The place to remain in Paris: discover the neighborhood that's best for you

The 20 arrondissements (metropolis districts) that make up central Paris are outlined by their very own distinctive character. Our quick-fire information supplies an summary of every — together with its high points of interest — however in terms of selecting the place to remain in Paris, all of it is determined by your private necessities.

Whether or not you’re touring with children, in the hunt for town’s finest nightlife or simply searching for the most affordable digs, this is the way to determine the place to keep in Paris.

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Keep within the 1er to be near high points of interest just like the Louvre © manjik / Shutterstock

1er (1st arrondissement) is the very best place to remain if you wish to be near every thing

It would not get extra central than the 1er (premier; 1st) arrondissement, which, together with the 2e, 3e and 4e, kind the collective administration Paris Centre. Staying within the 1er locations you footsteps from town’s mega-sights; akin to the big Musée du Louvre and landscaped formal gardens Jardin des Tuileries alongside the Seine. To move additional afield, Paris’ largest metro and RER (commuter practice) hub, Châtelet–Les Halles, is under the 1er’s canopied shopping center Discussion board des Halles.

Comfort comes at a premium, although – the arrondissement is residence to palatial accommodations just like the Hôtel Ritz Paris, together with boutique gems such because the creative Hôtel Crayon.

The 4e is central too, with cheaper locations to remain

Additionally epicentral, the 4e has some beautiful high-end locations to remain on the Île St-Louis, the smaller of Paris’ two inner-city islands, and extra reasonably priced choices (together with hostels and funds accommodations) in Le Marais, whose slim, medieval streets are filled with trendy boutiques, eating places and bars.

An aerial shot of the Arc de Triomphe, which stands in the centre of a roundabout and has roads stretching away in 12 different directions
The eighth arrondissement is residence to the Arc de Triomphe and lots of different main sights © StockBrunet / Shutterstock

First-time guests ought to keep within the 8e (eighth arrondissement)

If it is your first time in Paris, sightseeing is prone to be on the high of your checklist, making the 8e an ideal base. Right here you’ll be able to take within the 360-degree panorama radiating from Place de la Concorde; stroll the storied av des Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe; store (or window-shop) at luxurious trend homes within the Triangle d’Or (Golden Triangle); and board a river cruise, akin to these run by Bateaux-Mouches, to glide previous town’s most well-known landmarks (particularly romantic after they’re illuminated by evening).

Magnificent palace accommodations embrace the 8e’s Hôtel de Crillon; you can too discover (relative) bargains such because the small however brilliant rooms on the Hôtel Alison.

The 7e can be good for newbies, with many accommodations to select from 

Throughout the Seine, the 7e — residence to the Eiffel Tower and museums together with the Impressionist-filled Musée d’Orsay — has loads of mid-range and high-end (and some funds) accommodations. 

Colourful wooden toy boats sail on the still waters of the pond in Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris. There is a stately building with beige bricks in the background underneath a clear blue sky.
The Jardin du Luxembourg is devoted to the youngsters of Paris © Nikonaft / Shutterstock

6e (sixth arrondissement) is the very best neighborhood for vacationers with children

Town’s best-loved park, the Jardin du Luxembourg, within the 6e, was devoted by Napoléon to the youngsters of Paris, making this arrondissement a household favourite. Throughout the chestnut-shaded gardens, little ones can trip ponies, prod picket sailboats on the octagonal pond, catch a puppet present at its marionette theater and romp in its playgrounds. It is preferrred for picnicking; you may additionally discover loads of eating places catering to households, akin to the sumptuous art-nouveau brasserie Bouillon Racine, which has a children’ menu.

Particularly family-friendly accommodations right here embrace Le Six, a hop, skip and a soar from the gardens’ gates. Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris‘ serviced, kitchen-equipped residences sleep two to 4 folks; all can accommodate a child cot, and babysitting could be organized.

The close by 5e (Latin Quarter) additionally has sights standard with kids 

The Jardin du Luxembourg is bordered to the east by the shop- and cafe-lined bd St-Michel. On the boulevard’s japanese facet, the 5e, aka the Latin Quarter, additionally makes an awesome base for households, due to English-language bookshops with devoted kids’s sections akin to magical Shakespeare & Firm, an unmissable candy store, Le Bonbon au Palais, styled like a geography classroom with jars of conventional sweets from round France, and a Nineteenth-century magic store, Mayette la Boutique de la Magie, in addition to loads of child-friendly accommodations. 

People sat at tables outside a cafe called Hotel du Nord. The street is lined with bicycles
The world round Canal St-Martin is one in all Paris’ coolest hangouts © JeanLucIchard / Shutterstock

Finances vacationers ought to look to remain within the 10e (tenth arrondissement) 

Among the metropolis’s largest and finest backpacker hostels are positioned within the 10e, together with sociable St Christopher’s Gare du Nord, with a whopping 580 beds and common reside music in its bar; and Generator Hostel, with a rooftop bar, ground-floor cafe and basement bar/membership styled like a Parisian metro station. Charming funds accommodations on this arrondissement embrace Hôtel du Nord – Le Pari Vélo. On and round close by Canal St-Martin you may discover a great deal of unbiased retailers, cultural facilities, bars, bakeries, cheap eating places serving cuisines from across the globe, and laid-back cafes akin to Holybelly 5, the place locals flock for brunch.

