A quiet side of Paris: discover the city in a different way this summer.

Paris has two faces. The bustling one most visitors know: queues, crowded terraces, packed metros at rush hour. And a more secret one, which belongs only to those who know where and when to look for silence. In the warmer months, when the capital empties of part of its residents, this second face resurfaces. This is the Paris we invite you to discover: slower, more intimate, and just as unforgettable!

Summer in Paris: the paradox of rediscovered calm

When the Parisians leave, the city reveals another soul

Every year, between July and August, a good share of Parisians leave the capital for their holidays. The result: traffic eases, queues get shorter, and entire neighbourhoods regain a tranquillity they don't have the rest of the year. This is when Paris stops being only a destination and becomes a place to live that you can explore at your own pace, without being carried along by the crowd.

A calmer Paris, ideal for travellers seeking serenity

For travellers who feel a real thirst for silence after a busy year, the summer period is a godsend. Away from the usual hustle, you can stroll through a garden without being jostled, linger in front of an artwork without being pushed along by the next queue, or simply sit on a terrace and watch the city live at a gentler tempo. Stripped of its bustle, Paris reveals a more discreet, almost confidential elegance.

Slow travel in Paris: a fast-growing trend

Slow travel (this way of travelling by taking your time rather than ticking boxes on a list) is gaining ground, and Paris lends itself to it remarkably well. Instead of racing through the must-see monuments, more and more visitors choose to settle into one neighbourhood, get to know it, and let a bit of chance guide their days. It is another way of loving the capital, more sustainable and often more memorable.

Paris neighbourhoods to explore away from the crowds

The 9th arrondissement in slow motion: rue des Martyrs, place de la Trinité

The 9th arrondissement, home to Hôtel Opéra Liège, is a perfect example of this preserved Paris. Rue des Martyrs, with its food shops and typical façades, can be walked in summer at an almost village-like pace. A little further on, place de la Trinité, overlooked by its Neo-Renaissance church, offers an island of calm just minutes from the grands boulevards. It is a Paris of proximity, discovered by walking without a set route.

The Palais Royal and its galleries, an oasis of calm in the heart of Paris

A stone's throw from the Louvre and yet worlds away from its bustle, the gardens and galleries of the Palais Royal are among the most underrated magical places in the capital. You are more likely to meet locals reading in the shade of the lime trees than groups of tourists. Not far away, in the Marais, place des Vosges deserves the same detour: its arcades and central square offer a moment to breathe in an otherwise very busy neighbourhood.

The covered passages: Jouffroy, Verdeau… timeless Paris

Passages Jouffroy and Verdeau, linked to each other near the Grands Boulevards, instantly transport you to 19th-century Paris. Glass roofs, antique shops, bookshops and discreet cafés: you move slowly, sheltered from the noise of the street, in a timeless atmosphere that contrasts with the surrounding agitation.

Gardens and green spaces to recharge

Parc Monceau: aristocratic and serene, a stone's throw from the 9th

A few minutes' walk from the 9th arrondissement, Parc Monceau charms with its elegant look and shaded paths. Ancient-style colonnades, ponds and well-kept lawns make it a refuge appreciated by locals, particularly peaceful outside weekends. It is the ideal spot for a reading break or a morning walk before starting the day.

The Coulée Verte René-Dumont: an elevated walk away from the cars

A forerunner of New York's famous High Line, the Coulée Verte René-Dumont winds along former railway tracks, several metres above the streets of the 12th arrondissement. This suspended walkway, lined with rose bushes and bamboo, lets you cross part of Paris without ever meeting a car, in a calm that is almost surprising for a major capital.

The garden of the Musée de la Vie Romantique: rose garden and silence

Tucked away in the 9th arrondissement, the garden of the Musée de la Vie Romantique is probably one of the best-kept secrets in Paris. Its rose garden and cobbled courtyard, shaded by tall trees, form a true hidden terrace in the heart of the city, a perfect place to have tea in silence, only a few streets from place Pigalle.

Culture without the crowds: the best times to visit

Visiting the Sainte-Chapelle at opening time: no waiting

To admire the stained-glass windows of the Sainte-Chapelle without the queue that usually stretches across the Île de la Cité, it is best to arrive as soon as it opens. The first light of morning passing through the coloured glass also makes for an even more striking sight than the one you find in the middle of the day, surrounded by dozens of visitors.

Museums open late: fewer people, softer light

Many of the major Parisian museums, including the Musée d'Orsay, offer weekly late openings. It is the ideal time to contemplate Impressionist paintings in a more hushed atmosphere, with markedly fewer visitors than at peak hours. The evening light, filtered through the great clock of the former railway station, adds a special atmosphere to the visit.

Père Lachaise cemetery: a historic and silent walk

Among Parisian cemeteries, Père Lachaise holds a place of its own. Its cobbled paths, lined with monumental tombs and centuries-old trees, make it a place for walking as much as a site of remembrance. You stroll slowly, guided by silence and history, in search of the graves of figures who left their mark on the arts and culture.

The simple pleasures of a serene Paris

Morning coffee in a non-touristy bistro in the 9th

Nothing beats a coffee taken early in the morning in a neighbourhood bistro, far from the addresses listed in every guidebook. In the 9th arrondissement, you only need to step away from the main roads to find these places where the service is still friendly and where you can watch the neighbourhood wake up quietly.

Bouquinistes along the Seine, without the summer crush

In summer, the banks of the Seine are calmer than the rest of the year, which makes browsing at the bouquinistes (the riverside booksellers) particularly pleasant. You can take your time leafing through old books, antique prints or postcards, without being jostled by the usual flow of passers-by.

Neighbourhood cinema or open-air film

The independent cinemas of the 9th arrondissement, often overlooked in favour of the big multiplexes, offer quiet screenings in every season. In the warmer months, open-air screenings organised in some Parisian parks, sometimes as far as the parc de la Villette, add a friendly, relaxed dimension to the experience of cinema in the city.

Where to stay to experience a quiet Paris?

To make the most of this calmer Paris, the location of your accommodation makes all the difference.

Set in the heart of the 9th arrondissement, Hôtel Opéra Liège puts you within walking distance of rue des Martyrs, Parc Monceau, the Musée de la Vie Romantique and the major Parisian museums, while staying away from the bustle of the most touristy areas. It is the ideal starting point for exploring, at your own pace, all the magical places Paris keeps for those who take the time to look for them.