At Paris Secret, we like to tell you about the capital’s hidden spots. But we’re not forgetting Paris’s inner suburbs. Whether in Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne or Seine-Saint-Denis, there’s so much to see and do! Here are our favorite things to do just outside Paris.
Haut-de-Seine and its jewels
Dream of the Domaine de Sceaux, its château and immense park
If the Domaine de Sceaux is a feast for the eyes, it’s even more so in spring. Come and enjoy the park and its cherry blossoms from March to April. It’s the perfect opportunity to organize a picnic under the trees and enjoy a bit of nature.
📍Location: 8 Avenue Claude Perrault, 92330 Sceaux
Stroll through the Issy-les-Moulineaux gourmet market
Gourmets beware! A superb 1,000-square-meter food market has opened in Issy-les-Moulineaux. With a focus on crafts and food, you’ll find fresh, quality products! And if shopping has whetted your appetite, you’ll be able to take advantage of the tempting menus offered by the on-site restaurateurs: Lebanese, Mexican…
📍Location: 1, rue Rouget de Lisle, Issy-les-Moulineaux
Walk your pooch on the Ile de la Jatte in Levallois-Perret
This pretty island between Neuilly-sur-Seine and Levallois-Perret has inspired many great artists. Monet, Seurat, Van Gogh and Sisley painted some of their finest pictures here. On weekdays or weekends, you can take a stroll with the family or your pooch, go for a run or have a picnic. A charming place to discover!
📍Location: 4 boulevard du Parc 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Take in the sights at Hangar Y, the huge cultural venue in Meudon
Located in the heart of a 9-hectare park in Meudon, Hangar Y is a huge cultural venue not to be missed on your next getaway. Discover 3,500 m² of exhibition space in this large glass hall combining art, technical sciences and nature.
📍Location: 9 Av. de Trivaux, 92190 Meudon
Enjoy the very first Top Chef Bistrot in Suresnes
You may not have known it, but there’s a Top Chef bistro just outside Paris! You’ll find it in Suresnes! The décor is perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the show, and will almost make you want to get in the kitchen. You’ll be able to savor dishes featuring seasonal vegetables imagined by the chefs who have punctuated the show’s seasons. And believe us, it’s delicious!
📍Location: 29 Quai Gallieni, 92150 Suresnes
Stroll through the Parc des impressionnistes in Rueil-Malmaison
Facing the Ile des Impressionnistes, this small park in Rueil-Malmaison offers a haven of peace just a stone’s throw from the capital. Here, the gardeners have taken their inspiration from the pastel colors found on the palette of the Impressionist painters. In spring, wisteria, daffodils and other seasonal flowers spread their fragrance.
📍Location: allée Jacques Prévert, 92500 Rueil Malmaison
Visit the astonishing Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur church
This church, built from reinforced concrete, is simply astonishing. Listed as a historical monument, it stands out for its singular, resolutely modern architectural style. Inside, the vibrantly colored stained glass windows add warmth to the setting.
📍Location: 39 Rue Gabriel Péri, 92120 Montrouge
Take a ride on a vintage train in Gennevilliers
Nestled between Villeneuve-la-Garenne and Gennevilliers, the Chanteraines park is one of the most pleasant in the 92 region. But did you know that it hides an unusual activity for the whole family? A genuine vintage train runs through the park, offering an incomparable rural ride! A great family activity!
Wonder at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud during a luminous stroll
Every year at the end of the year, the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud lights up with a thousand lights during its Lumières en Seine festival. A sparkling stroll that’s a must for families and friends alike.
📍Location: 1 Av. de la Grille d’Honneur, 92210 Saint-Cloud
Have a good time at Halle Flachat in Asnières-sur-Seine
This historic venue was given a new lease of life in 2023, becoming Asnières-sur-Seine’s most festive venue. Come and enjoy the 750 square-meter sunny terraces, where you’ll find a charming Mediterranean-style food corner.
📍Location: 14, rue Henri Martin, Asnières-sur-Seine
Seine-St-Denis and its nuggets
Photograph Noisy-le-Grand and its unique architecture
Les Arènes de Picasso looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. And with good reason! This immense residential complex, comprising several buildings, has inspired filmmakers and singers from all over the world. An architectural curiosity not to be missed!
📍Location: 6 Pl. Pablo Picasso, 93160 Noisy-le-Grand
Admire the sublime Basilica of Saint-Denis
A masterpiece of Gothic art and a landmark of French heritage, the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis, over 250 years old, is one of the region’s jewels not to be missed.
📍Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 93200 Saint-Denis
Devour the first parsnip kebab in Bondy
Do you like kebabs? What if we told you there was a breaded and crispy version in Bondy? An irresistible culinary curiosity that we recommend to all gourmets and the curious!