The 15e is one other neighborhood with cheaper locations to remain

The residential, down-to-earth 15e, throughout the Seine, additionally has a handful of excellent hostels and loads of reasonably priced accommodations, neighborhood bistros and markets. Pretty parks the place you’ll be able to unwind embrace Parc Georges Brassens, with a secondhand guide market on weekends.

A cyclist speeds by some colourful street art of a woman blowing a bubble
Uncover the road artwork of the less-visited 13e © EQRoy / Shutterstock

13e (thirteenth arrondissement) is the very best neighborhood for getting off the overwhelmed monitor

Paris’ 13e would not usually characteristic on guests’ radars however it’s fascinating to discover. The village-like Butte aux Cailles, with its quaint car-free streets, has a string of native bars and eating places, together with an artesian spring, the Puits Artésien de la Butte aux Cailles (deliver a bottle to replenish with its pure, mineral-rich waters), and art-deco swimming complicated, Piscine de la Butte aux Cailles, that includes a Nordic pool. Southeast is Paris’ largest Chinatown, the place high-rise buildings are splashed with road artwork, whereas near the Seine, redeveloped industrial areas embrace start-up hub Station F. Nice lodging right here embrace trendy Hôtel Henriette, furnished with classic decor, and, floating on the river, Lodge OFF Paris Seine.

The 20e to the northeast can be a less-visited neighborhood

Within the metropolis’s northeast, the hilly, gentrifying 20e can be effectively off the overwhelmed monitor for many vacationers, save for these visiting the well-known graves at Cimetière du Père Lachaise. Precipitous Parc de Belleville has spectacular views over town; its 4.5 hectares shelter an city winery. The arrondissement additionally has its personal small, bustling Chinatown. Lodging within the 20e embrace small-scale hostels and family-run accommodations.

A rap group performs on the stage of La Cigale in Paris. An animated crowd, in shadow beneath the stage, watch on.
La Cigale is only one of many wonderful reside music venues in Paris © LAGOS CID Manuel / Getty Photographs

18e (18th arrondissement) is the very best place to remain for nice nightlife

The Moulin Rouge is an 18e landmark however this northern arrondissement is residence to extra than simply high-kicking can-can reveals. The well-known cabaret’s boiler room has a weekend membership, La Machine du Moulin Rouge. Close by, legendary music corridor La Cigale attracts well-known solo acts and bands, whereas off-beat live-music venue Le Divan du Monde has a various indie program, and backstreet jazz membership Bab-Ilo hosts intimate gigs in its tiny cellar. The arrondissement is awash with bars which might be buzzing till late.

Lodging within the 18e spans all worth factors, from hip hostels akin to Plug Inn by way of to luxurious hideaways like Hôtel Particulier Montmartre, in a non-public mansion.

There’s additionally world-famous nightlife within the 2e arrondissement

Paris’ 2e arrondissement is one other nice alternative for experiencing town’s nightlife, with world-famous addresses akin to Harry’s New York Bar (inventor of the Bloody Mary, amongst different cocktails) and home and techno temple Le Rex Membership. Although small, the 2e has an excellent vary of accommodations catering to all budgets.

A tabletop showing a selection of bread, cheeses, olives and wine glasses. Diners, sitting around it, are poised with butter knives, ready to dig in.
Paris is thought for its distinctive meals, however which is the very best arrondissement for nice eating places? © lechatnoir / Getty Photographs

Foodies ought to keep within the restaurant-packed 11e (eleventh arrondissement) 

Because the capital of a rustic revered for its gastronomy, you may discover very good delicacies all around the metropolis, however sure arrondissements have an particularly good focus of divine eateries. A few of Paris’ most fun eating places are within the hyper-creative 11e, from hole-in-the-wall daytime cafes like Mokonuts to good neobistros together with Le Servan, Le 6 Paul Bert and Michelin-starred Septime, in addition to old-school favorites akin to Chez Paul.

Design accommodations, mere footsteps from the 11e’s finest locations to dine, embrace mid-range Hôtel Exquis and top-end Hôtel l’Antoine, and Hôtel Paris Bastille Boutet, which as soon as upon a time was a chocolate manufacturing unit.

However a number of the finest gourmand retailers are discovered within the 9e

Epicureans must also take a look at rue des Martyrs, within the 9e, which is lined with gourmand retailers (cheese, wine, jam and extra), award-winning boulangeries (bakeries) and patisseries (pastry retailers), and has some interesting accommodations inside strolling distance.