Things to do in the City Hall district of Paris

If you happen to fancy a shopping spree in Paris, you’re in the right place. A stone’s throw from City Hall, you’ll find the majestic BHV Marais, the ultimate shopping heaven. With its beautiful dome and huge picture windows, this historic store sells everything you could possibly need in day-to-day life, all under one roof. From fashionistas on the lookout for the latest trends to occasional DIYers, everyone shops at BHV Marais.

Whether you’re just passing through or can’t get enough of the City of Light, you may want to take a piece of Paris away with you! On the ground floor of the City Hall, you’ll find Paris Rendez-Vous, your best stop for a souvenir officially ‘Made in Paris’. Besides the inevitable pocket-sized Eiffel Towers and postcard stands full of typical scenes, you’ll be able to purchase exclusive creations that showcase our Parisian expertise, to place on your wall or keep in a cupboard.

To pursue your quest for treasures Made in France, head for L’Appartement Français in the **heart of the Marais district. Behind the shopfront’s beautiful wooden decor, you’ll find a 200 m² space devoted to day-to-day items that all satisfy the single requirement of being made in France. Be it for a child’s bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom or a workshop, you’ll find just what you’re looking for among the 300 independent brand available at L’Appartement Français.

Fancy a bucolic break in the heart of Paris? Cross the river Seine via Notre-Dame bridge to reach the Marché au fleurs Reine Elizabeth II. This lovely, mostly-covered market on Île de la Cité is a little nature haven. To buy a new indoor plant or just enjoy a stroll, you’ll love this charming place.

The Marais district is the Jewish neighbourhood of Paris**, home to the Shoah Memorial, a holocaust museum which opened to the public in 2005. As a remembrance site, resource centre and museum all rolled into one, the ‘Mémorial de la Shoah’ features a permanent exhibition of historic documents that retrace the story of the Jewish community in France, in particular during the Second World War.

There are also a few remembrance sites outside the museum, such as the impressive Wall of Names engraved with the identities of the 76,000 Jews deported from France by the Nazis, and the Wall of the Righteous, which pays homage to the women and men who helped save the lives of Jews living in France during the Second World War.

If you’re in the City Hall area and wondering where to find the Pompidou Centre, just look out for some gigantic coloured pipes. Designed in 1977, this odd-looking museum never fails to fascinate by its metal-and-glass façades decorated with multicoloured tubes. Boasting one of the world’s largest collections, the Pompidou Centre is the place to be for fans of modern and contemporary art of every form. Take time out to enjoy lunch on the Piazza while gazing in awe at this wonderful oddity of the Paris landscape.

The ‘Maison Européenne de la Photographie’ has occupied Cantobre’s beautiful private mansion since 1996. Through a cultural programme of temporary exhibitions only, this museum honours the likes of Martin Parr, Helmut Newton, Larry Clark and other great names from the world of contemporary photography. In addition to this world-famous collection, the European House of Photography also holds in its library Europe’s most significant collection of photography books and periodicals. This library, along with the tours for children and teenagers, also reflects an ambition to make this museum a meeting place accessible to all.

300 steps, 54 metres in height… In the heart of the Marais district, a stone’s throw from the City Hall, stands a tower offering some of the best views over Paris, the ‘Tour Saint-Jacques’. This impressive church tower stands alone, a true architectural curiosity surrounded by Haussmannian buildings. As the sole vestige of the 16th-century church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, it has stood up to the test of time, having been used as a shot tower in the 19th century before it became a tourist attraction. Climb to the top to gaze down at the treetops, unless you prefer to just visit the gardens that surround the tower.

On a par with the Eiffel Tower, this must-see attraction is something of a survivor on Île de la Cité. Great artists have taken inspiration from the cathedral’s impressive Gothic architecture, its gargoyles and its sublime rose window, which have constantly sparked the public imagination. Despite closing to the public after the tragic fire of 2019, the cathedral continues to delight visitors through a free exhibition entitled ‘Notre-Dame de Paris: At the heart of the construction site’. A moving visit about the rebirth of the cathedral and the women and men behind this celebrated initiative.

If the stained-glass windows of Notre-Dame weren’t enough to move you, prepare to be totally dazzled by those of the ‘Sainte-Chapelle’. This Gothic jewel offers a feast for the eyes with its sumptuous stained-glass features. Step inside this architectural gem flooded with light, for an almost sacred experience.

Are you a fan of Paris Plage? In keeping with the atmosphere and those little joys of summer, head for Les Maquereaux! Moored to the Seine riverbank, this floating restaurant promises a very pleasant evening, glass of rosé in hand, seafood in the plate and your gaze fixed on the Île Saint-Louis. With a fish and shellfish menu like this, exalted by Brazilian chef Alexandre Furtado, why go on holiday when you can enjoy seafood here on the Seine?

Any season is the right season for enjoying the delicious ice cream from Maison Berthillon. On Île Saint-Louis, the famous Parisian ice cream makers established since 1954 continue to produce their frozen delights with a respect for tradition and produce that is reflected in their fabulous taste. This family institution offers a wide variety of colours and flavours for every occasion, from the traditional vanilla ice-cream cone to frozen desserts to take home. A deliciously refreshing experience waiting to be enjoyed at any time of day.

Want to round off your day here in style? Head for the ‘Théâtre du Châtelet’, make yourself comfortable in one of the 2,000 velvet seats and prepare to enjoy a unique show. Built in 1862, the Châtelet Theatre hosts musicals, operas, dance shows, modern or classical music performances and other creations from around the world. Beneath the dome of its majestic Italian-style auditorium, you’ll experience something truly unique.