11 Best Things To Do In Saint-Denis, Paris

Are you planning to visit the beautiful community of Saint-Denis in Paris and want to know the best things to do there? You’ve come to the right place!

Saint-Denis, located northeast of Paris, has served as a significant town in the Ile-de-France area since the Middle Ages, so much so that people talked of Paris, located near Saint-Denis back then.

The city was previously recognized in the Middle Ages for the yearly fair of Lendit, and the splendid basilica church is also from this city.

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This magnificent structure is inextricably linked to French history, most notably because of the Necropole des Rois et Reines de France, the final resting place of France’s kings and queens.

This lesser-known site has a rich tapestry of history, art, and culture that awaits discovery. Join us as we discover the greatest things to do in Saint-Denis, Paris, and discover its hidden gems.

11 Best Things To Do In Saint-Denis, Paris

1. Visit the Saint-Denis Cathedral

In the royal necropolis, the chapel houses the tombs of all of France’s kings and queens. From Clovis to Louis XVI, via Pépin le Bref and Philippe le Bel, the graves and recumbent statues immerse you in kingly France.

The Saint-Denis Basilica was created as a new architectural marvel in the 12th century. It was progressively reconstructed in a new style, incorporating avant-garde elements such as the ribbed vaults.

The Basilique de St-Denis is open to entry. Adults must pay $10.15 to visit the French monarchy’s crypt and graves, and $3.20 for the audio guide. The informative markers in the crypt and throughout the French monarchy are entirely in French.

Buy the English audio guide, the English guidebook, and, most importantly, the Saint Denis Basilica Cathedral data leaflet. All of these things will make your visit more enjoyable.

2. Explore the Museum of Art and History in Saint-Denis

The art and history museum at Saint-Denis is located in the town’s historic Carmelite monastery. The convent was established in 1625 and expanded by Louis XV’s daughter, Madame Louise of France.

On the second level, several antiques and paintings depict the life of the Carmelite convent, whose greatest-known resident was Louise de France, as well as collections of papers and objects recalling the holy city and the lives of these God-fearing women.

The Paul Eluard collections, collections from painters’ and engravers’ workshops, drawings by Jean Effel, and prints by modern artists are highlights of the journey to the Saint-Denis Museum’s restoration of paper.

The reduced fee is $5.34, the payment for those over 60 and students is $3.20, and those under 16 are free. On the first Sunday of each month, it is also free. If you wish to make a reservation, you must do it by phone.

3.  Shop at the Market of Saint-Denis

Only a few metro stops from Paris, the sumptuous Basilica of Saint-Denis is an architectural marvel and a designated Historical Monument.

Metal architecture fans will like this Eiffel-style hall that hosts the Marché de Saint-Denis, which was formerly the location of the Landit market in the Middle Ages.

The market immerses you in a warm and multicultural atmosphere, with over 250 exhibitors setting up stalls three times a week to offer their high-quality items from all four corners of the globe.

Almost every culinary item is offered in the large Hall. The metallic architecture and inner structure of the Hall were restored in 2005 using an ecologically appropriate ecological technology. The market is open each morning beginning at 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

4. Discover the Canal Saint-Denis

The Canal Saint-Denis, which opened to commerce in 1821, was critical to the growth of the city and of Paris. Many of the vestiges of the industries erected on the canal’s banks may still be seen today.

Canal Saint-Denis flows approximately 6.6 kilometers through Paris’s 19th district, near Park de la Villette, and connects with numerous other Parisian accessible links at the waterways intersection at Paris Bassin de la Villette.

With the completion of the Stade de France and its landscaping project in 1998, Canal Saint-Denis’ industrial vocation began to climb, resulting in a direct influence on the tourism industry.

It quickly grew in popularity for pleasure boating, and its banks progressively became the ideal location for family hikes, and biking, including roller skating.

In 2006, an extensive development project was undertaken to improve the canal and its banks. While the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris in 2024 will serve as a significant milestone in its renovation, its change will go beyond the Games, until 2030.

5. View the Stade de France in Saint-Denis

The Stade de France, constructed for the 1998 Football World Cup, is France’s largest stadium, seating more than 80,000 people.

Sporting events, concerts featuring famous artists, and large-scale performances are frequently staged here. Its original and continuing purpose of host the world’s best athletic and musical performances for the enjoyment of the largest number of people.

