Café des 2 Moulins

Quirky Things to do in Paris

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak

Looking for quirky and unusual and quirky things to do in Paris? Then look no further! We’ve compiled a wealth of weird, wonderful and downright wacky suggestions to help you swerve the tourist traps and experience Paris at its most offbeat, from sightseeing in a Citroën 2CV to riding a dodo, visiting Édith Piaf’s private apartment and making an absolute cochon of yourself with all-you-can-eat chocolate mousse.

Quirky Things to See and Do

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For a Paris sightseeing experience with a difference, book a private tour in a vintage Citroën 2CV, truly the Rolls Royce of classic French cars. Well, sort of. Tours last up to three hours and itineraries cover all of the major landmarks, Paris by night, Montmartre and more. Cost is per vehicle and you can reduce your share of the fare by cramming in three people, like sardines in a tin can. Albeit a very chic Parisian tin can. Take the edge off any discomfort caused by the 50-odd-year-old suspension system by adding a bottle of bubbly to your package.

You’ll regret nothing about a visit to the fascinating Musée Édith Piaf (tours by appointment only). This tiny apartment in the 20th arrondissement was home to the legendary Parisian chanteuse just before her career went stratospheric in the early 1930s. View personal belongings including photographs, fanmail and Piaf’s birth certificate, platinum records and famous black dress, and pick up a souvenir CD of Piaf favorites such as La Vie en rose and Non, je ne regrette rien in the little shop. Coincidentally, the museum is just a short stroll from the Little Sparrow’s final resting place in the vast Père Lachaise Cemetery, a fitting spot to complete your Paris Piaf pilgrimage, and where you’ll also find the tombs of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, Chopin and many more legendary entertainers of yore.

Dead Interesting

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Paris could give the Mexicans and ancient Egyptians a run for their money in terms of its fascination with the dead. Celebrity-crammed cemeteries aside, there’s no dearth of death-related attractions in Paris, if that’s what floats your bateau. Perhaps closest to the bone are the Paris Catacombs, an extensive network of underground ossuaries containing the mortal remains of some six million Parisians, displaced here from overflowing graveyards in the 18th and 19th centuries. The experience of walking through these hushed tunnels and caverns, stacked top to bottom with human remains, surely ranks as one of the city’s most macabre.

From the dead to the undead, the Musée des Vampires is every bit as creepy as it sounds... and then some. Step inside this house of horrors in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris to explore the private collection of vampirologist Jacques Sirgent, eccentric curator of this roomful of vampire-related imagery, curiosities and ephemera. Highlights include – steel yourself – mummified cats, a 19th-century ‘anti-vampire protection kit’, a crossbow and dozens of frankly terrifying artworks. As with the Piaf museum, Viewings of Mr Sirgent’s private collection are by appointment only via the website.

Lust for the macabre still not satisfied? Book tickets for the Manoir de Paris, a heart-stopping immersive Halloween horror experience held annually in the Parc de la Villette’s Grand Halle. Pay your respects at the world’s oldest pet cemetery where permanent residents include Napoleon’s three-legged dog Moustache and – I kid you not – Rin Tin Tin, canine star of the silent movie era. And climb aboard the Dodo Manège, a cute and colorful carousel in the Jardin des Plantes, where kids can choose to ride a dodo, a barbary lion, an elephant bird and other extinct and endangered critters.

Quirky activities in Paris

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Rollerblading has really taken off in Paris over the last few years. They’re everywhere: whirlwinding past as you enjoy a gentle stroll along the Champs-Élysées, hurtling towards you at truly terrifying speed in the Parc Monceau, bowling you over as you step out of your hotel... Get involved in the fun at the mass skating event that rolls through the streets of Paris – with a police escort, no less! – every Sunday. Or join the cool kids on the Pari Roller, a night-time tour-on-skates that kicks off in Montparnasse every Friday at 10PM and concludes in the wee small hours.

Fans of quirky French rom-com Amélie can follow in their heroine’s dainty footsteps at locations across the city. Make your way through Montmartre’s charming cobbled alleys to the real-life Café des Deux Moulins. This cute Parisian eaterie still looks much as it did in the movie, but with added Amélie posters, trinkets and ephemera dotted around the place. Picnic on the banks of Canal Saint-Martin and skim stones across the water, just as Audrey Tautou did in the movie, and take a dip in the Piscine de Amiraux, the beautifully restored Art Deco swimming pool where Amélie’s father enjoyed a swim.

