6 Hidden Gems In Paris

This stunning mosque is worth seeing whether you’re up for a gommage (exfoliation) or not – but I’d highly recommend it, as would half the ladies in Paris. As you walk in off the corner, just across from the Natural History Museum and the Jardin des Plantes, the open courtyard features a fraction of the beautiful architecture and mosaics that the building holds.

So while you could merely sit at a table with a tea and appreciate the beauty of the mosque from here, it’s best experienced from within – in the hammam. It costs 18 euros for an entry into one of my favorites among the hidden gems in Paris – the steam rooms – but the package including a massage and gommage is the way to go!

The women there will treat you with a firm, but caring touch, and you’ll emerge feeling like a brand new person, ready to tackle the other secret places in Paris with an au natural glow!

Similar to New York City’s High Line, the Promenade Plantée is an elevated walkway flanked by gardens with decorative ponds, trellises, and sculptures.

What used to just be an abandoned 19th-century viaduct was converted in 1993, and it’s become a peaceful green respite from the busyness of the city streets – as well as the chance to sneak a peek into the secret lives of the Parisians below!

Accessible by stairway or elevator, the path starts near Bastille and traverses three miles to the Bois de Vincennes – a large park just outside the périphérique (the highway that goes all the way around Paris’ city limits) to the east.

If you’ve had your fill of wine and cheese and are simply lusting after a good old pint, consider your prayers answered by La Fine Mousse. While Paris isn’t known for its beer, there are certainly some excellent connoisseurs in the city, and La Fine Mousse houses the best of the best.

With 20 different beers on tap at any given time, the bartenders are always excited to nerd out about beers from all over the world and recommend libations for a wide variety of palates.

Their restaurant across the street pairs the beers with specialized multi-course menus that change regularly, and if you’re willing to splurge a little, it’s certainly worth the visit.

Ditch the tourist crowds with this Parisian summer secret. In the warmer months, when outdoor space in the city becomes extremely valuable real-estate, you might find yourself in dire need of a break from the overheated crowds.

Although having wine along the Seine is always a lovely summer treat, the canal up in the 10th Arrondissement, one of the many hidden things to do in Paris, takes you a little further away from the bustle of the city center and promises a fairly tourist-free outdoor break.

Lined with authentic French shops, cafés, and bars, the canal has a slightly more hip vibe on summer evenings than the city’s main waterway, and it becomes a lively meeting spot for an apéro en pleine air.