Seven underrated Paris attractions to consider

The Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Arc de Triomphe steal the show for a visit to Paris, but between long queues and feeling cramped by other tourists, they can quickly lose their appeal.

Words by Sabine Leroy at escape.com.au

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Besides, there are loads of places where you can see the Eiffel Tower or achieve a similar view of the Parisian skyline without queuing for hours.

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Rodin Museum

Housing the famous sculptor’s works like The Thinker and The Kiss, the museum is a pure delight. Located in a gorgeous manor which served as Rodin’s atelier with surrounding grounds filled with trimmed hedges and more sculptures, it feels less like a museum and more like a lavish residence. On top of Rodin’s work, the museum features the artist’s personal collection such as paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Greek statues, ceramics and photographs from all over the world.

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Paris Catacombs

Never at the top of anyone’s list, the Catacombs are well worth a visit to explore the darker side of the city. Beneath the insta-worthy streets and pastry-lined windows lies the remains of six million Parisians. As a solution to the city’s once overflowing cemeteries and deaths by disease, several kilometres worth of tunnels were dug underground between the 1700s and 1800s. Online booking is mandatory for all tickets and with timed visits, queues are fairly short.

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Place des Vosges

Originally Place Royale, Place des Vosges is one of the oldest planned squares in Paris. Small but quaint, the garden is lined in perfectly symmetric trees and initially built as a prototype for residential squares of European cities that were to come. Sit on a bench and have an Emily in Paris moment as you enjoy a croissant from nearby cafe, Carette.

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Champ de Mars

The Eiffel Tower has a green runaway leading up to it: that’s the Champ de Mars. Though it is fun to go up the tower, it often attracts hours of queuing – even if you’re happy to hike up the stairs. Instead, if the weather permits, the Champ de Mars is the perfect spot for a picnic with uninterrupted views of the Tower. Even if it’s on the chilly side, it’s a great spot for a stroll.

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Galeries Lafayette

Think David Jones on steroids and obviously, old architecture. Galeries Lafayette is a beautiful department store built in 1912 with a mesmerising art deco glass dome. Go for a wander just before lunch and then find a restaurant or cafe which takes your fancy. The ground floor has loads of specialities with counter seating like La Maison de la Truffe (the truffle house), a caviar and smoked salmon bar, dumplings and more. Formal restaurants are throughout the store on every level with the fancy Tortuga on the rooftop with breathtaking views of the city.

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The Pompidou Centre

Don’t let the strange (and ugly) exterior fool you. Pompidou is Paris’ modern art museum boasting 120,000 works, it’s the largest collection in Europe. From Vassily Kandinsky, Henri Matisse to Frida Kahlo,

Salvador Dali and many more, the museum is truly captivating. Thanks to its central location and glass panels, the view from the rooftop is spell-binding with key landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre-Coeur basilica and other buildings. It’s open every day from 11am to 9pm except on Tuesdays and you can book tickets online including your time slot to avoid queuing too long.

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Go for a wander

Just going for a stroll in Paris is amazing, but you need to know where to go. Start at Pont de Bir-Hakeim for beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower and walk towards it. If you keep following the Seine, you can admire the city’s many beautiful bridges, Ile Saint Louis and museums such as The Louvre, Grand Palais and Musee d’Orsay.