5. Get lost between the pages at Shakespeare and Company
This ought to feature in every “offbeat things to do in Paris” list. While the name sounds like a play, Shakespeare and Company is actually a bookstore and perhaps the most popular one in the world. Yes, that’s right. Now, do not close this blog just because there is a bookstore recommendation in Paris. Hear me out. Opened in the early 20th century, the bookstore was the then meeting place of writers Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and several others.
As you wander around the bookstore which is stuffed with books of all kind at every nook and corner, you can smell history. A history that has stayed since its inauguration. If you are a book lover, then the iconic Shakespeare and Company is a must visit in Paris. And so you know the shop’s motto reads ‘Be Not Inhospitable to Strangers Lest They Be Angels in Disguise’.
Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France
Timings: 10 am – 11 pm
How to reach: Bus at Petit Pont
Image credit – Flickr.com
6. Revisit the lost souls at Père Lachaise Cemetery
Attended by more than 3.5 million visitors, Père Lachaise Cemetery is the most visited cemetery in the world. Though the place is a cemetery, Père Lachaise is absolutely non-creepy and can be visited by everyone of all ages. To be honest, if you are on a lookout for a place of solitude, then the Père Lachaise Cemetery will be perfect.
Grab a handful of flowers from the street vendor and walk along the burials, closely studying the intricate tombstones and sculptures. Morbidly beautiful, Père Lachaise Cemetery is the resting ground of some of the famous personalities which include Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Jean-François Champollion, Frédéric Chopin, and many others.
Address: 16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Paris, France
Timings: 8.30 am to 6 pm
How to reach: Subway at Philippe Auguste
Image credit – Flickr.com
7. Rediscover your senses at Dans le Noir
So, Paris is known for its exquisite French cuisine and you have already had a taste of it. But have you experienced dining at Dans le Noir? Probably, not. Not known to many, Dans le Noir is where you will be served in total darkness. Built on a concept called dark dining or blind dining, Dans le Noir will give you the unique dining experience of your life.
What makes the place even more interesting is, the dishes here are either served by blind or visually impaired staff. With no lights to see, feel your other senses come alive as they take you on a fascinating ride. Notably, a percentage of the profits help support charities in different countries.
Address: 51 Rue Quincampoix, 75004 Paris, France
Timings: 7.30 pm – 11 pm
How to reach: Subway at Rambuteau
Image credit – Atlasobscura.com
Fascinated by the list of offbeat things to do in Paris, why not take a trip now?
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