Uncommon Paris

Uncommon Paris: Day Tours Without the Tourist Crowds

Walk the lesser-known neighbourhood streets of Paris and discover hidden views of the Eiffel Tower, parks that only the locals know about and a quintessentially Parisian market where you’ll watch local life unfold around you as you snack on a classic French pastry.

Highlights

• Wander through historic streets in the village of Passy
• Get away from the crowds to uncover less-sighted views of the Eiffel Tower
• Browse a neighbourhood market like a local, with a pastry and coffee in hand
• Visit Passy Cemetery, the Eiffel Tower’s ‘Silent Neighbour’
• Learn how Paris is responding to the impacts of overtourism

Daily life in the popular Parisian neighbourhoods of Marais, Montmartre and the area surrounding the Eiffel Tower has become defined by the hallmarks of overtourism – big tour groups, photo queues and short-term rentals. Go beyond the tourist hotspots on this guided walking tour and encounter hidden streets and lesser-known views of the Eiffel Tower.

Meet your tour group and leader at the Musee de l’Homme on the Trocadero esplanade. This museum is housed in the Palais de Chaillot and was built in 1937. From here, you’ll see one of the most popular views of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll soon see the contrast between tourist hotspots and the lesser-known village streets hidden nearby.

Make your way to the tranquil Trocadero Gardens, Walk through the real and secret art deco inspired side of the gardens, take a few moments to admire the play between nature and modern architecture inspired by new technologies in the beginning of the 1900. Then, continue to the Eiffel Tower’s ‘Silent Neighbour’ – Passy Cemetery. Away from the crowds of the Trocadero, you can stroll through paths lined by graves, many of which belong to 19th-century French aristocrats, with a view of the Eiffel Tower looming just across the Seine.

Continue to the village of Passy, arriving in the village’s heart – the local market, known for its excellent regional produce. Chat with the vendors as you wander the stalls and see locals going about their daily routine. Stop at Golosa Patisserie for a traditional brioche croissant and a coffee. Walk along Rue de l’Annonciation, the historic pedestrian heart of Passy. When you arrive at Rue Raynouard, you’ll pass historic houses, including Maison de Balzac – the former home of French novelist Honore de Balzac. From the courtyard, you’ll see the Eiffel Tower from a fresh angle. Wind through Rue Berton, a cobblestone street that preserves the atmosphere of historic Passy when it was a village on the fringes of Paris. You’ll also visit Parc de Passy, a spot known almost exclusively by locals. Learn about how modern Paris is developing more green space, reducing car traffic in the city centre and pedestrianising many streets to improve local quality of life. At Square Alboni, you’ll see Art Deco building facades and learn about local social housing policy. Pass the Wine Museum built on the grounds of Passy's historic limestone quarries and learn about the museum's unexpected connection to the Eiffel Tower.

End your tour with a spectacular view from Bir-Hakeim Bridge. Look out towards the Eiffel Tower, then look out from the other side of the bridge to see the Île aux Cygnes (Isle of the Swans), the narrow, man-made island that splits the Seine at that point. a A smaller replica of the world famous Statue of Liberty is situated at the opposite tip of the island (the southern end), near the Pont de Grenelle. After this picture-perfect photo op, your tour comes to an end. If you’re eager to keep exploring, it’s highly recommended you return to Maison de Balzac for a visit to explore inside the house or a short walk to see the Statue of Liberty. If you are on the Bir-Hakeim Bridge, there is a staircase that leads directly down to the island. From there, you can walk along the tree-lined path (the Allée des Cygnes) for about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the base of the statue. It is a fantastic spot because you get a "two-for-one" view: the Statue of Liberty in one direction and one of the most iconic, unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower in the other.