"Respirer Paris, cela conserve l'aime."
"Breathe Paris in, it feeds the soul" - Victor Hugo
Welcome! If you’re planning a trip to Paris and looking for things to do… I got you! I’ve compiled a list of some typical and unique things to do in the City of Lights.
I’m not sure if there’s something in the air or the water, but Paris most certainly has a sexy vibe about it that lingers throughout the city. An unspoken, sensual genealogy woven into their culture. Before going to Paris, I thought it was all hype, but nope, it’s a thing…. a thing one must experience to understand.
Contrary to some beliefs, the people in Paris are very friendly. They purposely and comfortably sit near strangers in restaurants and cafés (These places are designed for this). They enjoy talking to those around them and are very approachable. Parisians just aren’t the type to go around smiling from ear to ear, always pretending to be happy. They most certainly aren’t ass-kissers, and I respect that.
Paris is a safe city, minus the pickpockets which there are many. So use precautions when choosing where to put your valuables (this includes cell phones). They can be crafty too, so be mindful of strangers coming too close or approaching you on the street. If you are taking public transit, always stay within proximity to your bags. Besides that, use the common sense that you would in any large city you visit.
Back to speaking about the water in Paris…. it is safe to drink. The water quality in Paris has one of the best filtration systems out there! So save your money and bring a travel bottle with you. There are hundreds of free water locations throughout the city to fill up. Also, avoid paying for water in restaurants by asking for tap water.
The metro system in Paris is top-notch and so easy to take. They arrive every couple of minutes and cost very little. There are also attendants around to ask questions.
Ok... Now Let's Get Into It!
Eiffel Tower
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention The Eiffel Tower. This iconic monument stands 1,000 ft tall. Originally it was just meant to be the centrepiece for the World’s Fair in 1889. Its modern design was not popular among the Parisians, and it was almost removed because of this. Can you imagine what a mistake that would have been? It is remarkable to witness at any time of day, but once dusk falls, the lights come on and it twinkles in the night sky. If you are wanting to go to the top, make sure to buy your tickets in advance and be on time. Something many don’t know is that Eiffel himself had a hidden apartment on the third floor that became a meeting place for the science elite to strategize projects and ponder theories…. doing all this while looking out over the city.
Cirque d'Hiver
Catch a show at Cirque d’Hiver (110 Rue d’Hiver). This is one of the oldest circuses in the world. Designed by Jacques Ignac Hittoff and opened by Emperor Napoleon III in 1852. The impressive architecture is a 20-sided building, that’s just as unique on the outside as it is on the inside. Cirque d’Hiver can seat almost 6,000 people. It’s a venue for circuses, concerts, and fashion shows…. and it’s even been known to host Turkish wrestling. This was the place where the flying trapeze act first came to fruition, invented and performed by Jules Léotard. A circus show here is a feast for the eyes. Flying acrobatics, daredevils, clowns, and unique performers will give you a show to remember. It is a world of wonder, that reaches inside to bring out the kid in all of us!
E-Scooter Tour
Want to try something different? Go on an E-Scooter Tour. It’s such a fun and unique way to explore the city and cover a fair distance. Also, these tour guides have the inside scoop when it comes to learning the intricacies of the city. You won’t just hear the Ho-Hum garble from a textbook. They’ll give you recommendations from a local’s perspective. Our tour guide suggested a Speakeasy ( La Mezcaleria ). We checked it out and had such a fun night!
This guided tour will take you off the beaten path, on an excursion along the Seine River and through small streets to see many amazing monuments.
- Louvre Museum
- Arc de Triomphe
- Place du la Concorde
- Petit & Grand Palais
- Pont Alexandre III
- Eiffel Tower
Hosted by Idryss on Airbnb
Street Art
One of our favourite things to do is search out street art in every city we visit. The creativity of these graffiti artists and their ability to be inspired and use their surroundings as a canvas is always impressive. The theme of many pieces in Paris is often relevant to the city and its history. You can learn a lot about people this way. The artists’ talent can be found in every neighbourhood in Paris.
Check out these notable Locations:
* Belleville (which translates to “beautiful town”), situated between the 19th & 20thArrondissement, this eclectic neighbourhood displays some of the most talented graffiti artists.
* The Canals of Saint-Denis and Canal de l’Ourcq are popular as well. Each year more art is added, so there’s always something new to discover.
