Cool things to do in Paris France

If you want to experience the authentic atmosphere of Paris and feel that cool vibe, you should visit famous attractions and less-known but beautiful parts of the city by walking.

Walking stimulates accelerated circulation and strengthens bones and muscles. Also, the energy level in the body increases, and will notice an improvement in mood and memory.

Since there are many places you can go, I will list just a few, enough to inspire you to explore more.

Equipment

A crucial moment is the clothes and shoes you wear. If you are going to walk a lot, you do not want your legs to hurt or feel uncomfortable in moments when the beauty of art or an attraction attracts you.

It’s a little easier for men to equip themselves. You, my dear gentlemen, need good leather shoes and comfortable classic trousers, or good sneakers.

I recommend good classic sneakers or quality leather shoes/boots and a comfortable dress or leggings for ladies.

#1 Catacombs de Paris

If you head 20 meters underground in Paris and take 131 steps, you will reach a place that has been open to the public since 1809. An area known as Denfert-Rochereau Ossuary is more famous as the ‘Catacombs.’

History

Back in the 18^th century, cemeteries were becoming over-populated. Graves were become open, causing infections in the neighborhood.

The Parisian authorities chose an easily accessible site, under the plain of Montrouge. Despite the length of the tunneled, underground world, only a tiny section of it is open to the public.

Visitor’s info

• Avoid a long queue and book it online.
• The average temperature is 14°C, and it can be very humid. Bring something to cover yourself.

• They do not recommend visits by:
  – individuals with a motor disability
  – individuals with cardiac or respiratory insufficiency,
  – pregnant women
  – sensitive individuals
  – children under fourteen must be accompanied by an adult. (The direct confrontation with bones may be overwhelming)
• Duration of visit is at least 1hour. The length of the route is 1.5km

#2 Père Lachaise Cemetery

This Cemetery is quite popular. Napoleon established this cemetery in 1804. Pere Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris covering area of 110 acres.

More than 800,000 bodies are buried here. Among them were Jim Morrison, Rossini, Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Moliere, and Edith Piaf,

How much does it cost to be buried in Père Lachaise?

There is an only a little bit more than 150 free plots allocated. And whoever wants to be buried in Paris, needs to pay around $18,000.

#3 Small churches

• Eglise Saint – Augustin
• Saint Etienne du Mont
• Saint Eustache Paris
• L’église de la Madeleine

I don’t think it’s that important to list some churches I’ve visited. My view of things is that when you don’t have a specific plan, you choose a particular part of Paris and go for a long walk. Every church you come across is a work of art, so go ahead and enjoy your exploration.

#4 Happenings in the city

Only while walking through Paris can you come across some events such as art exhibitions or, in my case, an agricultural fair. It can bring you closer to the culture and everyday life of Paris.

#5 Small museums

Rodin Museum

I always wanted to see this museum, to feel and to see the real emotions of Camille Claudel, Roden’s wife, through her sculptures. Camille Claudel, is a woman who inspired Rodin to work, but tragically ended her carrier and her life in a psychiatric hospital in Montdevergues (Vaucluse).

COOL INFO:

• Recommendation: buy ticket online here
• Ticket museum – sculptures garden – current temporary exhibition – full price 14, 00 €
• Audioguide 6, 00 €

The Orangerie Museum

The museum was named Orangerie because it was dedicated to protecting oranges and other fruit trees during the winter between the 17th and 19th centuries.

I would not miss the permanent collection houses Nymphéas (Water Lillies),  a series of murals by Impressionist Claude Monet. One of my favorite painters.

COOL INFO:

• Recommendation: Reservation is mandatory
• Musée de l’Orangerie – Full price 12, 50 €
• Concession rate if you are accompanied by children -18s 10, 00 €

Petit Palais

The permanent collection with paintings, sculpture, and objets d’art from different, very talented and famous artists. Artists like Rembrandt and Jan Steen, Fragonard, Delacroix, Paul Cézanne, Courbet, Corot, Monet, Rodin, Sisley, Pissarro, etc.

Part of the museum is dedicated to Roman and Greek art. Therefore, this is very convenient for anyone on a tight budget. You can experience masterpieces traversing hundreds of years of art history.

COOL INFO

• Free access to the permanent collection
• About Petit Palais

Musee Cluny ~ National Medieval Museum 

The museum is home to one of the best collections of medieval art in the world, and some pieces dating from antiquity to the Renaissance period.

The Cluny also has one of the spectacular collections of stained glass in France. You can see 230 panels, medallions, and some fragments from the period between the 12th and 14th centuries.

COOL INFO

• Full price: 12,00 €/ Concessions: 10,00 €/
• About National Medieval Museum

Musee Marmottan-Monet

Musee offers the most incredible collection of Claude Monet paintings worldwide and is home to around 100 of his works.

You will be able to explore showcases of over 300 impressionism and post-impressionism artworks.

Interesting fact: It is estimated that Monet’s works are worth $7,020 million on average.

#6 Paris by Night

If I only spent two days in Paris or a month, I would go for a walk every night. Paris is beautiful, artistically oriented, elegant, and full of some unreal energy during the day, so it turns into a mystical place filled with stories at night.

Whenever you have the opportunity, even if you walk all day, take the time to wander the streets of Paris at night.

#7 Walks Eiffel Tower/ Parks/ Shops

Here are some of the most beautiful places to walk:

• Walk from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe
• Walk along the Seine, from the Museum D’Orsay to the Eiffel tower
• Pass Avenue des Champs-Élysées and reach Arc de Triumph – make a few stops to grab a nice cup of tea and some of the favorite French pastry and cakes
• Montmartre area – you can start at the metro station Lamarck-Caulaincourt. Pass little square (Square Joel Le Tac), and walk until you reach the stairs on rue Girandon. If you take the stairs, you’ll find yourself in a corner.
• To the left, you’ll see the top of the Sacré-Cœur. Also, do not miss the famous La Maison Rose. It is so old that has been serving up coffee for more than 100 years.
• Square Marcel Bleustein Blanchet, a lovely little garden with the most beautiful view over the back of Sacré-Cœur, should be one of the spots you need to see.

#8 Shakespeare and Company

One more place I enjoyed visiting was the iconic bookstore. I highly recommend this place to be on your agenda.

There, I was surrounded by stuffed bookshelves and history with a view of Notre Dame. Shakespeare and Company is an English-language bookshop in the heart of Paris; existing since 1951, it’s been a meeting place for Anglophone writers and readers, becoming a Left Bank literary institution.

Here you can find some rare books, or just grab a chair, sit and listen to somebody reading the Shakespeare.

#9 Montmartre walk

This is one of the most beautiful places in Paris. I believe the best time to visit it is late afternoon so you can enjoy it during the day and the night.

To reach Montmartre is a unique and magical route, and to be straight with you, I spent almost all day and night in this area.

The nearest metro station is Anvers. Take some comfortable shoes and start climbing.

On the way to Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, there are a few cute spots where you would like to take some time and enjoy it.

• La Maison Rose
• Le consulate café – the nicest cafeé in Paris
• Visit the wall with ‘Je T’aime‘, which means ‘I love you and is written in over 250 languages.
• Musée de Montmartre
• Eglise St Pierre
• World of Amelie Poulain ‘Café des Deux Moulins’– For me this was must do on a way to Montmartre.