The Paris Explorer – Glorious Places, New Favorites & Hidden Gems

2,000 years of a complicated and varied history has created a Paris that is deep — there's just so much to see and do and learn and enjoy. In addition to its iconic monuments and buildings and restaurants and parks there are hundreds — thousands — of hidden gems that give us great pleasure to discover and joy to visit again. And that's what these articles are all about.

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Paris Extremis – The Biggest, Longest, Shortest & Tallest

Paris Extremis

Best, loveliest, greatestthese are the superlatives we're used to hearing when we talk about Paris. The loveliest city, the best museums, the greatest trip. But now, let's look at other Paris extremes like tallest, steepest, and even narrowest. Tallest building, steepest street, narrowest sidewalk.

There's a lot to learn about a city with 2,000 years of history, and we've compiled ten more trivial but interesting facts to fill the Paris part of your brain and widen even the narrowest perspectives!

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Romantic Dinner Cruises In Paris

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Dinner Cruise by Maxim's of Paris
The legendary Parisian restaurant takes you on a dinner cruise complete with champagne and wine. Choose the 2-hour cruise for a stellar evening in Paris.
Check Availability…

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

The 20 Queens of the Jardin du Luxembourg

20 Queens of the Jardin du Luxembourg

The idyllic Jardin du Luxembourg in the heart of the 6th Arrondissement is filled with trees, flowerbeds, tennis courts, fountains, and sculpture. Twenty of the most prominent statues honor queens and other illustrious women from the history of France — from the patron saint of Paris, Genevieve (423-512) to Anne Marie Louise d'Orleans, the wealthiest woman in Europe in 1695.

Let's visit the statues one by one, and learn about these famous queens, saints, and celebrities.

Paris Left Bank Literary Promenade

Left Bank Literary Promenade

After World War I the Left Bank of Paris attracted scores of writers and artists, many of them Americans who become the core of what we know as the Lost Generation. Henry Miller, for example, moved to Paris in 1930 because he thought he could live a more dignified life in poverty here than in the USA. Other literary ex-pats who spent time in Left Bank neighborhoods include Ernest Hemingway, F Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and George Orwell.

When in Paris it's fun to stroll among the rues and boulevards to visit the haunts of these now-famous writers. We've made it easy to do with a literary walking itinerary of the Left Bank.

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Experience the Splendor Of Versailles

Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
More information…

Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles
If you don't have a full day, this popular half-day tour of Versailles includes priority access with an expert guide. The small-group ensures personal attention and includes transportation right from your hotel.
More information…

Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
More information…

Rue des Barres In The Marais

Rue des Barres In The Marais

Rue des Barres is a short street with a long history. Only 130 metres in length, it takes the walker from near the banks of the Seine into the Marais. Named after the barriers built across the Seine to halt Viking invaders, it was also home to the captain of the Queen's Bodyguards, who famously insulted Louis XIV — with dire consequences.

Three Walks in Montmartre

Three Walks in Montmartre

Montmartre, the village on the hill, is a place apart from the rest of Paris. We've created three self-guided walking itineraries to help you discover this fascinating quartier.

Impressionists In Paris – What They Painted

Impressionists In Paris

Impressionism wasn't just about fields and flowers and painting en plein aire — although it was all those things. You may not have known that many Impressionist artists lived in Paris for at least part of the time and painted scenes of the city's daily life. Today, we find it fascinating to travel around Paris and visit the sights that those artists painted — and to try to see the scenes with their eyes.

Come with us on a virtual tour of 10 sites in Paris that the Impressionists saw.

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Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in Paris

Check the complete list of Paris hotels to find current sale prices on rooms in every arrondissement. Save 10%, 20%… or even more!

