When you think of experiences in Paris, odds are visions of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Jardin du Luxembourg, and the Arc de Triomphe immediately spring to mind. And if you only had a day or two to explore the French capital, I’d say go for it. Explore those attractions listed prominently in every guidebook ever written – I mean, they’re famous for a reason.
But if you’re looking for truly exceptional experiences in Paris that have inspired people from various walks of life, all around the world, century after century, venture off the well-beaten path. You might find that the Paris you know is different from everything you’ve heard and all the better for it.
Table of Contents
1. Fulfill Your Most Romantic Daydreams at Parc Monceau
A strong iron gate plated in gold marks an entrance to a place imagined at the heart of every Jane Austen novel. Stately Roman columns reflect in a tranquil pond inhabited by the weepiest of willows. A regal bridge of pale sandstone and ornate balustrades reaches over a shimmering river surrounded by greenery. If you come to Paris looking for a romantic backdrop for your photos, Parc Monceau does not disappoint.
Located in unassuming arrondissement 8, I’d never have known about this treasure if I hadn’t been living down the street for a month abroad. The first day I wandered into it, all my romance novel-inspired dreams sprung to life.
Primarily a residential park, you’re likely to find many families strolling about, picnicking in the grass, or watching their little ones go ‘round and ‘round on the carrousel. But you won’t find too many tourists vying for the same photo they’ve seen circulated on the internet for decades, like Paris’ better-known parks. Instead, Parc Monceau provides an uninterrupted opportunity for shutterbugs and hopeless romantics.
I confess I still harbor dreams of getting married here one day. Once you see it in person, you’ll find it hard not to let your imagination run away with you too.
2. The Most Beautiful Church in Paris is Not Notre Dame
Notre Dame is renowned for its idyllic portrayal of gothic architecture at its best. During prime season, the famous home of the Humpback can draw crowds so large that a 4-hour wait doesn’t sound so bad. And while it is a popular attraction for a good reason, it’s not the only church you should visit.
The most beautiful church in Paris is found in the 5th arrondissement next to the Pantheon. Saint-Étienne-du-Mont built in the 16th century, is similar to Notre Dame with partially gothic-inspired architecture. Built during a transitional period, however, most of the church was constructed with Renaissance influences. The result is a bright and airy nave unique and approachable to all.
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont is an active Roman Catholic church with services held year-round. The services are in French, but the verses and hymns are universal, and it’s an experience worth having. If you stay for mass, keep in mind that the floors are stone and will pull heat from your body. If you’re attending a service between Fall-Spring, make sure to wear thick footwear with socks. Otherwise, you can look forward to spending a lengthy Catholic mass shivering.
3. You Can Keep Your Prada and Your Hermès, I’m Looking for Goods You Can’t Find Anywhere Else
Don’t get me wrong, shopping luxury brands can be an experience in itself and leaves you with a certain feeling of je ne sais quoi, but you can find them in most major cities. The beauty of traveling the world is discovering things you can’t find anywhere else, and that will inspire stories to take home.
If you’re looking for luxury, the Champs Elysée, Rue Saint Honoré, and Saint Germain will get you started. But if you’re looking for more affordable, distinctive finds that will serve as conversation starters for a long time to come, you’ll be better rewarded with a trip to Rue Mouffetard.
The winding street meanders through the 5th arrondissement, beginning just east of the Saint-Étienne-du-Mont and coming to an end where it runs into Rue Monge. Bright colors and distinctive patterns catch your eye, causing you to wade from one side of the street to another as you carefully navigate the cobblestones. Handmade jewelry glitters through the windows, silky scarves wave in the wind, and treasures of all kinds wait to be discovered.
My favorite shops are on the southern half of the Rue, including La Fée des Lilas. I bought a purse there more than a decade ago that still wins me compliments each time I wear it.
4. The Best Margarita I’ve Ever Had Was in Paris
Trust me, as a native Texan, that’s a weird statement to make! But it happens to be true.
