The capital of France is the most popular place to travel around the world. It has many names — “city of love”, “city of romance”, “capital of fashion”… Couples usually come here for a lovey-dovey vacation. Moreover, all fashion fans want to go here to visit the famous Fashion Houses that have come into existence. Literature lovers want to see with their own eyes the city where famous authors lived and where the events of cult books took place. So spend time in Paris, a dream destination for many people.
But the fact is that everyone knows Paris only from one side. What comes to mind when talking about traveling to Paris? The Eiffel Tower? A visit to the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre? Croissants and baguettes for breakfast, cheese and wine for dinner? Luxury boutiques of popular brands? The world-famous Disneyland?
We do not want to argue with that. But this is, so to speak, only a shortlist of must-do things in Paris. If you’ve been here at least once, you’ve already done it all and are in search of something new. In fact, Paris is a million different things. If you have additional information, then this city can open up to you from a completely different perspective. We decided to help you with this and have prepared for you a list of 10 unusual ways to spend time in Paris.
1. How to spend time in Paris: In the air over Paris
In the 15th district of Paris, in the André Citroën Park, there is a popular attraction – the Ballon Generali de Paris. This balloon is the largest in the world! Every day it rises to a height of 150 m, allowing passengers to observe a panoramic view of Paris. The operation of this attraction depends on weather conditions.
Address: André Citroën Park – 2 rue de la Montagne de la Fage, 15th district
2. Visit the filming locations of your favorite movies and TV series
As with any big city, many wonderful films have been shot in Paris. Do you love Amelie? Then go to Montmartre, especially to the Cafe des Deux Moulins (“Two mills”) at 15 rue Lepic. Did you like Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris? Then visit the Rodin Museum, the Marché Paul Bert flea market, the Orangerie Museum, Cafe de Flore, or the famous Shakespeare & Company bookstore. And, of course, you can feel like Emily from the new popular TV series Emily in Paris. But in this case, you should buy the same stylish outfits.
3. How to spend time in Paris: Walk on the roofs of Paris
There is a park in Paris that surpasses the famous The High Line in New York. We are talking about Coulée verte René-Dumont or René Dumont Park. It is a green pedestrian alley that is located along a closed railway line at an altitude of 10 meters above the city. The length of Coulée verte René-Dumont is 4.7 km. The alley begins from the Place de la Bastille and stretches to the Bois de Vincennes.
Address: 1 Coulée verte René-Dumont, 12th district
4. How to spend time in Paris: Cook macaroons
Macaroon (Le Macaron) – is a popular French dessert. Workshops are regularly held in Paris, where you will learn how to cook these delicate cookies from egg whites, sugar, and almonds. Classes are conducted in French and English for groups of 2 to 8 people. The courses take place in the kitchen of a pastry shop in the center of Paris. After two or three hours, you master the culinary secrets of cooking macaroons and leave the class with a box of homemade cookies, no worse than from Ladurée.
5. Lunch at the Silver Tower
La Tour d’Argent restaurant (literally translated as money tower or silver tower) is the oldest in Paris. It has been known since 1582! The English king Henry IV liked to dine here, and it is impossible to count the number of celebrities who have had the opportunity to taste its delights. The view of the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral and excellent service are included in the incredibly high cost of meals.
Address: 15 quai de la Tournelle, 5th district
6. Go the cafe where famous writers and artists of the world spent their time
Cafe de Flore is located on the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue Saint-Benoit. Hemingway, Capote, Camus, Picasso, and many other representatives of the intellectual public have visited this place at various times. Of course, thanks to the rich history of the institution, the prices here are quite high. But, despite the interest from tourists, at Cafe de Flore you will always get polite service, hot coffee, and fresh croissants.
7. See the phrase “I love you” written in 200 languages
Has the Eiffel Tower not satisfied your need for romance? Then we have another solution. In Montmartre, in the small park Square Jehan-Rictus, there is the “Wall of Love” (Le Mur de Je T’aime), one of the most touching sights of Paris. On this wall, the phrase “I love you” is written in white paint on dark blue background in more than 200 languages. You can admire the Wall of Love, learn the secrets of lovers, visit secret gardens and squares for kissing in romantic Montmartre together with a guide by signing up for an interesting excursion here.
8. Visit the catacombs
The Paris catacombs are not a place for the faint-hearted. After all, not only secret underground passages are hidden in the catacombs of Paris, but also … an underground cemetery with thousands of skeletons since the XVIII century. It may be a dubious pleasure for some, but lovers of history and scary legends will definitely like the catacombs.
9 …and just have fun
For those who just like to have fun, we can advise visiting the noisiest and largest disco in Paris, the Rex Club. In search of night performances, take a look at the Bobino Cabaret. By the way, you can also dance there. Very close to the National Library is the famous Batofar Club. Despite the ordinariness of the neighborhood, the club is not boring at all. To be honest, it is one of the most fun clubs in Paris.