Paris Hotel Deals
Find hotels in the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, the Right Bank, the Marais, near the Eiffel Tower.
Search for your hotel

Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in Paris

Save on hotels in every arrondissement of Paris – the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, the Right Bank, the Marais, near the Eiffel Tower. Save 10%, 20%… or even more!
Search for your hotel

Six Magnificent Architectural Clocks Of Paris

Clocks Of Paris

There's so much wonder to behold in Paris that sometimes you can lose a sense of time. Whenever that happens, cast your eye upward and you might be lucky enough to be gazing at one of the magnificent architectural clocks of the city. These are found on historic churches, public buildings, and appropriately, train stations. Let's take a closer look at six of best ways to keep time in a timeless city.

6 Pedestrian Bridges of Paris

6 Pedestrian Bridges of Paris

There are nearly forty bridges crossing the Seine in Paris, but only a handful of them are dedicated to pedestrians. These footbridges — "passerelles" in French — help to create a human-scale connection between areas of the Left Bank and the Right Bank. They are often the handiest ways to get between destinations — between Musée Quai Branly (7th Arrondissement) and Palais de Tokyo (16th/8th), for instance. Let's take a stroll along the banks of the Seine and visit a half dozen passerelles.

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Two Of The Most Popular Paris Experiences

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic, VIP dinner cruise is the #1 nighttime activity. Be sure to choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, the most champagne, the best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
More information…

The Most Popular Paris Experience

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic, VIP dinner cruise is the #1 nighttime activity. Be sure to choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, the most champagne, the best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

The Waterfalls of Paris

The Waterfalls of Paris

Overall, Paris seems to be a pretty flat city. (That is, if you ignore Montmartre and Belleville.) So, where are the waterfalls? What's more, why are there waterfalls? We'll reveal all — where to find the waterfalls of Paris, and even who built them.

7 English Bookstores in Paris

English Bookstores in Paris

While we love the French language, sometimes we simply want to browse in an English-language bookstore when we're in Paris. From the Marais to Saint-Germain, these are the seven shops we head to — including the return of an old favorite.

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Top-Rated Paris Museum Tours

The Louvre's Greatest Masterpieces
Skip the lines and see a lot of art on this professionally guided tour. Choose from a private tour or semi-private (max 6 people.) The top choice.
Check Availability…

Musé d'Orsay Guided Tour
Enjoy skip-the-line access and learn the stories behind the world's greatest Impressionist art at Musé d'Orsay.
More information…

The Louvre's Greatest Masterpieces
Skip the lines and see a lot of art on this professionally guided tour. Choose from a private tour or semi-private (max 6 people.) The top choice.
Check Availability…

Pont de Bir-Hakeim

Pont de Bir-Hakeim

Connecting the 15 and 16 Arrondissements near the Eiffel Tower is Pont de Bir-Hakeim, an early 20th-century bridge spanning the river Seine. It's another Belle Epoque beauty, with decorated yet functional iron columns, sculptures, and a fabulous view of the Tower.

How this central Paris bridge — with lanes for cars, bikes, pedestrians, and even the Metro — came to be named after a remote watering hole in the Libyan desert is just part of its fascinating story.

Where To See Animals In Paris

Where To See Animals In Paris

The nobility of France enjoyed the wonders of nature and sent out missions to gather exotic animals of all kinds from every corner of the globe to create their own private ménageries. The kings of Paris are long gone, but what was once exclusively for the aristocracy is now available to everyone at the city's aquariums, terrariums & zoos. Let's grab our gear and take a safari in the City of Lights.

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Delectable Food Tours in Paris

Discover the Food & Wine of the Marais
Visit the top food & wine shops in the historic Marais, tasting the best of French foods. There's plenty of sampling on this small-group tour.
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Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
Check Availability…

Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
Check Availability…

The Arcades of Paris

Galerie Vivienne, Wikimedia Commons, Photo By Benh Lieu Song Galerie Vivienne, photo Wikimedia by Benh Lieu Song

You can make a case that the 18th-century arcades of Paris were the world's first shopping malls — even though they were much more pleasant places to be in than today's. It was due to innovations in technology and the growth of the consumer class that these innovative galleries were able to be built and thrive. There once were 150 shopping arcades in Paris. Today, you can still discover a fascinating bit of hidden Paris history at some of them. We explore the top five.

