Paris Beyond the Postcards: From Underground Secrets to Sky-High Views

Places to go, things to see in Paris. As I have been many times over the years, I wanted to share them with you!

The Louvre is high on our list of things to see. But it’s not the only great art place in Paris. The Musee D’Orsay is really lovely. It’s an old railway station that has been put to really great use as a museum and art gallery.

You may not have heard of this one - the Musée Des Égouts de Paris, or the Sewer Museum. It’s really is worth visiting. You are literally walking under the streets of Paris and can know where you are because there are names on all of the walkways of the streets above you.

There’s no smell, which is important. Plus if you remember in Les Miserable, Jean Valjean rescues Marias from the barricades and has to ‘bring him home’ through the sewers. Well, when we were there, the particular side sewer entrance used to save Marias to the main sewers was highlighted. I did buy a cuddly toy rat for our baby granddaughter!

We visited the Catacombs in 1991. It was incredible. We were told on the way in that we would be searched or at least checked on the way out to make sure that we weren’t taking any bones away with us. All of the bones are from former cemeteries in Paris but, in the eighteenth century there were health issues with those cemeteries. So, the remains were moved to the Catacombs where they are still respected.

No matter where you go you will always see the Eiffel Tower. We have been up it a couple of times, but in 2025 Peter and I made it to the third floor, that’s a lot of lift time! But, there are a set of stairs at the level when you can literally walk them and end up right as high as it is possible to go. All the way around the third floor there are indications of what city you could see because it is in that direction. I saw signs for Canberra, Sydney and the Gold Coast.

If you want to see Paris from a high point, but not the Eiffel Tower there is an alternative. The Montparnasse Tower Panoramic Observation Deck is the alternative. It’s on the 56th Floor, and they have special lifts for tourist. We had to wait with others until some people had come down. There is a limit to the number of people, just like in the Eiffel Tower.

Notre Dame has had a few problems with that massive fire. They were still working on it in 2025 when we went to have a look. It looked so beautiful and visitors were allowed in while a service was on, but you couldn’t get into the area set aside for the service – about half of the Nave and all of the Alter. The restoration is gorgeous.

A boat trip down the Seine is great. What I really enjoyed was seeing the original Statue of Liberty, it’s not as big as the New York one and is older than the Eiffel Tower. The New York one is 93 meters tall was given as a gift from France to USA on October 28, 1886.

Bastille Markets are so good. They are big, they have a huge range of things, including a lot of food. Last time we were there I felt the need for a new ring. I looked at about 12 stalls with jewelry and finally bought one for a whole 20 Euro. It’s not gold it could be stainless steel, the ‘stone’ could be glass for all I know but I love wearing it.

Versailles is magnificent. We went there in 1991 when we were in Paris and my Mum had joined us for a week on her way back to Australia. It really is well worth the trip to see it. The gardens were gorgeous as was the interior.

One more special treat in Paris is at www.thefork.com (opens in a new tab) It’s a great website (or get the App) that lists different restaurants every day. Each one is a great café/restaurant and if you book a table through The Fork you get a discounted meal. It’s not the same place every day, it varies so you get to go to a whole range of places, have a good walk around and then an amazing meal.

Paris is such a fantastic city and one of my many favourites!

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