Before we dive into things, I just want to point out one thing: it is incredibly hard to write an entire post dedicated to hidden gems in Paris. Before you roll your eyes and hit that back button to take you back to Google, hear me out!
“Hidden gems in Paris” is a subjective term. Anywhere worth going has probably definitely already been visited by thousands of people. This list is made up of things I personally found while planning my 2022 solo trip to Paris that I had either never heard of before or that I got a ton of messages from people on Instagram saying, “OMG I didn’t know you could do that!” One thing I know for certain: This list will definitely take you beyond just visiting the Eiffel Tower or going to the Louvre to see the always disappointing Mona Lisa.
Without further ado, let’s dive into some of my favorite hidden gems in Paris!
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Classes & Workshops
Learn how to make croissants
One thing I’ll never understand is how croissants are available everywhere for super cheap in Paris…but in the US it’s almost impossible to find one for less than $5. Since croissants are one of my favorite things to enjoy, my wallet and I came to an agreement that I should really learn how to make them myself instead of constantly buying them.
And what better place to learn than right in Paris??? I took a class at a tiny hidden gem in Paris called Maison Fleuret and it did not disappoint! The class is limited to 8 people, so you have plenty of 1:1 help from the instructor, and you learn how to make both traditional butter croissants and pan de chocolate (chocolate croissants). You’ll leave with two of each, and you’ll wonder how on earth you’re not a world-renowned pastry chef yet.
One thing to note about this class if you are a solo female traveler: This particular class has you work in pairs. If you’re new to solo female travel, this may seem a bit intimidating. But it’s a great opportunity to make a new friend! (Or, ya know, give your arms a much needed break from the seemingly endless rolling.)
You can book a croissant class in Paris with Maison Fleuret either on Airbnb Experiences or directly on their website (which I found had more times available).
If croissants aren’t your thing, GetYourGuide has some other great French cooking class options!
Learn how to make macarons
Another quintessential Parisian treat is, of course, the macaron. I was determined to attempt to teach myself how to make them during the pandemic, but to be honest…I chickened out. It’s such an exact science that I wanted to learn from a pro, so I made it a priority to do just that when I went to Paris.
I went back to Maison Fleuret for my macaron class because I was able to do that and my croissant class on the same day, but to be honest…the experience wasn’t as enjoyable or as hands on as the croissant class. This may have been because the group I was with had a bunch of kids under the age of 10, and macarons involve working with a lot of hot materials so not exactly kid – friendly. Either way, unlike the croissant class it’s perfect for a solo female traveler!
I’ve included a few other macaron classes in Paris below for you to peruse.
Take a perfume making workshop
I once worked with a woman who went to Paris once a year to create a custom perfume for herself. She was easily making double what I was making, so I thought this particular activity was one of those hidden gems in Paris reserved for the extremely wealthy.
Well, whaddya know? It’s not! Anyone can partake in this unique experience that is not only fun, but also sends you home with a pretty great souvenir.
While you can certainly go home with your favorite Chanel fragrance for a lot less than what you would pay in the States (guilty 🙋), why not go home with a one of kind scent designed especially for and by you?
Take a French lesson at the iconic Cafe de Flore
Cafe de Flore may not meet the definition of a hidden gem in Paris, but being able to take a French lesson there definitely does!
Cafe de Flore is one of the two most popular cafes in Paris for literary fans (the other is Les Deux Magots). This is because two of Cafe de Flore’s most famous regulars were none other than Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway.
Why not take some time to sip on a delicious cup of coffee where one of the greatest American authors of all time sat, learn some French, and then follow it up with a guided tour of Paris?
You can find this exact tour option here.
Day Trips from Paris
Go to Giverny to tour Monet’s gardens
While many people are familiar with Monet, and may even be aware of the fact that you can visit his home and the famous gardens that inspired a lot of his most well known work, few realize that a trip to Giverny is actually an incredibly easy day trip from Paris.
There are a number of ways to get there: The easiest option is to book a tour that includes your roundtrip transportation, or you can rent a car, call an Uber (though this would be the most expensive option), or take a train then a quick bus over to the property.
You probably don’t want to visit on a rainy day, but these tours do sell out fast. You can either wait until the last minute to hopefully get a spot (which is definitely easier to do if you’re a solo female traveler rather than part of a group) or risk having a rainy day and book ahead of time.
I personally would book a tour ahead of time with GetYourGuide rather than a traditional tour company because they allow you to cancel up to 24 hours in advance and still get a full refund. That’s pretty unheard of as far as tours go and limits the all around risk of either missing out or getting soaked.