5 Paris Luxury Fashion Boutiques

5 Paris Luxury Fashion Houses

That Paris became and remains a fashion capital is at least partly due to five people who founded haute couture houses that still retain their names. Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin, Thierry Hermès, and Louis Vuitton all started out with small shops and boutiques in Paris and left behind a legacy of fashion excellence that carries on to this day. Let's visit their flagships stores, most of them still in their original locations in Paris.

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Experience The Left Bank Of Paris

Dinner & Cabaret at Paradis Latin Theater
Spend a memorable evening in the Latin Quarter at the Paradis Latin cabaret, including dinner, VIP seating, the musical show, and champagne.
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Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
On a food walking tour through this historic Left Bank district discover the finest pastry and chocolate shops. Lots of sampling will ensue!
Check Availability…

Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
On a food walking tour through this historic Left Bank district discover the finest pastry and chocolate shops. Lots of sampling will ensue!
Check Availability…

8 Parisiennes Jewelry Designers

Jewelry Designers Photo Margi Darika Atelier

The fine art of fine shopping is alive and well in Paris with the work and boutiques of these eight jewelry designers. In a city that celebrates the feminine arts it's appropriate that these bijoux artisans are all craftswomen. Let's take a tour of the best one-of-a-kind jewelry, produced by hand, by Parisiennes.

Six Places In Paris Worth A Detour

Six Places In Paris

As you can see there's a lot more to the City of Light than famous monuments. Even as a visitor you can feel like an explorer, seeking out little-known sights that deliver a little thrill of pleasure. For instance, there are these 6 out-of-the-way places in Paris you may not have known about, but may just make your time here even more fun.

One of them involves bon-bons ! This is going to be fun.

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The Best Evenings in Paris

Dinner & Cabaret at the Moulin Rouge
Take your seats at the world’s most famous cabaret – delight in the spectacular show while enjoying a traditional French multi-course dinner. Choose the Belle Epoque Menu for the best experience.
Check Availability…

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Dinner & Cabaret at the Moulin Rouge
Take your seats at the world’s most famous cabaret – delight in the spectacular show while enjoying a traditional French multi-course dinner. Choose the Belle Epoque Menu for the best experience.
Check Availability…

Statues of Liberty in Paris

f Statues of Liberty in Paris

Everyone knows that the Statue of Liberty cuts an imposing presence in New York Harbor. But few people know that Paris is home to a handful of replicas and models of this famous statue. It all makes sense when you remember that Paris is where the idea for the statue was conceived and where it was designed and built — with help from none other than Gustave Eiffel himself.

8 Top Furniture Galleries in Paris

Furniture Galleries in Paris Photo Moissonnier Furniture

Paris seems to have everything for the good life, doesn't it? The best food markets & shops, top fashion boutiques, jewelry designers. And that's also true for the things that surround us in our homes, as found at these eight furniture galleries in Paris where you can find some of the best and freshest furniture, including fun updates on traditional French furniture.

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Go Deeper Into France: Day Trips From Paris

Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip
Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. This small-group tour travels in a luxury Eurovan.
Check Availability…

Mysterious Mont Saint-Michel
The magnificent floating island of Mont Saint-Michel is a sight to behold. Travel through the picturesque Normandy countryside with an expert guide on a day trip from Paris that includes a cider tasting
Check Availability…

Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip
Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. Your small group travels in a luxury Eurovan.
Check Availability…

Garden Curiosities of Paris

Garden Curiosities of Paris Garden curiosities at Trocadero, photo Google Maps

Paris is a city of green spaces; something like 25% of its area is parkland or gardens of one kind or another. (The large Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes contribute to this green ratio.) The Jardin des Tuileries and Luxembourg are familiar to almost every one who visits here, but you may not be familiar with the more obscure, but no less interesting, green spaces that we explore in the Garden Curiosities of Paris.

