdrop for Instagram photos, but when you visit be respectful of the fact that this is a residential street.
2. Rue des Barres
At the edge of the trendy Le Marais area is Rue des Barres, a charming lane with colorful shopfronts and ivy-covered buildings. It’s home to St-Gervais-St-Protais Church which has spectacular stained glass windows. This is one of the oldest churches in Paris so make time to take it in as you enjoy brunch on the terrace of the cafe opposite.
3. Rue des Rosiers
Another hidden spot to explore in Le Marais is Rue des Rosiers, a cobblestone street that’s home to L’As du Fallafel, the city’s most famous falafel stand. Le Marais is Paris’s Jewish Quarter, and there are many Jewish bakeries and restaurants to enjoy on Rue des Rosiers. Plus, there are plenty of independent stores and boutiques in this area if you want to do some shopping.
4. Rue Mouffetard
Rue Mouffetard, known by Parisians as la Mouffe, is the oldest street in Paris having been established more than 2000 years ago by the Romans. It has a distinctly medieval character and a lively atmosphere thanks to its daily market. A visit here is a feast for the senses as you take in the sounds and smells of food vendors and nearby restaurants and cafes.
Shrouded Shops and Local Markets
Paris is one of the best cities in the world for shopping, but if you’re looking for independent boutiques instead of world-famous brands, check out these hidden gems.
5. Passage du Grand Cerf
There’s a whole series of covered passages in Paris in which independent vendors sell their wares from charming boutiques. Passage du Grand Cerf is one of the largest and most beautiful of its kind, and its wrought iron and glass roof creates a bright, airy atmosphere. The passage features art galleries, and many shops selling clothing, jewelry, furniture, and more.
6. Galerie Vivienne
Galerie Vivienne is another covered walkway with a charming, nostalgic atmosphere. You’ll find it near the Palais Royal Theatre in the 2nd Arrondissement. Constructed of wrought iron and polished wood, and with an impressive mosaic floor, it’s a beautiful setting for its array of boutique stores and cafes.
7. Le Marché D’Aligre
There are several busy markets to check out in Paris, but Le Marché D’Aligre is less crowded than many of the others. It’s the perfect place to sample and purchase fresh local produce without getting overwhelmed by tourists. It’s one of the oldest markets in Paris and popular with locals thanks to its affordable prices.
It’s out in the 12th Arrondissement, but venturing away from the city center is a fantastic way to see lesser-known sights and get a feel for authentic Paris.
Secret Cemeteries and Churches
If you’ve already seen the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and Père Lachaise Cemetry, check out these lesser-visited alternatives.
8. Montmartre Cemetery
Montmartre is a charming neighborhood on the outskirts of the city that offers a village-like atmosphere. Its cemetery is filled with stately mausoleums and grand headstones similar to those of the city’s bigger and better-known cemeteries. Plus, many famed artists and writers have been laid to rest here, including Edgar Degas, Alexander Dumas, and Heinrich Heine.
9. Église de Saint Germain des Prés
Right across the way from the iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots is the Church of Saint Germain des Prés. You could spend hours gazing at the impressive stained glass windows and spectacular frescos in its colorful interior.
The church’s tall ceiling is adorned with stars, creating an illusion of the night sky overhead. This is one of the prettiest and most ornate churches in Paris.
10. Sainte-Chapelle
Île de la Cité, an island in the middle of the Seine, is home to Notre Dame Cathedral, which draws many visitors, but be sure you don’t miss Saint-Chapelle. This Gothic chapel was commissioned by Louis IX to house his collection of holy artifacts, some of which are still on display today. The chapel is housed within the Palais de Justice, so check their strict security requirements before visiting.
Peaceful Picnic Spots
Jardin du Luxembourg and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont are two of the biggest and best-known green spaces in Paris. If you’d prefer a quieter park to relax in, consider these two green havens.
11. Parc de Saint-Cloud
This 1136-acre park was originally part of the Château de Saint-Cloud, a residence of Marie Antoinette that was destroyed during the 1870 Siege of Paris. The house’s original baroque gardens, created by André Le Nôtre, remain. They are now considered a ‘Jardin Notable’, and feature lush groves, ornate fountains, and breathtaking waterfalls.
12. Promenade Plantee
Promenade Plantee, also known as La Coulée Verte, is an overground railway track that has been transformed into a lush, green oasis. It opened in 1993 to prevent the Vincennes Railway Line from being demolished and is the perfect place for a relaxing stroll because it tends not to be too busy.
Hidden Historical Sites
If you love learning about French history and have already seen the likes of the Hôtel des Invalides, the Panthéon, and the Palace of Versailles, try these sites instead.
