Do you think you have already visited everything in Paris? You don’t know what to do anymore and you lack inspiration? Here are some ideas which will help you discover new activities and new places to visit in the city.
Take a walk to the Coulée Verte
Take a walk along the Coulée Verte, located at the core of the 12e arrondissement.
It is a decommissioned railway which used to connect the Bastille train station to the eastern suburbs.
What is today the Coulée Verte has been transformed by two architects and landscape artists in a walk in the heart of nature.
Several gardens were placed next to each other in this natural landscape like the Reuilly garden, well known for its hanging bridge or the Charles Péguy square.
During your walk, you will be able to see the railway’s old structures which were left untouched.
As of today, the bridge’s 71 arcades now contain around 50 workshops.
Sail with Marin d’eau douce
You can rent a boat which doesn’t require a boat license to discover the city of Paris (again) from another angle.
Marin d’eau douce offers several rides.
One of them is Paris insolite (in French). Sail on the Saint Martin channel and the Ourcq channel for 40km.
You can also sail longer (in French) for around 6 hours, from the Ourcq channel to the Sevran lock.
You will pass by the Crimée bridge and will sail along the Parc de la Villette.
Once you’re here, you can have a picnic in the Bergère park.
Other courses are available, with a small boat ride for children (in French).
As young as 9 years old, alone or accompanied by an adult, little sailors can have fun with their journey on the water. Each boat can take 5 to 11 sailors.
Go to the Clignancourt flea market
Go to the largest antique market and the flea market, the world-known Clignancourt flea market.
This market spans over 3 hectares and contains more than 2000 market stands.
You can go there on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Fridays are for professionals.
You can stroll among different market stands for several hours, and also discover old furniture or objects, and unusual objects.
There are also second-hand and worn clothes.
Take a dip in the Joséphine Baker swimming pool
Have some fun at the Joséphine Baker swimming pool, which is located at the step of the François Mitterrand national library.
This floating swimming pool is located in the Seine.
Sports lovers can go to a pool for swimmers and enjoy a fitness space.
If you want to have some fun, there are other pools.
To relax, you can use the hammam, sauna and jacuzzi.
When the weather is good, the glass roof is opened and you can use the deck chairs in the sun.
Check out the Statue of Liberty
There is a bronze replica of the Statue of Liberty on the Cygnes island in the 15e arrondissement.
This statue has been made at the same time as the original.
France was offered the statue for the hundredth birthday of the French Revolution.
In order to see it, go to Cygnes island.
It is an artificial island which is one kilometer wide. It is the smallest island in Paris.
You can take a walk in this quiet green scenery. While you’re there, you can also picnic.
Visit the Chinese district
Visit the Chinese district in the 13e arrondissement bordered by the “Choisy Triangle”.
If you want to discover the district, you must go to the Buddhist temples.
Get to 37 rue du Disque and discover the statue of Bodhisattva Guanyin, goddess of compassion.
This temple is dedicated to her.
Also, visit the Temple de l’Amicale des Teochew, close to the Olympiades mall, which is located 44 rue d’Ivry.
You will discover the statues of the 18 immortal Law guardians and 3 Buddha statues.
You can also take part in the Chinese New Year’s, every year, early in February.
You will take part in public events, concerts, exhibitions and you will also be able to look at traditional outfits.
Before you go, try Bubble House’s bubble teas (website in French). Bubble tea is a mix of green or black teas with fruits with little tapioca balls.
Also read: Top 10 Best Bubble Tea Shops in Paris
Finally, enjoy traditional meals at the Imperial Choisy restaurant.
You can try shrimp fritters, ginger and chive chicken or braised beef noodle soup.
Also read: Chinese District in Paris: What to See? What to Do? Where to Eat?
Visit the Butte-aux-Cailles district
Discover the Butte-aux-Cailles district, located in the 13e arrondissement.
It is a little secluded district, which kept its village style and atmosphere.
You will see charming little houses and paved streets far from Parisian crowds.
Go through the Rue Alphand or the Passage Barrault to see some of the district’s typical alleys and take a walk in the rue Dieulafoy, a very colorful street!
