22 Must-See Sites In And Around Paris That Aren’t The Louvre Or Eiffel Tower
Paris is overflowing with landmarks, but there’s so much more beyond the Louvre and Eiffel Tower. This city is a breathing masterpiece with secrets hiding behind every street corner.
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a local, escape the tourist traps, and stumble upon something magical, you’re in the right place. From grand palaces to funky neighborhoods, this list is your VIP pass to Paris’ best-kept gems.
Pack your curiosity—this adventure is about to get interesting.
1. Sainte-Chapelle
You think stained glass is beautiful? Wait until you step inside Sainte-Chapelle. The moment sunlight hits the towering windows, the entire chapel glows like something out of a fairytale.
It’s a place where history and magic collide, originally built to house Christ’s Crown of Thorns (yes, the real deal). Stand there long enough, and you’ll forget you’re in the middle of a busy city—this is time travel done right.
2. Montmartre
Montmartre isn’t just a place—it’s a mood. One moment, you’re climbing steep cobblestone streets, the next, you’re watching a street artist paint the Sacré-Cœur.
Van Gogh and Picasso walked these same streets, probably late for something important. The secret? The best views of Paris aren’t from the Eiffel Tower—they’re from this hill, at sunset, with a glass of wine in hand.
This is where the city comes alive, and if you listen closely, you can still hear the echoes of old bohemian Paris.
3. Musée d’Orsay
The Louvre gets all the fame, but Musée d’Orsay is where art actually breathes.
Housed in a grand old railway station, it’s where you meet Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas without feeling like you’re in an art marathon.
The giant clock on the top floor offers one of the best views in Paris—stand there, and suddenly, the whole city feels cinematic. Every painting in here has a story, and unlike the Mona Lisa, you won’t have to fight 300 tourists for a peek. If you want art that moves you, rather than just being moved past, this is your spot.
4. Palace of Versailles
Versailles is the definition of extra—gold-trimmed walls, endless chandeliers, and gardens so big they could fit a small country. Louis XIV built this to flex on everyone, and honestly? It worked.
The Hall of Mirrors alone feels like something straight out of a dream, and yes, you will be tempted to reenact a dramatic historical scene.
But the real magic? Renting a bike, getting lost in the gardens, and finding your own secret Versailles, far from the crowds.
5. Le Marais
Le Marais is Paris with a twist—part old-world elegance, part buzzing creativity.
One minute, you’re admiring 17th-century mansions, the next, you’re devouring a life-changing falafel from L’As du Fallafel. This is where the city’s fashionistas, artists, and foodies collide in a perfect storm of cool.
The Jewish bakeries, tiny vintage shops, and hidden courtyards make it feel like you’ve discovered something nobody else knows about. Get lost here—you’ll thank me later.
6. Luxembourg Gardens
Every Parisian has a favorite bench in Luxembourg Gardens, and after ten minutes here, you’ll understand why.
The manicured lawns, grand fountains, and shady trees make this the ultimate people-watching spot. Grab a book, sip on a café crème, and pretend you live here—because for a little while, it feels like you do.
On a good day, you’ll see kids racing toy sailboats, old men debating politics, and couples wrapped up in their own world. It’s Paris in its purest, most romantic form.
7. Palais Garnier
Step into Palais Garnier, and suddenly, you’re in the world of The Phantom of the Opera—literally.
The gold-trimmed balconies, plush red seats, and that massive crystal chandelier scream drama. Even if you’re not catching a ballet, just walking through feels like sneaking into a world where everything is grander.
There’s even an underground lake—yes, an actual lake beneath the opera house—but no, they won’t let you row a boat through it. Parisian mystery at its finest.
8. Château de Fontainebleau
Less crowded than Versailles, but just as jaw-dropping, Fontainebleau is a royal hideaway that once hosted Napoleon himself.
The rooms are lavish, the ceilings feel endless, and the gardens? Straight out of a fantasy novel.
The best part about this? You won’t be shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of tourists, which means you can actually soak in the history without getting bumped by a selfie stick. It’s Versailles without the stress, and honestly, that makes it even better.
9. Canal Saint-Martin
This is where Paris slows down. Canal Saint-Martin is for lazy Sunday afternoons, picnics by the water, and watching boats drift through the locks.
Locals gather here with bottles of wine, sharing stories as the sun dips below the trees. The bridges, the graffiti, the indie bookshops nearby—it all adds up to effortless charm. Forget the Seine; this is where you’ll find the soul of Paris.
10. Musée de l’Orangerie
Ever wanted to step inside a painting? Monet’s Water Lilies at Musée de l’Orangerie make that possible.
The way the giant curved murals wrap around the room makes it feel like you’re floating in Monet’s world. It’s calm, immersive, and a reminder that sometimes, art is meant to be felt, not just seen.
The museum itself is small, which means zero overwhelm—just pure artistic magic.
11. La Défense
Think Paris is all about history? La Défense begs to differ.
This futuristic district is a playground of skyscrapers, massive sculptures, and modern architecture that feels light-years away from the city’s historic core.
The Grande Arche is so big you could park a jet inside, but let’s not test that theory. Walk through, and you’ll realize Paris isn’t just stuck in the past—it’s building the future, too.
12. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
This isn’t just a park—it’s an adventure on its own.
Hidden waterfalls, towering cliffs, and even a suspended bridge make Buttes-Chaumont feel like it belongs in a storybook. It’s the one Paris park where you can hike, get lost, and feel like you’ve escaped the city entirely.
Climb up to the Temple de la Sibylle for one of the most underrated views in town. It’s where Parisians go when they need a breath of fresh air, and now, you can too.
13. Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the kind of place where you order one coffee and stay for hours—because that’s what Hemingway did.
Home to legendary cafés like Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, this neighborhood is dripping in literary and artistic history.
Walk these streets, and you’ll pass jazz bars, independent bookshops, and Parisians who seem permanently lost in deep thought.
It’s also where you’ll find Paris’ oldest church, tucked between modern boutiques and secret courtyards. If you want to feel effortlessly cool while doing absolutely nothing, this is your place.
14. Parc Monceau
Paris has plenty of parks, but Parc Monceau feels like it belongs in a period film. With ornate gates, little Roman columns, and a tiny Venetian bridge, this park is elegance without the crowds.
Local kids sail toy boats across the ponds, and joggers loop around like they’re training for the most scenic marathon ever. Monet even painted this place—so if it’s good enough for him, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Bring a croissant, find a shady spot, and enjoy the kind of Parisian afternoon that feels stolen from a novel.
15. Musée Rodin
Rodin wasn’t just a sculptor—he was a storyteller in marble. The Musée Rodin, set in a dreamy mansion with sprawling gardens, feels more like an artist’s secret hideaway than a museum.
You’ll find The Thinker brooding under the trees, The Kiss locked in eternal romance, and plenty of corners where you can sit and pretend you understand sculpture.
The best part? Unlike the Louvre, you actually get to breathe here. Walk through, soak in the creativity, and maybe even have an existential moment—Rodin would approve.
16. Quai Branly Museum
You know a museum is next-level cool when the building itself is a work of art. Quai Branly’s lush vertical gardens, glass walls, and futuristic design make it stand out even before you step inside. But the real magic?
The treasures from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, each telling a story about the world beyond Paris’ borders. It’s a place that makes you realize how big, diverse, and endlessly fascinating human history really is.
If you’re looking for a break from European art and an entry into something richer, this is where you want to be.
17. Marché des Enfants Rouges
Food markets in Paris are a dime a dozen, but this one is legendary.
Marché des Enfants Rouges is the city’s oldest covered market, and it’s a global feast under one roof.
One stall is serving Moroccan tagines, another is flipping Japanese okonomiyaki, and right next to them, someone’s making the best cheese plate you’ve ever seen.
It’s small, chaotic, and smells incredible—just how a market should be. Skip the fancy restaurants for a day and eat your way through this gem instead.
18. Pantheon
You don’t just visit the Panthéon—you stand inside and feel the weight of history pressing down on you.
Voltaire, Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Victor Hugo—they’re all buried here, and their legacies still hum in the air. The building itself is massive, grand, and unapologetically dramatic, like a church built by someone with a flair for the theatrical.
If that’s not enough, the rooftop views are some of the best in Paris—a well-kept secret, because most visitors are too busy staring at the dome from below. Come for the history, stay for the view, and leave feeling just a little bit more profound.
19. Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie
Who says Paris is just about art and history? Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie is where science geeks, space lovers, and curious minds come to play.
A massive planetarium, a real submarine, and interactive exhibits that make physics actually fun—it’s a brainy playground for kids and adults alike. The futuristic glass-and-steel architecture makes it feel like you’ve stepped into a sci-fi movie.
If you need a break from museums filled with paintings of people in wigs, this is your perfect escape.
20. Île Saint-Louis
Île Saint-Louis is the Parisian equivalent of stumbling upon a quiet little café where time slows down.
It’s the kind of place where every corner looks like a postcard, the bridges are lined with musicians, and there’s zero rush to get anywhere. The main draw? Berthillon ice cream, famous for being so good that Parisians will actually wait in line for it.
Grab a cone, find a bench by the Seine, and watch the world drift by like it’s your own personal movie. This is Paris at its dreamiest.
21. Le Café des Chats
If you’re obsessed with cats, this café is your Parisian paradise. Le Café des Chats is exactly what it sounds like—a cozy, vintage-style tea house filled with rescued cats, all of whom are living their best, most pampered lives.
While you sip on a café crème, a fluffy tabby might curl up next to you, completely indifferent to your presence, as all cats tend to be. It’s charming, weirdly relaxing, and definitely one of the most unique cafés in the city.
Fair warning: you may leave with an overwhelming urge to adopt a cat.
22. The Paris Sewer Museum
You haven’t truly seen Paris until you’ve been underneath it. The Paris Sewer Museum sounds weird—and honestly, it is—but that’s what makes it so cool.
You walk through actual underground tunnels, learning how Paris has managed its less glamorous side for centuries. Victor Hugo even wrote about it in Les Misérables (yes, these are those sewers).
It’s dark, eerie, and weirdly fascinating, proving that even Paris’ underground is more interesting than most cities’ main attractions.