The Rue Monge Quartier

The Rue Monge Quartier

Cutting through the Latin Quarter between the Pantheon and the Jardin des Plantes, Rue Monge is one of our most-loved districts in Paris. Even though it runs through the oldest area in the city, it teems with modern urban life. It also happens to be where you find our #1 top-rated Paris hotel !

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Go Deeper Into France: Day Trips From Paris

Small-Group Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip from Paris
Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. This small-group tour travels in a luxury Eurovan.
Check Availability…

Mysterious Mont Saint-Michel
The magnificent floating island of Mont Saint-Michel is a sight to behold. Travel through the picturesque Normandy countryside with an expert guide on a day trip from Paris that includes a cider tasting
Check Availability…

Small-Group Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip from Paris
Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. Your small group travels in a luxury Eurovan.
Check Availability…

10 Epic Sculptures of Jardin du Luxembourg

10 Epic Sculptures of Jardin du Luxembourg

There are many things to discover in this 50-acre park in the center of Paris — ponds, fountains, shaded paths, flower beds, cafes, and lots of sculptures, including these ten interesting works that celebrate famous Parisians, mythology, artists, and writers. Come on, let's go on a little walk in the garden.

New & Improved Around Montmartre for 2018

New & Improved Around Montmartre

Montmartre seems to be on everyone's list of the top quartiers in Paris, and we're happy to report that the artistic arrondissement has seen improvements and additions this year that make it even more interesting. Musée de la Vie Romantique is showing off its new renovation. Mom'Art Hotel and Hotel Particulier have both had facelifts, and there's a new ice cream store in the neighborhood. Let's take a virtual walk up the hill.

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Our Most Popular Day Trips from Paris

Spend a Day in the Champagne Region
Your driver gathers you from your Paris hotels for a small-group tour led by an expert guide to the Land of Champagne for a day-long tasting of the bubbly. Inclues lunch & tastings.
More information…

Visit the Historic D-Day Beaches
A day trip to the landing beaches of Normandy is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. Visit the monuments, museums, and dedicated cemeteries, as well as the beaches themselves
Check Availability…

Visit the Historic D-Day Beaches
A guided tour to the landing beaches of Normandy makes for one of the most memorable day trips from Paris. Visit the monuments, museums, and dedicated cemeteries, as well as the beaches themselves.
Check Availability…

Baccarat's Le Cristal Room In Paris

Le Cristal Room Photo Baccarat's Le Cristal Room

Part museum, part exhibition space, part restaurant, and part boutique, Baccarat's Le Cristal Room in Paris is an homage to this iconic crystal manufacturer still producing at its factory in the Lorraine. Established by Louis XV in 1764, the Paris HQ of Baccarat has been refreshed with a new design incorporating lots of velvet and jewel tones. And, of course, lots of crystal.

Let's wander through the large private mansion in the 16th, have lunch in the restaurant, and maybe pick out a new chandelier for the foyer. Shall we, darling?

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Romantic Dinner Cruises In Paris

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Dinner Cruise by Maxim's of Paris
The legendary Parisian restaurant takes you on a dinner cruise complete with champagne and wine. Choose the 2-hour cruise for a stellar evening in Paris.
Check Availability…

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Buly 1803 – The Most Romantic Skin Care Shop in Paris?

Buly 1803

In two of the historic quartiers of Paris — Saint-Germain and the Marais — you will find what may be the most romantic skin care shop in the city. L'Officine Universelle Buly, AKA Buly 1803, takes its inspiration from the character in a Balzac novel who was based on an early 19th-century French fragrance tycoon.

While stepping into Buly 1803 is like stepping back in time, the products at this apothecary and boutique offers updated versions of 19th-century beauty products, using natural ingredients from around the globe.

The Dude's Paris

The Dude's Paris

Did you know that Jeff Lebowski — oops, we mean The Dude — has never been to Paris? But, for when he does come, we've created the perfect itinerary of the ten things in Paris the Dude is going to love to do. Let's go bowling and rug shopping and get as high as we can in Paris.

Six Free Paris Planning Guides

A Gift from Us to You.
Bon Voyage !