Suggestions for unusual stuff to do in Paris.

[JackDragna]

I'll be in Paris for a few days at the beginning of next month and I'm looking for suggestions for offbeat, unusual and out of the way things to see. I'll visit some of the big attractions, but I love opportunities to see things others don't bother with, and to meet the locals. Merci to anyone who has any ideas.

[bicentennial_baby]

1. The Catacombs

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

[Darth_Kitten]

2. Pere LaChaise Cemetery.....

visit all the famous graves.

[Aristus]

4. Done that!

[distantearlywarning]

16. Second this suggestion.

It was one of the best things I did in Paris.

[Bossy Monkey]

3. I dug the Arenes de Lutece and nearby rue Mouffetard

but admit that I haven't been over in decades. Look to be pretty hip still, though:
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Parks_Gardens/Arenes_de_Lutece.shtml
http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=110

[bicentennial_baby]

10. Ha! My hotel was right in front of that!

:D

[MajorChode]

5. The Montmartre area of Paris is a bit off-beat

Visit La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur while yer at it. Just beside the Basilica is a tourist trap, junk store area with a café or two that is one of the best places in Paris to get a really nice meal at a decent price. I highly recommend trying escargot there if you've never had it.

Montmartre is thick with pickpockets and street hustlers so beware of that.

[flvegan]

6. Sit on the sidewalk of Avenue des Champs-Élysées singing "Hotel California"

You want to meet locals, that's how you meet locals.

We even made some money, goofy ass high schoolers we were.

[Critters2]

7. Try speaking French, At the very least,

no one will recognize you as an American. :)

[MajorChode]

8. They will anyway

But "hello", "goodbye", "please", "thank you", "how much?", "excuse me", "one more beer", and "where is the bathroom?" in the local language gets you by pretty much anywhere.

[AllieB]

9. Check out Belleville and the Edith Piaf museum.

The 20th arrondissement is often overlooked by tourists and is an interesting place to stroll around. Definitely go to one of the open air markets-you'll feel like you're in Africa. It's an interesting cultural contrast to Paris' upscale areas. Have you also gone up to the big flea market (Les Puces de Saint-Ouen)? Lots of touristy junk but there's also an interesting area with antiques.

I would also try out different African restaurants in Paris. There are many in the 18th and 20th arrondissements.

[GoneOffShore]

11. We were there at the end of March -

Check out the Hotel de Ville - Lots of free exhibits - It's on the Rue de Rivoli opposite the BHV department store. http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/hoteldeville.htm
They are presently running an exhibit on Gustave Eiffel. Also go down Rivoli towards Bastille and check out the Hotel Sully - When we were there there was an exhibit of photographs taken between 1920-1940 by some of the greats of European photography.

In the Marais go to the Carnavalet Museum - it's another freebie and is the museum of the city of Paris.

In the Place des Vosges you can visit Victor Hugo's house - also free. And have lunch at any of three really good restaurants - Chez Janou at 2 Rue Roger Verlomme/ Rue des Tournelles ( 2minute walk) or Cafe des Musees - at Rue de Turenne and Rue St. Gilles (right around the corner from the Carnavalet)

Also check out the exhibits at the Bibliotheque Nationale We saw the Controverses photos and were knocked out.

And here's a tip - if you are over 60 or just approaching it, when you go to pay for a ticket at any museum ask for the "tarif reduit" - I'm over 60, don't look it, and got the senior price when I asked for it.

Go to the Isle St. Louis in the middle of the Seine - Berthillion ice cream is there, If you like chocolate Charlotte de l'Isle is there - and a really good Alsace bistro is there.

Added on edit:
Check out the street markets - http://www.v1.paris.fr/EN/Living/markets/markets.ASP

And walk up the Canal St Martin from Bastille - or take the boat from Porte de Villette down the canal to the Seine.

Paris is a drug and I need another fix really soon.

[AllieB]

12. The Carnavalet Museum was great-lovely gardens.

I would also sugguest the Jacquemart-Andre Museum, as well as the Nissim de Camondo Museum. The Jacquemart also has a lovely cafe in which to eat lunch-ask for an outdoor seat if it's nice out:

http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/jacquemart/

The Nissim de Camondo Museum:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_Nissim_de_Camondo

While you're up in that neighborhood (8th), visit the Parc Monceau. It's lovely.

I was there for 2 weeks in June last year and the weather was fabulous.

[GoneOffShore]

13. The Jacquemart is really superb! We loved it.

Did you get to Butte Chaumont - That's a great park?

And the always popular Jardin du Luxembourg. If you go on a Sunday or Wednesday afternoon you can rent a model sailboat to sail in the pond. Or walk through the gardens from the big pond in the center west towards the tennis court and you will find the boules court and the guys playing boules. Great fun that. Near Rue de Fleurus.


Plus there is a really good restaurant called Le Timbre http://www.restaurantletimbre.com/le%20timbre%20.html on Rue Sainte Beuve -Walk out of the Luxembourg onto Rue d'Assas then onto Rue Vavin - follow to Rue Notre Dame des Champs and then to Sainte Beuve - Call for reservations as the restaurant only seats 20 people. In fact, always call for reservations. That way you'll be sure of a table in any restaurant.

And if you like pig in all its various combinations go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OVRsB4U8vQ Relais d'Odeon. Elvis is alive and cooking in Paris.

[applegrove]

14. Find out if they have any concerts going on at Notre Dame. We just happened

upon an aria being sung at Notre Dame when we walked by one day. But it was mostly over by the time we arrived.

[gardenista]

15. Go to the flower and bird shops on Quai du Louvre

If you're into plants at all, it's a cool spot.

[JackDragna]

17. Self-kick

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'm self-kicking in case someone else sees the thread and decides to contribute.

[petronius]

18. The Museum of Eroticism is pretty offbeat, and interesting (nt)

[bicentennial_baby]

19. Seconded.

:)

[Gabi Hayes]

20. Madame Sartre: est-ce que Jean est chez vous?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYh8iZC5-E

[mix]

21. underground house

check out the rex club, you'll meet locals of all sorts

http://www.rexclub.com/