📍Location: 108, avenue Gallieni – Bondy
Spend an afternoon in the largest food court in the Paris region
Nestled in Saint-Ouen, this 7,500-square-meter gourmet hall is a veritable paradise on earth for all food lovers. Open every day from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m., you’ll find some 30 street food brands, a food market, foodtrucks, and even organic stores featuring local produce, etc.
📍Location: 10 bis Rue de l’Hippodrome, 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France
Chillez at the guinguette des Grandes Serres de Pantin in fine weather
Guinguettes are always a good idea when it comes to enjoying the sunshine. And that’s just as well, because in Pantin, there’s a place to bring everyone together. This multicultural, green, friendly and festive place is going to be your new favorite HQ.
📍Location: 1 Rue du Cheval Blanc, 93500 Pantin
Travel to the Hindu temple in La Courneuve
Who’d have thought there was a real Hindu temple hidden away in this Ile-de-France commune? Dedicated to the god Shiva, this sublime edifice will astonish you with its vibrant colors and singular pyramid shape. Whether you’re a believer or not, this spiritual place is open to all.
📍Location: Temple Sivan Parvathi, 159, avenue Paul-Vaillant-Couturier, La Courneuve (Seine-Saint-Denis)
China at the Saint-Ouen flea market
If you love bargains in Paris, we can’t recommend the Saint-Ouen flea market enough. Located near Porte de Clignancourt, the various Saint-Ouen flea markets bring together nearly 2,000 traders over 7 hectares. You’ll find literally everything: furniture, clothes, antiques, books…
📍Location: Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen
Party at Bobigny’s Prairie du Canal
It’s THE place to be for all open-air fans! Every year in April, La Prairie du Canal, located not far from the Canal de l’Ourcq, thrills you with its musical events. Get ready to tap your feet late into the night!
📍Location: 55, rue de Paris, 93000 Bobigny
Explore Pré-Saint-Gervais, the smallest commune in the IDF
For a picturesque getaway, we recommend a visit to Pré-Saint-Gervais, one of the most charming spots in Seine-Saint-Denis. A bucolic haven of peace at the gateway to Paris, ideal for a rejuvenating stroll.
Val-de-Marne and its treasures
Marvel at the Fragonard Museum at Maisons-Alfort Veterinary School
The Maisons-Alfort Veterinary School is home to a unique museum. The Fragonard Museum houses the medical and veterinary discoveries and experiments of Honoré Fragonard. A museum over 250 years old, halfway between an educational space and a cabinet of curiosities.
📍Location: 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94700 Maisons-Alfort
Find nuggets in the first store to sell abandoned parcels
In Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, you’ll find an astonishing store offering unclaimed parcels for sale. How does it work? You choose a forgotten or unclaimed parcel and discover whether you’ve unearthed a nugget or not…
📍Location: 5, boulevard de Créteil – Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Marvel at the Château de Vincennes
At the gateway to Paris stands the fabulous Château de Vincennes, an impressive historic site that was home to kings for three centuries. Built around 1178 not far from the forest, it was here that Charles V, Charles VI and Charles VII lived. King Louis XIV also lived here before building his own palace at Versailles. A sublime place to visit at least once!
📍Location: Avenue de Paris 94300 Vincennes
Pick fresh fruit and vegetables at Les Vergers de Champlain
Specializing in apples and pears since 1982, Les Vergers de Champlain offers a whole range of fruits and vegetables: radishes, carrots, onions, zucchinis, wedges… A great family activity.
📍Location: RN4 La Croix Saint-Nicolas 94510 – La Queue en Brie
Discover the world’s oldest rose garden near Paris
Who would have thought that a veritable Garden of Eden existed just outside Paris? Visit the Roseraie du Val-de-Marne in L’Haÿ-les-Roses, the oldest in the world (and cocorico, it’s on our doorstep!). This exceptional site is home to almost 3,000 different varieties of roses : a paradise for all flower lovers.
📍 Location: Rue Albert Watel, 94240 L’Haÿ-les-Roses
Discover the most peaceful hike on the outskirts of Paris
Escape the hustle and bustle of Paris with this 10-kilometer loop around Sucy-en-Brie and the Parc du Morbras. This universally accessible route plunges you into a comforting tranquillity, alternating between urban areas and green spaces for around 2 hours 30 minutes.
📍 Location: Departure and arrival at Sucy-Bonneuil station.
Glide down the slopes without leaving Paris thanks to this unusual ski simulator
Yes, it’s possible to enjoy winter sports just outside Paris! Crazy Park in Bonneuil-sur-Marne is the only leisure complex in the Paris region to house an indoor ski simulator. Supervised by qualified instructors, you can learn to ski at your own pace and experience (almost) the same sensations as on the snowy slopes.
📍 Location: 5, route de l’Ouest, Bonneuil-sur-Marne