Paris is chock full of delicious food, robust wines, and innovative culinary experiences. It may be the last place you’d expect to find a margarita worth its salt (pun intended), but El Sol y La Luna off Rue Saint-Jacques does more than deliver.
Billed as a Latin American restaurant, they combine traditional flavors of Mexico and Central America to craft authentic dishes. If you’re familiar with classic entrees from that part of the world, you’ll feel more than comfortable ordering from a list of items you’ve seen time and again.
Don’t let any cocktail but the margarita tempt you. It’s tangy without being too sweet – and strong. Whether you decide to go for it by the glass or by the litre, El Sol y La Luna is some of the best bang for your buck in Paris.
5. Go to Sacre Coeur for the View Not for the Church
The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Montparnasse tower are well-known for their city views, and they charge a pretty penny for the privilege. But what if I told you the best place to observe the city could be enjoyed for free?
Perched above the winding cobblestone streets of Paris’ most gothic neighborhood is a church you’ve no doubt heard of, Sacre Coeur. It attracts millions of visitors each year to delve into the church’s history and admire the architecture. However, the most compelling reason to visit doesn’t require you to step inside.
From the church’s steps, viewers have an unobstructed view of Paris from the North, with nearly every major landmark visible. If the panorama before you isn’t enough to appease your group, take in the entertainment. Street performers defy the laws of gravity daily, contorting their bodies to juggle soccer balls while hanging from lamp posts. Artists of the aspiring and established variety can be seen preserving the views for eternity. And budding musicians create ambiance and provide a musical score for it all.
Feel free to peek inside the church – may as well after trekking up untold numbers of stairs – but don’t worry if the interior isn’t what you’d anticipated from such a famous church. Paris is home to many others that don’t require you to battle the crowds.
Want to know where the best places to meet people are in Paris?
6. As Above, So Below: A Different Kind of Resting Place
Père Lachaise Cemetery is popular for its ornate mausoleums and famous inhabitants. Jim Morrison, Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf are a few of the many celebrities resting eternally among grand shrines of obsidian marble, stately stone, and a kaleidoscope of stained glass. Viewing the above-ground cemetery is a novel event to most visitors from around the world, but for all the majesty and awe that Père Lachaise inspires above ground, the Catacombs of Paris evoke feelings of chilling mystery in equal measure below the city’s streets.
The 1500m network of tunnels open to visitors snaking below Paris’ 14th arrondissement is the final resting place for over six million people. Originally built to support overflow from the capital’s other cemeteries, prevent health problems associated with them, and later a secret meeting place for the allies during WWII, the catacombs personify the intrigue of the adage, “if these walls could talk.”
Exploring these tunnels is an unexpected departure from the city known for inspiring light and love, though it shouldn’t be missed by anyone wanting to know Paris more intimately. When you go, you should be aware that access to the tunnels is at the street level, and the only way down is a tight spiral staircase that feels to go on forever. Go slowly and take care to pause and glance up along the way to keep from getting dizzy.
7. Take Your Medicine with a Side of Vodka
The term “mixologist” gets thrown about quite often, though very few bartenders can be credited with the title. A true mixologist can craft the perfect cocktail with any number of ingredients, and they always win favor when they deliver something unexpected.
That’s precisely what Prescription Cocktail Club offers its guests. The nondescript exterior is likely to mislead unassuming tourists that nothing special is happening inside, but the locals know. Decorated in prohibition-era style (including a chandelier made of bowling hats), you get a sense of what a legitimate speakeasy must have felt like. It’s dark and cozy with a bookshelf to boot. If not for the increasingly rowdy crowd, one could almost imagine they were in a friend’s home.
But don’t let the comfortable surroundings fool you. These bartenders came to play and show off some impressive skills. Do yourself a favor and let them build a creation for you. Share your preference for liquor and request a flavor profile (sweet, spicy, smoky, etc.). Then let them do their thing. It’s a great way to try combinations you wouldn’t even know to order, and you’re likely to discover a new favorite. Prescription is a local spot, so don’t be surprised if the bartenders aren’t fluent in English. What may get lost in translation can be found at the bottom of your glass.
