Discovering Paris—Three Tips That Only Locals Know

Paris is known as la Ville Lumière, as Paname, and Pantruche. It is considered to be one of the leading cultural capitals of the world and a lavishing monument to l'estétique sublime. If your aspiration is to travel the world, the City of Lights should be one of your primary destinations, and a familiar stop on the globe-trotting pilgrimage that warrants many happy returns. If you are an aficionado of all things peculiar and wonderful, and keen to discover Paris in a unique way, here are three tips that only locals know.

1. Musée des Égouts de Paris is the best way to experience the catacombs.

Famed catacombs of Paris sound like one of those destinations that have lost their spooky luster due to the multitude of visitors that course through its macabre corridors. First of all, a lot of the tourists still find it too eerie to visit in the first place, so this highlight does not boast as many tourists as you may initially think. Second, the catacombs are large, mystifying, and somewhat dangerous.

This means that you should avoid delving into them without reliable guidance, but the size of the catacombs also means that there are many rarely frequented entry points which are safe and accessible. Musée des Égouts de Paris is one of such secret spots. If you are a lover of the macabre, you will absolutely fall in love with the history of the terrifying sewer system that harkens to the days of Lutetia Parisiorum. You will also get a comprehensible exhibition of water cycles in the history of the city and see the models of the machinery that has been used throughout many turbulent ages.

2. The Trinkets and Nibbles of Local Markets

The best Paris holidays for newcomers are usually the ones that include as many diverse tours as possible—preferably the ones that cover most of the city’s highlights. An efficient and experienced guide will know when to end the tour and leave enough room for you to savor the delights. One of the things that you should definitely do during your free time is visit one of the city’s renowned antique markets such as Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves.

Enchanting emporiums such as these are an absolute joy to delve into and a search for one-of-a-kind antiques is an adventure of a special kind. Dig for the old vinyl records of French chansons, vintage chandeliers, and dusty gramophones, and spend hours on end tasting decadent nibbles of cheeses in Marché des Enfants Rouges—the covered market filled with gourmet wonders that has been running since 1615.

3. Relax in the park.

Just like all wonderful metropolises around the world, Paris has its fair share of captivating patches of greenery that offer a moment of respite for urban dwellers. Many people that visit Paris once, twice, or thrice rarely consider the escape from the city’s verve for a relaxing hour of meditation among the lush trees. Jardin du Luxembourg and Tuileries Garden may be the most renowned green highlights in the city, but if you really want to take a glance at where the locals go to unwind, head to the gorgeous Buttes-Chaumont in the northeast corner of the city.

In Buttes-Chaumont, you will feel as if you have been transported to a fairy realm. Topographical highlights are truly out of this world—gentle hills, twisty ponds, gazebos and a temple and, believe it or not, a waterfall—these are only some of the highlights. Check out the antique railway bridge, purchase some basic ingredients for a fancy snack (a baguette and some French cheese is more than enough), and head to this park with a bottle of wine and your significant other to enjoy the company of residential families that will prattle on in their delightful language as the quaint afternoon sun cuts through the serene treetops.

Paris is a mosaic of cultural jewels, but it is also a cultural monument as a whole. Many stories and legends are weaved through its winding streets steeped in history and transcendent architecture—some of them remembered, others forgotten by time. This is why it is such a unique pleasure to go off the beaten path and experience things that may create a treasured experience that is just your own.