Beyond the Eiffel Tower: Paris’ Best Hidden Corners

From Champagne cruises to sweet treats, let Paris surprise you beyond the Eiffel Tower.

Published: April 9, 2026
The Eiffel Tower

So you’re headed to the Eiffel Tower—perhaps Paris’ most recognized landmark and the backdrop of about a million holiday photos. But what if we told you the real Parisian adventure starts after you’ve admired the Iron Lady? All around the Eiffel Tower you’ll find leafy promenades, stylish museums, lively gardens, places for jaw-dropping city views, and food that’ll have you swooning mid-bite. The best part? You can fill your day with culture, treats, and sparkle without ever straying far from those iconic latticework legs. Ready to plan the ultimate Eiffel Tower neighborhood experience? Let’s do it! 

Our favorite things to do near the Eiffel Tower include: 

  • Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise 
  • Musée d'Orsay 
  • Champ de Mars 
  • Rue Cler Market Street 
  • Les Caves du Louvre 
  • Trocadéro Gardens 
  • Paradox Museum Paris 
  • La Fontaine de Mars (Restaurant) 

Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise: Set Sail in the Shadow of the Tower 

Just footsteps from the tower, you’ll find the elegant glass-topped boats of Bateaux Parisiens waiting to introduce you to the city’s best angle: from the water. Why is this river cruise so special? You get those jaw-dropping Eiffel Tower views you can only get from the Seine, plus a relaxing ride past world-famous sights—Louvre, Notre Dame, bridges with gold-tipped statues—all narrated with fun stories along the way. 

We love the festive atmosphere: some cruises offer bubbly, and everyone onboard is in vacation mode. Whether you pick a daytime journey for bright city vibes or a night cruise when the monuments start sparkling, you’re in for a real Paris moment. Don’t worry about weather—winter boats are cozy behind big glass windows, and in summer, the breeze feels dreamy out on deck. Bateaux Parisiens is our favorite for making first-timers feel like locals, not just sightseers. 

Musée d'Orsay: Impressionist Art in a Belle Époque Setting 

Hop across the river (it’s a beautiful walk!) and you’re at Musée d'Orsay, housed in a grand former train station. It’s impossible not to fall for this light-filled museum filled with famous impressionist masterpieces—think Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, and Morisot. 

We’re huge fans of the spacious galleries (goodbye, museum fatigue), soaring glass ceilings, and the view across the Seine through that giant clock face. Whether you’re an art buff or not, Orsay’s collection feels fresh and lively, with paintings that seem to dance off the walls and stunning Art Nouveau furniture. The in-house café, tucked behind the giant clock, serves up coffee and cakes with a pinch-me view. Trust us, Musée d’Orsay makes you feel like you’ve been let in on a brilliant Paris secret. 

Champ de Mars: Picnics, Playgrounds, and That Classic View

Champ de Mars

Every visitor comes for the Eiffel Tower photos, but locals love Champ de Mars as their neighborhood backyard—and after five minutes here, you’ll see why. This vast green expanse stretches from the Tower’s feet all the way toward École Militaire, offering postcard-perfect views, tree-shaded paths, and roomy lawns perfect for a slow afternoon picnic. 

For families, there’s an epic playground (plus a carousel and pony rides), and in spring and summer, the park becomes a hive of kite-flyers, sunbathers, and students cramming for exams out in the grass. Go at sunset, when the tower starts to glow (and twinkle on the hour after nightfall), and you’ll see friends toasting with rosé, lovers with cheese platters, and children playing hide-and-seek between plane trees. Simple, fun, and fabulously French. 

Rue Cler Market Street: Parisian Foodie Paradise 

Walk a few leafy blocks and you’ll stumble onto Rue Cler, a bustling pedestrian street that’s foodie heaven. Why does Rue Cler make us swoon? Each shop specializes in just one thing—produce, cheese, chocolate, baked wonders, or plump rotisserie chickens. Stroll and sample as you go: strawberries in spring, pungent Comté cheese, or croissants that melt on your tongue. 