A scoot around the most interesting stations of the Paris Métro is also worth a couple of hours of anyone’s time. Expect to see some of the city’s finest street art down here, as well as impressive stations including Arts et Métiers, with its steampunk-inspired bronze-clad tunnels, and Palais Royal, which boasts an eye-catching entrance in brightly colored Murano glass. If you’re still on an Amélie tip, there is of course a station for that: Abbesses, where our heroine encounters Nino for the first time.

Eccentric eating experiences

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Adventurous gourmands rejoice! Paris has a reasonable claim to the title of dining capital of the world. So, if you’re ever going to try escargots (that’s right: snails), this is the place to do it. These little morsels of deliciousness are served in the shell, drenched in garlicky herb butter, and with a sizable hunk of bread to mop up every last drop of the juices. Yum.

Those with a sweeter tooth may prefer to tackle the bottomless chocolate mousse at Chez Janou near the Place des Vosges. Guests who order this dessert are served a great dollop of the good stuff from an oversized bowl, which is then left on your table for you to help yourself until you can eat no more. Head to Paris institution La Maison Ladurée on the Champs-Élysées for the finest French macarons in every conceivable color and flavor. Feeling extra decadent? Try one of these delicate little pastries wrapped in gold leaf and leave higher in spirits (if somewhat lower in cash) than before you entered.

For a truly eccentric dining experience, mosey down to Le Refuge des Fondus at the foot of Montmartre. There are only two decisions to be made here: meat or cheese, and red or white wine. The twist? Your wine is served in (and drunk from) baby bottles. It brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘bar crawl’.

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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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A couple share a kiss beneath the falling leaves of the Jardin de Luxembourg
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Visiting Paris in September

