The pretty corner of Paris with hardly any tourists as everyone queues for Eiffel Tower

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, with the total number of annual tourists rocketing to 47.5 million in 2023. The French capital is set to welcome an astonishing 15.3 million visitors for the Olympic Games, according to Paris je t'aime, the city's tourism board.

The Louvre art museum is one of the most-visited sights in the capital, with 8.9 visitors in 2023. The Palace of Versailles follows next with 7.7 million visitors while 6.9 million visitors flock to the Eiffel Tower every year.

The Notre Dame Cathedral, which is currently closed due to its reconstruction, is expected to return as one of the top sights again when it reopens on December 8, 2024. However, the most visited place in Paris is not in the city centre. In 2022, 9.93 million visitors came to Marne-la-Vallée, just outside of the French capital, to visit Disneyland Paris.

While most tourists all flock to the same attractions in the French capital, there are plenty of gorgeous neighborhoods left as hidden gems for sightseers.

Belleville, which translates as Beautiful Town, is one of the neighborhoods off-the-beaten-path in Paris that is often passed over by tourists. However, the tourists who spend time in Belleville are often left amazed.

The neighborhood is one of the few areas in the French capital that has retained its original character. This working-class area has managed to stave off widespread gentrification and remains home to many family-owned delicatessens and cafés.

Belleville, which lies in the 19th and 20th arrondissements of the French capital, has been the home of several immigrant waves over the past century. As a result, the neighborhood has led to an incredible mixing pot of food on offer and some of the best cuisine in the city.

Historically, it has been the home to Paris' Algerian and Chinese communities for decades, but artists, keen for cheaper rents, have moved into the area in recent decades. Thanks to this influx of artists, Belleville has become the capital's main destination for street art tours.

Belleville also includes one of Paris' two Chinatowns as well as a hugely popular outdoor market every Tuesday and Friday along the Boulevard de Belleville, where many proud local farmers sell their produce.

Outside of art tours and food, the colourful neighborhood also features Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, one of the largest green spaces in Paris. The park is an urban oasis that has some of the best views of the Eiffel Tower and La Defense in one shot.

Tourists who manage to visit the gorgeous neighhourhood rave about it. Tracey K, an American tourist posted on TripAdvisor after her visit: "I have visited Paris four times over the years, and this time I decided to stay in and explore Belleville.

"The neighborhood provided all that I was looking for: a real living neighborhood, ethnic diversity, and things to do. As a single, middle-aged, American woman, I had no problems and never felt unsafe. In short, if you are interested in a less-touristed area, Belleville worth a visit."

One Parisian, posting as Clackoun, also heaped praise on the area, saying on Reddit: "Belleville is a really nice area, there are lots of bars and restaurants. Especially Pyrénées, you have the Buttes Chaumont which is my favorite park in Paris, from it you can have a nice view of Montmartre.

"Then you can walk to Bassin de la Villette, it is a canal, in summer there are lots of terraces where you can have a drink. There is also Jourdain which is a nice district nearby. You can go there with Rue de Belleville. For the restaurant, you can go to Mensae, Cheval d’Or, L’escargot bar. For the bars, there are a lot on Boulevard de Belleville between Belleville and Père Lachaise station."