The vibe is easygoing and authentically Parisian. Pull up a chair at a café terrace with a café crème (people-watching is mandatory) or fill a bag with picnic supplies for Champ de Mars. Locals love Davoli for cured meats, A La Mère de Famille for candy, and L’Eclair for, you guessed it, eclairs. Don’t overthink it—Rue Cler is about slowing down and snacking your way through Paris’ tastiest traditions. 

Les Caves du Louvre: Sip Like a Parisian 

Just a stroll from the tower, Les Caves du Louvre welcomes you to a world of Parisian wine discovery, all tucked beneath centuries-old stone arches. What makes this tasting experience shine? Not only do sommeliers guide you through (often in English), but each room is interactive—smell, touch, and listen your way through French winemaking culture. 

You’ll sample several fantastic wines, all paired with fun stories about the vineyards and families behind them. There’s a sense of adventure and play here—wine for all levels, no snobbery allowed. At the end, head to the tasting bar to put your new-found knowledge to the test or create a personalized blend in one of their workshops. Sipping wine in candle-lit cellars makes you feel like you’ve joined a secret Parisian club. 

Trocadéro Gardens: Grand Vistas and Photo Ops 

You’ve seen those extended balconies facing the Eiffel Tower on every postcard, right? Welcome to the Trocadéro Gardens. Cross the Seine, and you’ll find wide fountains, rising terraces, and the hands-down best panorama of the iron lady herself. Locals and savvy travelers come for sunrise spots, wedding shoots, and that golden hour when the tower gleams. The gardens have something for everyone: formal flower beds, fish ponds, the quirky Musée de l’Homme, and plenty of benches for people-watching.

We particularly love early morning, when street artists set up easels and Parisians walk their dogs. Grab a coffee from a nearby kiosk and enjoy the calm before the selfie-stick crowds arrive—or visit at night for arguably the prettiest Eiffel Tower light show in town. If you chase a different view, the Trocadéro always delivers.

Paradox Museum Paris: Mind-Bending Fun for All Ages

Child Looking at Mirror Illusion

Just a hop from the tower, the Paradox Museum is truly a unique Parisian experience—perfect for families and curious minds. Here, science and optical illusions meet full-on fun, with rooms and installations designed to mess with your mind (in a good way). 

Step into a world where up feels like down and nothing is quite as it seems: walk through upside-down rooms, snap wild photos with interactive illusions, and puzzle over quirky science displays. Staff members love helping guests pose for outrageously fun pictures, and there’s something engaging at every turn, whatever your age. We can’t think of a better rainy-day escape that leaves everyone smiling and slightly astonished. 

La Fontaine de Mars: Classic Parisian Dining, Just Steps Away 

If you want a memorable meal near the Eiffel Tower, La Fontaine de Mars checks every box. This family-run bistro on Rue Saint-Dominique serves classic French comfort food in a cozy dining room lined with red gingham and vintage mirrors. The confit de canard is a local legend—crispy, golden duck with potato gratin—or try the cassoulet for a hearty feast. Finish with profiteroles swimming in warm chocolate sauce, and pair your meal with regional wines the staff can expertly recommend.

What makes La Fontaine de Mars truly stand out is its timeless charm. Meals feel intimate and friendly, with waiters providing warm, unrushed service. Opt for a table outdoors if the weather cooperates—the terrace, shaded by chestnut trees, hums with effortless Parisian energy. Dining here is slow and satisfying, a meal you’ll remember as much for the laughter as for the perfect sauce—a quintessential Paris experience.

 

There you have it—an array of unbeatable things to do near the Eiffel Tower that turn your visit into a true Paris adventure. Whether you’re into art, food, gardens, global culture, or simply soaking up the city one café crème at a time, this neighborhood won’t let you down. Get ready to explore, snack, sip, and see Paris from every angle! 

