What do Parisians love about Paris?

We love Paris. Call us hopelessly clichéd, but sipping an espresso by the Eiffel Tower and pondering the ‘Mona Lisa’ at the Louvre can be pretty fun. And we don’t care how much of a stereotype that is.

But have you ever wondered what it is that the French love about their capital? They get to live in the city of our dreams, but sometimes they don’t seem too happy to be there.

What do they spend their time doing while we’re stuck on the other side of the world dreaming about their beautiful city? Where are their favourite spots off the beaten track?

Well, the Priceless Paris program run by MasterCard has teamed up with consulting firm Happy Curious, combining data and surveys of locals to find out. There’s nothing better than learning about the City of Light from the locals, so we’re excited to discover their secrets…

Hot spots in Paris

According to the results, the favourite monument of locals is the Notre Dame de Paris.

To soak up some culture, they head to the Louvre and for some sun it’s off to the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Their favourite quartier is Saint Paul le Marais and their place préférée is Place de la République. But how does everything else rank?

Favourite Parisian monuments

Well, the Louvre Pyramid runs a close second to the Notre Dame. After that is the Sacré-Coeur, and la Concorde followed by l’Arc de Triomphe, and last but not least the Eiffel Tower.

Favourite museums

While their favourite museum is the Louvre, residents of the French capital still love the Musée d’Orsay, Centre Georges Pompidou, Musée Rodin and Musée Grévin.

Off the beaten track in Paris

Sharing their secrets avouables, these kind Parisians have made planning our next trip easy.

For some art and culture we can visit the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord or la Penderie.

If you’re looking to shop why not try Ground Zero or even le thé des Écrivains? If you want to be a little touristy try visiting la Terrasse de l’Hôtel Westin and la Cité des Fleurs.

For a meal, check out l’Entrée des Artistes or you can try Marché Saint Martin. And when the days done and you want to experience the nightlife like a local, visit le Carillon, Aux 3 Maillets or Social Club.

But don’t just take it from us, check out what the Parisians recommended for yourself:

Do the results surprise you? Which hidden hotspots in Paris would you add to the list? The conversation is missing your voice! Share your thoughts and tips in the comments box below.