10 Hidden Gems in Paris Most Travelers Skip
Paris hides secrets in plain sight – forgotten Roman arenas, a working vineyard, even a rooftop with a million-dollar view that no one seems to notice. Skip the usual landmarks and check out these lesser-known spots that will make your next trip memorable.
1. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
This offbeat museum in the Marais mixes art, history, and taxidermy in a way that feels oddly elegant. It showcases antique hunting weapons, surreal animal sculptures, and interactive rooms with hidden surprises. Even if you’re not into hunting, the eccentric design and eerie atmosphere make it a fascinating stop. Learn more here.
2. The Vineyards of Montmartre (Clos Montmartre)
Tucked behind Sacré-Cœur, this tiny vineyard is Paris’s last working vineyard. The city-owned vines produce a limited batch of wine each year, auctioned for charity. It’s usually closed to the public, but you can admire it through the fence, or visit during the annual harvest festival in October. Le Clos Montmartre
3. Hôtel de Lauzun
This sumptuous 17th-century mansion on Île Saint-Louis looks unassuming from the outside, but inside, it’s dripping with gold leaf, painted ceilings, and intricate woodwork. Charles Baudelaire and his literary circle held opium-fueled meetings here. It only opens for rare guided tours, but if you get the chance, it’s breathtaking.
4. La Campagne à Paris
Hidden in the 20th arrondissement, this tiny pocket of cobbled streets and ivy-covered townhouses looks nothing like Paris. Built in the early 20th century as worker housing, it’s now a peaceful, almost surreal escape from the city’s noise. Few tourists wander here, making it a perfect quiet retreat.
5. Albert Kahn Gardens
A century-old garden oasis hidden in Boulogne-Billancourt, Albert Kahn’s estate features landscapes from around the world: Japanese bridges, English rose gardens, and French formal designs. Kahn, a banker and philanthropist, traveled the world collecting cultural archives. His garden reflects that global vision, in the most serene way possible.
6. Rue des Thermopyles
A quiet, ivy-draped lane in the 14th arrondissement. This cobbled street looks like it’s out of a French countryside village. In spring and summer, wisteria spills over the walls – a photographer’s dream. It’s one of those places where you’ll find more cats than people.
7. La Petite Ceinture (The Little Belt)
This abandoned 19th-century railway once circled Paris, but now, nature has taken over. Parts of the tracks have been repurposed into walking paths lined with wildflowers, graffiti, and hidden tunnels. A mix of urban decay and greenery, and a peaceful, unexpected break from the city’s polished boulevards.
8. The Secret Rooftop of Galeries Lafayette
Most shoppers never realize that this famous department store has a free rooftop terrace. The 360-degree view takes in the Opera Garnier, the Eiffel Tower, and the rooftops of Paris. It’s one of the best spots for a panoramic sunset shot, without the crowds or entry price of most great observation points.