Choosing a neighborhood or area to stay in Paris can be difficult. If you have been before or this is your first trip, correctly choosing a place to stay in Paris is of the utmost importance. Obviously, all travelers are looking for different things, so sleeping in one neighborhood or another will greatly influence your stay. To help you decide, we have created a complete guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Paris. Shall we start?
Summary
- District 1 and 2: Les Halles and Bourse . The smallest and most central neighborhoods of Paris.
- District 3 and 4: Le Marais our preferred place to stay: beautiful streets, very lively.
- District 5: The Latin neighborhood , student area, central and affordable.
- District 6: Saint Germain des Pres good atmosphere, with elegant cafes and galleries.
- Arrondissement 7: Known as Les Invalides , here are the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and Orsay.
- District 8: The Champs Elysées is the most luxurious neighborhood in Paris.
- Arrondissement 14: Montparnasse , prices are quite a bit cheaper.
- Arrondissement 18: In Montmartre you will find a local atmosphere and affordable prices.
Also Read: 15 Most Beautiful Countries In Europe
Best Neighborhoods To Stay In Paris
The city of Paris is divided into 2 main sides , which are the north of the Seine River and the south . Spread over these two sides are 20 districts ordered by numbers that rotate clockwise. The districts with the lowest number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) are the most central neighborhoods and the highest numbers, the furthest away (and less comfortable to stay if you are a tourist). On the map you can see how the neighborhoods are distributed in Paris.
As in most major cities, the places of interest are in the center , so it is easy to deduce that the best area to stay in Paris is in the center . However, the tourist attractions are really very spread out , so we could consider the districts between number 1 and 8 as “the center of Paris” . We advise you not to overwhelm yourself or worry about finding accommodation near a favorite monument or museum , since the city of Paris is very easy to get around by public transport, and most tourists end up traveling through several neighborhoodsduring their stay. If you want to start seeing available hotels in the most popular areas to stay in Paris , we leave you a list with quick links sorted by districts.
Each place is different, so it is important to make a breakdown of the central neighborhoods so that you know better what it means to stay in them. In this guide to accommodation in Paris you will find information on the best areas to stay (which are more comfortable and safer for tourists) and what you can see and do in each one.
Neighborhoods where to stay for tourism
Les Halles And Bourse
Districts 1 and 2: Located on the right bank of the Seine River, this is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. Currently it is the main business center (financial district) known as Las Halles / Boruse and is the smallest in the city. At the western end are the most luxurious hotels that reach the Place de la Concorde. In the center of Paris is the Louvre, the famous Ponte Neuf, the Tuileries Garden and the Royal Palace, while to the east it stretches as far as the Ile de la Cite. If you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing, the 1st and 2nd arrondissement have plenty of sights and are well positioned to see plenty more. On the other hand, it is more difficult to get accommodation here and the prices are high.
Marais
Districts 3 and 4: Marais, is for us one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Paris. It is a central and well connected place. There are many restaurants and cafes, the architecture is magnificent (well-kept squares, parks with fountains), art galleries and independent shops or boutiques. If you want to infuse your trip with this kind of Parisian romance, the Marais is perfect. Made up of the 3rd and 4th arrondissement, the Marais is located on the right bank of the Seine, opposite Notre Dame Cathedral. On your left, you will find the Louvre, the Tuileries and the Hôtel de Ville; To the right are the trendy bars of the Bastille. Not far away are the Center Pompidou, the magnificent Place des Vosges and the recently opened Musée Picasso.
The Invalids
Arrondissement 7: This neighborhood, known as Les Invalides, is very popular for tourists visiting Paris for the first time and for a short time. It is a very central district and has some of the most important tourist attractions: the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, home to Napoleon’s tomb and the Orsay Museum, Champs de Mars, the Rodin Museum and the Quai Branly Museum. This has been home to the aristocrats and upper class of Paris for three centuries, and due to its proximity to points of interest, prices are quite steep. For first-time visitors to Paris, this is a great option.
Neighborhoods where to stay for young people and groups of friends
The Latin Quarter
District 5: The so-called Latin Quarter is a very popular tourist area among students when choosing where to stay in Paris. Here you will find a large number of hotels and guest houses at moderate prices. In the Latin Quarter you will find all the services you need as well as restaurants and cheap food options. It is also easy to find pubs, bars and clubs where you can party and live the Parisian night. The charm of this area is simply getting lost in the streets.
