From the earliest that we took abroad together, my grandmother instilled in me a desire to look beyond famous tourist attractions in whatever corner of the world I happened to find myself in. On that first trip with one another, fittingly to Paris, we explored all of the big names – the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame – but we also left plenty of time to simply wander and take in less explored areas of the sprawling metropolis. It was, in fact, those times spent in comparatively secret corners of Paris that I truly fell in love with the city.
Since that initial trip I have returned to Paris time and time again and with each trip I move increasingly further away from the tourist-filled city center. I still make time to take in the sites the city is known for but find myself spending more of my days exploring areas of Paris that most tourists never get to see. It is those adventures, those experiences, and those secret corners that keep me coming back, and today I’m sharing my very favorites of them all with you. Whether you are visiting the city for the first time or the fifth time, I highly recommend taking the time to check out at least one of these five unique things to do in Paris.
Parc des Butte Chaumont
1 rue Botzaris
19th Arrondissement
Parc des Buttes Chaumont is located north east of central Paris and covers a sprawling 61 acres of land, making it the fifth largest park in the city. It was opened in 1867 in an, at the time, less than desirable area of Paris. I’ll save you from the from the land’s gruesome history and focus instead on what it has to offer now including paved roads and trails that connect the park’s butte with its sprawling grassy hills and grottos, an artificial lake with a suspension bridge swaying above it and, most famously, the hilltop Temple de la Sibylle which was modeled after the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy.
The park is notable in that its entire landscape was reformed from its original state. Once the location of a quarry, Parc des Butte Chaumont’s famous buttes are not, in fact, original to the landscape and took over two years to create with the help of explosives and a plethora of manpower. Topsoil was then added to sculpt the park’s hills and an artificial lake was dug to sit at the base of the park’s main butte.
A visit to Parc des Butte Chaumont is going to yield a comparatively authentic Parisian experience, largely free of tourists. You’ll likely find couples picnicking in the grass, children taking pony rides down paths, and families enjoying quality time together while they take in the 47 resident species of plants, trees and shrubs. The park also features several on-site restaurants that offer the option of outdoor dining beneath the trees.
One word of advice – if you visit the park you absolutely MUST climb to where the Temple de la Sibylle sits and take in the sprawling views of the city. They are some of the best you will find of beautiful Paris.
Cimetière du Père Lachaise
16 rue du Repos
20th Arrondissement
A trip to Cimetière du Père Lachaise isn’t for everyone but, if you are profoundly interested in the history of Paris, France, and Europe as I am, it is a visit you will find worthwhile. The 110 acre cemetery opened in 1804 and is the final resting place of anywhere between 300,000 to 1,000,000 individuals, many of whom are some of the most notable figures in recent history including Honoré de Balzac, Oscar Wild, Marcel Proust, Georges Molière, Colette, Sarah Bernhardt, Marcel Marceau, Frédéric Chopin, Georges Bizet, Edith Piaf, and Jim Morrison.
By the late 18th century, the population of Paris had rapidly expanded to the point that the city’s existing burial space was at capacity. Concerned about the spread of disease in overcrowded plots, city officials established the area as a municipal, non-denominational cemetery and park on a plot of land just outside the existing city limits. Designed with the help of both an architect and urban planner, Père Lachaise was originally an exceedingly organized collection of tree-lined avenues that just so happened to also be home to an ever-expanding collection of graves.
Since the cemetery was located outside of Paris’ city limits when it opened, it was not seen as a desirable final resting place. As a way to advertise, city officials relocated the remains of famous individuals from other burial locations and situated them throughout the cemetery. That is why today you’ll encounter tombs pre-dating the 1804 opening date. The city’s marketing plan worked and Père Lachaise quickly became the place to be buried in Paris.
Upon entering the gates of Père Lachaise, you’re likely to feel as if you have taken a step back in time. The hustle and bustle of the busy city streets immediately disappears in lieu of chirping birds, leaves rustling in the wind and an abundant sense of peace and calm. A walk down Père Lachaise’s cobblestoned lanes feels comparable to a visit to a spiritual site and sculpture garden all in one. The cemetery’s countless tombs and statues are intricate pieces of art, celebrating some of the most influential individuals of the last several centuries and commemorating both humanity’s achievements and failings.