8. Follow the Music
The city of lights is made for nights you don’t want to end. And with more than their fair share of bars, discotheques, and dynamic musicians, they don’t have to.
Have you ever found yourself in a place and instantly knew it was special? That’s what Le Caveau des Oubliettes was for me, and any decent list of things to do in Paris should include it. The trouble is, the venue is tiny, so most prefer to keep it in relative obscurity.
A seemingly dark and empty bar in the heart of Paris’s 5th arrondissement, you’d be tempted to think the place is abandoned. That is until you walk in and notice the discreet entrance to a tunnel near the back. A rounded tunnel with jagged edges like you’d see from the remnants of a prison break. The stairs that lead underground are dark and eerie, but you can’t help but hear it. The cacophony of brass instruments mingles with laughter and cheers. Legends play here for crowds that won’t ever forget.
If you love a good jazz bar, this one will become a favorite. Due to its size, Le Caveau des Oubliettes can get cramped and quite warm on a busy summer night, but there’s no experience like it. Musicians travel from all over the world to perform in the cave hidden underneath glittering Parisian streets. Some come as groups, and others join in with whoever else is playing that night. The audience is full of people with one shared love for jazz and a good stiff drink.
9. Veuve Clicqout Was So 10 Years Ago
Do you know what the best sound in the entire world is? It’s the sound of champagne popping open. It’s a sound synonymous with happiness. And true champagne lovers know that the real thing comes from only one place – the Champagne Region of France. But you may not know that the “capital” of that region is Épernay, not Reims.
Reims is a larger city and home to the popular Veuve Clicquot, but Épernay will give you a more candid look inside the magic of making champagne. Peppered around town and lining the Avenue de Champagne are independent champagne houses whose proprietors are eager to tell you everything about their creations and share a glass with you.
A personal favorite is Paul-Etienne Saint Germain. It’s one of the smallest houses on the block with the friendliest family of owners. And the champagne? If you had never tasted champagne before, only read about it and how it was supposed to taste – light and crisp with just a hint of floral sweetness and tiny bubbles that play across your tongue – the popular Charme is precisely that.
Épernay hosts labels you’re sure to recognize too. Moet et Chandon calls this charming town home base, as does Mercier. Since they’re all located on the same street, tasting a little bit of everything is as easy as walking next door.
10. Party Like Marie Antoinette, Before She Lost Her Head
Once reserved only for royalty and the elite, Versailles is one of the most extravagant palaces in the world. Hundreds of acres of lush gardens, miles of gilded hallways, and priceless artifacts are on display for tens of thousands of visitors each day. But if you’ve always dreamed of going back in time and reveling like royalty, there’s one event that makes all those dreams come true.
Le Grand Bal Masqué de Versailles welcomes dreamers worldwide to indulge in their most elaborate fantasy. Hosted in the palace’s Orangerie and kicking off close to midnight, just after the last fireworks show, is the regular Joe and Josephine’s chance to travel back in time, transform into royalty, and party ‘til dawn. It’s the most unforgettable experience in Paris there is.
The ticket to the Bal is relatively inexpensive because it’s not the only thing you need to gain entry. The entire event is choreographed and planned to the finest detail – including you. To be allowed in, each attendee must dress the part. You can work with services to outfit you in custom-fit costumes authentically made for the era of Louis XIV. More extravagant packages include hair and makeup, champagne, personal photographers, and even guides to stay with you all night.
Le Grand Bal Masqué de Versailles is unknown to many, but you can’t miss it. It’s an authentic once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Break From the Crowd
We all know that popular attractions gained their admiration for a reason. But that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to see. If you hate fighting crowds or trying to erase strangers from your photos, break away from the conventional and try these experiences in Paris instead. You won’t be sorry, just full of quality recommendations and stories for friends and family when you get home.