Rediscover your inner child at Disneyland Paris
Okay, okay…maybe this isn’t a hidden gem in Paris, but unless you’re a Disney fanatic who has already done all the necessary research, you probably don’t know that Disneyland Paris is just a quick half hour train ride away!
Similar to visiting Giverny, there are a number of ways on how to get to Disneyland Paris:
- Easiest to book: Purchase roundtrip transportation when you buy your park pass.
Pro: You book everything in one shot.
Con: You are at the mercy of Disney’s departure times, which honestly aren’t that great. - Most direct: Call an Uber.
Pro: Private transportation on your own schedule.
Con: This is hands down the most expensive option and one I probably wouldn’t recommend. - Semi-Private transportation with free 24 hour cancellation: You can definitely book something like a bus transfer to Disneyland through a company like GetYourGuide that will typically also include your park ticket.
Pros: You’ll be on an air conditioned bus and won’t need to worry about train transfers.
Cons: Again, you’re at the mercy of their bus schedules and I’m also not sure if the ticket price is comparable to what you would pay if you just bought it directly through Disney. - Most Flexible: Take the train from Paris to Disneyland, which is officially the Chessey train station.
Pros: This is easily the most flexible option. You can arrive when you want and leave when you want.
Cons: You’ll need to figure out where you’ll need to transfer trains. Once you get to a major metro station, like Gare du Nord, it’s pretty easy to figure out because the sign for the correct metro line / train line almost always has a little Mickey head on it, but up to that point may be a little trickier. If you don’t want to deal with that aggravation you can always take an Uber to the main station.
Regardless of how you choose to get there, I personally think everyone should go to an amusement park by themselves at least once. Or, if you’re not into solo female travel, you should definitely visit a Disney park as an adult at least once. Ever been drunk in Disney? It’s a delight 😂
Moët & Chandon Champagne Tour
I always thought that visiting Champagne would have to be a trip all on its own, but you can actually do a day trip here from Paris!
Moët and Chandon is arguably one of the most well recognized champagnes in the world. From bloggers with millions of followers to A list celebrities, it seems like anyone who’s anyone is sipping on this particular bubbly that consistently ranks as one of the best.
And while you can buy a bottle pretty much anywhere, why not treat yourself to this little hidden gem in Paris and take an actual tour of the Moët and Chandon vineyard and enjoy a nice little champagne tasting? Sounds like an absolute dream day to me!
You can find a link to the tour here (which includes transportation from Paris).
Other Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris
Climb to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral
Everyone knows to visit Notre Dame when visiting Paris and admire the dazzling stained glass windows, but when I posted a throwback picture on Instagram from my very first trip to Paris where I climbed to the top, I was floored by the amount of you that were shocked you could do this! So I guess this is also one of the hidden gems in Paris🤷
While you of course can’t go inside Notre Dame right now, the renovations from the horrible fire that occurred in April 2019 should be completed by 2024.
If you visit once it reopens, I can’t recommend this particular activity enough! Climbing to the top and looking out over the City of Lights was the moment I knew I had fallen in love with Paris, despite the fact that it was cold and drizzly that day.
Paris Saint-Germain game or stadium tour
While lots of Paris hidden gems are perfect for the budding fashionista or aspiring architect, this one is perfect for sports fanatics! If you’re a soccer (futbol) fan, you really can’t miss going to a Paris Saint-Germain game. The stadium is located right in Paris proper and is incredibly easy to get to by public transportation.
If PSG isn’t playing during your visit, you can always opt for a stadium tour instead!
Explore Paris from a new angle, either by tuk tuk or in a vintage Citroen 2CV
Yes, I know, tuk tuks are typically associated with Southeast Asia, but that’s why it made it onto this list of hidden gems in Paris! Rather than doing a traditional walking tour or hop – on – hop – off bus, why not take a more unconventional form of transportation around the Latin Quarter?!
If tuk tuks aren’t your thing, what about a vintage Citroen 2CV with your own private driver? 😍 Talk about riding in style!
Spend a relaxing day exploring the Parc de Sceaux
Okay, the Parc de Sceaux isn’t technically in Paris, but it’s close enough and easy enough to get to that I feel like it still counts as one of the hidden gems in Paris.
This absolutely breathtaking piece of land has everything you could ever want in a Parisian park! First, you have a castle (😱) that now serves as a museum about Parisian history, which covers everything from the French revolution to more modern history. Even if history isn’t your thing, who doesn’t want beautiful pictures in front of a freakin’ CASTLE???
