The Atlas Obscura Guide To Paris

203 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Paris, France

Updated December 13, 2024

There is a secret apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and that encapsulates Atlas Obscura—the hidden world within the one that we know. Paris is a city of history and beauty and light, and one of the best ways to experience it is by leaving the beaten path.

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Unusual Attractions in Paris

Catacombes des Paris Autumn 2018

Paris, France

Catacombes de Paris

The vast, legendary catacombs hold secrets much stranger than stacked bones.

Paris, France

Père Lachaise Cemetery

France's most famous cemetery, with some of its most curious tombs.

The oval reading room at the Bibliothèque nationale.

Paris, France

Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France)

This massive library holds what was once the largest book collection in the world.

Paris, France

Petite Ceinture

Abandoned railway line circling the city of Paris.

59 Rivoli in 2005.

Paris, France

59 Rivoli

Notorious artist squat renovated into legal studios.

Shakespeare And Company bookshop situated at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, in the 5th arrondissement.

Paris, France

Shakespeare and Company

This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.

Paris, France

Montmartre Cemetery

A horde of stray cats rule in this secluded Parisian cemetery under a bridge.

Paris, France

House of Nicolas Flamel

The oldest stone house in Paris was built by its most famous alchemist.

See All 203 Things To Do in Paris

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Paris

Paris, France

Au Roi de la Bière

Once a 19th-century brasserie, this McDonald's exterior celebrates Alsatian design and the "King of Beer."

Paris, France

Roger La Grenouille

This frog-themed restaurant was frequented by Picasso, Saint-Exupéry, and more.

Chevilly-Larue, France

Rungis International Market

Walk through spectacular aisles of hanging meat and wagon wheel–sized cheese at the world's largest wholesale food market.

Potatoes on the tomb.

Paris, France

Grave of Antoine-Augustin Parmentier

The tomb of history's greatest potato promoter is surrounded by tubers.

See all 19 Places to Eat in Paris

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

From wine tastings and secret passages to catacombs and cemetary tours.

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Explore Paris, France

Architecture 28

Art 22

Collections 20

Museums 20

Architectural Oddities 17

Sacred Spaces 13

History 13

Restaurants 13

Cemeteries 12

Catacombs And Crypts 10

Statues 10

Shops 10

Places To Stay 5

Unique Restaurants & Bars 4

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Stories About Paris

La Bague de Kenza specializes in jewel-like Algerian sweets.

Gastro Obscura's 13 Essential Places to Visit While in Paris

From Algerian sweets to Tunisian snacks to a mind-altering ham sandwich, go beyond the tropes and the tourist traps on this itinerary.

January 12, 2024

Bill G.B. Pallot, pictured here in his Paris home in 2017, has been at the center of a storm over counterfeit antique furniture.

The Furniture Fraud That Threw the French Antiques World Into a Furor

Was it an elaborate scam or a highbrow battle of wits?

by Nina Strochlic

January 8, 2024

The City of Light has a city of darkness underground.

The Fight Between Cataphiles and Underground Police in the Paris Catacombs

Will the tunnels, host to many illegal parties, get filled with concrete?

by Frank Jacobs

October 27, 2023

Chemist and physicist Marie Curie works in the lab with her husband Pierre in 1896. Curie would go on to win two Nobel prizes for her groundbreaking research on radioactivity.

Marie Curie As You’ve Never Met Her Before

The world’s first two-time Nobel Laureate was a nerd’s nerd who broke the law for knowledge.

“China girls”—also known as “leader ladies”—appeared at the start of films in the early days of Hollywood, though few people ever saw them.

8 Unexpected Stories That Go Behind the Scenes in Hollywood

Frozen lettuce, a ghost subway station, and an unplaceable accent all have starring roles.

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: R.I.P.: Rest in Paris Crossword

October 31, 2022

All illustrations by Michelle Boggess-Nunley

Get Lost in the Catacombs With Our Latest Maze

A new, Paris-inspired challenge from a record-holding maze-maker.

by Michelle Boggess-Nunley

October 13, 2022

Podcast: Grittiness and Romanticism in New York and Paris

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

September 13, 2022

Lists Featuring Paris

Gustave Eiffel’s Secret Apartment

Exterior of the museum.

Diving suit by the Carmagnolle brothers from 1882

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near the Eiffel Tower for Curious Travelers

Including Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment , Musée du quai Branly (Quai Branly Museum), and Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

The House of the Temple.

Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

Rats of Karni Mata Temple

Paxton Gate Exterior

Albino Squirrels of Olney, Illinois

A Rat Lover's Tour of the World

15 places where rodents are celebrated, feared, preserved, and studied.

Including Karni Mata Temple, Nutty Narrows Bridge, and Paxton Gate

Le Cimetière du Calvaire is Paris’ oldest and smallest cemetery.

Old Cemeteries in Paris

Historic graveyards to visit in the City of Lights.

Including Père Lachaise Cemetery, Montparnasse Cemetery, and Montmartre Cemetery

Le Bachelor takes a break while arranging new merchandise at Sape & Co

Jacques Noël

LaBeL RéCuP’ store front.

8 Cool Shops in Paris

Wonderfully unique stores to visit in the City of Lights.

Including Tombées du Camion, Sape & Co, and Un Regard Moderne Bookstore

Original letter of Abraham, the son of Maimonides found in the Cairo genizah.

A sculpture of the Tower of Babel, by Alan Baughman, from the Introductory Room of the Museum of the Alphabet

Boontling word of the week in the tap room of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

A Linguistics Lover's Tour of the World

12 places to marvel at the history of human language.

Including The Cairo Genizah , The Museum of the Alphabet , and Boontling Language of Boonville

Bolivia’s Witch Market

Dubrovnik Maskeron

The Statue of St. Anthony’s Pig

The Guardhouse Monkey

15 Unlikely Places to Re-Up Your Luck

Luck be a... llama fetus?

Including Bolivia's Witch Market, Dubrovnik Maskeron, and Statue of St. Anthony's Pig

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