swdob

My family and I have come to Paris several times, (I spent a year abroad in college many years ago, my 17 year old daughter has spent 6 weeks with a family, we've come for several short trips over the years) and we are coming back in March for a week. We'd love to do something we haven't done yet and go to places we haven't seen. Does anyone have ideas for us?

adrienne

You should read some of kerouac's reports. He has several on areas of Paris that tourists never/seldom see.

Here's a link to his profile. Scroll down to see his wonderful reports.
http://www.fodors.com/community/profile/kerouac/

kerouac

And a lot of tourists wouldn't want to see some of the places about which I report!

Nikki

Some threads on things to do in Paris:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...o-in-paris.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...the-usual-.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...o-in-paris.cfm

Michael

Look for venues that may be off the tourists radar screen. Each time I've been to the Cité de l'Architecture, it has been practically empty and yet it is located in the Trocadéro opposite the Eiffel tower. This may also be true of the Musée de la Marine in the other Trocadéro building. I suspect that the musée de l'Immigration (worth a look if only for its Art Déco design and non-pc decorations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623299527007 ) is off the main tourist track, as is the Chateau de Vincennes and the nearby Bois de Vincennes.

StCirq

Belleville.

adrienne

swdob - you need to keep in mind that many places tourists visit are also visited by Parisians.

Nikki has given some good links but it's up to you to identify what you're looking for. Places of interest to tourists or places that tourist do not frequent (per your title). If you're more specific in your interests then we can help you more.

Michael

There are also less famous museums: Musée Guimet, musée Nissim de Camondo, Arts-et-Métiers (which may still have a decent Sunday all-you-can-eat buffet), the cité de la Musique (http://www.citedelamusique.fr/anglai...sentation.aspx ). There are nice out-of-the-way parks: André Citroën with its tethered balloon ride, parc des Buttes Chaumont where one can picnic after picking up the food items at the Sunday Place des Fêtes market.

mamcalice

Without knowing what you have seen it is hard to recommend. Have you taken lots of the day trips recommended often on this forum such as Giverny, Reims, Chartres, etc.? Check out some of the posts on "day trips from Paris."

We've been to Paris 8 times over 4 decades for over 8 weeks and have run out of time before we have run out of things to do.

PatrickLondon

Another vote for the Musée Guimet (Asiatic art) - it quite blew me away:
http://autolycus-london.blogspot.co....to-buddha.html

And if your French is up to it:
http://www.parisinconnu.com/

PatrickLondon

And one that often gets overlooked (and it's free): the Cognacq-Jay:
http://autolycus-london.blogspot.co....ght-and-i.html

StCirq

And the Jacquemart-André.

Christina

Lots of places that are not often visited and with few tourists may not be what you want to spend your limited time on, actually. And why go to places just because no one is there if you aren't interested in them. I really like architecture and building museums and visit them everywhere, so I visited the one in Paris, and sure it isn't as crowded as the Orsay but that's because a lot of people aren't interested in that kind of stuff.

I've been to the Immigration museum out near Vincennes and would not judge it worth the time to go out there, it isn't that good.

So I think the main thing is not to think about what you personally are interested in and really want to spend your time on. That would be the first step. And do you really want to spend your limited time on a vacation to Paris visiting some foreign immigrant neighborhood in a suburb? I don't, but we have plenty of those where I live, that isn't why I go to Paris.

If you just want to go anyplace with fewer visitors, any of the minor museums would fit that description, actually, most tourists only go to the major ones which you can probably name (Louvre, Orsay, Rodin, Grand Palais, Orangerie, etc.). Not a lot at the postal museum, for example.

Michael

<i>I really like architecture and building museums and visit them everywhere, so I visited the one in Paris, and sure it isn't as crowded as the Orsay but that's because a lot of people aren't interested in that kind of stuff.

I've been to the Immigration museum out near Vincennes and would not judge it worth the time to go out there, it isn't that good.</i>

It does not sound like you really like architecture. The Cité de l'Architecture has a collection of life-size replicas of important architectural structures from all regions of France, models of historical buildings, as well as a full-size replica of an apartment from le Corbusier's Cité radieuse in the modern section. The building of the musée de l'Immigration is interesting in its decorative elements and is worth a glance if going to Vincennes. It's general exhibits are not interesting, but it might have some special exhibit of interest--it did when we were there.

Avalon2

We go to Paris 2 times a year for at least then last 20 years. And it all depends on what you enjoy.I love Markets and always go to Richard Lenoir , the Trocadero museums are a favorite along with the Petit Palais. The Jewish Museums should not be missed, The Shohah and art and History.The Orangerie is often bypassed anit is so convenient and enjoyable> Junking is a favorite passtime. Porte de Vanves on Sat. and Sunday provides a few hours of interest

colonna

The Museum of Decorative Arts (next to the Louvre) is a great space with fashion exhibits (there will be one on trompe l'oeil in 18th-20th c fashion on in March), a permanent exhibition of toys, and all kinds of decorated furniture, textiles, etc.

The Musee d'Ennery has just reopened; it's in a small mansion on the Avenue Foch, a personal collection of antiquities, mostly Asian. I'm curious to see if it is still lit exclusively by gas, as it was 16 years ago. You have to make a reservation, only open on weekends.

I also like the Cite de l'Architecture because you can get close to statues and details that are out of sight in the original locations (on the towers of cathedrals, castles, etc).

And a good word for the Museum of the Hunt, which is kind of like being inside a fairy tale.

Judy

We've been to Paris many times (over 20 I think but haven't counted) and each visit we find something new to do and never get through our list of things we want to do. Like Avalon2, we have a few favorites we return to each trip and the requisite shopping, eating and drinking wine but always find something new. Last trip was the Van Cleef and Arpels exhibit at the Decorative Arts Museum, the Edward Hopper at the Grand Palais and the Fashion & Impressionism at Musee d'Orsay.

DebitNM

We visited Chateau Vincennes on our last day of our last trip to Paris. I had always seen it as the terminus for Metro line 1 and wondered what was there. We really found it to be very worthwhile. Perhaps it is a common visitor attraction but we missed it on our first trip last year.

http://en.chateau-vincennes.fr/

Gretchen

I agree about having been many many times, and enjoy doing some of the old, and find some new. Hard to know what the OP is "caught up" on. One of my favorite places is the floor of the Carnavalet dedicated to teh French Revolution, and in particular the room of "cartoons" of the time depicting the times.
I would NEVER not go to at least 2 markets!! So find one you haven't been to and explore that part of the city.
The Orsay has MANY hidden glories--the galleries of Art Nouveau furniture is superb.
The Marmottan always (I think) has a separate exhibit from its collection.
Have you seen the Orangerie since its reopening?

kerouac

There was a news report about the Basilica of Saint Denis on the news the other day. It was mentioned that it gets 200,000 vistors a year, compared to 13 million for Notre Dame. Yet both places are just as interesting and historical, and many say that Saint Denis is better.