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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not want to do any of the typical touristy things in Paris?

31 replies

ZippyMintCat · 30/04/2025 17:12

I’m going for two nights at the end of May. It’s not my first time, so I’m not planning to do the Louvre, Eiffel Tower etc. Just want to enjoy some wine, local spots and relaxed solo vibes near Bois de Vincennes. AIBU to want a low-key trip instead of ‘making the most of it’ like everyone says you should? If anyone has recommendations off the beaten path, I’d love them!

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readingmytealeaves · 03/05/2025 20:05

We were there mid April. We didn't book tickets for Notre Dame but got up early and went there when it opened - no queue to get in at all at that time and not too crowded inside. I believe there were long queues later in the day as others said. It was well worth the effort to go early and lots of nice cafes nearby for breakfast afterwards.
I would second the recommendation for the Hockney exhibition, it was fabulous. We did have tickets for that.

repeatpleaseagain · 02/05/2025 08:36

Recommend looking at An Hour from Paris - some interesting suggestions of where to go- for example Senlis

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 02/05/2025 08:36

My young adult son went with his girlfriend and they hired bicycles and whizzed around the cycle lands. At least, I hope they were cycle lanes!

Turmerictolly · 02/05/2025 08:27

.

ImBlindasabat · 02/05/2025 08:19

There is a great carnival museum. Pavilions de Bercy.

JMSA · 02/05/2025 02:49

MamaInManolos · 01/05/2025 07:07

Montmartre is a must see!

Love it there!

Wow, some great suggestions on this thread. I must remember to look it up next time I go!

MamaInManolos · 01/05/2025 07:07

Montmartre is a must see!

Speckyfourfries · 01/05/2025 07:03

There's a book called "Hidden Paris" which took us off the beaten track and we saw some lovely things

TheCountofMountingCrispBags · 01/05/2025 06:54

This is a fabulous walk above the streets. Passes some fabulous art deco buildings and into the suburbs
Coulée verte René-Dumo
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coul%C3%A9e_verte_Ren%C3%A9-Dumont

Coulée verte René-Dumont - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coul%C3%A9e_verte_Ren%C3%A9-Dumont

Heronwatcher · 01/05/2025 06:40

Oh and depending on when you are going there is an incredible sounding David Hockney exhibition at the Louis Vuitton foundation in the Bois de Boulogne, which I would love to visit.

CrownCoats · 01/05/2025 06:37

My favourite spot is Place Des Vosges. You can sit in the sun and watch the world go by. Then when you get hungry (or for breakfast) go to Carette which is on the square.

maps.app.goo.gl/3MwGHGU1z2a2oY8u6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Heronwatcher · 01/05/2025 06:35

If you fancy a (food) market, there’s a good one at place de La bastille on a Sunday (and maybe a Thursday I think), you can get a picnic there and take it to the place des vosages in the Marais (one of the few places in central Paris where you can sit on the grass!!). I’d also not be able to resist visiting Notre Dame in its full renovated glory but I agree it will be busy.

I also loved the Hammam de la Grande Mosquée de Paris- a proper Hammam with a beautiful tea garden for mint tea and cakes etc. You just turn up- you can’t reserve- and it’s ladies only.

Bejinxed · 01/05/2025 06:32

Notre Dame has only just reopened after the fire so you need to book in advance or the queues are massive.

i like the Pantheon for Foucault’s pendulum and the Musée Rodin. The Orangerie museum is worth a visit if you haven’t been - it is quite small but very atmospheric!

KimberleyClark · 01/05/2025 06:24

Strokethefurrywall · 30/04/2025 17:35

I’m taking my boys in summer and not that bothered by those things either. The only thing mine want to do is eat crepes, steak frites and beignets… I’m going to book a tour of the catacombs and maybe go to Notre Damn and a Seine boat ride. But mostly eating!

Notre Damn is a great typo!

JMSA · 01/05/2025 02:23

VisitationRights · 30/04/2025 19:02

Musée Rodin if the weather is nice. I love wandering around there (Boulevard des Invalides)

Me too!

Comtesse · 30/04/2025 21:10

David Lebovitz is very good on Paris restaurant/ bar recommendations.

FriNightBlues · 30/04/2025 20:53

Strokethefurrywall · 30/04/2025 17:35

I’m taking my boys in summer and not that bothered by those things either. The only thing mine want to do is eat crepes, steak frites and beignets… I’m going to book a tour of the catacombs and maybe go to Notre Damn and a Seine boat ride. But mostly eating!

Do you mean Notre Dame or is that a hellish tourist attraction I haven’t heard of? 🤔

Stanislas · 30/04/2025 19:09

I’d eat my way round the Marais ,go to Malmaison for culture or the Musee Jacquemart Andree and have lunch there.

Katisha · 30/04/2025 19:03

Hockney exhibition?

VisitationRights · 30/04/2025 19:02

Musée Rodin if the weather is nice. I love wandering around there (Boulevard des Invalides)

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 30/04/2025 18:58

Of course it’s totally fine to do wafting around cafes etc, walking in parks or whatever you like!

When we came last we did stay near the Eiffel Tower and i thought it was a really nice area.

This might sound a bit macabre but I really enjoyed visiting the Panteon. It’s not just a burial place though - the kids were very taken with seeing the copy of Foucault’s pendulum that is there and the actual building is amazing.

JaceLancs · 30/04/2025 18:51

I would just go shopping between eating and drinking!
Gallerie Lafayette alone is worth a visit for the architecture

To not want to do any of the typical touristy things in Paris?
Aizen · 30/04/2025 18:27

I prefer Rouen myself....😉

But if interested there is a facebook group called Forever Paris that might be useful, and you could ask the same questions there.

zzplec · 30/04/2025 18:03

Oh, I see you do have a thread on the Holidays board.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/5325838-going-to-paris-for-2-nights-in-may-not-my-first-time-looking-for-hidden-gems

Can I suggest that you read a guidebook or look at a site like Time Out to get some ideas? If you're only there for 2 nights there'll be plenty of non-Eiffel Tower category suggestions in those guides.

www.timeout.com/paris/en

zzplec · 30/04/2025 17:58

Of course it's not unreasonable. Or is your post just an attempt to ask for recommendations? In which case posting on the Holidays board might be more productive.

Bois de Vincennes is outside the Peripherique so you're already off the beaten path.

If the Bois isn't enough greenery for you, you could walk part of the Coulee verte Rene-Dumont (elevated linear park along a former railway line). It runs from the east of Bastille. I did part of it at that end quite a few years ago and it was a novelty but not particularly interesting. Maybe some sections are better (some of the photos look fab) so research the best bits.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coul%C3%A9e_verte_Ren%C3%A9-Dumont

And of course Pere-Lachaise cemetery.

Coulée verte René-Dumont - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coul%C3%A9e_verte_Ren%C3%A9-Dumont

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