Thanks to its wide avenues, cafès located on most streets and the Eiffel Tour, Paris is known for its many cliché. And while you are probably going to visit Paris’ major tourist attractions, there is a whole different city of the city to discover.
Let’s find out how to experience Paris like a real Parisian.
Paris is a huge city, so getting from a point to another requires you to walk quite a lot. The moment you start strolling around the city, this becomes even more evident.
The secret to discovering less touristic places is to leave behind planned routes and stroll around the city without a precise destination, and ensure to get lost a little bit.
Whether you are looking for romance in the ravine along the River Seine with your partner, or a quick trip to the shops, you have to spend some time to discover the city, venturing towards places not yet brimming with tourists.
Walk through the cobblestone streets, take a peek around that corner, always move around with curiosity. By doing so, you could find many interesting spots, such as an abandoned church or a village frozen in time.
The other secret side and less touristic place of the city is closer than what you might expect. In fact, there are some real hidden villages in the folds of the city, but they are mostly invisible to the eyes of most tourists.
You could choose to engage in more activities than usual and reach unexpected places, farway from your typical tourist routes.
Try to speak French
One advice would be to start trying to speak French as much as possible. For instance, whenever you enter a shop, you could greet the shopkeeper with Boujour (good morning), as French people consider it to be rude to enter somewhere without saying bonjour. When you try speaking French, remember everyone makes mistakes in the beginning, so don’t worry! Parisians are happy to correct you if necessary and will appreciate your efforts.
Enjoy local food
If possible, try to avoid going to local supermarkets to buy groceries, as French products taste best when they are fresh. So when you can, visit weekly markets, stalls available at any arrondissement, and look for artisanal shops.
As for purchasing fashion items, visit Le Marais: here you will find a wide range of independent boutiques. In addition, a visit to Paris is not complete without an adventure in the flea markets.
Enjoy a picnic in the green areas of the city. So instead of going to a new bistrot every night, go to one of the many parks available in the city and choose a comfortable place to sit in and enjoy the nature that Paris has to offer.
Some of the most stunning parks are: Parc des Buttes Chaumont, where you find waterfalls and even a secret cave; and Square Rene Viviani, a park located near Shakespeare & Co., where supposedly the oldest tree in Paris is located.
Instead of the usual rounds along the Seine, spend the evening along the Canal Saint-Martin. Here you’ll find many bars as well as cafés, which are open till the first morning hours and enjoy the street art.
Remember that a real Parisian buys a baguette directly from the boulangerie and not from a supermarket. At the boulangerie try to get a pastry that has just come out of the oven and macarons. Visit a bakery early in the morning and you might be able to get some real delicacies straight out of the oven!
Take the time you need to enjoy your coffee. Focus on the quality of the moment you are living: enjoy the suburban bars, order an espresso and keep falling in love with this wonderful city.
