THINGS TO DO IN PARIS

Going to Paris? Always wanted to go? Planning a trip? Planning to go back? Either way, this website aims to provide some information about things to do in Paris, whether you're there for a weekend or a year! I tried to keep this information related to things I did that were a little more off the beaten path. There are plenty of cool tourist things to do in Paris that are listed in every guidebook under the sun, and so these are some of the things that are a little more abnormal than say, the Eiffel Tower. I studied abroad in Paris for a semester my junior year of college, and decided to make this website to keep track of some of the quirkier things that I did in the city of light!

Here's a link to my blog from Paris if you're curious!

PLACES

1. Saint-Sulpice - Le Saint-Sulpice is an amazing church located near St. Germain-des-Pres that has some crazy architecture and some amazing Caravaggio paintings on the inside. Definitely worth a look.

2. Le Grand Mosquée - The official mosque of Paris which is not only beautiful, but also houses an adorable little café and an amazing restaurant. If you're in the mood for some delicious couscous or a tagine, hot mint tea and super sweet North African desserts, then this is the place for you! Make sure you get a good look at the intricate and beautiful tile work on the inside of the restaurant, even if you decide not to stay for a meal.

RESTAURANTS

1. Le Petit Fer à Cheval - This was legitimately one of my favorite little restaurants in Paris. Located in the 3rd arrondissement, it's a tiny place that serves good, fresh French food. Their menu varies based on what's in season, and if by chance the place is full, the owners also own the three other restaurants on the same street!

2. Pink Flamingo - Sometimes, you're abroad and you just really miss some good old fashioned pizza. If that's the case, then Pink Flamingo is the place for you! With multiple locations all over Paris, they're the master of the quirky thin-crust pizza.

3. Le Petit Cambodge - For lovers of Asian food and modern design, Le Petit Cambodge is certainly the place for you. While enjoying some amazing noodle dishes at long, aluminum tables, feel free to browse the menu for other delicious concoctions - I never had a bad meal there!

MUSEUMS

1. Musée Carnavalet - Certainly an under-appreciated gem in the Parisian museum circuit, the Musée Carnavalet is the official museum of the history of Paris. But even if you're not a history buff, you'll enjoy the wonderful collections this museum has to offer, from a copy of Proust's bedroom to dishes from the time of the Revolution.

OTHER

1. Rollers et Coquillages - If you're sporty and don't mind giving up four hours on a Sunday afternoon, then you should absolutely try this 26-kilometer rollerblading marathon across Paris. The leaders block off streets ahead of you so you get pretty much free-reign of the streets of Paris on your rollerblades, and while my thighs sure were hurting by the end of it, being able to join a group of thousands and rollerskate right next to the Eiffel Tower was well worth the soreness for the next couple days! If you're curious, here's the Rollers et Coquillages homepage.

2. Spoken Word - For lovers of poetry and open-mic night, these artsy underground performances are well worth the price of admission..which is free! Conducted entirely in English (bonus!), it's pretty cool to feel Bohemian while sitting underground beneath a bar listening to fellow ex-pats recite poetry and perform. Here's the Spoken Word homepage!

3. Look at cool street art - One of my favorite things about walking around the streets of Paris was being able to look at the awesome array of neat things that people had painted (legally or illegally!) on various walls and other spaces. A great free activity!