If you make the trip to Père Lachaise be certain to either bring or pick up a map at the front entrance. The cemetery, while peaceful, is also a sprawling jumble of lanes and pathways in its modern form and it is next to impossible to accidentally stumble upon the specific resting places of those you came to see.
Hôtel de Sully
62 rue Saint-Antoine
4th Arrondissement
Hôtel de Sully was originally built between 1625 and 1630 as a Baroque-era private mansion. The home was strategically situated to give its residents access to the Place Royale, now called Place des Vosges, which to this day lies directly behind it. Hôtel de Sully was built in two waves, the second of which was commissioned by the Sully family and yielded the mansion’s west wing, garden, and name. Century by century, the hotel changed hands before it was classified as a historical monument in 1862. In 1944 the state took ownership of the property and a lengthy restoration program commenced, not to be completed until 1973.
The property remains a public building, now home to the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, and is largely closed off to the public with the exception of an extensive bookshop on the ground floor and a manicured garden in the back. It is for the peaceful garden that a visit to Hôtel de Sully is suggested. While the neighboring Place des Vosges is bustling with life, Hôtel de Sully’s garden is comparatively serene and is one of those remarkable locations in Paris that you must be in the know to find.
Access to the garden comes from either the governmental building if you’re entering from the street or an unmarked door if you’re entering from Place des Vosges, so on your first visit you may feel as if you are trespassing somewhere you really don’t belong. Fear not, the individuals who call Hôtel du Sully their workplace are used to residents and the occasional tourist meandering through the grounds and enjoying the stunning property right alongside them.
Canal Saint-Martin
10th Arrondissement
Canal Saint-Martin is located in northeastern Paris and connects the Canal de l’Ourcq to the Seine. Construction on the predominately subterranean canal was ordered by Napoleon in 1802 as a means to provide the growing city of Paris with fresh water, food, and other goods. In true French fashion, the lengthy twenty-three-year construction was largely funded by a wine tax.
These days the canal is scarcely used as a waterway and was actually almost filled in completely in the 1960s. With the exception of the occasional barge passing through the canal’s system of locks, today it mainly serves as a popular destination for tourists and Parisians alike due to the trendy shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars that line the streets surrounding its banks.
Thanks to the vibrant culture of the neighborhood you can find incredible street art at every turn. Large scale murals and small works alike fill the streets immediately adjacent to the canal, nestled proudly amongst the area’s attractions, adding a distinctly artistic vibe to this quirky corner of Paris.
Parc de Belleville
47 rue des Couronnes
20th Arrondissement
This unique park is situated on a hill in the midst of Belleville, a lively and diverse section of the city. Though only completed in 1988, Parc de Belleville quickly became a favorite escape for locals. Featuring activities for adults and kids alike, including an adorable wooded children’s village and toboggan ride, a visit to this park is a family affair.
Beyond family fun, Parc de Belleville boasts unrestricted panoramic views of Paris and has the highest elevation of any of the city’s parks. Its unique tiered landscape allows for extensive water displays that line the park’s switchback walking paths, winding you through expansive lawns, groves of trees, and gardens. The park even has its own small vineyard of 140 vines that are harvested each year for wine, a nod to the area’s rich farming history.
At the very top of the park’s hill stands the Maison de l’Air, a center that measures weather patterns and air quality, hosts exhibitions and offers workshops. Featuring interactive and environmentally themed rooms, Maison de l’Air aims to give children greater insight into the role air plays in nature. Parc de Belleville is one stop that truly offers something for everyone.
The more time I spend discovering Paris, the more I realize how much I have left to learn about my favorite city. No two neighborhoods, or even streets, are alike and I come home from every trip with a desire to explore further. I firmly believe in breaking free of standard tourist destinations when traveling and making an attempt to live like a local, which is why these five unique things to do in Paris speak to me. Each of them presents a glimpse at a different side of Paris and together they offer the possibility of developing a deeper understanding for the beautifully diverse city.
