Île de la Jatte

As a unique activity for any Parisian tourist with the time in their schedule (or any local for that matter), I sincerely recommend paying a visit to the beautiful Île de la Jatte, a suburban park in the Seine, famous for its feature in Georges Seurat’s gorgeous impressionist paintings (leading to subsequent fame in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George). I visited on a fittingly stunning Sunday afternoon toward the end of my study abroad term and was greeted by absolute serenity. Take Métro 1 to Neuilly-sur-Seine and stroll through the gorgeous Parisian suburbs and over the river to the quiet island park. They have sports facilities there but it’s just perfect for an afternoon stroll along the river. I can easily see how Seurat was inspired by its scenery. You won’t regret this little detour out of the city centre.