A local’s guide to secret streets and colorful alleys in Paris to visit for photos, free views, and some of the best things to do around!
When I lived in Paris last year, I’d go out almost every day to discover the hidden places I hadn’t seen when I worked there a few years ago.
Let me tell you, I found a lot of these, like the Stravinsky Fountain or the Cloître des Billettes.
Visiting colorful streets, secret courtyards and village areas is something I enjoy doing very much, no matter where I live.
And well, aesthetic streets like Rue des Rosiers and Rue de Buci I’ve mentioned in the past have nothing on the beauty of the alleys and passageways you’re about to see today.
If you’re visiting Paris on a budget and looking for fresh, new, free places to visit, this guide will definitely come in handy!
9 Secret Colorful Alleys in Paris To Visit for Photos
After five years spent living in Paris, I moved to London, Rome, Barcelona and Istanbul (in no particular order) and moved back to Paris this summer.
My time in the beautiful French capital is coming to a close, and as I am planning to make my way back to Rome in a few weeks, this guide to colorful alleys is a homage to both my summer in Paris, and summer in general.
Since a few of these places are part of the most secret villages in Paris, they are all the more visit-worthy than they provide views of the city as you’ve never seen it before.
Colorful Alleys in Paris: Cour d’Alsace Lorraine, Montgallet Metro Station
Close to the metro stations Reuilly-Diderot and Montgallet, the Cour d’Alsace Lorraine is probably one of the most secret – and prettiest streets in Paris.
Filled with artisan workshops and offices, this small, colorful courtyard is split into several parts, and while it’s forbidden for cars to enter, the door is always open to walk around.
About 5 minutes away, if you get hungry, there’s this one place you shouldn’t miss – Adria’s Bakery, one of the only American bakeries in Paris, with the most decadent – and light! – carrot cake and red velvet cupcakes you’ll ever try in town.
Read: 11 Non Touristy Restaurants in Paris That Won’t Break the Bank
Secret Streets in Paris: Rue du Retrait, 20th Arrondissement
Close to the Pyrénées metro station in the 20th arrondissement is hidden one of the most colorful places of Paris, the Rue du Retrait.
Very much unknown aside from locals (even I, who have lived in Paris on and off for over five years, didn’t know of it!), the Rue du Retrait offers colorful murals, frescoes, and even some entirely painted buildings.
We’re really close to some of Paris‘ most secret alleys, like the Passage du Soupir, along with a place I love visiting in the fall in Paris: Le Toit, a gorgeous rooftop cafe/bar/restaurant with a straight view of the Eiffel Tower.
Read: Les Marronniers Paris Review, The Full Parisian Breakfast Experience
Colorful Alleys in Paris: Passage de l’Ancre, Châtelet
Located on the shores of the Marais neighborhood, the Passage de l’Ancre is a well-hidden passageway whose shopfronts are all painted a different color.
When reaching this colorful alley from the famous Rue du Louvre, a tiny doorway gives way to what may be one of the most magical places in Paris, which is made of offices, workshops and homes.
Read: 1st Arrondissement of Paris: The Best Places to Visit
A really beautiful place located only about 10 minutes away from Châtelet and its bustling shopping streets, and a very secret photo spot for all my influencer folks!
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Colorful Alleys in Paris: Passage des Abbesses to Jardin des Abbesses, Montmartre
In the oh-so-pretty Montmartre neighborhood, just off the Passage des Abbesses, a tiny blue alleyway leads to a wonderful secret garden; the Jardin des Abbesses.
If you thought we’d be lost somewhere in the midst of all the Montmartre streets, think again.
The Jardin des Abbesses, although quite unknown, is located right behind the Wall of Love in the Jehan Rictus garden, a colorful wall covered with ‘I love you’ written in all kinds of languages.
The Jardin des Abbesses is much more secret than the Wall of Love, and with its pergolas and carefully-curated pathways, makes for one of Paris’ most romantic spots.
