I’m Sam Martin, a retired local French guide who guided for 18 years in Paris. Exploring makes life rich but doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. I will let you know through this guide about the very unique areas to visit in Paris, some secret places, and more! You’re assured of an excellent tour guide by considering this for your visit to Paris. This is the top tour company with the highest reviews on the market.
You can’t miss visiting Paris’s Famous Locations during your tour. Although you may know Paris for its stunning architecture and fascinating history, you may not be aware of the many hidden gems that can be found across the city. Here are some of the best places you can visit in Paris.
1.Catacombs
The Catacombs of Paris are an intricate network of underground passageways and tombs that were first used in the late 18th century. Although they sit beneath the city of Paris, the Catacombs are a significant tourist draw. Every year, the Catacombs draw almost six million tourists.
Touring the Paris Catacombs will allow you to pass by quarry wells lined with skulls and skeletons placed with artistic precision. The cemeteries from which they were exhumed serve as a key to their classification. Moreover, due to the limited capacity and the long lines, the atmosphere is both personal and haunting. I found a unique tour partnered with the catacombs that take you through special access that isn’t for the public, and they offer to skip the line.
2.Covered Passages
Many covered passages were constructed in Paris from the early to mid-19th century to facilitate more sanitary shopping for the city’s affluent residents.
These covered walkways are one of the best-kept secrets in the city. Many still have their charming 19th-century features and are home to charming independent shops and cafes. They are also one of the many beautiful things about Paris.
3.Pere Lachaise
The Pere Lachaise Cemetery is not only the largest cemetery in Paris, but also one of the most renowned burial grounds in all of human history. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people go to Paris’s 20th arrondissement to see the graves of famous people. Also, there are three memorials to people who died in World War I. The Père Lachaise Cemetery is one of the most-visited places in Paris.
4.Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens
The Luxembourg Gardens are between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter. They were built in 1612 at the request of Queen Marie de Medici to look like the Boboli Gardens in Florence.
There are separate French and English sections in the 25-hectare garden. Between them are a large pond and a geometric forest. There’s a greenhouse full of exotic orchids, a rose
garden, and a fully functional apiary in which you can discover everything there is to know about beekeeping. Most of the cultural events occur at the bandstand and on the garden railings, where free photography shows exist. Adults in Paris and people from other countries can play chess, tennis, bridge, and even remote-controlled boats.
5.Palais Garnier and Opera House
The public areas of the Palais Garnier, a 19th-century masterpiece of theatrical art architecture, are open to the public and ready to be explored by people who want to see a show at the Paris Opera. You can also see the current shows with this ticket when available.
The Paris Opera House is a unique place to visit. This building stands out as a real architectural gem in a city full of them. There are two opera houses in Paris: the old Palais Garnier and the newer Bastille Opera. The easiest thing to do is to tour the opera house on your own, where you decide how fast you want to learn things.