Its brand identity, formed by sixteen years of history and amazing events, connects the Stadium, the great events it hosts, and the people who come to enjoy frequently memorable experiences.

The Stade de France represents one of Europe’s largest stadiums, seating approximately 80,000 people.

It has also held the UEFA Champions League finals as well as several music events. If you are unable to obtain a ticket to a football or musical event, a stadium tour is the best alternative.

6. Check out the Legion of Honor Park

The Legion of Honor Park, situated in Saint-Denis’ medieval city center, provides a very beautiful location for walking or resting.

Away from the rush and bustle of the city, you will experience a serene and quiet atmosphere. The park is easily accessible, as it can be found north of Paris on Metro Line 13.

The park is the site of the Maison d’éducation de la Légion d’honneur, a portion of which is free to the public. The House of Education as well as its grounds are both designated historical landmarks. On some days, visitors can tour the inside of the House of Education.

It is a nice spot in the middle of the city, with a fitness walk and games for children, and it organizes the Tulip Festival every year in April.

7. Roam at the Parc Georges-Valbon

The park, which was devoted to farming throughout the Middle Ages, emerged in the 1930s, and its initial developments came in the 1960s. Until the 1980s, the park saw significant improvements.

The Georges Valbon park is home to several living species. The park is teeming with wildlife ranging from the tiniest bugs to sheep. Spend some time observing them. It also has a diverse flora. Come and contemplate the hues of nature as they change with the seasons.

Dogs on leashes are permitted, and there are playgrounds, picnic spots, bike rentals, pedaling boats, and rides in Parc Georges-Valbon.

8. Stop at the Église Saint-Denys-de-l’Estrée

Archaeological investigations in Saint-Denis have proven the existence of a hamlet here from the Merovingian period. The church of Elstree was built outside the fortifications that enclosed the settlement on the Gallo-Roman road, the Via Strata, which gave rise to its name.

In 1981, L’eglise and its stained glass windows were designated as historical monuments. Merklin-Schutze built the enormous symphonic organ in 1868, and it was designated a historical monument in 1987.

The front of Saint-Denis-de-l’Estree faces east and is aligned with the direction of the Cathedral Basilica, which is linked by the Rue de la Republique.

The bell tower porch, which measures the nave, is divided into three levels. The first story’s large bay has four lancets and a rose, and the second level has three high bays linked. Finally, the cover’s roof is surrounded by chimeras sitting at the four corners.

9. Wander at Rue Saint-Denis

Rue Saint-Denis is among Paris’s oldest streets, and its current reputation bears little similarity to its illustrious past. Few people realize it, but St. Denis Street was formerly the queen of Paris, the commercial regulator, and his political guide.

Rue Saint-Denis runs through Paris’s history. It’s a section of an old trade route dating back to the Bronze Age, used by traders and pilgrims traveling up and down the French coast between Spain and England.

Even if the rue Saint-Denis has lost its fiery radicalism, it is still a bustling retail strip. It has become the epitome of cosmopolitanism.

Ethnicities and socioeconomic classes live harmoniously, with some taking precedence over others depending on the minute, season, or time of the week.

North towards the arch, the rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, as it’s known upstream, is a market, with Pakistani motorbike enthusiasts, African jewelry manufacturers, Chinese food sellers, and women pushing strollers sharing the pavement.

10. Delve into the City of Cinema in Saint-Denis

Luc Besson presented his big inspiration proposal for building a movie city on the site of a recent power plant station at Saint-Denis-Pleyel in 2003.

His idea depicted his vision of a cinema city in which action meant having every equipment for creating a film and changing the art deco style structure into the most magnificent shooting complex.

It opened up a huge possibility for all aspects of filmmaking, from production to dissemination. He foresaw filmmaking studios, theater stages, and offices in his cost-estimation project to accommodate all future film productions.

This area, which was once the engine area of the thermal plant, is today considered the backstage of the Cité that contains it. Its lower level and industrial-style mezzanine stick out due to its significant height under the ceiling and wide bay windows with views of the Seine.

11. Go to Parc des Chanteraines

Another fantastic retreat from the city is Chanteraines Park, which is located across the Seine from Saint-Denis. It has a lake, water meadows, and wide-open parkland, although it is much smaller than Georges-Valbon.

It’s a fantastic place to go for a walk by the lakes or to let the kids run about. There additionally exists a tiny educational farm, cafés, a riding educational institution, and play places for youngsters. A narrow-gauge train runs across the park, which is a fun summer activity.