Lesser-known places in Paris
Paris away from the queues: a Roman arena used for football, a railway turned garden, a hunting museum that is stranger than it sounds, and a mosque with a tea room.
8 of 8 places
Arènes de Lutèce
- History
- Daytime
A Roman amphitheatre from the 1st century, rediscovered in the 1860s, where locals now play pétanque on the arena floor.
- Getting there
- Rue Monge, 5th; Place Monge Métro.
- Best time
- Weekday afternoon.
- Cost
- Free
- Visit with respect
- Children play football here; watch for balls.
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Approximate position 48.8452, 2.3530 · France
Coulée verte René-Dumont
- Walk
- Early morning
- Daytime
A 4.7 km park on an old railway viaduct and embankment, running from Bastille through gardens and tunnels.
- Getting there
- Stairs by the Opéra Bastille on Avenue Daumesnil.
- Best time
- Morning.
- Cost
- Free
- Visit with respect
- Walkers only on the upper part.
DirectionsAdd your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Approximate position 48.8480, 2.3760 · France
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
- Museum
- Daytime
- Not for everyone
Two Marais mansions where hunting trophies, old master paintings and contemporary art share rooms, including a ceiling of owl feathers.
- Getting there
- Rue des Archives, 3rd; Rambuteau Métro.
- Best time
- Weekday afternoon; closed Mondayscheck.
- Cost
- About €13–15check
- Visit with respect
- Do not touch the displays.
- Not for everyone
- Stuffed animals everywhere.
DirectionsAdd your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Approximate position 48.8615, 2.3585 · France
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
- Park or garden
- Daytime
- Evening
A park built in a former quarry, with cliffs, a lake and a temple on a crag, and views to Montmartre.
- Getting there
- Buttes Chaumont or Botzaris Métro.
- Best time
- Late afternoon.
- Cost
- Free
- Visit with respect
- Lawns open and close by season; follow the signscheck.
DirectionsAdd your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Approximate position 48.8809, 2.3828 · France
Musée des Arts Forains
- Odd one
- Daytime
Old fairground rides, carousels and games in wine warehouses at Bercy, some of which you can ride.
- Getting there
- Cour Saint-Émilion Métro.
- Best time
- Guided visits by booking onlycheck.
- Cost
- About €18–20check
- Visit with respect
- Follow the guide.
DirectionsAdd your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Approximate position 48.8325, 2.3880 · France
Petite Ceinture (the opened sections)
- Walk
- Daytime
A disused railway ring round Paris; some sections are now public walks, like the one in the 15th between rue Olivier de Serres and Balard.
- Getting there
- 15th arrondissement section: entrances on rue Olivier de Serres and place Balard.
- Best time
- Daytime; open hours vary by sectioncheck.
- Cost
- Free
- Visit with respect
- Only use the official opened sections; the closed stretches are off-limits.
DirectionsAdd your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Approximate position 48.8400, 2.2890 · France
Grande Mosquée de Paris
- Temple, church or shrine
- Daytime
A 1920s mosque in Moroccan style with a garden and tiled courtyard, plus a tea room serving mint tea and pastries.
- Getting there
- Place du Puits-de-l'Ermite, 5th; Place Monge Métro.
- Best time
- Afternoon; closed to visitors during prayers and Fridaycheck.
- Cost
- About €3–6check
- Visit with respect
- Cover shoulders and knees; women may be asked to cover their hair in the prayer area.
DirectionsAdd your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Approximate position 48.8420, 2.3552 · France
Musée Nissim de Camondo
- Museum
- Daytime
A banker's house left as it was in the 1930s with its 18th-century furniture, kitchens and servants' rooms, and a family history ended by Auschwitz.
- Getting there
- Rue de Monceau, 8th; Villiers Métro.
- Best time
- Weekdays; closed Mondays and Tuesdayscheck.
- Cost
- About €12–15check
- Visit with respect
- The family story is told plainly; take the time to read it.
DirectionsAdd your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Approximate position 48.8795, 2.3120 · France
How places get on this list
- Fewer visitors than the city's top sights: no place on the usual first-day list.
- Open to the public: a street, park, market, museum or place of worship anyone can walk into, or a tour anyone can book.
- Legal and safe to visit as described. We leave out private property, closed or fenced sites, abandoned buildings, active rail lines, rooftops and rock pools known for drownings.
- Where access is limited (Hanoi's Train Street, Berlin's Spreepark, Barcelona's bunkers), we say what the rules are and how to see it without breaking them.
- Prices, hours and access rules change: anything marked check was right when written but should be confirmed on the day.
Checked 2026-09. Coordinates are approximate; use the map links to find the entrance.