Top 10 Hidden Gems in Paris

Most visitors to the City of Light dream of wandering the hallowed halls of the Louvre or spotting the twinkling lights on the Eiffel Tower after dark. But if you've got a few days to spend in the French capital, try to get to know the soul of the city. Dig a little deeper beyond its world-famous attractions to unearth hidden treasures in undiscovered corners of the city. Here's how to find some of the best hidden gems in Paris.

Amazed at the opulence of the Palace of Versailles? Now you can dodge the crowds to travel further back in time for guided tours of Château de Vincennes, a remarkably complete medieval castle with fortified walls encircled by a moat, and as unadorned as Versailles is glittering. Inside the castle courtyard, you can explore the bizarre, 52-metre tower that did a stint as a prison in 1777 – the notorious Marquis de Sade was one of its inmates – and its military museum. Opposite stands the lovely Gothic Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes, bristling with lacy stonework; don’t miss its plain, vaulted interior, awash with soft light ushered through gem-like stained-glass windows.

Top tip: Bordering the château is Bois de Vincennes, itself a hidden gem of Paris where you can escape the city bustle to take leisurely lakeside strolls or watch summer concerts in the Parc Floral.

Avenue de Paris, 94300 Vincennes. Métro line 1 to Château de Vincennes. Open daily 10am–6pm (10am–5pm in winter). Admission €9.50.

So you’ve been enchanted by Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny? Now make a pilgrimage to Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent van Gogh briefly made his home in 1890, completing some of his most famous paintings. Follow the artist’s final days from his simple bedroom in the Auberge Ravoux to Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption – celebrated in gloriously luminous colour as The Church at Auvers. Visit the house of Vincent’s mentor Dr Gachet, who was immortalised in the melancholy Portrait of Dr Gachet, and pay your respects to Van Gogh in the cemetery, where he lies next to his brother Theo.

But Auvers isn’t all about Van Gogh. Back in the 1860s this pretty little town was a lively hangout for renowned artists including Corot and Daumier; you can see their sublime murals adorning the walls of the Maison-Atelier Daubigny. Self-guided walking tours of this hidden gem of a town also lead you to spots where Cézanne and Pissarro painted masterpieces.

North-west outskirts of Paris. Train from Gare du Nord to Pontoise; change there for Auvers-sur-Oise.

Loved the Musée Rodin? Perhaps you’d like to get to know another artist, who – unlike Rodin – has been overlooked for decades. The name of Jean-Jacques Henner was once mentioned in the same breath as other French masters, and with the recent remodelling of a museum dedicated to his works, he’s slowly creeping back into the public eye. 

So visit the splendid Musée National Jean-Jacques Henner soon, before the crowds arrive. It’s housed in a majestic mansion – a hôtel particulier – close by if you’re staying at luxury Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris. Displays include more than 2,000 examples of Henner’s paintings, beautifully exhibited in opulent rooms decorated with period furnishings. Ethereal portraits follow on from mythical landscapes full of light and shade, set alongside many of his preparatory sketches and the delicate "nymph" paintings for which he was once so well known. And keep an eye out for the mysterious, titian-haired beauty Henner portrayed repeatedly during his career.

43 avenue de Villiers, 75017. Métro line 3 to Wagram or Malesherbes, or line 2 to Monceau. Open Wed–Mon 11am–6pm. Admission €6.

Bought books from Boul'Mich market in the Latin Quarter? Chase more bargains at lesser-known Marché aux Puces Porte de Vanves, the only flea market in central Paris. Held in the 14th arrondissement, it’s a photogenic jumble of around 400 stalls sprawled over several streets – rich pickings for lovers of brocantes who can forage to their heart’s content among hidden gems from antiquarian books, 1950s retro furniture, piles of vinyl records, and silverware in need of a good polish.

You may have to search hard to source genuine bargains like vintage YSL dresses, Limoges porcelain or perhaps a diamond ring – but persevere, as hidden treasures can still be found! And should your flea-market adventure leave you hungry, there are plenty of food stalls serving up delicious street snacks like crepes and falafels.

Top tips: Most market traders don’t accept cards so take cash with you if you’re intending to buy, and remember that it’s almost expected that you negotiate over the price of any purchases.

4 avenue Georges Lafenestre, 75014. Métro line 13 to Porte de Vanves. Open 7am–2pm Sat–Sun.

Browsed the chic fashions at elegant department store Galeries Lafayette? It’s time to explore Galerie Vivienne, a one-stop 19th-century shopping mall exuding Parisian glamour from its soaring glass roof to the swirling mosaic floor and ornate neoclassical frontages of its indie stores.

Unknown to many tourists, the gallery is a chic melange of boutiques displaying the wares of up-and-coming designers, shoemakers, hatters and jewellers. It’s also home to two historic stores: Librairie Jousseaume has been selling antiquarian books for two hundred years, while Legrand Filles et Fils is the gourmet épicerie of choice for locally made foie gras, regional wines and artisan chocolate as souvenirs of your Paris trip. And when you’ve had your fill of high-end shopping, linger awhile with your beloved in this charming arcade to sip a glass of Champagne and refuel on classic French dishes at elegant Bistrot Vivienne.