In addition to that, the grounds have multiple fields of the iconic cherry blossoms that burst into fragrant blooms in spring time. You can also find the Orangerie here, which is another art museum.
Pro Tip: Sometimes you can get a combo ticket to both Musee d’Orsay and the Orangerie. Since entrance to the park itself is free, I would definitely recommend taking advantage of the ticket offer through Musee d’Orsay and visit both + the park. Bring a picnic!
Go on a romantic sunset dinner cruise on the Seine
(Yes, solo dinner cruises can be romantic too!)
I don’t know what happened or why, but for the past year somehow every single trip I’ve taken I end up on a boat of some kind. With the exception of my trip to Ecuador, where the boat was literally my home for a week, none of it was planned.
Paris is no exception.
While you can do a tour down the River Seine at any time of the day (it’s definitely more cost efficient that way), why not spoil yourself and go for a luxe dinner cruise at sunset? Come on, you deserve it.
Prices vary quite a bit for these depending on time of year, how many courses you’ll be served, and whether or not champagne is included. Thankfully there are countless companies to go with for this, so you’re sure to find the perfect cruise to give you the full experience while still comfortably fitting it into your budget.
Explore Vignes du Clos Montmartre, the only remaining vineyard in Paris
Montmartre certainly doesn’t fit into a list of hidden gems in Paris, but this lesser known location tucked away in the picturesque neighborhood definitely does!
Introducing Vignes du Clos Montmartre, the only remaining vineyard in Paris.
This vineyard is tucked away in the popular Montmartre neighborhood, and unless you know where to go it’s incredibly easy to walk by without a second thought.
While Vignes du Clos Montmartre is no longer open to the public, they do open once a year for the Fête des Jardins (a celebration of the grape harvest) where you can take a guided tour of the vineyard. If you’re not visiting at the time of the festival, you can still wander around the outer perimeter and admire its timeless beauty.
Tour the spooky catacombs
I know I know, this isn’t exactly a hidden gems in Paris because a lot of people want to do this exact tour. But it’s something so incredibly unique that it’s worth adding to the list!
I mean, where else in the world can you go underneath the city and see human skulls???
Some people may assume that the only thing hiding underground is the metro and the sewer system, but there is actually a ton of history to be found and is one of the more unusual things worth checking out!
If you want to learn more about what’s underneath Paris, consider checking out the Paris Sewer Museum as well!
Visit the Opera Garnier
This stunning piece of architecture is a bit touristy, and it’s truly an event to be able to attend a performance here. But what a lot of people don’t know is that you can still visit the inside to just walk around or take some stunning pictures by paying a small entrance fee.
Opera Garnier is a perfect place to immerse yourself in gilded luxury!
Admire the street art in Canal Saint Martin
On my most recent visit to Paris France, I split my stay between the 15th arrondissement and the 10th arrondissement, where you’ll find the lesser known neighborhood of Canal Saint Martin.
This secret Paris neighborhood used to be a little rough around the edges, but is now up and coming. It’s a younger neighborhood that doesn’t feel as traditionally Parisian, and that’s one reason why I loved it so much! There is a ton of street art to admire, but you can also join the locals by having a picnic or bottle of wine by the river at the end of the day. Wander the streets to your heart’s content to find all the best secret spots!
While staying in the 15th arrondissement in this epic Eiffel Tower view Airbnb, I was desperate for a serving of my favorite French meal: beef bourguignon.
After sifting through countless reviews and Google listings, I came across Aux Artistes, which was only about a 10-15 minute walk from my flat. The reviews on Google did not accurately prepare me for what I was about to walk into…
This little hole in the wall is down a random street in a pretty residential neighborhood and only seats about 40 or 50 people. It’s super tiny, incredibly dark…and no one speaks English. This, my friends, is what we live for!!! It seriously felt like an Anthony Bourdain moment and is the perfect place to end this list of hidden gems of Paris on.
If you don’t speak French, have no fear! Google Translate is here! Jk, sort of lol. There were only two people working the front of the house when I visited, and while the waiter didn’t speak a single word of English the bartender at least spoke enough broken English (and I spoke enough broken French) that we made it work. They also have a menu in English available, which is huge.
This was easily the greatest meal I have ever had in Paris. And, it was crazy affordable!!! I spent about $31 for my entire three course meal. And that was expensive for this place because I had two upcharge items. My meal consisted of:
- Escargot (the best I’ve ever had in my life)
- Beef bourguignon
- Creme brûlée
- A glass of red wine
Even if you’re not staying in the neighborhood, please do yourself a favor and grab dinner here one night! I can promise you won’t regret it.