1. The People

One of the most fascinating things about Paris is people-watching. When you’ve had enough of walking and seeing tourist sites, find one of the many delightful Parisian cafes. Sit down with a coffee and watch the world go by.

2. Cemeteries

Cemeteries might seem like an odd thing to see in Paris, but they’re peaceful places to wander around. Everybody’s heard of the famous cemetery Pere Lachaise, but there are others in Paris where you can visit the great and the good, including Cimitiere Montparnasse (famous residents including Serge Gainsbourg).

3. Shop Windows

Paris is known for its sense of style, and the shop windows are proof of this. Whether it’s a fashion boutique or a patisserie, everything is displayed with flair, showing off the products to maximum advantage. Plus window-shopping is free!

4. Flea Markets

The most famous flea market is the one at St. Ouen, which has hundreds of antique dealers as well as stalls of the bric-a-brac variety (and lots of pickpockets, so do be careful). There are several others as well, such as Porte de Vanves and Marché au Puces d´Aligre – don’t miss a trip to one of them while you’re in Paris!

5. Parks

Paris has ample parks – some of them well-known, such as the Jardins de Luxembourg, others a little more off the beaten track. Among my favourites are the Parc Montsouris, the Parc Aux Buttes-Chaumont and the Jardin des Plantes.

6. Unique Museums

There are other museums to see in Paris than the Louvre, impressive as it may be. I’ve spent some fun afternoons visiting lesser-known museums such as those dedicated to Freemasonry, forgery and the history of the police. The bonus is that they won’t be full of other tourists!

7. The Streets

In historic and beautiful cities such as Paris, one of the great pleasures is strolling around the fascinating streets. I recommend not having a fixed route in mind, but wandering down whatever street takes your fancy. If you see something that looks interesting, go and examine it more closely. Who knows what you might come across – an amazing restaurant or intriguing shop

8. The Views

It’s said that the best thing about the Tour Montparnasse is that if you’re in it, you don’t have to look at it! It’s worth going up one of the tall buildings to get the best views of Paris. If you don’t fancy the queues at the Tour Eiffel, head up to Sacre Coeur and Montmartre, where you’ll still see some wonderful vistas.

If you’re planning a trip to Paris, then these ideas show some of the wonderful things to see in Paris. If you’re not planning a trip, then you definitely should, it’s amazing! What would you want to see in Paris – and if you have visited, what did you most enjoy?

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