Paris is a truly special travel destination. Up there with Rome, London and New York in the list of iconic cities that are on many people’s wish lists, Paris is full of history, art, culture and more. We have spent a lot of time here and while the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe will never fail to impress us, there is so much more to explore in the French capital. Ahead of your Parisian trip, here are the Adventures with Sarah team’s top Paris sites and activities to help you get to know the city better.
Exploring Paris
When most people visit Paris, they have a detailed itinerary planned which involves jumping in and out of taxis or the metro to see as much as possible. This means that outside of the main sights, most people don’t explore the city itself. Simply by giving yourself time to wander, you will come across all sorts of beautiful places and discover more of the ‘real’ Paris.
You can reach Place de la Concorde with its ancient Egyptian obelisk down the river Seine from the Louvre, Place des Vosges is close to the Bastille and the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg gardens are in the Left Bank, a short walk from Notre Dame. While these are excellent places to seek out, there are some particular team favorites that we always make time for:
The Islands in the Seine
One place we never skip is the Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. Neighboring islands in the Seine, this is the ancient heart of Paris. People have lived here since at least the time of the ancient Romans (if not earlier) and it was where the French kings ruled from until Paris started expanding in more recent centuries.
On the larger island, the Île de la Cité, you’ll find the famous Notre Dame cathedral as well as the Palais de la Cité. This was originally the palace of the French kings before becoming the treasury and center of justice. During the French Revolution it was where prisoners were kept and tried in the Revolutionary Tribunals.
The long, convoluted history of Paris comes to life here. Walk across the most convenient bridge and step into the past. You’ll find narrow streets with mismatched buildings, quintessentially French signs and bistros, with the backdrop of some of the most impressive sights anywhere in Paris. You can walk from end to end of both islands in under an hour if you don’t look at anything, but be prepared to stop every few steps to admire something new.
Once you’ve explore the medieval streets, take a seat at one of the bistros on the smaller Île Saint-Louis, near the Pont Saint Louis bridge, and enjoy a rich hot chocolate with a view of the Notre Dame and plenty of people-watching – Parisian perfection.
Strolling Along the Seine
Another favorite activity of ours sounds simple, but can be perfect done right.
Get up early and skip the hotel breakfast buffet, and instead stop by a Parisian bakery to pick up a pain au chocolat or croissant that is still warm from the oven. Pair this with a café au lait (strong coffee with hot milk) to go and stroll along the banks of the river Seine with your breakfast.
You’ll see the booksellers setting up their iconic green stalls for the day and the Seine river cruise boats lined up waiting for their passengers, as well as Parisians on their way to work or school. Even if you then spend the rest of the day inside museums and galleries, you’ll know you started the day with a glimpse of the real Paris.
Get to Know Paris’ Shopping Scene
Another Paris activity that deserves more time than you might expect is a classic – shopping.
Paris is one of the world’s fashion hubs, hosting Fashion Week annually and is the home of countless designers. There are many stores lining the Champs-Élysées and the nearby Avenue Montaigne is where you’ll find high end designers like Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
We prefer to spend our shopping time in some of Paris’ more accessible and enjoyable stores, particularly their department stores. This is even better if you’re in Paris during the big sale months of January and July.
Department stores as a concept originated in the UK in the late 1700’s, but the Parisians took the idea and hugely expanded it. By 1900 Paris had 6 major department stores to choose from, and incredibly most of these are still going. We particularly like BHV in the Marais neighborhood as well as Le Bon Marché near the Hôtel des Invalides and the original Galeries Lafayette on the Haussmann boulevard.
The store at Galeries Lafayette is particularly special because of its roof. Built in the early 20th century, the store has a stunning dome roof made up of stained glass windows held together with an iron framework. The colors and interior design is spectacular, and worth going inside for even if you haven’t got any space in your luggage for souvenirs. You can also go outside onto the more modern roof terrace which has a magnificent view of Paris.
Outdoor Spaces
Many of the top Paris sites we love are outdoors. Spending time outside in the city is a huge part of what makes Paris so fun for us – here are some of the places we particularly like:
The Steps Up to the Sacré Coeur
The beautiful Sacré Coeur cathedral is on top of the Montmartre hill, one of the highest points in Paris. From the square in front of the entrance to the church you can see the city stretching out in front of you; it’s one of the best viewpoints of Paris.
However, this means that to reach the cathedral, you have to climb the hill. There is a small funicular which will take you up, but we prefer to take the stairs that run alongside the funicular line, the Rue Foyatier.
The stairs themselves aren’t wildly elaborate or particularly decorative, but each section connects with other parts of the Montmartre neighborhood, giving you glimpses of this special part of Paris. Plus, as you ascend, you will get a different perspective of the city below you.
While you’re in Montmartre, make sure to stop by one of the top patisseries and pick up a selection of freshly-made macarons to snack on as you walk around. They are incredibly moreish, so don’t expect to have any left when you get back to your hotel.
