Scary Places To Visit In Paris

When you plan a trip to Paris, you’ll find tons of information about all the famous attractions you have to see. You can’t miss the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre Museum, or the Seine.

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For those who want to go off the beaten path and explore the dark side of the City of Light, I’ve uncovered three places that will make your heart beat a little faster your palms a little sweatier.

Where to stay – We used Booking.com for all of our stays and is great for finding the best deals. Alternatively, you can always see if hotel corporate codes might work for you.
Car rentals – Save the most money through car rental coupon codes and always start your search with Discover Cars and RentalCars so you know what the best deals are.
Flights – International flights are never cheap, but with the Skyscanner “Everywhere” feature you can find the best deals. Check how much it would be for you to get to Paris!
Insurance – Not always required but always recommended! Make sure you’re covered with the best travel insurance.
Best deals – Bookmark our frequently updated travel deals page.

The Catacombs

Paris is a city that has a longer link to the underground than most other cities in Europe. Deep into the earth, a dark past lies dormant for the brave to discover. Some six million Parisians reside here, not as the living but rather as walls of skulls and bones.

This all started during the 18th century during the Revolutionary Terror when cemeteries started to overfill and disease swept the nation. To keep the city safe, skeletons were exhumed from these cemeteries and moved into old quarry tunnels.

Your Catacombs tour starts with 20 meters of spiralling stairs followed by a labyrinth of tunnels. Audio guides are available to rent in English, French, and Spanish. For those wanting to plan ahead, you can buy skip-the-line tickets.

There are also private tours available for a more intimate walkthrough at your own pace.

Mysteries of Paris Vampire and Ghost Tour

As twilight creeps its weary way through the narrow corridors, hidden courtyards, and busy streets of Paris, something dark lurks in the night.

Unbeknownst to most, there are many tales of ghosts, hauntings, and vampires waiting to be told. There are a number of ghost and vampire tours that will take you off the beaten path with chilling tales of the dark side of Paris.

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The tour is around 90 minutes long and starts right at the Notre Dame Cathedral. Tours take place every Wednesday to Saturday at 9 p.m., which is a perfect way to finish off your night.

Le Manior De Paris

entrance to le manoir in paris in dark red and purple light — Image courtesy of Le Manoir Paris

2020 Update: This closed in 2020 and briefly re-opened in 2021 for Halloween.

This is not your regular haunted house, so be sure to leave small children behind for this one. Le Manior de Paris is an interactive theatrical experience designed for the brave. Behind the thick black velvet curtains lies a hair tingling walkthrough of one of the most prestigious buildings in the heart of Paris.

Along the way, ghosts and monsters get up close and personal, bringing Paris’ terrible history to life. The highlight is definitely the Asylum, a clinic for unconventional treatments, which may induce cold sweats and nightmarish visions. That’s all I’m going to say!

Le Manoir is located a minute’s walk from Poissonnière on Line 7; Bonne Nouvelle on Lines 8 and 9; and Gare de l’Est on Lines 4, 5, and 7; making it easy to include this tour in any Paris itinerary. The immersive experience lasts about an hour and is available in both English and French.

You don’t have to wait until Halloween to get spooked. The question is whether you dare to experience the scariest that the city has to offer. Once you’ve decided on that, be sure to find the cheapest hotels in Paris to book a nice central place to stay.

Featured image via Flickr js_almada

Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.

Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.

Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.

Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.

Rideshare: For new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.

Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.

eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.

AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
KnowRoaming – Use code GAP10 to save 10%.
AloSIM – Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 15%.
Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
Ubigi – AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.

Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).

Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 5% discount!
RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.

If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.