Hidden gems in Paris that most tourists miss
Our thing is river cruises on the Seine. But after 13 years of showing the sights of Paris to tourists from all over France and the world, we’ve learned a thing or two about the city. So a part of what we do nowadays is helping visitors plan the most awesome places to visit in Paris.
And just so you know, we’re not talking about the kind of tourist plan you can come across anywhere. So for the moment, let’s set aside the big spots like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and the Jardin des Tuileries. (We’ll come back to them later, don’t worry!)
Our tourist plans take you off the beaten track, to places most tourists miss. Sometimes this includes a spin on the river. Other times, it’s a stroll with the right guide through the lesser-known streets, or a “rue” as we call it here.
To save you the trouble of searching for places to visit and activities to try in Paris for yourself, here’s our little guide to 3 hidden gems and 3 guided tours we love sending visitors to.
Interested in enlisting our help in organizing your Paris visit, or in booking a river cruise to kickstart your city break? Contact us and we’ll help you take it from there.
3 hidden gems — can you guess where they are?
Okay, we’ll give you a hint. Head to the Pont des Arts. It’s right in a central arrondissement of the city and easily accessible by metro, so you shouldn’t find it hard. Now after soaking up the view of the Louvre Museum for a few minutes, turn your back to the Eiffel Tower and admire the sight that’s right in front of you.
Yep, we’re taking you to Île de la Cité, the ancient heart of Paris and seat of power of Roman governors and medieval kings. Ready to discover 3 hidden gems steeped in history and mysticism? Let’s go!
La Sainte-Chapelle
This edifice was built in the 13th century by King Louis IX, or Saint Louis as he was later known. Saint Louis built it as a place to hold and safeguard 2 famous relics of the Passion of the Christ — the Crown of Thorns and a fragment of the True Cross.
The Sainte-Chapelle is a complete example of Gothic architecture and stained glass artwork, with its chapel containing 1113 scenes from the old and new testaments that tell the history of the world according to the Bible up to the arrival of the relics in Paris — with a little bit of the Apocalypse thrown in at the end, if that’s your thing.
A word of caution: The lower chapel, though magnificent, often disappoints the misinformed traveler. So make sure to walk up the circular stairway to the upper chapel — the light and color of which are said to be unlike anything remotely comparable. 😉
Tickets start at €22 for non-EU residents and €16 for EU residents. Under 18s go free as do other categories of visitor. Check out the website for more.
The Tour de l’Horloge
The Clock Tower, or “Tour de l’Horloge” as locals call it, is the oldest public clock in Paris, and has been helping Parisians tell the time since 1371!
The arch that protects the clock face is decorated with intertwined initials. Look for “H” and “C” for Henri II and Catherine de Medicis. Although some say the intertwined “H” and “C” actually form the letter “D” — for Diane of Poitiers, the court favorite of Henri II and arch-rival of Catherine. (This hidden gem is a must-see for fans of the show Serpent Queen about Catherine de Medici.)
As for tickets, this hidden gem is one of the free sights you can visit any time of the day you like. And best of all, our third and final hidden gem is just around the corner.
Le Palais de la Conciergerie
This UNESCO World Heritage building was a seat of power in ancient Paris from Roman times up to the medieval French kings.
From the 14th century onward, it transformed into an administrative building and then into a prison, becoming a place of terror during the French Revolution. This hidden gem saw its share of famous prisoners, including Marie-Antoinette and Robespierre who lived out their final days there before being guillotined. Visit this hidden gem if you want to learn more about the somber side of Parisian and French history.
Tickets start at €13 per person, under 18s go free, as do under 26s if they live in France, making this one of the best places to experience the enormous history of Paris on a budget.
You’ll find more information on the Conciergerie website.
And 1 final hidden gem for people with tired feet
Fancy putting up your feet for a while? Maybe seeing some of those big sights after all but still don’t want to wait in line?
Well, one way to view the Louvre Museum and other highlights of the city is to take a cruise on the river Seine. (Yep, we’re giving you a bonus hidden gem in Paris.) Okay, okay, river cruises are a well-known and very popular way to visit the city. But when you picture a river cruise, we bet you are imagining a big, two-tier boat with hundreds and hundreds of tourists. Have you ever heard of private river cruises?
This is our specialty at My Paris River. And one of the best things about a private river cruise is that you get to do it in the company of your very own private skipper. All our skippers know and love their home city. And it is this passion for Paris — combined with extensive training — that makes them the perfect guides to explore the Seine and the monuments that line its riverbanks.
Our skippers know the history and stories behind the monuments and famous figures who’ve marked the city of Paris. They’re also bilingual in French and English to cater for visitors from as many places as possible.
Live-guided commentary is included in your cruise price. Our skippers can adapt their commentary to your needs. And if you’d prefer some peace and quiet to sit and enjoy the experience, that’s okay too.
Speaking of guides — here are 3 of the best
Being a part of the Paris tourism sector has given us deep insights into the best places to visit as well as some of the hidden gems of Paris. It’s also brought us into contact with plenty of fantastic tour guides in the city. Here are 3 that we definitely recommend.
Zoé Petit AKA “The Petit Guide”
Zoe is from Texas but has been living in Paris for over a decade. She runs family tours that are perfect for kids, with stop-offs for treats or plenty of time for fun things along the way.
Her 2 main areas are Montmartre and central Paris. Also, if this is your first visit to Paris, try her “Get to Know your Neighborhood” tour to discover everything you need to know about your arrondissement, including shops, drug stores, the metro, safety, and etiquette. Go to Zoe’s website for more information.
April in Paris
This company runs a range of tours that will have you walking, cycling, and sampling the best food, chocolate, and wine in Paris. They also run “Skip the line” tours of Versailles, the Louvre, and Musee D’Orsay. And of course — as their name suggests – an Emily in Paris tour.
Founded by Canadian April Pett, April in Paris has a full list of tours on their website.
Family Focus Tours Paris
Alexandra Guichard has a background in teaching and child psychology. Which makes her ideally suited to get laughter from little ones and smiles from reluctant teenagers. Among her tours is a treasure hunt of the Louvre Museum that’s perfect for kids aged 5 and up as well as a French Revolution tour for families with teens.
For more information, go to Alexandra’s website.
Guides are your best friend in Paris
The guides we mention here — whether our skippers or their counterparts on dry land — are a font of knowledge about Paris, Parisian culture, and the city’s history. And generally speaking, you will find that most of them are more than happy to recommend places to eat, where to rest up after a long day, the best time to visit a museum, and the best rates for getting into cool places.
If you invest in a guided tour, you’ll get more than sights and commentary. You’ll get access to knowledge that only locals have. So don’t be shy about asking.
