My Favorite Off-the-Beaten-Path Activities and Events in Paris
Visiting the Eiffel Tower for the first time? Thrilling! Visiting the Eiffel Tower for the twentieth time? You’ll probably start to wonder what else you could be doing instead.
Paris’s top attractions are tons of fun. But if you’re coming for a repeat stay or you want to try something more unusual, there’s a world of activities to choose from!
As a local, I’ve found that some of the best places in Paris are surprising in some way. They all have that certain je ne sais quoi (X factor) that the French do best! These places and activities are also not found on most lists of what to do in Paris, so you’ll also have the fun of going off-the-beaten-path.
With that in mind, here’s what you should do to explore different sides of Paris.
Get your work done and meet new people while having fun at MAIF Social Club
It can be hard to meet locals while you’re traveling. Consider this problem solved in Paris with the MAIF Social Club in the Marais neighborhood! This unusual space off of a green courtyard combines exhibitions, shopping, and plenty of friendly faces.
MAIF also includes a co-working space and library if you’re on a working vacation. I’ve found it much warmer than other co-working spaces I’ve tried in Paris. And the surroundings make breaks even more fun.
Dive into the literary scene with your favorite authors at Paris’s charming English bookstores
Here’s my guilty secret: even after a decade in Paris, I still prefer to read in English. But French bookstores are so beautiful, I constantly buy books in French!
The best solution to this problem is to visit one of the city’s amazing English-language bookstores. To take your experience to a perfect 100, check out bookstores’ calendars of author events.
My favorite English bookstores in Paris include Bill and Rosa’s Book Room, just outside the city. You can get incredible bargains on used books here. Their cozy basement events are also tons of fun.
Within the city, the Red Wheelbarrow and Smith and Son are lovely. The Librarie Galignani combines the best of both worlds, with a big English section at the back.
Get the best coffee in Paris & cycle the city with a local guide at Peloton Cafe
Paris’s coffee may disappoint coffee lovers. In my experience, it’s more acidic than Italian blends. The best coffee in Paris is undoubtedly at the bicycle-themed coffee shop Le Peloton Café near Hôtel de Ville. But that’s not even my favorite part about this establishment!
Le Peloton also offers bicycle rentals and bike tours of the city’s neighborhoods. Unlike the city’s bike-sharing program, Velib’, you’ll also get a helmet — very important in Paris, where getting around can be dangerous! But the cool local guide is why I constantly recommend these tours. Coffee, history, and biking — what could be better?
Visit art at midnight on a “Nuit Blanche”
Come to Paris in early June for its “Nuit Blanche” (White Night). At this event, contemporary artists of all kinds show their work throughout the city. I’ve gone into churches I didn’t know existed, parks I’d never had the chance to see, and other exciting venues after dark.
The installations are particularly fun. They often involve light, music, and other unexpected pleasures. If you’ve been to a Nuit Blanche before, note that the city’s moved the date from early autumn to late spring.
See classic, contemporary, or international films in unexpected venues across Paris
I studied film here, so I may be biased, but I believe Paris is the best city in the world for cinema. Don’t think you’ll be excluded if you don’t speak French!
You can see contemporary movies all over the city. But for a truly special experience, check out more unusual venues.
The Cinamathèque Française has a constantly changing program of international films as well as great research resources. There are revival movie theaters in the 6th arrondissement for even more choices. And to see a film in a grand movie palace, check out the Louxor.
If you don’t speak French, find a movie in your language and make sure it’s labeled “VO.” This means that it’s in the original language with subtitles. “VF” means that it’s been dubbed into French.
Find the next Picasso at 59 Rivoli, a former squat turned exhibition space
I’m not a visual artist, but I am art-obsessed. There’s a reason I’m always checking on what’s new at Paris’s museums! That’s also why when a friend told me about 59 Rivoli, I went the next day. This former squat on one of the Right Bank’s busiest streets is now a group of artists’ studios and exhibition space.
The exhibitions rotate regularly. Meanwhile, you can visit some of the artists’ studios, see their work, and discuss it with them. Be sure to ask the friendly guides at the front desk which are open.
Party in the park at Rosa Bonheur, a fun and quirky bar in Buttes-Chaumont Park
I admit it: I hate clubs. But Rosa Bonheur is something else. This bar has two locations: on the Seine and in the Buttes-Chaumont park. The latter is my favorite place to go for a glass of wine, a celebratory night — and, yes, even some dancing!
Rosa Bonheur is made for good weather, so plan on visiting in the summer for the best experience. There’s something so fun about hanging out safely in an otherwise closed park at this quirky and fun bar. It’s one of my favorite activities in this underrated district of Paris.
Dance in the streets and listen to live music with the Fête de la Musique
If you’ve seen Julie Delpy’s movie Two Days in Paris, you’ve already gotten a sense of the Fête de la Musique (Music Festival). For one day in late June each year, Paris opens its streets and monuments to musicians of all kinds.
You’ll find everything from techno in the 13th arrondissement to classical music under the Louvre’s pyramid. The festival’s program changes every year. My favorite thing to do is wander the streets of Paris’s center randomly and see what I find.
Immerse yourself in art (literally!) at a light studio that displays a variety of exhibitions
Paris’s museums are some of the best in the world. But you may find yourself hitting a saturation point. What to do if you’re still craving more culture but can’t take another classical museum? Go to the Atelier des Lumières (Light Studio)!
Here, blown-up art covers and moves over the walls so you can immerse yourself in it while noticing unexpected details. You’ll have the choice of multiple exhibitions with wide-ranging topics. Current and past exhibitions include Van Gogh’s works, Egypt’s pharaohs, and foreign nature.
Sample American food, French-style
I can see the comments now: we didn’t come to Paris to eat American food! But long-term visitors will understand why this is still one of my favorite things to do in Paris: eat at Breakfast in America.
This American-style diner has two Paris locations. They also offer delivery. Believe me: after ten years in Paris, sometimes I just want a real pancake instead of a crêpe! This is where I turn. I can’t recommend the hash browns enough, and the milkshakes are unique in the city.
📚 Related Reading: My list of the best restaurants in Paris
Swim in a warmed, Olympic-sized pool that floats on top of the Seine
Did you know you can swim just atop the Seine?
Did you watch the 2024 Paris Olympics and wonder (or cringe) at the athletes in the Seine? Try a more sanitary experience at Annette K! This warmed, Olympic-sized pool floats on the Seine. You get the fun of swimming on the river without having to go into it! The pool is open until 8:45 pm, giving you tons of flexibility.
Entry is 16 €, which is slightly pricey for a swim. But there’s also a coffee shop, sauna, and cycling studio on the premises. And the novelty makes the price more than worth it! Check their website for more info.
Combine art and nature at the Viaduc des Arts, a place to buy local art beneath an elevated park
The Viaduc des Arts might not look like anything more than a viaduct from a distance. Up close, it’s a wild combination of art and nature!
Running from Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes, the viaduct covers 1.5 kilometers (about a mile). You’ll find artists and artisans working and selling their crafts beneath the arches.
On top of the arches, you’ll find the Coulée Vert, one of the best parks in Paris. This green walkway is one of my favorite ways of seeing the city — I take all my visitors here!
🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: Betty & Laura chat more about this article in Episode 5 of the Travel Lemming Podcast on YouTube (segment starts at 13:30). You can also check it out on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Those are just a few of my favorite things to make a Paris itinerary even more thrilling! What are your favorite hidden gems in the City of Light? Let us know in the comments below!
On the other hand, you should avoid some things in Paris for practicality and safety’s sake. Read my list of places I won’t go and things I won’t do in Paris next.
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