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Colorful Alleys in Paris: Passage Molière, Châtelet
Now, when it comes to finding completely colorful alleys in Paris, it’s hard to do better than the Passage de l’Ancre or the Cour d’Alsace-Lorraine.
Still, close to Châtelet, the Passage Molière is another really cool place to visit.
Whether it’s spring, summer or fall, the Passage Molière, with its everything-literary-inspired shops; from stationery shops to pretty bookshops and even a literary cafe, is a place I love popping by whenever I’m in the area.
A really magical place that feels deeply like a cute village inside Paris, two steps away from some of the city’s best shops, restaurants and other colorful cafes.
Read: The Prettiest Neighborhoods in Paris to Walk Around
Secret Streets in Paris: Rue Crémieux, Gare de Lyon
From the colorful alleys topic, we’re moving on, with Rue Crémieux close to Gare de Lyon, to a full-on street which, again, gives off strong village vibes.
If you’re one to use Pinterest, Instagram and other social media platforms a lot, you might have come across Rue Crémieux more than one – it is, after all, one of the most famous, completely colorful streets in Paris.
What makes it even more interesting is that some of the Notting Hill-vibe houses also have some paintings of birds, cats and fake windows on their façade.
A perfect place to visit in the morning if you want to avoid people in the background of your pictures!
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Colorful Places in Paris: Petite Alsace, 13th Arrondissement
Walking around town, you’ll find that there are many hidden gems in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, mostly located around the Maison-Blanche area.
One of them is a colorful courtyard called Petite Alsace, with houses, hidden away from the main street, mimic the architecture of the Alsace region of northeastern France.
Flower pots on the houses’ thresholds, façades made of red, blue, green and various shades of creamy white, along with wooden benches and paved alleys make it a really pretty place to visit whether it’s spring or fall.
Read: 29 rue Quincampoix, Paris’s Secret Fake Painted Windows
Colorful Alleys in Paris: Rue Dieulafoy, 13th Arrondissement
Still in the 13th arrondissement, in the Maison-Blanche neighborhood, you’ll find another secret and really colorful street which stroke me as one that most resembled those of London’s Notting Hill, along with Rue Crémieux.
It is none other than Rue Dieulafoy, which leads to the Quartier des Peupliers, and almost only known by locals.
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The area is tranquil, filled with other gorgeously colored streets such as the Rue des Moulin des Prés, and you’ll even find, at the end of this street, a huge mural made of various portraits.
Read: The Most Secret Places in Rome and Hidden Gems
Colorful Alleys in Paris: Cité Florale, 13th Arrondissement
Lastly, another gorgeous place I absolutely wanted to share with you is the Cité Florale, also located in the 13th arrondissement, and actually not so far from Rue Dieulafoy I mentioned earlier.
The Cité Florale is made of only three or four streets, which include the Rue des Iris, Rue des Lisserons, and Rue des Glycines.
All named after flowers or plants, these streets house some of the most village-like houses in Paris.
Gorgeous at the start of and during the fall, which is when I discovered the Cité Florale, these streets offer all kinds of colorful brick houses, climbing ivy, weeping willows, and pastel façades whose beauty is enhanced whenever the sun hits them.
PS. Do not mistake the Cité Florale for the Cité Fleurie; the latter is located closer to the Catacombs – they’re not the same place, nor do they offer the same vibe!
Read: The Best Things To Do During Spring in Rome
9 Secret Colorful Alleys in Paris To Visit for Photos
While there are many more colorful alleys – and secret streets! – in all parts of Paris, I’ve found so many in the 13th arrondissement that I really couldn’t believe my luck.
Whether you’re looking for hidden villages in Paris or just picturesque streets to use as backdrops for a few shots, you’ll hopefully have found a handful you didn’t know today.
Now, if you’d like to change the scope of your day or week in Paris, I’d also recommend popping by some other beautiful floral spots I’ve come to know of during my time living in town.
There are also many instagrammable places in Paris you shouldn’t miss out on, like the famous Colonnes de Buren, or the Jardin des Tuileries!