13 quirky things to see and do in Paris: from drinks on Galeries Lafayette’s rooftop and in a hidden bar near the Moulin Rouge, to the cemetery where Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison are buried

Jan 22 , 2023

A tuk-tuk is seen on Place de la Concorde in Paris, France. Photo: Getty Images

Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf are all buried in the pretty Père Lachaise cemetery seen on Emily in Paris, while the Musée de l’Orangerie is home to Claude Monet’s Water Lilies

Tourists might not know to make a beeline for Pierre Hermé’s delicious macarons or visit the Puces de Saint Ouen antique market – and the quirky Dodo Manège carousel is highly Insta-worthy

There’s far more to do in Paris than just visiting the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. In fact, after several trips to the City of Light, you’ll discover that most of the city’s treasures can be found tucked down little side streets, or even underneath them. From sewers to catacombs, history meets modern-day archaeology around every corner.

Paris’ Musée d’Orsay holds the famous Impressionist collection is perfect for art lovers and often gets overlooked in favour of the Louvre. Photo: SCMP Archive

Visiting Paris is also about soaking up the culture, and some of the best things to do in the city involve sitting at a cafe as life passes on the street, getting lost in a neighbourhood on foot, or having a picnic surrounded by locals at Canal Saint-Martin. There are unusual places to see in Paris too, like hauntingly beautiful cemeteries.

There are also alternative ways of seeing the sites, via a tuk-tuk rather than by the traditional Seine river cruise.

Keep reading to learn about Paris’ secret gems and must-see neighbourhoods for your next trip.

1. See the city through an expert lens with Tuktuk in Paris

Tuktuk in Paris will show you the city from a different angle. Photo: Getty Images

See Paris by tuk-tuk with a specially guided tour led by Tuktuk in Paris. These adorable blue and white open-air cars are perfect for small groups looking to see the sights with an expert. Tours are private, customised and host up to six people. See the rue Royale, the famed basilica Sacré-Coeur, or the storybook-like neighbourhood of Montmartre. All tours are personalised, and guides are knowledgeable, masterful storytellers.

2. Take a ride on the whimsical carousel known as the Dodo Manège

The Jardin des Plantes in Paris hosts a Fete des Lumieres exhibition (pictured) as well as a gorgeous old-fashioned Dodo Manège carousel. Photo: AFP

If your idea of fun involves the uniquely odd and whimsical, then the Dodo Manège in Paris’ Jardin des Plantes is a natural stop. This one-of-a-kind carousel substitutes traditional horses for statues of extinct and endangered animals. While the site has only been in Paris since 1992, the Dodo Manège is close to the Natural History Museum, and the animals featured include a horned turtle, a dodo and an aepyornis.