Paris outside the guidebooks

[Anonymous]

My DH and I are taking a trip to Paris in February and I'm looking for any tips of things to do that we might not think of after studying up in travel books and google searches. We are staying on the left bank just across from Notre Dame. We will be there for a full week. I'm looking more for walks you like, cafes or restaurants, experiences, neighborhoods, etc. We already have a good idea of the bigger, touristy things we want to do (Notre Dame, Musee Cluny, catacombs, day trips to Versaille). Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

I like Paris Walks which is similar to London walks.

[Anonymous]

Lesser visited museums: Natural history museum; Musee des arts et metiers; musee de la vie Romantique; musee jacquemart André or marmottan, le bal (for photography) ;

Parks: buttes chaumont plus stroll in Belleville; aqueduct walks in the 12th

Walk around the 17th /batignolles district.

Not too far from you in the 5th: rue monge and maybe butte aux cailles neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

We did a private tour of the Opera House and it was amazing: learned so much history too.
Also look into a food tour, which combines food and a walk!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lesser visited museums: Natural history museum; Musee des arts et metiers; musee de la vie Romantique; musee jacquemart André or marmottan, le bal (for photography) ;

Parks: buttes chaumont plus stroll in Belleville; aqueduct walks in the 12th

Walk around the 17th /batignolles district.

Not too far from you in the 5th: rue monge and maybe butte aux cailles neighborhood.

Great list. Buttes Chaumont is fantastic. Also the Coulee Verte, which is more "in the guidebook" but still not super touristy and a great walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lesser visited museums: Natural history museum; Musee des arts et metiers; musee de la vie Romantique; musee jacquemart André or marmottan, le bal (for photography) ;

Parks: buttes chaumont plus stroll in Belleville; aqueduct walks in the 12th

Walk around the 17th /batignolles district.

Not too far from you in the 5th: rue monge and maybe butte aux cailles neighborhood.

Great list. Buttes Chaumont is fantastic. Also the Coulee Verte, which is more "in the guidebook" but still not super touristy and a great walk.

Thank you both!
Love the Opera House tour suggestion as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lesser visited museums: Natural history museum; Musee des arts et metiers; musee de la vie Romantique; musee jacquemart André or marmottan, le bal (for photography) ;

Parks: buttes chaumont plus stroll in Belleville; aqueduct walks in the 12th

Walk around the 17th /batignolles district.

Not too far from you in the 5th: rue monge and maybe butte aux cailles neighborhood.

Great list. Buttes Chaumont is fantastic. Also the Coulee Verte, which is more "in the guidebook" but still not super touristy and a great walk.

Thank you both!
Love the Opera House tour suggestion as well.

Also, for a chateau visit/tour, heavily recommend Vaux-le-Vicomte as a MUCH less crowded option than Versailles. It is actually the design predecessor to Versailles, and the gardens are incredible. Although in February probably not as beautiful, of course.

[Anonymous]

Vélib' - (February might be too cold) Last time in Paris we spent over a week just bicycling around the city. Great way to experience the city. We stop anytime we find something interesting. If we need something interesting, we go to the nearest dog park, ask someone about their dog - a major rapport builder - and this always leads to something interesting: being invited to an artist loft for an event, a restaurant soft open, learning about a spot near Canal Saint-Denis where a local group of flamenco guitarists rehearse...

This might not be as effective in February but worth a try.

[Anonymous]

Not outside the guidebooks, but also not the primary landmarks:

Given where you're staying, make sure you walk in/around the Jardin du Luxembourg and Place de la Contrescarpe.

There are often evening concerts at Sainte Chapelle, which is a really cool experience.

And keep an eye out for Invader art as you're walking the city: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/12/world/europe/paris-street-art-space-invader.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Sk4.2Am7.406QL68UgOWc&smid=url-share

[Anonymous]

Get out of town. The volume of tourists in Paris is overwhelming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get out of town. The volume of tourists in Paris is overwhelming.

February won't be as bad.

But agree.

La Marias was once very charming. Now it's horrible. Just horrible.

[Anonymous]

We did the Opera House tour as well. It wasn't very crowded. Maybe try to see a performance there or somewhere else?

I think if you get a really magical airBNB and can feel like you're Parisians for the week, that would help the feeling.