Your first stop needs little introduction;\u00a0the\u00a0P\u00e8re Lachaise\u00a0cemetery\u00a0houses the graves of many famous people,\u00a0including\u00a0Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, \u00c9dith Piaf and Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Chopin,\u00a0as\u00a0well as\u00a0Moli\u00e8re, Marcel\u00a0Proust\u00a0and\u00a0Sarah Bernhardt. Free maps are distributed at the entrance, or you can\u00a0just follow your nose \u2013\u00a0the pungent smell of incense will lead you\u00a0to\u00a0Morrison\u2019s grave\u00a0more effectively\u00a0than\u00a0any\u00a0paper map\u00a0could.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Pere-Lachaise_-_entree_principale_01-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo: Wikimedia Commons \u00a9<\/p>\n
Whether or not you were given\u00a0a free\u00a0cemetery map,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0worth a five-minute wander up the hill to\u00a0the\u00a0shop that created them once\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0had your fill of gravestones.\u00a0Maison du 20e\u00a0shop\u00a0on 46 rue\u00a0Sorbier\u00a0is\u00a0a community-shop-cum-local-tourist-office\u00a0is an example of how\u00a0larger\u00a0tourism\u00a0hubs\u00a0turn\u00a0away from central Paris\u00a0and\u00a0put in their faith the hands of true locals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since\u00a02025,\u00a0Maison du 20e\u00a0has been an official tourist information spot,\u00a0boasting\u00a0knowledgeable\u00a0staff and loads of\u00a0intel\u00a0about the neighbourhood.\u00a0Top tip:\u00a0Make for the\u00a0glossy folder\u00a0on the table in front of the till, which lists\u00a0events,\u00a0restaurants, and points of interest\u00a0in the 20th \u2013\u00a0incontournable!\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Maison-du-20e-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo: Paris Je T\u2019Aime \u00a9<\/p>\n
One of the recommendations in that very folder\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0your\u00a0lunch stop.\u00a0The 20th\u00a0may be\u00a0cool, but there\u2019s always space for tradition in Paris.\u00a0\u00a0The\u00a0Chantefable on 93\u00a0av\u00a0Gambetta started as a tavern for storytellers and singers at the end of the 18th\u00a0century, but has thrived for decades as a classic bistro, serving up lighter lunches like\u00a0eggs mayonnaise\u00a0and salad,\u00a0likely\u00a0washed\u00a0down with a glass of crisp Chablis.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Afternoon\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n After lunch,\u00a0nip to Le French Way on 18 rue\u00a0Soleillet to hire a\u00a0Solex.\u00a0Once\u00a0the\u00a0method of transport favoured by movie stars such as Steve McQueen, Brigitte\u00a0Bardot\u00a0and Catherine Deneuve,\u00a0Solex\u00a0bikes were originally powered by petrol. <\/p>\n These\u00a0have had a green-power overhaul while\u00a0maintaining\u00a0their cute retro looks, and they\u00a0sit somewhere between a moped and an e-bike; powerful enough that you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have to pedal, but small,\u00a0silent\u00a0and sustainable like an e-bike. You just press a button on the right\u00a0handlebar, and you zoom off.\u00a0You can either join\u00a0one of Le French Way\u2019s\u00a0guided tours\u00a0or take to the cycle lanes of Paris alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n Evening\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n The last stop of the day,\u00a0Arkose\u00a0Nation, 35 rue des Grands Champs,\u00a0is perfect if you still have a bit of fuel in the tank.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0an indoor climbing\u00a0gym\u00a0that is built in an old\u00a0upholstery factory\u00a0and open to everyone. All you need is some loose clothing and a tight grip; the vibe is young,\u00a0inclusive\u00a0and welcoming. Its restaurant \u2013 La Cantine \u2013 is equally inspiring, whether\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0climbing or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n With\u00a0an informal and youthful vibe, its commitment to sustainability has earned it\u00a0two\u00a0\u00c9cotable\u00a0macarons, one of the most demanding labels\u00a0in sustainable dining.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n DAY 2\u00a0<\/p>\n Morning\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n The second day starts with grabbing a couple of freebies.\u00a0Start\u00a0early with a takeaway cafe and croissant while you admire the art on display\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Espace Monte Cristo sculpture garden.\u00a0There\u2019s\u00a0an exhibition dedicated to female\u00a0sculptors\u00a0that will continue until the rest of the year, and includes big names like\u00a0Miss Tic\u00a0and Niki de Saint-Phalle.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Next, walk to Le Paysan Urbain on 14 rue Stendhal, an urban farm built on a reservoir the size of four Olympic swimming pools.\u00a0The farm team\u00a0grows micro greens and edible flowers, including radish, green pea,\u00a0rocket, sunflower, nasturtium\u00a0and\u00a0lemon balm, supplying 25\u00a0of\u00a0the city\u2019s top restaurants\u00a0\u2013 including the Eiffel Tower!