The Butte-aux-Cailles district is also a district well-known for its bars.
Here are some nice ones:
- Le Merle Moqueur, an unmissable Bar from the district. It is cheap, and the atmosphere is really nice.
- Le Sputnik, a rather large bar where you can dance and play table soccer.
- La Butte aux piafs, a bar adopting a 60’s atmosphere where you can listen to electro-jazz music.
Feast at La Felicità
Located in the 13e arrondissement, discover the La Felicità is an Italian restaurant and food market.
La Felicità (website in French) spans over 4 500 square meters, has a one square kilometer sunny terrace, 1 000 seats, 3 bars and 5 kitchens!
You can enjoy tasty meals here. Try their fresh pasta like cannelloni carciofi, ricotta e spinaci, amori al tartufo and even pizzas, such as the simple margherita, the tuna montana or the kitsch pizza.
In this restaurant, you can also party! Concerts and DJ sets perform all year long.
You can also go to exhibitions, festivals and movie screenings.
Go to the Printemps Haussmann panoramic terrace
Go to the Printemps Haussmann shop’s panoramic terrace and have a nice time contemplating the gorgeous city of Paris.
The Perruche restaurant is also high up on this terrace.
Enjoy a fine meal or try a cocktail on this terrace full of exotic plants.
Try some plancha-cooked squid or some Mediterranean bass with fresh tomatoes, with your cocktail.
See an exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo
To see something different from the usual Louvre Museum, the Orsay Museum, or Grévin Museum, go see an exhibition.
The Palais de Tokyo is a building dedicated to modern and contemporary art, located in the 16e arrondissement.
Discover some exhibitions, screenings and concerts in this 22 000 square meter surface, divided into 4 floors.
The West wing contains one of the largest European centers of creation and contemporary art.
The east wing contains the modern art museum.
Go to the Paris catacombs
Visit Paris Catacombs and discover bones from various Parisian graveyards, relocated for sanitary issues.
The catacombs are 20 meters below the ground and span over 11 000 square meters.
The visit is not recommended for people with heart or respiratory problems and the faint of heart.
Go see a play at the Comédie Française
Go see a play at the legendary Comédie Française theater.
This wonderful setting will delight you with its architecture and the sculpted busts in the image of famous figures of French theater.
With this visit, you will discover Paris from a new angle.
Watch some plays like Hippolyte, L’école des Femmes, Tartuffe, L’Imposteur, Ruy Blas and even Le Cid.
Visit the Grand Mosque of Paris
Visit the Grand Mosque of Paris, France’s oldest, and most famous mosque, which is located in the Latin Quarter.
This unusual visit should feel exotic.
Discover the hammam, prayer rooms, patio and garden.
Look at the marble floors, mosaics on the walls and the green tiled roof.
Contemplate the carpets and their Persian patterns.
Be tempted by some tea and some oriental pastries on the terrace of the mosque.
You can visit it every day except on Fridays and on Muslim holidays.
Visit the Palais Garnier
Few people actually take time to visit the Opéra Garnier, however, this activity is very interesting.
Watch its gilded and decorated facade, which will amaze you. Then its fine and elegant architecture.
Look for the wonderful stairs, the majestic Grand Salon and the busts representing well-known figures of lyricism.
Take a look at the ceiling, covered with a 220 m² canvas made by Marc Chagall inside the theater.
A self-directed tour costs 14€ (12€ outside the exhibition period).
Go to the Shoah memorial
Discover the Shoah Memorial, it is the largest information center in Europe, on this subject.
Watch the wall of names beginning at the memorial’s entrance, the crypt, the exposition on the Jews’ fate in Europe and the role of the Vichy regime.
The visit of the permanent exhibition and the memorial is one hour and 30 minutes long.
For further reading, take part in a thematic visit concerning the resistance, nazi antisemitism, propaganda and so on.
Visiting the memorial and the temporary exhibitions is free.
Feed the animals of the Paris Farm
Take a moment to enjoy the Paris Farm (page in French) and have a good time with your family or your friends.
It is a nice place which will allow children to learn more about farm animals.
