8 Crazy Things to Do in Paris
8 Crazy Things to Do in Paris
We love the Eiffel Tower… but we love Paris even more when it surprises us. Sure, the classics have their charm. But what really makes us tick at Les Canards de Paris is that unexpected side of Paris – the one that makes you raise an eyebrow, burst out laughing, or go “wait… this exists?!”. The side full of quirky experiences, passionate guides (sometimes a little eccentric), and stories you won’t find in a school textbook.
Because in a city with this much history, culture and hidden layers, there’s always something waiting to amaze you. So here’s our handpicked list of 8 crazy things to do in Paris that will make you see the city in an unexpected way.
1. Unexpected Paris: 500 Years of French Gossip
Tired of standard tours with dry dates and names you’ll forget in ten minutes? This one is different. Love, power, scandals and a few royal meltdowns. Follow your guide through five centuries of juicy French history, with crazy stories of love affairs, betrayals, and scandals that shook the kingdom.
Discover the man behind France’s National Day, the Sun King’s little run-in with a jealous husband, daring thefts of priceless treasures, and even the dark, chilling tales behind some of the Louvre’s most horrific paintings. Available as a private tour only for 1.5 hours of pure royal gossip.
One thing’s for sure: you’ve never seen Paris’ history told this way before.
2. Cruising Paris in a Vintage 2CV
Because sightseeing is never boring when your car looks this crazy ! Paris is often called an open-air museum – and this 2CV ride is like flipping through its most iconic pages… but in a vintage French car that makes heads turn everywhere you go.
In just two hours, you’ll zig-zag past the city’s greatest hits: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Sacré-Cœur, and more… the monuments that make Paris, well, Paris. From Haussmann’s grand boulevards to the Gothic drama of Notre Dame and the glitz of the Champs-Elysées, it’s a crash course in the city’s past and present.
But here’s what makes it special: you’re in a 2CV, that legendary little French car that’s all charm, clatter, and fun vibes. It lets you duck into hidden side streets, sneak behind the main avenues, and feel like you’re starring in your own retro movie.
It’s classic Paris sightseeing… with a crazy twist only a 2CV can deliver.
3. The Crazy Bus That Dives Into the Seine (Yes, On Purpose)
Half bus, half boat, part theatre show, and 100% fun ! Let’s be honest: a vehicle that drives around Paris and then plunges straight into the Seine? You don’t see that every day. Meet Marcel, our amphibious bus that’s part sightseeing tour, part comedy act, and part “wait, did that really just happen?”.
But it’s not just the splash in the Seine – it’s the guides on board who make this ride legendary. Are they historians, actors, or just delightfully offbeat? Hard to tell. What we know is they know Paris inside out – and know how to make you laugh while sharing its quirkiest secrets.
Between the running commentary, the street reactions as we honk and wave, and the grand finale in the water… it’s not just a tour, it’s one of the craziest things you can do in Paris.
4. Dining in the Dark
We know why you came to France. Sure, we French have a reputation for being warm and welcoming (when we’re in a good mood). But let’s be honest: you’re really here for the food. And fair enough – French cuisine has a reputation to uphold.
So how about we mess with that a little? At this restaurant, you eat in complete darkness. No candles, no soft lighting – we mean pitch black. Suddenly, every bite becomes an adventure. Flavors explode, your imagination goes wild, and you realise just how much your eyes usually boss you around at the table.
You guess, you fumble for your glass, you laugh with strangers, and you rediscover what it means to truly taste your meal. The experience is run by a warm, professional team – many of them visually impaired – who guide you through the evening with charm and good humour. One tip: avoid wearing white. You’ll thank us later.
5. The Paris Sewer Museum
Underneath the romance, a whole other city is running… It might sound a little weird – visiting the sewers of Paris. But hear us out: it’s fascinating. This is the real backstage of Europe’s densest city, and without it, the “romantic Paris” everyone dreams about wouldn’t exist.
The tour starts in a dry gallery, explaining the history of the city’s sanitation system, the unsung heroes who keep it running (eternal respect to the sewer workers), and some environmental challenges you’d never expect in the City of Light.
Then it gets real: down you go into a working part of the network, past massive pipes, flowing water, and that unmistakable “Paris underground” vibe. Not too smelly, promise. An unusual, gritty, and surprisingly cool glimpse at the city’s underbelly.
6. Exploring Père Lachaise Cemetery
7. Arsène Lupin’s Mystery at the Paris Opera House
The Palais Garnier is already spectacular. But this experience isn’t about standing in line for photos – it’s about sneaking through the opera house like a master thief on a secret mission.
The story? A bundle of forgotten documents is uncovered in the walls of the Palais. Irène Lupin calls on you to finish what her famous ancestor couldn’t: solve the riddle of Cagliostro and uncover the opera’s best-kept secrets.
You’ll roam under glittering chandeliers, past velvet curtains and mysterious corridors, hunting for clues where others see just décor. It feels part escape game, part live-action mystery, part time-travel… and 100% more exciting than a regular visit.
8. Montmartre Immersive Tour with a Cancan Dancer
Forget modern-day Paris for a moment and travel back to the 1800s, when Montmartre was a village of windmills, vineyards, wild cabarets and larger-than-life characters. Led by cancan dancers, this experience is part history, part dance lesson, and all joy.
You’ll meet La Goulue – the fearless Moulin Rouge star immortalised by Toulouse-Lautrec – and Valentin le Désossé, the legendary flexible dancer who stole the show night after night. Their stories paint a picture of Paris at its most daring, rebellious and gloriously alive.
As you wander past iconic venues like Moulin Rouge and Moulin de la Galette, you’ll discover how women rose to fame on their own terms, how Toulouse-Lautrec revolutionised art and advertising, and how the cancan became a rallying cry for freedom.
And yes, you’ll kick, twirl, and shout like a true dancer of the Belle Époque – with expert coaching and a lot of laughs along the way.
There you have it – eight ways to meet a Paris that’s funny, bold, a little bit wild, and full of stories you’ll want to tell again and again.
Whether you’re ticking off the big landmarks or hunting for something truly unique, these crazy things to do in Paris will make you see the city differently.
And if you hear loud quacks near the Seine, that’s probably us, making a splash with Marcel.