14 Off-the-Beaten-Path Things to See in Paris (Updated 2025)

Paris is full of well-known factors of curiosity: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, the catacombs, the Pantheon, the Arc de Triomphe, Sacre-Coeur. The guidelines goes on. There are so many very good web sites proper right here that you simply presumably can spend days (heck, even weeks) merely seeing the precept, most well-known ones.

Nonetheless there’s additional to Paris than the web sites that entice lots of upon lots of of vacationers on daily basis.

Whereas I was residing in Paris the last few months, I made it my mission to see quite a few the additional unusual, lesser-known (nonetheless equally superior) factors of curiosity (that didn’t embody the irritating crowds that make so plenty of Paris’ factors of curiosity unbearable).

And, whereas quite a few the problems on the guidelines beneath might not be “large secret” factors of curiosity or actions, they do fall into the category of “ignored factors of curiosity” so I included them.

Listed beneath are quite a few the best off-the-beaten-path points to see and do in Paris:

1. Musée Édith Piaf

Édith Piaf is perhaps basically essentially the most well-known French singer from the Nineteen Thirties to the Nineteen Sixties, and recognized world large for her songs La vie en rose and Non, je ne regrette rien (which appeared throughout the movie Inception). She lived in a little bit of rental throughout the Ménilmontant district to start with of her occupation, which has been was a tiny museum dedicated to her. You get a glimpse at her life by her gold and platinum data, photos, garments, letters from followers, posters, recordings, and sheet music.

Admission is free, nonetheless you’ll should make an appointment.

2. Musée Curie

Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize (and the one woman to win it twice) for her evaluation into radioactivity (a phrase that she invented). She was the first female professor on the Faculty of Paris along with the first woman to be entombed throughout the Panthéon on her private deserves. Positioned throughout the fifth arrondissement, this museum, in her earlier laboratory, highlights her radiological evaluation. It’s insightful and eye-opening for anyone unfamiliar collectively together with her historic discoveries.
 

3. Archives Nationales

Opened in 1867, the Nationwide Archives properties lots of of historic paperwork courting once more to 625 CE. One among six nationwide archives throughout the nation, the museum sheds gentle on France’s turbulent earlier, providing nuanced historic particulars and context by eternal and short-term exhibitions.

Constructed by the order of Napoleon I, the developing itself (usually known as the Hôtel de Soubise) is totally beautiful. It is throughout the late Baroque vogue, embracing prolonged columns and plenty of statues and sculptures. It choices immaculate grounds and gardens as successfully. They always preserve numerous good exhibitions too.
 

4. Librairie Galignani

This bookshop claims to be the oldest English bookstore in continental Europe, having opened in Paris in 1801. Earlier to that, they’ve been positioned in Venice and the Galignani establish has been associated to publishing books given that sixteenth century. Age aside, it’s a glorious spot to browse because it’s utterly full of books. You presumably can merely spend a pair hours proper right here trying by the stacks and cupboards. It’s a quiet, quaint retailer and the employees are large educated. Whenever you’re an avid reader like me, don’t miss it!
 

5. Paris Degree Zero

That’s the official coronary heart of Paris, from which all distances throughout the metropolis are measured. Whereas it’s solely a straightforward brass star set into the sidewalk near the Notre Dame Cathedral, there are a few well-liked rituals proper right here that make this a quick nonetheless pleasing stop (and since you’ll seemingly be shut by visiting the Cathedral, it’s possible you’ll as successfully stop proper right here). Some people cope with the star as a wishing successfully, tossing a coin and making a need (which is why there are sometimes a handful of money on the star). Others, nonetheless, insist that if you happen to occur to face on the star along with your beloved and kiss, your love will ultimate perpetually.
 

6. The Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy

Opened in 1898, this gallery is a part of the French Nationwide Museum of Pure Historic previous. Taking over the underside floor of the developing, it’s home to over 1,000 animal skeletons from world large, along with full skeletons of elephants, large cats, and even dinosaurs. It’s as fascinating because it’s unsettling: the entire animals are coping with the an identical strategy, making it appear to be you’re throughout the midst of some undead stampede!

7. Petite Ceinture

In use from 1862 by 1964, the railway circling Paris was abandoned when city expanded previous its limits. It’s largely hidden behind buildings and lined in wild vegetation and grass now, though some sections for the time being are formally open to most people. You’ll uncover all varieties of flowers and street art work alongside the tracks.

