5 Unexpected Things to Do in Paris and 3 Hidden Gems in France with Paige McClanahan

Jul 29, 2025

Join journalist Paige McClanahan, author of The New Tourist, as she shares her insider knowledge from seven years in France. Discover five unexpected experiences in Paris, like the serene charm of a lesser-known park and the cultural immersion found in a hammam near the Grand Mosque. Learn why simple greetings can enhance your journey and how curiosity can lead to revolutionary history. Paige also highlights offbeat French gems, including the enchanting coastal city of La Rochelle, urging travelers to explore beyond the usual tourist paths.

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ADVICE

Say Bonjour and Au Revoir

Always say "bonjour" and "au revoir" when entering and leaving shops or cafes in Paris.
This simple gesture shows respect and significantly improves your interactions with locals.

ANECDOTE

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont Escape

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a secret, natural oasis in northeast Paris rarely visited by tourists.
Locals enjoy its wild landscape, a gay bar with city views, and a genuine Parisian atmosphere.

ANECDOTE

Hammam at Grand Mosque

The Grand Mosque of Paris hosts a beautiful hammam offering North African cultural experiences.
The hammam is women-only and includes treatments like massages and body scrubs, making it an indulgent cultural escape.

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What does it really mean to get beyond the clichés in Paris?

Paige McClanahan is a journalist and author of The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel. She’s spent years reporting for The New York Times and has lived in France for seven years. Her work explores tourism’s power to shape communities and how we can all travel more consciously.

In this episode, Paige shares five unexpected and meaningful things to do in Paris that you’re not likely to find in a guidebook. We also talk about three offbeat places in France that are worth exploring if you want to go beyond the usual stops.

You’ll learn how small things like saying “bonjour” can shift your whole experience, and how curiosity can lead you into everything from revolutionary history to North African hammams to street art scavenger hunts. Paige brings that perfect mix of local insight and traveler perspective that makes these suggestions feel not just interesting, but personal and lived-in.

What are the most unexpected places you’ve discovered while traveling, and what made them stand out to you? I’d love to hear about them, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

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