* Largescale commissioned murals are throughout the 13th Arrondissement. Butte-aux-Cailles is a hot spot, a giant open-air museum for you to roam.
* Rue Saint-Maur is a colourful 2km long street in the 10th and 11th where the spattering of art is waiting for you to discover. One of these artists is Kashink; her art brings beauty and truth to the neighbourhood, displaying a feminist point of view.
* Rue Oberkampf is an ever-changing art fusion lining the walls. This vibrant local is a fun area to find a cool spot to grab a drink and end your street tour.
Space Invaders
An alternative way to discover Paris is to seek Space Invaders! There are over 1,400 10-inch tiled art mosaics (although, you will find larger ones like in the picture above) of these iconic images from the original video game situated throughout the city placed on buildings, bridges, sidewalks, and underpasses… you will also find them in bookshops, restaurants, bars, and museum grounds. The artist who created these art pieces also created the FlashInvaders App where you earn points for each piece that you spot. There are over 200,000 players and counting. Not only will you get this experience in Paris, but there are also over 4,000 mosaics in 80 cities across the world! Paris is where it all began, over 24 years ago.
Eat as the Parisians do
24 Rue des Frances Bourgeois
There are over 40,000 restaurants in Paris. Options are a plenty. My advice would be to avoid eating at establishments right next to the main tourist attractions. Instead, walk 3 or so blocks away and keep your eye out for places that aren’t trying to draw you in with photos of their menu (think of pictures as a tourist trap waiting to possibly over-charge you and serve you underwhelming cuisines). Look for boards and menus written in French and listen for the language. Follow the Parisians, they know the best spots in the city.
Grab some local ingredients and have a chill evening back at your vacation rental. For very few euros, we gathered up a bounty of goodness and created a beautiful pasta meal and cheese board. You will also be impressed with the quality of wine available for under 6 euros.
Pompidou Centre
The Pompidou Centre is a one-of-a-kind structure. It rests on 5 acres of land right in the center of the city. Musée National d’Art Moderne is the 2nd largest modern art museum in the world next to MoMA in New York being the largest. Andy Warhol, Henn Matissee, Kadinky, Marcel Puchamp and Jason Pollock are just a few of the artists that have been showcased here. Within the 10 floors that make up this building, you will also find the IRAM – the center for music and acoustic research. Most of IRAM is underground for acoustic reasons. There is also an enormous library open to the Public. Head on up to the Rooftop Restaurant “George” and take in the Panoramic view of the area.
Catacombs de Paris
This experience may not be for the faint of heart. If you are claustrophobic or someone who is easily spooked out in graveyards, you’ll want to sit this one out. The catacombs are an underground quarry, turned into an ossuary containing over 6 million Parisian bones. The Ossuary was built in 1786 because of a need to store the remains from the Saints-Innocents cemetery. The cemetery had become plagued with disease and was a serious health hazard to the public. The walls of the quarry have been stacked to the ceiling with bones. It’s a 1.5 km long labyrinth of tunnels that one could get lost in. That’s why this is best done with the accompaniment of a guide, plus they have VIP access to secret rooms and will share with you eerie stories about things that “go bump in the night”. It can be chilly down there, so dress warmly. The Catacombs are not wheelchair accessible. Be ready to walk down 131 steps at the entrance (1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy) as well as 112 steps up to the exit (21 bis, Avenue René-Coty) which is at a different location.
59 Rivoli
Each room is unlike the next. This art studio is so fun to walk through. There are 30 artists spread out over the 6 floors hanging out in their studios. We the people, get to have an intimate look into their space and their works of art on display. It is entry by donation. The ever-changing exterior and rotating artists mean there is always a reason to return. On Saturday and Sunday at 6pm, they host free concerts. The building sits amongst one of the busiest shopping streets in Paris… we got lucky and found it during a day shopping.
Château de Versailles
Take a day trip to the Palace of Versailles. it is only an hour’s drive or a short metro ride from Paris.
The walls are covered in reflective mirrors, gilded trim, hand-painted murals, and chandeliers everywhere the eye can see. Once a place to host emperors kings and queens. Where diplomates and socialites would congregate during opulent banquets. Most famous for the time King Louis XVI and his queen Marie Antoinette lived here. They relished living life in excess on these grounds. That is until a march of women revolting against the shortage of food, at the beginning of the revolution, drove them out. Take a day walking the grounds and walking through the halls of Versailles.
Thanks for stopping by!
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