Whereas some sections are illegal to go to, near Parc Georges Brassens you’ll uncover part of the tracks usually known as the ‘Passage de la Petite Ceinture’ that is every free and licensed to go to. It’s positioned throughout the 15e arrondissement.
 

8. The Salvador Dalí Sundial

This surrealist sundial was created by world-renowned artist Salvador Dalí. Positioned on Rue Saint-Jacques, it’s a combination of a human face and a scallop shell (the picture of the Camino to Santiago, given that street known as after the saint). Whereas the sundial doesn’t really work, it’s nonetheless a easy choice to see a little bit of artwork work by one of many essential well-known artists on this planet.
 

9. Le Passe-Muraille

This iconic bronze sculpture is positioned near Montmartre, making it a easy stop in your itinerary. It’s based totally on a character from The Man Who Walked By means of Partitions (Le Passe-Muraille), a quick story by Parisian Marcel Aymé printed in 1941. Inside the story, an individual good factors the flexibleness to maneuver by partitions and he makes use of the flexibility to rise as much as no good. On the end of the information, though, his vitality fades merely as he is passing by a wall…and he’ll get caught. Whenever you stand up close to the sculpture, you’ll see that the arms of the statue are additional straightforward, on account of quite a few people taking photos of themselves making an attempt to tug the individual free.
 

10. Montmartre Cemetery

Whereas the Père Lachaise Cemetery is a very powerful and hottest in Paris, for a additional secluded stroll, check out the Montmartre Cemetery. A great deal of people go to the best of Montmartre for Sacré-Coeur and the view, nonetheless few take the time to wander this cemetery sitting on the foot of the district. It opened in 1825 and is home to many cobwebbed mausoleums, along with a handful of stray cats. You gained’t see many people proper right here, so you can uncover in peace.
 

11. The Museum of Counterfeiting

Opened in 1972, this museum is home to counterfeit devices which have been collected by France’s customs brokers and police (along with donated devices from producers and clients alike). There are over 500 devices throughout the museum, ranging from counterfeit art work and splendid objects to additional mundane devices, like cleaning supplies. Whereas some knockoffs are spectacular of their duplicity, it’s moreover humorous to see merely how unhealthy some counterfeiters have been!
 

12. Promenade Planteé (Coulée verte René-Dumont)

This tree-lined walkway is a greenbelt that extends almost 5km alongside the earlier Vincennes railway line. The railway line ceased functioning in 1969, with the park being inaugurated a few a very long time afterward. Until New York constructed their Extreme Line, it was the one elevated park in your whole world. (And, really, that’s strategy nicer than the NYC Extreme Line).

You’ll uncover loads of timber, flowers, ponds, and places to sit alongside this prolonged path that stretches from Bastille to the sting of Paris. It’s an prolonged, simple, and pleasant stroll. You gained’t uncover many people proper right here. Even on a pleasing day, it’s fairly empty. It shortly turned actually one in every of my favorite points to do in Paris and I can’t recommend coming proper right here ample!
 

13. Canal Saint-Martin

Stretching 4.5km, the Canal Saint-Martin is a man-made waterway commissioned by Napoleon. Constructing accomplished in 1825, connecting the Canal de l’Ourcq to the Seine by the use of every above-ground locks and underground tunnels. Whereas not any secret spot (on a pleasing day, you’ll uncover the canal lined with people), it’s largely a spot for locals who want to have a picnic and settle down. So, say no to the Seine, and can be found have your outside picnic alongside the canal. It’s additional stress-free and there shall be fewer people!
 

14. Museé de Montmartre

Based mostly in 1960, this museum is positioned all by two buildings that date once more to the seventeenth century. By the years, the buildings have been home to many well-known writers and painters. The gardens of the museum have been really renovated to look additional identical to the gardens in Renoir’s work (there’s moreover a vineyard shut by that dates once more to the Middle Ages however it makes horrible wine). The museum’s eternal assortment consists of all types of labor, posters, and drawings.

Whereas the precept sights in Paris are always worth testing, if you happen to want to be larger than a vacationer and develop a bigger appreciation for the Metropolis of Delicate’s distinctive and complex historic previous, go to those unconventional and peculiar factors of curiosity in Paris.