We discovered that the best way to experience Paris was by spending time in the places locals love most.
Rue Cler market
We spent the morning here visiting fresh-vegetable stands, local cheese shops & boulangeries. There was a scent of warm baguettes, and we just couldn’t resist grabbing a still warm loaf, some whipped Brie, & a bottle of red wine for a picnic later. We also got to chat with a stall vendor who recommended a park near where we could picnic.
Canal Saint-Martin
This was a different world from the busy central city. People were relaxing by the water, sipping drinks and passing snacks. We joined in, getting takeaway from a nearby boulangerie. And as we sat on the bank of the canal, watching the boats pass and the street performers perform, it felt like Paris was letting us in on one of its best-kept secrets.
Place des Vosges
Located in the heart of Le Marais, this beautiful square is surrounded by beautifully proportioned red-brick houses. It was the perfect place to watch people. Children ran around tagging each other in the grass, older couples walking hand in hand under the arcades. We brought macarons from the nearby pâtisserie and sat beneath the trees as if we were part of the neighbourhood.
Butte-aux-Cailles
This little neighbourhood of the 13th arrondissement is almost like a small town. The streets were lined with pastel-colored houses, and we stumbled upon walls covered in vibrant street art. We went to a small café, where the owner suggested his favourite wine; he even served us a cheese board he’d put together. It was so intimate, like visiting a relative’s house.
Marché des Enfants Rouges
Hidden in the Marais, it is Paris’ oldest market, established in the 16th century. Inside, the energy was infectious. There were food stands selling everything from oysters to Moroccan tagines. We took a bite-sized galette from a Breton stand and shared it on a bench with a French couple who told us which bars in town had the best wines.
The Promenade Plantée
This high-level park is also known as La Coulée Verte and runs for nearly 5 kilometers through the 12th arrondissement. We appreciated the way it drifted above city streets, through roofs and concealed courtyards. Once we found a quiet bench, covered in flowers, and sat and watched the locals jog, read, or just sit and relax.
Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
This iconic bookshop stood in front of Notre-Dame like a kind of time capsule. We spent a long time looking through its bookshelves of English titles and hanging out in its cozy nook upstairs. Thankfully, there was a poetry reading that evening, so we stayed to listen. With candles flickering and the Seine in the background, it was like a private event.
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
This is not just any cemetery. It has the graves of Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf. We lost our way as we bumbled along its stone steps. Locals were there too, treating it as a peaceful park. One old man even pointed out his favorite place, a shaded bench beside an old mausoleum.
Belleville
Belleville is one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods. The streets were brimming with energy, from the markets to the murals. We stumbled on this small shop where the owner made us try his favourite almond croissants. It was so fresh that the buttery layers just kind of melted in our mouths.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
This park is a local landmark of the 19th arrondissement. Its steep slopes and sheer cliffs made us think that we were walking through the countryside. We were near the lake, under a willow tree, with locals picnicking and children duck-chasing. It was an ideal getaway from the city noise.
A Hidden Jazz Club in Saint-Germain
One night, we happened upon a little jazz bar on the Rue de la Huchette. The room was pitch-black, only large enough for a couple of tables and the band. But locals filled the room, nodding to the music while sipping red wine. The saxophonist was amazing, and the crowd made us feel like regulars.
Aperitif at a Corner Café
There is something kind of enchanted about sitting at a Paris café terrace. Our favourite was in the 6th arrondissement, where we’d have glasses of Kir (a French classic cocktail) and olives while looking out at the city. We even began to recognise the same faces, the guy with his baguette on his breakfast table or the woman with her dog, and it made us feel like we belonged there too.