Paris in September is synonymous with la rentrée – the return of Parisians who have spent the summer on the shores of the French Riviera. For visitors, their return brings an added sense of authenticity to streets still warm enough to want to be out in. Also heralding the beginning of fall, the city’s parks and gardens become a blaze of oranges and reds with the turning of the leaves. But if that wasn’t enough, Paris in September hosts a myriad of events casting a new light over the City of Light. Ready to discover Paris as summer turns to fall? Don’t miss your chance to visit in September! September in Paris Daytime temperatures of over 20°C make getting out and about in Paris a joy in September, with light, quickly moving showers the only fly in the ointment. In short, September is perfect weather for being on the water. Few are able to resist the allure of a River Seine cruise at any time of day, although sunset remains a firm favorite with us. Evening temperatures linger around 13°C, meaning you’ll probably want a sweater to keep the chill at bay. You can also take advantage of the great weather to delve into the side streets of the Montparnasse neighborhood on foot. Lying just a short distance from many of Paris’s world-famous landmarks, the area has long been the bastion of the city’s café culture and intellectual conversation. Notable fans of the area have included Hemingway, Dali and Jean-Paul Sartre, who’s buried in the cemetery which dominates as much as the Tour Montparnasse – the only skyscraper in the Paris city limits. Outdoor adventures Equally impressive are the large-scale sculptures that appear in the La Défense district and the gardens of La Seine Musicale performing arts center at this time of year, creating an outdoor exhibition space with few challengers. When it comes to outdoor public spaces, the Bois de Boulogne is rarely absent from the conversation for long. It’s 2000-plus acres incorporate several individual parks and gardens, as well as September’s Fête à Neuneu. Instigated by no less a figure than Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor of France in 1815, it’s a funfair filled to bursting with traditional rides and candy floss stalls. The festivals in fact come thick and fast, with the Fête des Jardins (Garden Festival) weekend hot on its heels. Though lasting just two days, it sees parks across the city holding special events. They include live bands, food stalls and guided tours. All are put together to help visitors get the most out of the city’s 150 public green spaces. Indoor marvels With such an array of history on display, you wouldn’t think Paris would be in need of its European Heritage Days. However, this September weekend grants visitors free access to many of Paris’s museums, alongside attractions usually off-limits to the general public. The Élysée Palace, official residence of the French President, behind the scenes areas of the Paris Metro and Hôtel Drouot – an auction house equivalent to Sotheby’s – have all opened their usually closed doors for previous editions. Attractions reopening their doors – this time after the summer hiatus – are the shows that provide entertainment late into the night, including those of the cabaret clubs of Montmartre and Paris’s two main opera houses, the Palais Garnier and Opera Bastille. Get your lips tingling and toes tapping You certainly don’t have to be an opera buff to enjoy a night out in the French capital. To start with, there is no shortage of rooftop bars, still very much usable spaces thanks to the sunny weather of Paris in September. Combine a little panoramic sightseeing with a classic cocktail at the likes of Bar le Perchoir for views of the Sacré-Coeur and Le Georges atop the Pompidou Center for vistas taking in much of the city from seven stories up. Always a focal point for those of a musical bent, with structures including the Paris Philharmonic Hall and the Zenith and Trabendo live music venues, Parc la Villette takes on extra significance in September when it hosts Jazz à la Villette and the Jazz for Kids mini-festival. EDM lovers are also catered for, with the one-day Techno Parade taking over streets in the heart of Paris. Attracting audiences numbering north of a quarter of a million people, the good-time atmosphere sees DJs play a long list of crowd favorites from decks situated on slowly moving floats. Admire the latest trends One of the most stylish cities around, design can be seen everywhere from the Pompidou Center to the fashion shows of the Galeries Lafayette department store. If a single event brings together that je ne sais quoi of apparently-effortless Paris style it’s the city’s Design Week in the first half of September. Schools, workshops and studios all show off their latest collections in an event that could well see you rubbing shoulders with a buyer from any of Europe’s high-end stores. The end of the month also sees the year’s second installment of Fashion Week, with venues across the city turned over to brands big and small. Landmarks are always keen to get involved with the Paris Autumn Festival too. It begins in September and runs through the rest of the year with dance, variety performances and film screenings all part of the program. Save on September Paris attraction admission Is September a good time to visit Paris? We have little difficulty in saying it is. There’s a huge range of events to look forward to and weather conditions which most parts of the world would die for at the beginning of fall. Whether you plan to spend your days scouring the backstreets of Montmartre or delving headlong into the collections of the Paris museums, exploring with Go City will help you keep costs under control. Our pre-paid passes give those visiting Paris in September substantial savings on admission to a long list of major attractions.
Ian Packham
View of the Eiffel Tower with magnolia blossom
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Why visit Paris in March?

