How to visit Paris differently: discover an unusual and unique Paris and make your trip memorable. Even if you live in Paris, you may find surprising new places in this article. Here is our little list to discover Paris differently!
Visit Paris differently
Here is how you can visit an unusual and unique Paris, not only the Eiffel Tower, even if it is a must-see.
Unusual visits in Paris outside
Visiting the Père-Lachaise cemetery. It is a timeless place. Here rest in peace some of the greatest artists like The Doors singer Jim Morrison, writer Oscar Wilde or the legendary french singer Edith Piaf. You can explore this place with or without a guide. You should consider a guided tour if you like legends, anecdotes, and surprising facts. Here is a guided tour in English, or another one here.
Discover Montmartre differently with an exploration game on your smartphone. You can try the romantic one if you are traveling as a couple and take a great photo in front of the Wall of Love (“Mur des je t’aime”). The Scavenger Hunt one is better for the family. It is an entertaining way to discover this district.
For sports enthusiasts, visit Paris differently with an electric bike! Bicycle lanes have expanded in Paris lately; thus, it is safe. You can rent an electric bike at multiple city stations, but they are often broken. You can also book a guided bike tour and follow the guide without getting lost in the city.
Avoid electric scooters as the ones in Paris are not comfortable (no shock absorber) and are dangerous.
Crime scenes… in Paris! A walking tour around historical crimes that will surprise you and make you discover Paris differently. It is a pedestrian walk of about 2km that takes us into the dark history of Paris.
Unusual visits in Paris inside
For thrill-seekers: visit the Manoir de Paris! It’s a real immersive experience. We loved it. Time went by super fast; we keep an incredible memory. Places are limited, so you should consider buying tickets in advance on the mansion’s website.
Visiting the Opéra Garnier apart from the presentations. The Opéra Garnier is an exceptional place to see in Paris. But very often, you only see it on the outside, while all the beauty is hidden inside this magnificent building: visit the Opéra Garnier + boat trip for 27 euros per person.
For football fans: go behind the scenes at the Stade de France and walk through the players’ tunnel, the dressing rooms, and the locker rooms. Stade de France is the home of the french national soccer team (did you say football?). An excellent activity to do with the family to visit Paris differently if you love soccer: visit the Stade de France. Did you know that the French are the greatest soccer team in the last 25 years? 2 Worlds Cups and 2 lost finals in 6 tournaments. They may win the next one in the USA in 2026.
Visit the Catacombs of Paris. If you want something unusual, you’ll find it in the catacombs, that’s for sure. On the other hand, the wait is quite long, even on rainy days, as places are very limited. Think about guided tours or skip-the-line tickets to avoid queues, save time and enjoy the site.
Hidden unusual places to visit in Paris
When we think about Paris, we think about Haussmann buildings. But Paris also has other facets. To visit Paris differently, here are some streets, passages, and places that you can discover by going off the beaten track.
Friendly pedestrian streets:
- There are several in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. If you are staying near Odéon (see our recommendation for neighborhoods to stay in Pairs), you can take bus 22. It’s prettier to discover Paris by bus rather than by metro, except for a few elevated lines. For example, you can explore the floral city, the flowered city, or even Poplar square.
- Cité du Figuier, visit only on weekdays in the 11th arrondissement.
Discover “secret” passages to visit in Paris:
- I will name just a few here, as there are quite a few.
- Passage de Choiseul, Galerie Vivienne, Passage du Bourg-l’AbbĂ© (it’s also not far from the Hotel Choiseul OpĂ©ra)
- Passage Vendome
- Court of Rohan
- Passage Jouffroy
Take a mint tea at the Mosque of Paris. A peaceful place, and surprising to visit in Paris. There are also oriental pastries to taste.
You can also take a walk on the Coulée Verte, even though it’s pretty well known now.
Paris can be unusual, even if you’ve lived there for a few years! Because, indeed, we rarely take the time to discover these places, and that’s a shame.
That’s all for our list of unusual and unique things and places to visit Paris differently, off the beaten track. We wish you a fantastic stay in Paris.
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