\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0also a social project giving work to vulnerable local people, and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0great to wander the plot and\u00a0chat to the team.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Okay, your stomach\u2019s\u00a0probably howling by now, so it\u2019s time to savour\u00a0a meal that is peaking in popularity in Paris\u00a0at the moment.\u00a0Le\u00a0brunch. And\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0nowhere better to do it than\u00a0at Benoit Castel\u2019s caf\u00e9 in the 20th on 150 Rue de\u00a0M\u00e9nilmontant.\u00a0The all-you-can-eat menu includes\u00a0all the\u00a0pasties\u00a0and breads\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0expect, but also home-roasted chicken, seasonal vegetables, pizzas, quiches,\u00a0salads\u00a0and charcuterie.\u00a0<\/p>\n Castel is a zero-waste\u00a0baker and pastry chef\u00a0who is fastidious about his ingredients and his processes.\u00a0His\u00a0Pain\u00a0d\u2019Hier\u00a0et de Demain\u00a0\u2013 Yesterday and Tomorrow\u2019s Bread \u2013\u00a0is a case in point.<\/p>\n It\u2019s\u00a0made\u00a0using\u00a0the previous day\u2019s unsold bread,\u00a0a time-consuming process which results in a rich and crusty no-waste loaf. If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0lucky,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0see him\u00a0pulling fresh loaf after fresh loaf out of his huge oven on\u00a0a long-handled\u00a0pole while you\u00a0dine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Afternoon\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n You may not want to leave the warmth of Castel\u2019s\u00a0caf\u00e9, but you\u00a0have to\u00a0move on\u00a0sometime.\u00a0Take a walk back in time to a\u00a0residential\u00a0Paris\u00a0area you\u2019re\u00a0unlikely to have seen before.\u00a0Granted, it means leaving the 20th\u00a0for a short while, but the\u00a0Mouzaia\u00a0district\u00a0is\u00a0well worth the\u00a0slight\u00a0diversion.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a world apart from the wide boulevards, Haussmann architecture and hubbub of the centre; its\u00a0peaceful\u00a0cobbled streets\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0follow the\u00a0Parisian\u00a0grid\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0used to, and each\u00a0small\u00a0shuttered\u00a0house, built for the working class of the 1800s, has its\u00a0own\u00a0colourful\u00a0garden.\u00a0Wander the quiet streets and stick your nose in\u00a0the area\u2019s\u00a0artist workshops, small galleries,\u00a0bakeries\u00a0and cafes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Evening\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Finish your walk in the neighbouring Parc des Buttes Chaumont\u00a0and take advantage of the panoramic sunset view over Paris from Temple de la Sybille\u00a0before returning to the heart of the 20th\u00a0for a final foodie fling.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n La Maison\u00a0Faitout on 1 rue Florian seems to epitomise\u00a0the spirit of the 20th arrondissement.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a gourmet canteen whose terrace and garden overlook la Petite Ceinture, a disused railway from the mid 1800s which now acts as a green belt around the city.\u00a0The venue puts on live music, DJ sets, and comedy, and the\u00a0foodie\u00a0focus is on seasonal produce and braising as a healthier way of cooking; the savoury\u00a0tart, pork belly and squid are all highly recommended.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Although the 20th\u00a0arrondissement\u00a0is not one of Paris\u2019 top destinations for first-time visitors, it holds a timeless draw in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":945592,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[2000,299,36],"class_list":{"0":"post-945591","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-eu","9":"tag-europe","10":"tag-france"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116537828995056652","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/945591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=945591"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/945591\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/945592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=945591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=945591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=945591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Solex-ride-1-769x1024.jpg\")
Photo: Rachel Ifans<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-04-28-at-11.28.37-1-1024x771.png\")
Photo: Paris Je T\u2019Aime \u00a9<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/urban-farm-2-1-1024x577.jpg\")
Photo: Paris Je T\u2019Aime \u00a9<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Benoit-Castel-3-768x1024.jpg\")
Photo: Rachel Ifans \u00a9<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Parc_des_Buttes_Chaumont_Sep_2012-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo: Wikimedia Commons \u00a9<\/p>\n