Paris's Lesser-Known Gems - Other Things to See in the City of Light

Paris is not all about the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Here are some of the attractions that might not make it into your top 10, but are still well worth making the time to visit after you arrive on your Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France

The national library cost €2 billion to build and is definitely worth a visit once you've settled in from your Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle. This huge project opened in 1995, and since then it has put on some excellent exhibitions within its four huge glass towers. Do yourself a favour and check it out while in the city.

Gare Montparnasse

A train station may not be your idea of a top tourist attraction, but the real attraction is found on the roof. Here you will find a number of things to see, including the Jardin Atlantique, a garden of over three hectares in size, which contains the Musée Jean Moulin, a small museum focusing on the German occupation during World War II. It's an interesting and tranquil space in the city, so stop by during your time here.

Pont Neuf

The oldest bridge in Paris was built in 1607 and it is well worth taking a walk over. You will see the statue of Henri IV, the king who inaugurated it, as well as figures of various characters carved into the arches (it's best to see these from a boat). It used to be a place for public exhibitions, and it has been used as the setting for numerous large art installations in the past.

Place de la Concorde

This beautiful square is one of the best in the whole of Paris. It was an important setting during the Revolution and was the place where Louis XVI was executed in 1793. In total, over 1,000 people were executed here. You can enjoy stunning views of the Arc de Triomphe from the square, as well as an Egyptian obelisk that dates back over 3,000 years.

Canal Saint-Martin

If you want to go for a peaceful stroll and see some of Paris away from the tourist crowds before taking your Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle back, take a walk along Canal St-Martin. It is over 4 km long and will take you through some traditional neighbourhoods of the city - you can also ride a bike along it.

Discover the Other Attractions of Paris

You may not see these things in the top ten of Paris, but they are certainly all well worth visiting. It is always fun to see the things other tourists tend to miss, so get away from the tourist crowds once you arrive on the Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle into Paris, and see some of the above attractions instead.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for a Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle in to Paris, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.