Enjoyed this? Check out Eiffel Tower vs. Arc de Triomphe or Things to Do with Friends in Paris  

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Couple cycling in front of the Eiffel Tower
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Paris Explorer Pass Vs The Paris Pass

Paris is one of those places you absolutely must visit at least once. And probably twice, or more. But let’s not mince words here: it can be eye-wateringly expensive, from those spicy city-center hotel prices to tourist-trap restaurants, cabaret tickets (even the cheap seats at the Moulin Rouge and Crazy Horse ain’t that cheap!), and entry to bucket-list Paris attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Palace of Versailles. Not to mention the Arc de Triomphe, Musée d’Orsay, the exceptional Picasso and Rodin museums and, well, we could go on. Go City’s Paris Explorer Pass and Paris Pass are two great ways of ticking off those must-see museums, monuments and more while saving money for those other most essential of Parisian pastimes (we’re talking coffee, croissants, and café culture in general). But which is better value? And which will suit your Paris getaway best? We’ve broken it down to help you decide which pass to go for. Savvy travelers, read on… Paris Explorer Pass Vs The Paris Pass If you’re planning a trip to Paris and hope to take in more than the tiniest handful of city tours, activities and attractions, we have just the thing for you. The Paris Explorer Pass and Paris Pass from Go City offer two simple but slightly differing options for saving money when visiting multiple Paris attractions, including big-ticket must-sees like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre. For the most up-to-date information, prices and attraction inclusions, and to buy your pass, please visit the official websites: The Paris Pass Paris Explorer Pass How the Passes Work to Save You Money A Go City Explorer Pass lets you choose how many attractions you want to visit when in town, while The Paris Pass lets you choose the number of consecutive calendar days in which to sightsee. In short, that means that the amount of money you save with the Explorer Pass will largely depend on standard entry prices at the attractions you choose to visit, while how much you save with The Paris Pass depends on the volume of tours, attractions and activities you can squeeze into your chosen number of days. Note that some of the most popular attractions on both passes require pre-booking. Paris Explorer Pass The Paris Explorer Pass includes your choice of several Paris tours, activities and attractions for one money-saving price. The pass comes in several options, from three-attraction choices up to seven. Once you’ve bought your pass, you’re then free to pick and choose from a selection of around 50 great things to see and do in and around Paris. You have 60 days from time of purchase to use your pass. Just show it at each attraction and you’re in – no need to pay at the gate. Savvy savers can potentially save up to 50% by visiting a high number of big-ticket attractions like Parc Astérix, a macaron-making class at the iconic Galeries Lafayette, and the Ultimate Louvre Experience, which includes a guided tour of the grounds and skip-the-line entry to the museum.  The Paris Pass The Paris Pass includes admission to almost 100 attractions for your choice of two, three, four or six consecutive days. Choose attractions, tours and activities on the go from 80+ options and simply flash your pass at each one to get in. Because the value of The Paris Pass increases the more you use it and savings don’t necessarily depend on visiting big-ticket attractions like the Eiffel Tower, you may well end up discovering some of the city’s more charming smaller museums – the Orangerie, and others dedicated to the work of  Rodin, Picasso, Dalí and Gustave Moreau being among some of the most polished gems in town. Your pass is activated the first time you use it and will expire after your chosen number of consecutive days have elapsed. What’s Included on the Passes? Both passes include the option to visit some very popular Paris attractions, as well as a number of walking tours and other fun activities. But not all are available on both passes, so it’s always worth checking the individual websites for the most up-to-date inclusions. For example, at time of writing both passes include entry to the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, but with slightly different experiences (e.g. elevator guided tour on Explorer; guided climb on The Paris Pass). 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While visiting Paris on a shoestring is near-impossible, money-saving Paris attraction passes like the Paris Explorer and Paris Pass can really help take the edge off. But there are other ways to get more for your Euro. Check out our hints and tips on some of the most cost-effective (and free!) ways to have fun in Paris in the blogs below: Cheap things to do in Paris Unique and affordable Paris dining experiences The best markets in Paris The best walks in Paris Paris tourist traps to avoid Other things to do in Paris Save on Attractions, Tours and Activities in Paris Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Café des 2 Moulins
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Quirky Things to do in Paris

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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 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 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 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’. Save on quirky things to do in Paris Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Family Having a Thanksgiving Meal
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Celebrate Thanksgiving the Paris Way: Food, Views, and Culture

Wondering how to enjoy Thanksgiving abroad? Paris has you covered in every way!

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