Enjoying the Sights of a Historic, American City

Secret Paris: Little-Known Things You Have To Do When You Visit Paris

Paris is known as one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the entire world. And when people visit Paris, the most common thing for them to do is to see the Eiffel tower. It's like a rite of passage. Of course, there is more to do than the normal touristy stuff. Here is the secret Paris that tourists should know about.

Sightseeing Boats

Sightseeing boats are an amazing way to see Paris. You can book an adventure and see Paris' most beautiful sights from the water. There are different types of boat tours that you can book. One is a private tour on a small boat for a couple of people and the guide. There are large riverboats that you can join too. They're two-story boats that fit dozens of people on board. You can eat a romantic dinner on the boat and see the city in a way that many people never get to experience. If you book a tour down the Seine River, you can see amazing buildings and monuments such as the following:

  • Assemblée Nationale
  • Hotel des Invalides
  • Notre Dame Cathedral
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Point Alexandre III
  • Grand Palais
  • Musee d'Orsay

Museum of Vampires

The Museum of Vampires and Legendary Creatures is a museum opened by Jacques Sirgent. He was a knowledgeable and highly eccentric scholar who specialized in all things macabre, including and vampires and dark folklore. In the museum, you can learn all about the dark history of Paris, including vampire rituals, undead superstitions, cannibal sorcery, and medieval Christian hierarchy. The museum is definitely not for everyone; however, if you have an open mind or an interest in vampires or the undead, you might find it very interesting.

Attend a Supper Club

Supper clubs are extremely popular with the locals. Parisians are friendly and inviting and they'd be thrilled to allow you to join in on the fun. Supper clubs run by everyday people who host a dinner at their home. You might find supper clubs in an apartment or even on a boat. Most supper clubs have dinner three to four nights per week. They all have their own suggested donation amount for people to pay. There is no pressure to go more than once, so you can attend while you're visiting Paris. If you're interested in joining a supper club, there are some that you can look into for your trip online.

Palais Royal Shops

Palais Royal is the location of the secret shops in Paris. While they're not actually a secret, most tourists know nothing about them. The shops are definitely a place that is overrun with more locals than anyone. These shops are amazing because as soon as you get to Palais Royal, you feel like you've gone back in time a few hundred years. It's what all of Paris looked like back then. This one sweet spot managed to preserve time. The shops are all high-end, luxury shops. If you can't afford high-end shops, it's still worth it to go. Just looking at the window displays and feeling the ambiance of the area is a beautiful experience.

Funfair Museum

The funfair museum is an amazing private collection of different memorabilia and rides. Some of the items date all the way back to the 1800s. The museum is private, so you have to make an appointment to visit. It's a magical (and slightly creepy) place. It's definitely worth the trip if you can get an appointment to go. When you look for the museum, look for Musée des Arts Forains, which is the French name for it.

Paris is the city of love and romance, but even if you aren't going with a romantic partner, you can have a lot of fun. Along with the normal touristy stuff, try to check some of these little-known gems off of your to-do list.

For more information and travel tips, talk with companies that offer flights to Paris, such as WayToFly.


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