Paris in March throws off its winter cloak with the expectation of the coming spring. Café tables begin to reappear beneath sidewalk awnings in ever greater numbers, strolls along the banks of the River Seine are once again an attractive proposition and the sun makes a concerted effort to brighten skies for at least half the month. The result is a renewed bounce in the step of many Parisians, brought on by a combination of improving weather, plants bursting into bloom and a panoply of one-off events. If you like the sound of all this plus low season prices and Paris without the crowds, March could be the month for you. Here’s just some of what you can expect. Food to die for   There are few better times of year than Paris in March for anyone with an interest in food and drink. Known as the gastronomic capital of the world, and boasting the second-highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants of any city on Earth, additional Paris attractions in March include National Cheese Day and Macaron Day. Yes, these two staples of French culinary culture each have their own special day of celebration. The country’s 1600 or so cheeses are celebrated on March 27. With the weather hopefully on your side it makes for a great excuse to explore the array of food markets dotting the French capital. The historic Marché des Enfants Rouge takes some beating, although the stalls of Rue Montorgueil are arguably even better for cheese, bread and chocolate lovers. Just a week before on March 20 it’s Macaron Day, which all but demands a visit to any of the high-end patisseries lining the boulevards of the central arrondissements (districts). Not only do you get to taste a range of classic and modern flavors, but a portion of the money you spend goes to the year’s chosen charity. Parks and gardens   If you prefer the smell of freshly mown grass to the yeasty scent of a microbrewery tasting room there’s plenty of things to do in Paris in March for you too. Green spaces aren’t hard to come by within the Paris city limits, which detour around the Bois de Boulogne to the west and Bois de Vincennes to the east. Both provide expansive spaces to take in the new growth of spring. Further out still lies the Palace of Versailles and its gardens. The main residence of the kings of France until the French Revolution, its gardens remain renowned for their spurting fountains and formal planting regimes. Meanwhile, the palace’s interiors, including the likes of the Hall of Mirrors, have become bywords for elegance, decadence and sublime style. Closer to the center of the city, the flower beds of the Champ de Mars will be bursting with color from early spring bulbs. Paris’s cherry and magnolia trees are another much-loved part of late March and early April. To capture them at their very best, head to the viewing platforms of the Eiffel Tower. If you can, avoid getting caught up in The Vertical, a race that sees competitors tackle the tower’s 1665 steps to reach the finish line. Rainy day activities that won’t disappoint   Although the weather in March is steadily improving, the month still sees its fair share of rain and cloud. Showers aren’t by any means unheard of, so keep your umbrella close at hand or slip into any of the French capital’s epic museums. The Pompidou Center’s Museum of Modern Art contains the second-largest collection of modern and contemporary works in the world – enough to keep you enthralled for an entire afternoon if you wish it to. Alternatively, the Musée du Quai Branly has an extraordinary collection of cultural artefacts from the four corners of the globe, including a standing stone from Easter Island and carvings from South America, Africa and Asia. To discover some of the greats of French history, you only need to go as far as the Panthéon. This grand would-be church is the final resting place of 80 people without whom the world would be a very different place. Some of the best-known names outside of France are Voltaire, Marie Curie and Josephine Baker – the first black woman to receive what is perceived to be one of France’s highest honors. Special events in March   More than just a place to buy the latest bestsellers, the second half of March welcomes in the Paris Book Fair (Livre Paris). It’s an event which brings together readers, authors and publishers. Usually taking place in the Grand Palais Éphémère, at the opposite end of the Champ de Mars to the Eiffel Tower, there’s a smorgasbord of live workshops and talks to look forward to. If it’s the silver screen rather than the written word that’s your first love, try and coincide your visit to Paris in March with the timing of the Cinéma du réel documentary film festival. Holding screenings at the Public Information Library at the Pompidou Center alongside several partner movie theaters, each edition of the festival brings around 200 notable movies of the genre to the attention of Parisian audiences. Nearby streets are taken over by the Carnaval des femmes – the ‘Women’s or Washerwomen’s Festival’. Expect a baffling array of costumes, from ordinary women dressed as the queens of old to men in full drag. Save on attraction admission in Paris in March If there’s a finer feeling in the world than thinking you’ve bagged a bargain, we haven’t yet experienced it. Discover our Paris attraction pass with Go City and you can visit landmark attractions you were going to visit anyway whilst making substantial savings on admission prices. At the same time, you’ll have an easier time budgeting for your trip, and you’ll have no currency conversion or international credit card fees to worry about. A smart choice all around however many times you’ve been to Paris in the past, it’s one of the best ways to keep costs down. Instagram and Facebook are great ways to keep up to the minute with all things Go City!
Ian Packham
A woman admires the rooftop view of the Eiffel Tower
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Things to do in Paris in June

