Paris is not one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world for anything. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Champs Elisée are all recognized worldwide, regular spots in many a tourist bucket list - and for a reason! These places are all iconic, but Paris is a two-thousand-year-old city; its famous spots are only a few in a sea of amazing and interesting places to see.

For first or second timers, or a shorter trip, visiting the main attractions is an experience many can’t do without, but for those who have the chance to explore the more understated corners of the City of Lights, be sure that there are many of them to see. Here are just 10 of them to get started:

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8 Saint Julien Le Pauvre  and René Viviani Square

Notre Dame might be an international landmark, but Europe isn’t lacking any charming, smaller churches filled with history and personality. Saint-Julien-Le-Pauvre 13th century Romanesque style church, today a Melkite Greek church located in the René Viviani Square, a beautiful polygon-shaped square that has one of (if not the!) best views of Notre-Dame Cathedral, across Île de la Cité.

7 The way from Saint-Sulpice all through Sorbonne in the Quartier Latin

Visiting landmarks is a great time on any trip, but getting to them can be just as rewarding. The Quartier Latin, where the Saint-Sulpice church is located, has little hidden and apparent gems everywhere you look; walking from Saint-Sulpice through the Place du Panthéon all through to Sorbonne visitors can see centuries-old libraries, medieval alleys, beautiful stores and colleges of Université de Paris and Université Sorbonne.

L’Université de Sorbonne and the Church of Saint-Sulpice are beloved landmarks visited by many, but the pathway from one to the other is

6 Station Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel l

A regular tourist spot to see and get to the Eiffel Tower is at the Trocadero metro station - itself a favored visitor photo spot. But for those who take to Champs de Mars and get out at the Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel stop will emerge right under the Eiffel Tower and will be able to get a pretty unique view of the landmark.

5 59 Rivoli

Most people, when thinking about ‘Paris’ and ‘Art’ will associate with it the Louvre, the Mona Lisa, iconic works of the classical art of centuries past; while Paris and France house many amazing art museums and historical pieces, its contemporary art scene are just as enthralling and vibrant. 59 Rivoli is somewhere between artist residency, art gallery, and artwork, its walls, doors, and floors colorful with artistic interventions of hundreds of different people who’ve visited it, artists who rent studios in it, and the ones who use its exhibition space.

Add some color and art to your trip, walk into this magical yellow door in your Paris trip!

4 Louxor Cinema

Going to the cinema might not be on most people's Paris itinerary - lose all that exploring time? No way! - but the Louxor Cinema offers an experience that is sure to be unlike any other cinema. This 1921 cinema house is built and decorated in an Egyptian-inspired Art Deco style, then had a romp as a gay club for a while, then went back to being a cinema; that could be the setting of a movie itself. Filmophiles can enjoy something out of its indie-inclined catalog and then grab a bite at the Louxor café, to fully bask in the atmosphere. (For visitors that aren’t as into indie cinema - Le Grand Rex Cinema is a nearby historic, art deco cinema as well, and it plays more popular options!)

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3 Phillipe Auguste Wall - rue des Jardins Saint-Paul

Today, most of what we see in Paris dates to the 19th century, when the city underwent a great urbanistic overhaul, but the city is much, much older than that and sometimes, remnants of its medieval structures can be seen. Such is the case with the Phillipe Auguste wall in the Marais. A relic of the 12th century, the wall might’ve been built for Phillipe II’s departure to the crusades, in an effort to protect the city in his absence. A piece of alive history, right beside modern streets.

2 The Arago Medallions

For those who enjoy treasure hunting, or The DaVinci Code, trying to spot the Aragon Medallions, as you explore Paris’ streets can make everything more fun - try to feel like it’s an adventure in a book! The Aragon Medallions are 135 bronze medallions embedded in the Parisian streets, which used to mark the French meridian line, an old Greenwich rival. See how many you can spot! (A note to avoid confusion - the Arago Medallions' role in The DaVinci Code is purely fictional, and the “Rose Line” is not real).

1 Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

For the perfect green and tranquil getaway, Parc de Buttes-Chaumont can be a greater option than even the Tuileries. This 19th-century park has hills, streams, bridges, different species of trees and flowers, grottos, and even waterfalls that seem almost impossible to exist in a metropolis like Paris. Buttes-Chaumont is a magical getaway in Belleville.

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