Aerial view Basilique Saint Denis Centre Des Monuments Nationaux

What to do in Saint-Denis

Cultural, food and heritage tips!

We don’t know where to start. Saint-Denis is a city of many dimensions. It’s a city with a history so rich that it was once the beating heart of the French kingdom. It is also the city that saw Street Art and Hip-Hop come to France. And it’s the symbol of a multicultural France, rich in gastronomic and cultural diversity. And because we’re friendly people here at POP, we’re here to help you make sense of it all!

Historic town...

Saint Denis is perhaps one of the cities with the most intense history. And one where the memories of different periods are still visible! From the Basilica to the Maison d’Education de la Légion d’Honneur, we invite you to take a thousand-year leap back in time.

Saint-Denis Basilica

SAINT-DENIS. The Maison d'Education de la Legion d'Honneur in Saint-Denis is set to expand, with a new building entirely dedicated to post-baccalaureate students.

Museum of the Legion of Honor

Paul Éluard Museum of Art and History

If you want to know why the town's called that

(Spoiler, we’ll talk about a decapitated head).

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... and in perpetual effervescence

First, with the arrival of numerous waves of immigrants, from Bretons to North Africans and Maghrebis, the city changed its face, notably through various phases of housing construction, both social and private, to accommodate these new populations.

Then came the ’80s and ’90s and the development of iconic urban cultures. Tag, street art and hip-hop all came to the fore, demonstrating the creativity of the local population. Popular and underground culture flourished in Saint-Denis.

Today, all these elements come together and mutually enrich each other: street art and contemporary art in public spaces are combined with the Basilica and the city’s historical heritage to give the city a rich and diverse face.

Find out more about our guided tours in Saint-Denis

(Street Art at the Royal Abbey)

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Street Art Avenue

Line 13

Urban cultures

Renaissance of an industrial town

Saint-Denis, like the rest of Seine-Saint-Denis, has long been an industrial, productive city, serving the metropolitan area, which explains the various waves of immigration the area has experienced.

Industrial sites, for the most part abandoned as a result of deindustrialization, are now being redeveloped as cultural and festive venues, or remain creative and productive, welcoming artists, craftsmen and craftswomen.

Sporty city and Olympic!

With the construction of the Stade de France® in 1998, Saint-Denis became synonymous with sport and world-class competitions. The Football World Cup was an upheaval for the city and the entire region, launching a new phase of development.

This was reinforced over time, right up to the hosting of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where Saint-Denis, Ville Olympique, benefits from a considerable sporting and urban legacy: construction of the Olympic Aquatic Center, the athletes’ village, 5 bridges facilitating mobility, redevelopment of the banks of the Canal Saint-Denis, renovation of numerous sports facilities (Marville swimming pool, annex stadium to the Stade de France, etc.).

All you need to know about the 2024 Games

Events at Saint-Denis

Exhibitions, concerts, committed screenings… Saint-Denis is on the move, and you need to keep up. The diary is your best ally for catching the events that count, from emblematic spots to more confidential venues. Culture, parties, encounters: come and experience the city in a different way.