Discover Paris in a new way via unusual tours and visits

When you spend a few days at the Hotel Sophie Germain you’ll have the chance to discover Paris in a new light. When you think of the City of Light you probably imagine visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysées, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge, the Louvre Museum District and the Latin Quarter. These are all essential places to visit, of course, but there are also many more locations in the city which are undeservedly overlooked. Your team at the Hotel Sophie Germain has a finger on the pulse of the city; we know Paris well and so invite you to discover the unusual and sometimes hidden treasures of the capital, such as the futuristic portico of the Ministry of Finance, palisades of flowers, tunnels of greenery, tapered steel bridges and the Palais du Cinema.

Distinctly unusual tours in the capital

There are some distinctly unusual tours to be enjoyed in the capital. For example, you can climb aboard a Citroen 2CV to discover the charms of Paris and the Ile de France region in a unique and memorable way. In this delightfully retro form of transport you can be taken on themed routes with a knowledgeable driver acting as your guide.

The National Library of France also deserves a visit. Four magnificent towers in the shape of open books frame the garden and provide a home for the thousands of books and multimedia materials collected therein. It’s a fascinating place.

No stay at the Hotel Sophie Germain would be complete without a visit to the Cité de la Mode et du Design to admire its flowing structure, terrace lawn and metal and glass structural elements. There’s exhibition spaces, designer show rooms, restaurants and a bar. Temporary exhibitions include items from the Musée Galliera.

We have no doubt that the city’s oldest aquarium will captivate you. The Tropical Aquarium of la Porte Dorée boasts an extensive collection of aquatic fauna from exotic parts of the world.

If you want to dive into French history, then you need to get to the Château de Vincennes, one of the largest and best preserved castles in Europe. A royal residence between the 12th and 18th centuries, its enclosure, medieval towers, mighty keep and Sainte-Chapelle Gothic chapel will impress you.

Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Viaduc des Arts where over 50 artisans offer their refined and elegant creations, including unique jewellery, floral arrangements, antique dolls, theatrical items, contemporary furniture and painted porcelain.

If you love nature, you simply have to see the Promenade Plantée, a fabulous linear park and walking route created in 1988. This former railway line and elevated viaduct is a ribbon of greenery connecting the Place de la Bastille and the Varenne-Saint-Maur.

Finally, the Parc Floral de Paris, located in the Bois de Vincennes, is a beautiful green space for both relaxation and activities with all the family.

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For more information on these unusual visits, the Tourist Office Paris can help or see below:
• Paris Authentic
• Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France)
• Cité de la Mode et du Design (City of fashion and design)
• Tropical Aquarium at Palais de la Porte Dorée
• Vincennes Castle
• Viaduc des arts (Viaduct of Arts)
• Promenade plantée (Planted promenade)
• Paris Floral park at Vincennes (floral Park)

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Picture Viaduct of Arts - Gallery copyright holder: Tourist Office Paris - Photographer Marc Verhille

Hotel Sophie Germain, a charming 3* hotel on the left bank of Paris