Jardins du Palais next to the Louvre. Photo: Ernest

Looking for new ways to enjoy Paris? Perhaps it’s your second or third visit, and you just want to do something a bit different this time. Or maybe it’s your first visit, but you just want to avoid the throngs of tourists lined up around popular sites like the Louvre, Notre Dame, and Eiffel Tower.

Whatever the reason, once you’ve booked your cute and affordable hotel, it’s time to think about ways to really explore the city. Each of Paris’s 20 arrondissements has attractions, museums, and gardens that are too often overlooked.

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• How to beat the crowds at Paris’ top attractions
• 7 Favorite day trips and overnight getaways near Paris

20 Overlooked attractions in Paris

Here’s a list to keep handy by arrondissement when you’re looking for an escape from the crowds.

1st: Jardins du Palais

Place du Palais Royal, 75001

Far from hidden, this garden surrounded by arcades and shops is never as busy as the adjacent Louvre. Jardins du Palais is a calm spot, best enjoyed with a coffee from the Kitsuné Café housed under the arcades.

Accommodations: The best cheap hotels in the 1st arrondissement

2nd: Les Passages Couverts

5 Rue de la Banque and 2 Rue Vivienne, 75002

Again, this is central Paris, and far from off the beaten path, but the Galeries Vivienne and Colbert are two of the most striking covered passages to check amble through. There are other covered passages just north, around the Bourse, if you are adventurous enough to hunt them down.

A food stand specializing in sandwiches at Marché des Enfants Rouges. Photo: Craig Nelson

3rd: Marché des Enfants Rouges

39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003

Everyone raves about this market and its rows of food stalls. It’s not gourmet fare at Marché des Enfants Rouges, but there’s a reason everyone lines up for crepes at Chez Alain Miam Miam. Expect crowds, as it’s become less of a secret in recent years.

Related: Tips for shopping at outdoor markets in Paris

4th: Pavillon de l’Arsenal

21 Boulevard Morland, 75004

This heavily renovated artillery warehouse is now home to interactive exhibits about the history of Parisian architecture, perfect for any geek. The location, near the river and away from the bustle of the Marais, means it doesn’t get the foot traffic it deserves.

5th: Arènes de Lutèce

49 Rue Monge, 75005

The perfect place for a picnic away from the crowds, the ruins of this Roman arena are also equipped with free Wi-Fi, just as the Romans intended. Soccer and pétanque matches make for good entertainment. Exploring ruins is just one of our favorite 25 free things to see and do in Paris.

6th: St. Sulpice

2 Rue Palatine, 75006

You’d think all of Dan Brown’s novels would have turned the massive and lovely Eglise St. Sulpice into an equally massive tourist attraction, but crowds are unusually thin (they’re probably queuing instead at nearby Pierre Hermé for macarons).

7th: Musée de l’Armée

129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007

While it dominates the skyline of the 7th arrondissement (besides that tower thing), few tourists seem to know what the inside of this former military hospital turned museum looks like. Once inside the Musee de l’Armée, be sure to visit Napoléon’s tomb — as if you could ever miss it.

Accommodations: Our favorite cheap hotels near the Eiffel Tower

8th: Chapelle Expiatoire

29 Rue Pasquier, 75008

This tiny little chapel in the 8th honors Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, whose bodies were dumped in a communal pit located here during the Revolution. Yes, it’s kind of creepy.

9th: Musée de la Vie Romantique

16 Rue Chaptal, 75009

An homage to author George Sand, among other artists and sculptors, the tiny little Musee de la Vie Romantique is tucked away in the 9th arrondissement. It’s not exactly a blockbuster museum, but it’s cute… and free!

10th: Maison de l’Architecture

148 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 75010

Part former convent, part former military hospital, this exhibit hall is perfect for either 1) fans of architecture or 2) anyone looking for a lovely courtyard café where they can bask in the summer sun in lounge chairs.

11th: Musée d’Edith Piaf

5 Rue Crespin du Gast, 75011

An appointment is needed to visit this rarely visited museum dedicated to one of France’s most iconic singers. Edith Piaf lived here for a while early in her career, and the museum offers super-fans a glimpse into her private life. (Did we mention it’s free?)

Promenade Plantée is a 2.9 mile landscaped walk above the city streets. The original High Line! Photo: La Citta Vita

12th: Promenade Plantée

Quinze-Vingts, 75012

Everyone raves about the High Line in New York, but Paris had its own version first. Take a walk above the city on the Promenade Plantée for a tiny respite from traffic and bikers in the streets.

Stoll along picturesque Ruo Buot in Buttes aux Cailles. Photo: Jean-Francois G.

13th: Buttes aux Cailles

Tiny cobbled streets make this one of the city’s lesser-visited hills or buttes. Grab an inexpensive drink at one of the local bars or cafés and soak in the village-esque atmosphere.

14th: Parc Montsouris

2 rue Gazan

If you find yourself in the 14th arrondissement, it’s probably for the Catacombs or the Montparnasse Cemetery. If you want to shake off your morbid tendencies, take a stroll through the gorgeous Parc Montsouris, a favorite among locals.

15th: Parc André Citroen

2 Rue Cauchy, 75015

I can’t lie — there’s no reason to visit the 15th arrondissement. But if you find yourself inexplicably lost here, look for the hot air balloon in the Parc André Citroen. You can take a ride in it to get great views of the city (adults: €12).

16th: Maison de Balzac

47 Rue Raynouard, 75016

If you’ve wandered into the 16th arrondissement, there are actually quite a few sights to check out, including a lot of fabulous examples of Art Nouveau architecture. Though it may be less interesting from the outside, French writer Balzac’s house is now a museum and is free to visit.

17th: Batignolles

Square des Batignolles, 75017

The 17th is one of those “up and coming” districts with few obvious sights to visit. However, the charming Batignolles Square is part of this vibrant neighborhood and offers lovely English-style gardens.

18th: Montmartre Cemetery

20 Avenue Rachel, 75018

We love strolling around Montmartre but almost everything in the 18th plays second fiddle to the Sacre Coeur Basilica. The adjacent cemetery, however, with gorgeous above-ground tombs and mausoleums, is fascinating to visit and usually fairly empty (at least with living visitors).

Accommodations: Great budget hotels in Montmartre

19th: Parc de la Villette

211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019

Everyone wants to picnic in Buttes Chaumont, but greenery around the La Villette — the former slaughterhouses — is just as charming. The Parc de la Villette offers playgrounds, museums, and the new Philharmonic, and a great lawn for throwing a picnic (although finding a free spot on sunny days is becoming more difficult!).

20th: La Campagne à Paris

Rue Jules Siegfried, 75020

The Père Lachaise Cemetery dominates the 20th, but there are other attractions here — or at least one. Paris feels much less urban in this tiny corner of the city where brick houses and cobbled streets recreate a village from the countryside (or campagne).

Your favorite under-the-radar attractions

Is there a special place that you love to visit during your Paris vacation? Share your picks by leaving a comment below.