Paris suburbs: three unusual addresses or tourist spots to discover, from Costco to the C1 cable car

The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles… These classics always draw crowds. However, in 2026, new tourist spots well beyond the Paris ring road. Unusual, sometimes surprising, places that are now attracting visitors from all over the world.

The Parisian suburbs, a new land of adventure for tourists

These days, travelers are no longer content to visit the capital’s emblematic monuments. They’re taking the RER, activating their Navigo pass and setting out to conquer the whole of the Île-de-France region. This trend, spotted by Le Parisien in its “Le Touriste” section, reveals a profound change in visiting habits.

These new tourist spots offer a very different experience from the cobbled streets of Montmartre. There’s raw concrete, giant supermarket shelves and even an urban cable car. In other words, a change of scenery is guaranteed for those who dare to venture off the beaten track.

What’s even more astonishing? Every day, these destinations attract visitors from far and wide. Some even cross the Atlantic for a detour. The Paris suburbs have never been so trendy.

“It’s not just Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower that attract crowds, and tourists have understood that.

Pontault-Combault Costco, an unlikely stopover for Americans

It’s probably the most surprising of these Paris Region tourist spots. In Pontault-Combault, the Costco store regularly welcomes American tourists in search of familiar products. XXL jars of peanut butter, beef jerky: it’s all there to cure homesickness.

The American chain operates on a wholesale self-service principle. An annual fee of €36 is required for access. This detail doesn’t stop visitors, quite the contrary. The place has become a refuge for those who want to rediscover a bit of America in the heart of the Île-de-France region.

• Costco Pontault-Combault: American products in large format
• Cable C1: Europe’s longest urban aerial tramway
• Espaces d’Abraxas: Brutalist architecture in Noisy-le-Grand
• Easy RER access from Paris
• Cost of a single metro ticket for the cable car

Cable C1, an aerial view of the Paris region

Since last December, a new means of transport has made its appearance on the Ile-de-France landscape. Câble C1 now links several points as far as Créteil. It is the longest urban cable car in Europe, and is already attracting curious onlookers.

For Parisians, it’s an efficient alternative to traffic jams on the ring road. For tourists, it’s a chance to fly over Paris and the surrounding area. All for the cost of a single metro ticket. A godsend for lovers of unparalleled panoramas.

This ropeway transforms a daily commute into a real experience. The cabins offer a unique perspective on the suburbs, far from the usual clichés. This makes Câble C1 one of the region’s most original tourist attractions.

More and more visitors are including this aerial tour in their program. They see it as a different way of discovering Greater Paris. It’s a novelty that appeals to locals and international travelers alike.

A transport attraction in its own right

The success of Cable C1 illustrates a strong trend. Transport infrastructures can become destinations in themselves. Here, the useful meets the pleasurable, and travel becomes a moment of contemplation.

What’s more, access remains simple, thanks to the Navigo pass. No need for reservations or special tickets. This ease of use is a major factor in the cable car’s growing popularity with tourists.

Abraxas Spaces, star of popular culture

Head for Noisy-le-Grand, just 30 minutes from the center of Paris. This is where you’ll find Les Espaces d’Abraxas, a brutalist architectural complex that has become a veritable attraction. Its monumental forms and imposing concrete fascinate visitors.

This location has appeared in several major film productions. It can be seen in The Hunger Games and Brazil. More recently, Rosé, lead singer of BLACKPINK, filmed a video clip here. These appearances have made the site a must-see destination.

Architecture enthusiasts come from all over the world to photograph these buildings. The contrast with the zinc roofs of Paris is striking. There’s no Haussmannian charm here, just a futuristic, radical aesthetic that leaves no one indifferent.

These suburban tourist spots offer another vision of the Paris region. They prove that tourist appeal is no longer limited to the capital. Today, the whole of the Paris region is a place of discovery for travellers in search of originality.

• tourist spots