The Bastille And Oberkampf
Arrondissement 11: For some of the best nightlife in Paris, head to the area above the Bastille, where dozens of bars and clubs line Rue Oberkampf. The 11th arrondissement captures the spirit of how most Parisians live. Away from the more glamorous neighborhoods like Saint Germain and the Marais, in La Bastille you will find underground bars, trendy cafes, a hipster atmosphere, independent boutiques and plenty of local nightlife. There are fewer tourists here and the prices for lodging are much cheaper.
Neighborhoods where to stay for family tourism
Saint-Germain-Des-Pres
Arrondissement 6: Most of the districts of Paris are ideal for families and children. Depending on the age of your children, Saint Germain, near the Luxembourg Gardens and Le Marais, is a very central neighborhood, safe, well connected and has excellent play areas. The Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood is one of the most “top” neighborhoods to stay in Paris. This is where the cultural movements that made Paris famous thrived. The neighborhood also has high-end shops, famous cafes…
Affordable and Nice accommodation in Paris
Montmartre
Arrondissement 18: In the hills of Montmartre, you will feel as if you are in another world. This neighborhood offers stunning views while retaining a quaint, village charm. Take a walk through the cobblestone streets or climb its picturesque hills and stairs in an area away from the tourist crowd. This is our favorite neighborhood to stay in if you are looking for a different atmosphere with affordable prices.
So-Pi
South Pigalle is between the 9th and 18th arrondissement: Known locally as “So-Pi”, South Pigalle is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Paris. Located between the 9th and 18th arrondissement (below the Moulin Rouge and the old red light district) this is the place to find out the latest trends and fashions. Be it fusion bistros, concept hotels or themed cocktail bars. Rue des Martyrs is a foodie’s paradise, with dozens of boulangeries, chocolatiers and chic cafes. It offers quiet tree-lined streets dotted with indy boutiques, cafes, and a thriving restaurant and bar scene. So-Pi is also famous for its nightlife. Its good location makes prices a little higher.
Belleville
District 19 and 20: Belleville, has been home to new immigrants from Africa and Asia. This is certainly an interesting place to sleep if you want an unconventional trip to Paris. The neighborhood has embraced street art and you’ll find graffiti on almost every building. In these neighborhoods you will also find local nightlife and accommodation at much cheaper prices. Since it is an area inhabited by people from all over the world, you will find a lot of ethnic food at cheaper prices than in other parts of the city. The 19th and 20th Wards are located on the eastern edge of the city, making it a bit of a walk from the center.
Champs Elysées
Arrondissement 8: Known for the Grand Palais, the Arc de Triomphe and the most famous shopping street in Paris, the Champs Elysées is not a place where most people think of looking for accommodation. However, this iconic area is a brilliant base from which to explore the city on foot or by bike. You should know that it is a very touristic place (and quite expensive to stay) and if you are looking for a more alternative and authentic shopping experience, this is not the best option. Go for neighborhoods like Le Marais! Here you will find accommodation on the Champs Elysées .
How to book accommodation in Paris ?
If you are planning your own trip to Paris , you will need to book a hotel to stay. There are many hotel reservation websites on the Internet. Based on our experience we opted for Booking. Why? It deals with the platform with the most hotels in Paris and they have the guaranteed minimum price . Also, many of the hotels offer free cancellation , so if you can’t travel to Paris or find a better hotel, you can cancel your reservation for free. Reliability, adaptability and security make the booking.com page the best option to search for and book accommodation in Paris .
Hosting tips and mistakes to avoid
Stay in a hotel near a metro stop. Tourists visiting Paris generally move from one neighborhood to another during their stay. In short… you’re going to walk a lot. Having the lodging near the metro will save you walks and shorten the time of displacement. Use the map provided by booking to find out where the nearest station is.
Don’t stay outside of the top 20 neighborhoods. You will be too far from the center and while many of the surrounding suburbs of Paris are charming, some of them are the most dangerous areas. Whenever you hear about riots in Paris, they usually happen on the outskirts.
Do not try to stay near a particular tourist attraction unless you are traveling for a very short time and only want to visit one place. The Paris metro is very efficient to move from one place to another and the points of interest are widely distributed.
“I want to stay near the Eiffel Tower” . Actually the neighborhoods near the most famous monument in Paris are luxury residential areas. They’re okay, but expensive and a bit boring in our opinion. Also, you can see the tower from all over the city.
“Near the Champs Elysées” is worse. Definitely, the main shopping avenue in Paris is an essential place to visit but it is full of shops that you can find in almost all big cities and it is a place full of tourists.
Do not stay at the airport during your tourist stay. Unless it’s for one night (if your flight leaves or arrives very late), both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports are very far from the city.