The walk is one hour long, even more, if you plan on gathering or picking flowers…
A walk in this farm will enable you to enjoy some time far from the fuss and the crowd of the city of Paris.
The entry is free.
Rediscover Paris with a treasure hunt
With the Quiveutpister Paris treasure hunts (in French), have fun discovering known and unknown places in Paris.
Made to be played by several autonomous teams, the contestants must find clues, investigate while traveling a route.
If you already know Paris very well, this game will make you (re) discover Paris from another angle with an itinerary being on average 2 to 3 kilometers long.
(Re)discover famous and secret places while having fun solving and investigating things. It costs 15€ for each contestant and 12,50€ for people under 25.
Ride a bike or an electric scooter
You may be accustomed to moving on foot or taking the subway.
Yet, bicycles and electric scooters are a fun way to (re)discover Paris.
You can enjoy a nice spring or summer day strolling in the capital city.
Rent a bicycle or a scooter from qualified operators in Paris, or from an individual.
About that, you can read Comparison between Electric Scooter Services in Paris.
Fly over Paris with Paris City View
Fly over the capital city in Virtual Reality (VR) with Fly View Paris.
Take a seat in a jetpack, put your VR headset on and be ready for takeoff.
A flight simulator offers you a 360° view.
You will be able to contemplate the most iconic Parisian monuments like the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe or the Eiffel Tower.
Three courses are available to discover the capital.
The incredible flyover, a course which will enable you to discover the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Concorde or Notre-Dame de Paris.
- Paris undercover, a course in which you will see unreachable places of the city, such as the Eiffel Tower’s engine room, the glassed roof of the Grand-Palais or the Panthéon’s corridors.
- Rebuilding Notre-Dame, a course which will show you the cathedral before the great fire, as well as its current state.
The immersion lasts 35 minutes on average.
Tickets are available starting from 19.50 € per person.
Take place in an immersive quiz
Take part in an unusual activity and discover the Quiz Room, the first immersive quiz.
This activity will be the time to take part in a “show” just like on TV.
Are you bored of the board games you played at home a hundred times?
Discover the Quiz Room and compete against your friends or your family on a TV set!
Have some good time for more than an hour.
All by yourself, or in a team, compete in this game, divided into 3 rounds.
The contestants must be at least 10 years old. No worries: the questions are adapted to the players’ age.
It costs 24 € per person for 4-5 players and 20 € per person for 6-18 players.
Try your hand at graffiti
Try your hand at graffiti in a Street Art workshop at the core of Paris with Graffiti Paris.
Take part in a private workshop and meet some Street Art artists.
You can make some sketches, discover project techniques and tools (aerosols, rollers, brushes, stencils, etc.) and take part in a collective making of a mural.
It costs 39 to 190 € to participate in this workshop.
Children from 8 to 16 can also try their hand in a two days practice during the holidays.
They will be able to discover the history of Parisian street art, learn some techniques and create artwork on canvas on their own.
They will also make a mural with their group. It costs 139€ for the two workshops, each one lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Other read : Where to See The Best Street Art in Paris
Visit artists’ houses
Discover Paris in unusual ways, visiting the most iconic artists’ houses!
Discover Balzac’s house-museum in which he corrected La Comédie humaine from 1840 to 1847.
You will discover paintings, sculptures, some of his original editions and some of his manuscripts.
You can also enjoy Victor Hugo’s house in which he lived from 1832 to 1848.
In this museum, you will be able to see his old furniture, as well as his drawings, paintings, photographs and manuscripts.
You can also visit Gainsbourg’s house.
Several lovers of his music gather here, even nowadays, and leave traces of themselves with graffiti they make on the facade.
Play an escape game in the streets of Paris
Play a cultural escape game with the Libre Promeneur (website in French).
Discover Montmartre district. For two hours, solve riddles and discover iconic places like the Sacré Coeur, the Place du Tertre or even the Maison Rose.
Enjoy nature in the Jardin du Luxembourg, have fun on the Ile de la Cité or contemplate the inside of the Sacré-Coeur.
Each activity is also available for children and teenagers.
It costs around 20 € per person.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