Disneyland Paris
So this isn’t technically in Paris itself, but Disneyland is worth the short train ride outside of the city. Yes it isn’t on the same huge scale as Disney World in Florida, but the park is a lot of fun.
More than one of our team who are from the UK have fond memories of visiting Disneyland Paris as children, and as adults there is still a lot to enjoy here. The iconic castle never fails to make us smile, the rides are fun and there are lots of stores, restaurants and entertainment to fill your time.
Relaxing in Paris’ Parks and Gardens
There are hundreds of green spaces in Paris, ranging from tiny gardens to huge parks that used to be royal hunting grounds. We always make sure to leave ourselves some time to stroll through one or two of these during packed sightseeing days.
If you’ve been at the Louvre, most people head out to the Jardin des Tuileries stretching along the bank of the Seine. However, we prefer to walk to the Jardin du Palais-Royal. This garden is part of the Palais Royal complex and is the perfect place to relax. Wander through the arcades that surround the garden before taking a seat and soak in the calm atmosphere.
We also love the Jardin du Luxembourg. This large garden is near the Panthéon, and has lawns, fountains, an ornamental lake, lots of different paths and places to sit and relax. The garden is very popular with locals, and is the perfect place to get a sense of everyday life away from the crowds.
Finally, even if it is a little cliché, you have to have a picnic on the Champ des Mars, a large park with the Eiffel Tower at one end. The picnic can simply be a fresh baguette and some wine, but sitting with a view of the iconic tower is so much fun.
For a truly indulgent Parisian experience, before going to one of these parks, stop by a local patisserie and pick up a selection of their sweet treats to do some pastry tasting. You’ll definitely want to take a break after that!
Escaping the Crowds
Talking of those crowds, it is a fact that between the people who live in Paris and the millions of visitors who travel here each year, there are some places that are pretty much always packed. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge, Notre Dame; all of these top Paris sites are consistently busy. We love all of these, but sometimes you want to find somewhere quieter – here are our favorite places in Paris that are rarely full of people:
The Archeological Crypt of Île de la Cité
First up is a place that so many visitors walk past without realizing. In the square in front of Notre Dame there is a small staircase which goes down below the street level, which is how you access the Archeological Crypt of the island.
As we talked about earlier, this is the most ancient part of Paris and during excavations in the 1960’s and 70’s some fascinating layers of history were found. The exhibition within the crypt tells the story of the ancient settlement and how Paris developed and changed over the following centuries.
In addition to being a really interesting site, it is surprisingly quiet given its proximity to Notre Dame just above.
Paris Sewer Museum
One of Sarah’s particular favorites, the Paris Sewer Museum is far more fun than the name would suggest.
A true feat of engineering, the labyrinth of sewer tunnels and pipe work that was created underground in the early 1800’s turned Paris into a modern city. The removal of waste and supply of fresh water went a long way towards solving a huge public health crisis and allowed other civic engineering projects to go ahead.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Paris we love today would not look the way it does without the sewers, and this museum allows you to learn more about their history. You can even go down into some of the old (unused!) tunnels.
Napoleon’s Tomb and the Military Museum
One of the most influential and impactful figures in European history is Napoleon Bonaparte. The French general who became the first Emperor of France controlled much of western Europe at the height of his power, and his actions literally changed the course of history.
Initially he was buried on the island of Saint Helena where he died in exile in 1821, but the British later allowed his remains to be returned to France. Napoleon was given a huge state funeral and was laid to rest in a huge sarcophagus in the church of the Hôtel des Invalides.
The Hôtel des Invalides was originally a military complex with a hospital and accommodation for retired soldiers, and today it is the home of the national military museum of France. As well as Napoleon’s tomb, there are a series of exhibitions telling the story of France’s armed forces from medieval times through to the first and second World Wars.
The complex is huge but never busy, and each section of the museum is independent so you don’t have to look at absolutely everything, but we have spent hours here exploring.
Concerts
There are all sorts of concerts held all over Paris, but one of our favorite ways to see some of the city’s historic churches is to attend a concert in one.
These concerts are a chance to see the inside of some truly incredible buildings as well as enjoying an evening of music. Sure, you cannot walk around in the same way as if you visited during the day, but the experience is much more enjoyable.
One of our favorite concert locations is the Sainte Chapelle. Sit back and admire the pinnacle of the French Gothic architecture style and the colorful stained glass windows as the music washes over you – this is an unmissable Parisian experience for us.
Get to Know Paris With Us
From the iconic Paris attractions like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame cathedral to beautiful gardens and amazing food, the city has something for everyone. While these top Paris sights are always part of our time in the city, our Paris staycation is designed to take you on a deep dive into the parts of Paris most people miss.
We love showing our fellow adventurers this other side of one of the most famous cities in the world, and can’t wait to see you all on our next Paris adventure – check out all the details here to find out more.
