20 Things to Do in Paris That Aren’t the Eiffel Tower

Paris offers so much more beyond its iconic tower. The City of Light brims with hidden treasures, cultural gems, and authentic experiences that many visitors miss while focusing only on the famous landmarks. From serene gardens to bustling markets, Paris rewards those willing to venture off the well-trodden tourist path.

Here is a list of 20 exceptional activities in Paris that will give you a deeper appreciation for this magnificent city without ever having to set foot near the Eiffel Tower.

Explore the Catacombs

Beneath the romantic streets lies a labyrinth of tunnels housing the remains of over six million Parisians. The ossuary was created in the late 18th century to address the city’s cemetery overcrowding.

Walking through the carefully arranged bones offers a haunting yet fascinating glimpse into Paris’s complex relationship with mortality and urban planning.

Picnic at Canal Saint-Martin

This trendy waterway in northeastern Paris has become a favorite hangout spot for locals. Grab fresh bread, cheese, and wine from nearby shops and join Parisians along the canal banks for a leisurely afternoon meal.

The area comes alive especially on weekends, when musicians often provide impromptu performances that feel like private concerts.

Visit Musée de l’Orangerie

While everyone flocks to the Louvre, this intimate museum houses Monet’s breathtaking Water Lilies paintings displayed exactly as the artist intended. The oval rooms were designed for these massive canvases, creating an immersive experience.

You’ll feel as though you’re standing in Monet’s garden at Giverny, surrounded by his masterpieces.

Discover Père Lachaise Cemetery

This sprawling cemetery serves as the final resting place for numerous notable figures, including Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, and Jim Morrison. The ornate tombs and tree-lined paths create an unexpectedly peaceful setting.

It’s an open-air sculpture museum where you can spend hours wandering among beautiful monuments and contemplating artistic legacies.

Browse the Bouquinistes

The riverside booksellers with distinctive green stalls have been a fixture along the Seine since the 16th century. UNESCO recognizes them as part of Paris’s cultural heritage.

Browsing through their collection of vintage books, prints, and postcards feels like hunting for treasure, and you’ll likely find unique souvenirs with stories behind them.

Sample Delicacies at Marché des Enfants Rouges

Dating back to 1615, this is Paris’s oldest covered market and a food-lover’s paradise. Vendors offer everything from traditional French cuisine to North African and Lebanese specialties.

The market gets its unusual name (‘Market of the Red Children’) from a nearby orphanage where children once wore red uniforms.

Attend a Show at Palais Garnier

This opulent opera house inspired ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and remains one of the most magnificent buildings in Paris. The grand staircase and ceiling painted by Marc Chagall will leave you speechless.

Even if you’re not an opera fan, the architecture makes it worth visiting this temple for performing arts.

Wander Through Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

This dramatic park features cliffs, waterfalls, and a temple high above a lake. Originally a gypsum quarry and garbage dump, it was transformed into one of Paris’s most beautiful green spaces during the 19th century.

The elevated views of the city from the temple make all the uphill walking worthwhile.

Take a Cooking Class

Learning to make French classics from professional chefs gives you skills to bring home. Many schools offer market-to-table experiences where you shop for ingredients before cooking.

Nothing compares to the satisfaction of mastering a perfect soufflé or beef bourguignon under expert guidance.

Tour the Sewers Museum

This unusual attraction offers insight into Paris’s impressive underground infrastructure. The museum showcases the engineering marvel that helped transform Paris from a medieval city into a modern metropolis.

It’s surprisingly clean and fascinating rather than unpleasant—like walking through the city’s circulatory system.

Relax in Place des Vosges

The oldest planned square in Paris features perfect symmetry, beautiful arcades, and a tranquil garden. Victor Hugo once lived in one of the surrounding buildings, which is now a museum dedicated to the author.

Sitting on a bench beneath the linden trees feels like stepping back into the 17th century.

Explore Covered Passages

These 19th-century glass-roofed shopping arcades are precursors to modern malls. Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne, and others offer charming shops, cafés, and beautiful mosaic floors.

They provided shelter for shoppers long before department stores existed and still maintain their vintage charm.

Visit Albert Kahn Gardens

These meticulously designed gardens showcase landscapes from around the world—Japanese, English, French, and forest. A banker and philanthropist created them as part of his vision for promoting peace through cultural understanding.

Walking through feels like globe-trotting without leaving Paris.

Attend a Wine Tasting

Learning about French wine regions from knowledgeable sommeliers enhances your appreciation for the country’s viticultural heritage. Many shops and cellars offer tastings, ranging from casual to sophisticated.

You’ll leave with practical knowledge about wine selection and memorable stories about the families who’ve produced these wines for generations.

Explore Musée Rodin

Set in a beautiful mansion with expansive gardens, this museum houses masterpieces like ‘The Thinker’ and ‘The Kiss.’ The indoor-outdoor experience lets you appreciate Rodin’s sculptures in different lights and settings.

The rose garden in summer provides a perfect backdrop for these emotional works.

Shop at Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen

The world’s biggest flea market has something for everyone, ranging from exquisite antiques to unusual collectibles. It’s like a city in miniature, sprawling across seven hectares and having more than 2,000 stalls.

International professional decorators shop here to find that one-of-a-kind item, and you can find anything from vintage Chanel to 18th-century pieces of furniture.

Take a Street Art Tour in Belleville

This multi-cultural neighborhood is now an outdoor gallery for graffiti and mural artists. Vibrant pieces turn regular buildings into masterpiece canvases.

The creative dynamism is indicative of the area’s immigrant past and artistic inclination, presenting an entirely new aspect of Parisian culture.

Visit Sainte-Chapelle

This medieval chapel is home to some of the world’s most breathtaking stained glass. The sunlight pouring through the 15 towering windows is like magic.

The top chapel is like being inside a jewel box, with 1,113 biblical scenes rendered in bright colors.

Cruise the Seine at Sunset

Viewing Paris from the water provides angles that are not possible to achieve on land. As the city lights sparkle and shine on the water, you’ll know why Paris is known as the City of Light.

The boat glides beneath dozens of ornate bridges, each with its history and architecture.

Explore La Défense

This ultramodern business area features modern architecture and public art. The Grand Arche, conceived as a 20th-century counterpart to the Arc de Triomphe, encloses an ideal vista back to the historic city.

The juxtaposition of old and new Paris illustrates how the city still transforms but in ways that respect its heritage.

Paris Beyond the Postcard

Paris repays those who see beyond its more obvious attractions with genuine experiences and memories that endure. The city’s essence exists in its neighborhoods, markets, and less-well-known corners where Parisians live and spend their time.

By delving into these lesser-known but equally wonderful facets of Paris, you’ll have a more profound relationship with one of the world’s most stunning cities and be able to bring back tales well beyond the norm of tourist fare.