Find the small park at the western tip of Île de la Cité, tucked below street level behind the Pont Neuf. Bring a book or just sit on the benches overlooking the Seine.

Stroll along Rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Île, the main street lined with artisan shops and cafés. Step into the Berthillon ice cream shop for a summer treat.

Wander through the formal French garden and the alpine garden with its hidden grotto. The oldest public garden in Paris, established in 1626, it has a quiet corner near the cedar tree planted in 1734.

Tucked away at 11 Rue Saint-Paul in the Marais, this quirky museum of magic and mechanical automata is easy to miss. Look for the green facade and ring the bell to enter the basement vault filled with optical illusions and antique trick devices.

Book the guided English tour to access areas not open to general admission, including the kitchen courtyard and original prison cells. Arrive by 1pm to avoid the afternoon queue on Boulevard du Palais.

Browse this open-air market on Avenue de Saxe below the Eiffel Tower for fresh produce, cheeses, and flowers. Arrive by 9am for the best selection and grab a fresh crêpe from a vendor near the center aisle.

Head to the southwest corner near the Medici Fountain for quieter benches away from the main pond crowds. Check the orchard area for beehives and the model sailboat pond near the central octagon.

Wander the narrow streets off Rue de Buci and Rue de Seine for independent bookshops and vintage galleries. Duck into Passage de la Petite Boucherie (a hidden covered passage) and look for the mosaic facade at 16 Rue de Buci.

Arrive before 11am to avoid the worst crowds. Climb the front stairs for the panoramic view but skip the dome queue unless you want an even higher vista. No photos allowed inside.

Skip the Place du Tertre tourist gauntlet. Instead wander Rue des Abbesses, Rue Lepic, and the vineyard at Clos Montmartre. Find the tiny park Square Suzanne Buisson for a quiet bench with a view.