Top 8 activities in Paris

Are you looking for unusual things to do in Paris? Are you attracted by originality and memorable experiences? What excellent news, my friend! We’ve selected the most popular Parisian activities, far from the well-known Parisian classics.

Thanks to our top picks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy with family, friends or even solo! Ideal for breaking the routine and venturing off the beaten track during your stay in Paris.

Choosing the crème de la crème of activities in Paris means wanting to personalise your visit from A to Z. And, perhaps, understand what makes it one of the most visited cities in the world!

In the eyes of the world, the City of Light is many things. A promise of romance for some, a gastronomic escapade for others, a bottomless pit of entertainment and culture for many… Above all, Paris is a rich city, brimming with history and ancient heritage. A breath of national culture, to be discovered in a thousand and one ways.

What to do in Paris? 8 ideas for activities

Are you looking for immersive outings or unique moments in the Paris region? Our selection of activities will spice up your stay in the capital! Note that many activities (especially the most popular ones) need to be booked in advance. Avoid last-minute disappointment by making your own arrangements. To make sure you don’t miss out on the capital’s craziest or most authentic ideas, check out our selection of the best activities in Paris.

1 Meet the celebrities… Père-Lachaise cemetery

photo credit pixabay

Category: €€ / Unusual / Cultural

Description: Meet some of the great names in French culture at the cult and unusual Père-Lachaise cemetery. In a small group of curious history buffs and lovers of amusing anecdotes, rediscover the artists, writers and musicians who left their mark on their time. Your guide, an expert in every respect, is sure to surprise you throughout this lively, immersive tour lasting around 3 hours.

2. Flying over the rooftops in a hot-air balloon

photo credit pixabay

Category: €€€ / Unusual / Sensations

Description: Take off from the Parc André-Citroën in the south-west of Paris for a trip over the most beautiful city in the world. The hot-air balloon in which you board is used to measure the quality of the capital’s air. For around ten minutes, you’ll enjoy an exceptional view of the streets and monuments of Paris. Perfect for admiring the city from a whole new perspective!

3. Create your own perfume in the capital of fashion

photo credit pixabay

Category: €€€ / Unusual

Description: What better city than Paris to improvise as a perfumer for a workshop? Between the Hôtel de Ville and the Place des Vosges, the Studio des Parfums invites you to discover the craft of perfumery by creating the fragrance of your dreams from a multitude of ingredients. Whether you’re on your own, with friends or family, give it a try and leave with your own creation at the end of the workshop! An introduction to olfaction is offered at the start of the workshop to guide you in your choice of ingredients.

4. Becoming a freshwater sailor on the Ourcq Canal

photo credit pixabay

Category: €€ / €€€ / Cultural

Description: Hire an electric boat in the Bassin de la Villette and set off on an adventure for an hour or a day along the Canal de l’Ourcq, where 40km of waterways are open to you. You’ll be sailing independently on these boats, which can accommodate up to eleven people. Children over the age of nine can also cruise the canal independently on small electric boats. An ideal outing for all the family!

5. Discover the secrets of Paris in virtual reality

Category: €€ / Sensations / Cultural

Description: Are you afraid of going up in a hot-air balloon because of vertigo? Here’s an unusual way to discover Paris from the sky! Just a stone’s throw from the Opéra Garnier, FlyView invites you to take a virtual reality flight over the capital, but that’s not all. You’ll also discover the hidden Paris, Notre-Dame Cathedral before and after the fire, as well as France’s most beautiful cultural and natural heritage sites, and the great pyramids of Egypt. A breathtaking journey through the heart of Paris!

6. Infiltrate the terrible catacombs

photo credit pixabay

Category: €€ / Sensations / Cultural

Description: As mythical as they are, the catacombs of Paris continue to thrill visitors. These interminable galleries, lined from floor to ceiling with human bones, are something of a “hidden face” of the City of Light. The corridors ooze satanic legends and have inspired more than one horror film director. It has to be said that entering this medieval sepulchre is enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine! Note also that to explore the catacombs of Paris, you will have to descend some 2km underground. There are no lifts in the catacombs, so you’ll have to take a staircase up and down.

7. Explore the streets in an escape game

photo credit pixabay

Category: €€ / Cultural

Description: Simply equipped with your smartphone, set off on an adventure through the French capital on a journey full of enigmas and traps! There are several scenarios to choose from, depending on what you want to do, how long you want to spend and how far you want to walk. With historical routes packed with anecdotes about the city and others that are more romantic and fantastic, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for and have an unforgettable time with friends or family.

8. Take to the skies in a free-fall simulation

Category: €€ / Unusual / Sensations

Description: Propelled vertically by the simulator’s blast, you’ll be able to imagine the sensation of a parachute jump. Even children can take to the skies, from the age of 5. Don’t worry, all first flights are made under the supervision of two instructors. For an even more extraordinary free-fall experience, don a virtual reality helmet. Experience the full thrill of the wind tunnel as you push back the walls around you. So, are you ready to take the plunge?