As summer reaches the French capital, Paris seems to emit a sigh of satisfaction. World famous landmarks like Montmartre’s Sacré-Coeur Basilica gleam in the early summer sun. Restaurant terraces are fiercely fought over, and the city’s parks and gardens take on a light carpeting of picnicking friends and couples. But if that isn’t enough incentive to head to Paris in June, there’s also plenty to keep you entertained. As well as the museums and galleries you can visit at any time of year, there are a wealth of one-of-a-kind events. The French Open tennis tournament and pride celebrations are just two. All of which begs the question, where do you even begin in Paris in June? What to do on your first day in Paris in June Why not start as you mean to go on? You’re on vacation after all! Get your first view of Paris’s glorious array of landmark attractions by gliding past them from the water. In just 60 minutes, River Seine cruises cover hundreds of years of history. Sailing through an area so important it’s one of only 1000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally, you’ll travel from the gothic gargoyles of Notre Dame Cathedral to the reasons behind the construction of the Eiffel Tower in 1889. For a bird’s eye view that includes Gustave Eiffel’s ‘Iron Lady’, there’s only one place to head, and that’s the Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower). The city’s only skyscraper, its 56th story is given over to a panoramic deck with 360° views, reached in less than 40 seconds with Europe’s fastest elevator. Outdoor terraces aren’t difficult to find at lower levels, although the very best see their tables fill up quickly each lunchtime and at the end of the working day. Frankly, it’s no wonder given the warm early evening air and cityscapes people literally travel thousands of miles to witness for themselves. Go al fresco Whilst craft beers are making increasing inroads with trend-conscious Parisians, for the most part it’s wine that remains the tipple of choice. It’s not uncommon to see residents enjoying a glass of red or white wine over a lazy lunch. But for that extra special element of holiday cheer it’s tough to beat the offerings of restaurant Au Cadet de Gascogne. Take their menu’s Champagne Gaumond option and you can enjoy a glass of bubbly and a smattering of French pastries in Place du Tertre in the heart of Montmartre. It's the streets of Paris’s ‘golden triangle’ – an unofficial district formed by the Champs-Elysées, Avenue George V and Avenue Montaigne – that takes the crown for many seeking out Paris’s legendary style. The end of June sees even its luxury brands slashing prices in the summer sales. Bask in Paris’s open spaces Lining the Seine’s rive droite (right bank) on the city’s western extremity is the immense Bois de Boulogne. Gifted to the people of the city by Napoleon III, it’s one of the city’s biggest parks. Amongst its over 2000 acres are gardens, greenhouses and even a zoo. However, in Paris in June attention turns to the southern side of the park, and Roland Garros, home to the French Open tennis championship. The year’s premier clay court competition, it’s possible to encourage on the year’s favorites and underdogs with a ground pass, giving access to practice courts and big screen displays. It’s the silver screen which features most prominently during June’s Champs-Élysées Film Festival. Movie theatres along arguably France’s most famous thoroughfare début a mix of American independent and French cinema. The most colorful event of the year – Paris Pride – is also a stalwart of Paris in June. Also known as the Marche des Fiertés LGBT, this parade sets off from the Tour Montparnasse and ends on the opposite bank of the Seine at the Place de la Bastille. Here the good-natured crowds disperse amidst the streets of La Marais – the city’s de facto LGBTQ+ district. Absorb a little culture Should you miss Pride, you can instead wander the sun-filled streets of the fifth arrondissement with a guide-led Latin Quarter selfie tour. One of the most picturesque areas of the city – and that’s saying something – you’ll be able to grab Instagrammable images at the Panthéon and Shakespeare and Company – perhaps the world’s most famous bookshop. Home to a number of family-friendly museums, there are some collections that just shouldn’t be missed from a June Paris itinerary. It’s the Louvre that grabs most of the headlines, but it’s the Musée d’Orsay that contains some of French art's most celebrated works, from Cézanne to Toulouse-Lautrec. American visitors – and Mr. Bean fans – should keep a look out for Arrangement in Grey and Black, better known as Whistler’s Mother. On the outskirts of Paris, June also sees theme park Parc Asterix open up for its lively summer season. A blend of adrenaline-inducing rollercoasters and child-friendly rides, this rival to Disneyland Paris has been celebrating the comic book antics of Asterix the Gaul since 1989. Celebrate summer in style Keen to not let a single annual event pass without celebration, the summer solstice on June 21 is marked with the Fête de la Musique. Public spaces become stages for incredible amateur and professional musical talent, with few visitors able to resist the allure of the beat. Ideally suited to fitting into a tight schedule of things to do in Paris in June is the La Défense Jazz Festival. Concerts usually take place over lunchtime and then again in the early evening, giving you plenty of time to admire the area’s other delights, including the views from the Grande Arche. Combining rock music with concerns for the environment, the We Love Green festival takes place in the Bois de Vincennes at around the same time. Lasting just three days, this is one of Paris’s top festivals, featuring huge names in rock. As a result, tickets sell out long before summer kicks off. Making the most of your vacation budget With so much to do in Paris in June, how do you keep a tight rein on your vacation budget? One way is to uncover the glories of the French capital with Go City. Our pre-pay passes have been designed with discounts to major Paris attractions in mind, without taking away the flexibility you value as a traveler!
Ian Packham

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