4 rue des Petits Champs, 75002. Métro line 3 to Bourse. Open 8am–8:30pm daily.

Have you taken a couples’ selfie in front of the cute, pastel-hued houses on Rue Crémieux? Try for a unique shot in Rue des Thermopyles, a minuscule, cobbled treasure of a lane tucked away on the Left Bank in hidden Paris. This secret street of rustic cottages adorned with decorative wooden shutters, elaborate glass-panelled doors and minuscule wrought-iron balconies is an oasis of leafy peace way off the touristy beaten track. Magical to visit any time of year, it really comes into its own in spring and summer, when sinuous swathes of ivy, vines and wisteria cover all the façades and creep in arches across the lane. If you’re lucky, you’ll hit a day when the community garden, run by the local residents, is open to the public.

Top tip: Whatever season you visit Rue des Thermopyles, look out for graffiti from street artists like Session 75, Miss.Tic and Les Gars Laxistes.

Paris 75014. Métro line 13 to Pernety. 

Enjoyed a colourful and slightly risqué cabaret show at the Moulin Rouge? That’s certainly the most famous windmill in Paris today, but there was a time when mills were the defining symbol of hilly Montmartre. Of the 30 or so that once dotted the district, only two remain. Stroll down Rue Lepic and you’ll soon come across Moulin Radet, one of the hidden gems in Montmartre with a wooden frame and white paddles. Originally a flour mill, it has now morphed into Le Moulin de la Galette, an upscale bistro that often flies under the tourist radar but makes a cosy spot for a romantic dinner à deux.

Little-known fact: Steps away you can admire Radet’s sister mill, Moulin Blute-Fin. It had its moment of fame in the 1870s, when an al fresco dance hall lay at its feet. It’s enshrined forever in Renoir’s joyful painting Bal du Moulin de la Galette – you can check it out in the Musée d’Orsay. 

83 rue Lepic, 75018. Métro line 12 to Abbesses. Restaurant open daily noon–10:15pm.

Admired Paris laid out below you from atop the Eiffel Tower? Now it’s time to see the city from a different perspective. An ascent to the Panoramic Observation Deck at Montparnasse Tower puts you 56 floors above the ground and reveals a road map of famous Parisian monuments: the spiky Eiffel Tower taking centre stage, the glistening gold dome of Les Invalides, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica perched on its Montmartre hilltop, Notre-Dame Cathedral… And all the way to the futuristic skyscrapers of La Défense.

Kids love the chance to find their Paris hotel through powerful telescopes, and learn more about the city via the interactive exhibits. If you’re all happy with heights, you can venture up to the open-air viewing terrace at 210 metres to take some Insta-worthy photos; time your trip for nightfall to get shots of Paris illuminated by a million dancing lights.

33 avenue du Maine, 75015. Métro lines 4, 6, 12 and 13 to Montparnasse-Bienvenüe. Open 9:30am–10:30pm Sun–Thur; 9:30am–11pm Fri–Sat. Admission starts at €19.

Viewed Paris from the Ferris wheel in the Jardin des Tuileries? Now it’s time to follow Parisian families and nip along to the Jardin d’Acclimatation, a quieter option for kids in the leafy Bois de Boulogne. There’s masses for everyone to do, so you can easily spend a day there. Attractions include traditional carousels with gilded, intricately painted wooden horses, roller-coaster rides that offer sneak peeks of the Eiffel Tower, and splash parks for cooling down in summer. Toddlers can get around the park on the mini-train, and they’re certain to adore hugging cuddly goats and donkeys at the petting farm.

Top tip: When you’ve squeezed every last happy drop of fun out of the fair, you can replenish family energy levels in a choice of terrace restaurants serving classic burgers and pizzas.

Carrefour des Sablons, Bois de Boulogne, 75116. Métro line 1 to Les Sablons or Pont de Neuilly. Open 10am–6pm Mon–Sat; 10am–7pm Sun. Admission starts at €27.

If you’ve enjoyed une balade in some of Paris’s famous gardens like the Jardin du Luxembourg or Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, why not step into uncharted territory on the Promenade Plantée? Sometimes known as the Coulée Verte, this obscure delight runs above street level on a defunct railway line between the Opéra Bastille and the Bois de Vincennes. The garden was the inspiration for the High Line in New York City, but it remains surprisingly free of crowds.

This gentle 5-kilometre family meander leads along an avenue of trees, among beautifully tended gardens festooned with roses, lavender, bamboo and wisteria. En route, you can check out the Viaduc des Arts, a series of brick archways now packed with the artisan workshops of perfumiers, jewellers and guitar makers, and be sure to look out for The Dying Slaves, a vast, art deco-style sculpture atop the local police station!

1 coulée Verte René-Dumont, 75012. Métro line 1 to Bastille. Open dawn–dusk.

We hope you enjoyed our journey around the lesser-known attractions of Paris – now it’s time for you to go out and get exploring the hidden treasures of the city!