14. Les Arènes de Lutèce
This ancient Roman arena in the Latin Quarter dates back to the first century AD. It’s one of the oldest monuments in Paris, but the Panthéon, which sits right beside it, tends to attract far more visitors. This makes it a relatively quiet place to explore or to watch locals play the popular ball game of pétanque.
15. Château de Vincennes
Château de Vincennes is a medieval castle that was built in the 1300s and served as a royal residence for French Kings for many years. It is Europe’s tallest fortified castle and it offers incredible views of Paris. As a UNESCO-listed landmark, it plays an important role in preserving the history of the middle ages and you can learn lots about the castle’s history when you tour it.
Unsung and Unusual Museums
Although the Louvre and The Musée d’Orsay draw some of the biggest crowds, there are plenty of other museums to explore in Paris, with these being some of the most unusual ones.
16. Musée des Arts Forains
The Museum of Fairground Arts is one of the most eclectic museums in Paris. It’s filled with an assortment of vintage fairground rides, games, and decorative items, all of which date back to the early 20th century and the traveling circuses and carnivals of the era. Tours, which must be booked in advance, give you the opportunity to play vintage games, ride on a carousel, and hear some of the museum’s handmade organs.
17. Musee de la Vie Romantique
This museum is dedicated to 18th and 19th-century French Romanticism, with a particular focus on the prolific Romantic writer George Sand. There’s an extensive exhibit of Sand’s personal artifacts and memorabilia, as well as a watercolor that she painted herself.
18. Petit Palais
Petit Palais is home to the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts. You’ll find a wide variety of fine art from throughout history, with some pieces dating back to the middle ages. Exhibits are a mixture of classical and modern styles, and there are works by famous French artists such as Eugene Delacroix, Gustave Courbet, and Jean Ingres.
19. Paris Sewer Museum
For a truly unique museum experience, visit the Paris Sewer Museum to learn about the incredible feat of engineering that is the City of Light’s sewers. The first sewers were constructed here in 1370, but it wasn’t until they became covered in the 1800s that quality of life improved dramatically as the spread of disease was inhibited.
Secret Viewing Points
The Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower aren’t the only places to get great views. These viewing points are well worth visiting to capture fantastic photos of the city.
20. Montparnasse Tower Panoramic Observation Deck
There are many places in Paris to get a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower, but the best is the observation deck of the Montparnasse Tower. This 688-foot skyscraper was the tallest in France when it was first completed in 1973. Its observation deck offers fabulous panoramic views of the city, which are particularly impressive at sunset.
21. The Terrace at the Printemps Department Store
Printemps is one of Paris’s iconic department stores, and its rooftop terrace provides fantastic views of the city. The building is close to the Palais Garnier, a beautiful opera house that looks particularly impressive from the Printemps terrace. A trip up to the terrace also lets you admire the impressive gilded domes that crown Printemps.
22. The Balcony of the Musée d’Orsay
Most visit Musée d’Orsay to take in its huge collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artwork, but not everyone takes the time to enjoy the view from the museum’s gallery. This is best visited during a spring or summer evening when the museum has longer opening hours and you can take in the view as the sun goes down.
Quiet and Quirky Attractions
If you love unusual tourist attractions, check out these lesser-known Parisian points of interest.
23. Statue of Liberty
New York’s Statue of Liberty was a gift from France, and a smaller version is hidden away in Paris. It sits on the Île aux Cygnes in the middle of the River Seine, positioned to face west towards New York. It was built as a model to help engineers prepare to construct the American Statue of Liberty.
24. Mur des Je t’aime
The Love Wall in Montmartre repeats the phrase “I love you” in 250 languages, including the 192 languages of the United Nations. The words are written on enameled lava tiles. The wall was created by Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito in 2000, and it has been a popular spot for loved-up couples to visit ever since.
25. Le Clos de Montmartre
There’s no need to venture into the French countryside to visit a vineyard during your Paris trip. Instead, head to Le Clos, a small vineyard tucked away behind Musée de Montmartre. It’s rare that the vineyard is open to the public, but you can get great views of it from the museum’s gardens.
26. La Petite Ceinture
La Petite Ceinture is an abandoned railway that became redundant in 1934 when the metro was implemented. It has since become overrun with plants and animals and is particularly beautiful in the spring. This is also a great spot to see cool graffiti by local street artists.
Find Your Own Hidden Gems in Paris
If you’ve already ticked off the key sights of Paris from your bucket list, now’s the time to seek out the city’s hidden places. Be sure to add some of these secret spots to your itinerary to make your trip to Paris truly unique.
Featured Image Credit: pixabay.com
