This isn’t your typical list of things to see in Paris. Sure, the Louvre is great. And the food is great. But there’s a lot more to the world’s most touristic city than its tourist sites. Here: a guide to what’s special and unexpected in Paris.
Paris
Travel blogs, travel photos and features from Paris, France
Paris Travel Guide
The ultimate guide to the best things to do and see in Paris
Paris is always a good idea. With its gorgeous architecture, stunning museums, beautiful outdoor spaces, non-stop nightlife and amazing food, it might just be the perfect city. Start here with my basic Paris travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Paris travel blogs.
When to Visit
Like most of Europe, the summer is high season in Paris, and the city comes alive with people revelling in the warm weather and enjoying the many green spaces. However, with so much going on year round, Paris really is a place you can enjoy at any time of year, no matter the weather.
Cool Things To Do
Visit the Louvre – It’s easy to get lost in the Louvre—the world’s largest art museum. While most visitors make a beeline for the highlights and spend a maximum of two hours in the museum, you could spend days wandering through the collections.
Lunch at the the Grande Mosque – In the 5th arrondissement, the impressive Grand Mosque is a really unique example of 1920s Moorish-style architecture, and it also houses a great Moroccan restaurant. I highly recommend getting the couscous and lamb tagine.
Explore the Latin Quarter – The Latin Quarter, a big student neighborhood in Paris, has this crazy, bohemian vibe and to spend the night in a dark, dank club with a bunch of cabaret performers is a truly unique experience!
Paris Tours
There’s so much history to learn about in Paris it can be a little overwhelming to tackle it by yourself. Instead, check out this selection of tours in Paris.
For those looking for a good wander, just choose an arrondissement to explore and have at it! Sometimes simply wandering the streets is a good way to soak up the culture and you might stumble on some really unique things (and as always, beautiful architecture. Check out this neighborhood guide to Paris with recommended places to stay.
LGBTQ – Gay Paris Travel Guide
Paris is very, very gay. And full of beautiful men! There are so many gay things to do in Paris, these are a few of the best things you should know about.
Les Mots à la Bouche – This cute, old-fashioned bookstore is the place to go in Paris for LGBT literature and more. With an impressive collection of novels, poetry, photography books, graphic novels, manga and erotica, this place has it all.
Open Café – A café, bar and restaurant, this is a great place to meet cute guys in a casual setting. They serve food in the daytime, and do a pretty great weekend brunch (obviously), and in the early evenings, they often have happy hours, so it’s a nice place to go before hitting the clubs.
More gay travel resources here.
Paris Hotel Deals
Paris has plenty of cool and quirky hotels, as well as all the big chains you’d expect. They can get full when there’s a conference or special event in town, so consider booking in advance. I’ve found that using Booking.com, Agoda.com or Hotels Combined can be useful for finding last-minute deals.
There are also a number of great hostel options for travelers to Paris. Finding hostels in Paris takes some skill to make sure you find something decent – so be sure to use the guide.
Follow @travelsofadam on Instagram for more travel tips!
Paris Travel Blogs
Smooth, taut, big and small, bare, and covered — a guide to the Louvre’s best butts. Sorry, Mona Lisa, but this is a list that you don’t qualify for.
A celebration of equality and diversity, the LGBTQ culture of Paris was on full display during the 2018 Gay Games with rainbows, love, & equality.
French gay film, Paris 05:59, captures the essence of what it’s like to be a young European gay guy in love, the fast romance and intense passion
Picture-perfect Paris – it’s probably the world’s best city for Instagram with many beautiful areas to photograph