How to Choose Where to Stay in Paris (And Where to Avoid)

The first time we visited Paris, we did what plenty of first-timers do. We found a deal on a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower and booked it. We thought we had all of it discovered.

The reality was that we spent half of our trip on the metro just attempting to get to the neighbourhoods where we actually desired to spend our time. We were so focused on seeing that famous landmark from our window that we missed out on the actual feel of the town.

On our next visit, we stayed in a small flat in Le Marais, and it modified all the things. Our days began with grabbing fresh croissants from the bakery downstairs and ended with a glass of wine at a sidewalk cafe. We finally understood that crucial decision you’ll make when planning your trip isn’t which museums to see first, but which neighbourhood you’ll call home.

After greater than a decade of travelling back to our favourite city, we’ve learned loads. This guide is our way of sharing that first-hand knowledge with you. It’s not an inventory of each hotel in Paris. It’s our straightforward, experience-based advice to enable you to select the proper home base to your travel style, so you may spend less time on the metro and more time living your Paris dream.

The Best Areas to Stay in Paris at a Glance

Don’t have time to read the entire post? Here are our top hotel suggestions in several Paris neighborhoods based on our travels.

• For Your First Visit: Saint-Germain-des-Prés on the Left Bank (in Paris)
• For Food and Nightlife: Le Marais
• For Art and a Village Feel: Montmartre
• For a Local Vibe: The Latin Quarter (home to the Jardin du Luxembourg)
• For Luxury and Shopping: 1st Arrondissement (The Louvre)

Watch Our Video on the Best Paris Neighbourhoods

Understanding Paris’s Arrondissements

Before we dive into one of the best neighbourhoods, it helps to understand how Paris is laid out. The city is split into 20 administrative districts called arrondissements.

Imagine a snail shell. The 1st arrondissement is on the centre, and the remaining spiral outwards clockwise. As a general rule, the lower the number, the more central you might be. Most of the foremost tourist sights and the neighbourhoods we recommend for a primary or second visit are in single-digit arrondissements (1 through 9). It’s a straightforward system that makes navigating the town much easier when you get the hang of it.

The Best Neighbourhoods to Stay in Paris (Our First-Hand Experience)

Le Marais (Arrondissements 3 & 4) – Best for Foodies and Culture

The Vibe

Le Marais is one of the crucial dynamic areas in Paris. It’s a collision of history and modern energy. You’ll find grand Seventeenth-century mansions and exquisite squares just like the Place des Vosges alongside trendy fashion boutiques, contemporary art galleries, and a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene. Its narrow, medieval streets are lively, full of bakeries, falafel shops, and wine bars.

Our Personal Take

This is the neighbourhood that made us fall in love with Paris all yet again. We love you can spend an entire day here with out a set plan. Our favourite thing to do is grab a falafel on Rue des Rosiers and eat it within the Place des Vosges, watching the town go by. It’s a spot for wandering, getting a little bit lost, and discovering your personal favourite cafe or courtyard.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Very central and walkable to many attractions just like the Louvre, Notre Dame and museums like The Picasso Museum and the Centre Pompidou. An incredible food scene for all budgets. Lively atmosphere day and night.
• Cons: It could be certainly one of the costlier areas to remain. The popular streets get very crowded, especially on weekends.

Hotel Recommendations in Le Marais

• Luxury Pick: Le Pavillon de la Reine & Spa. An elegant hotel tucked away from the road in a quiet courtyard right on the Place des Vosges. It’s a peaceful escape from the busy neighbourhood.
• Mid-Range Pick: Hôtel Jeanne d’Arc. An amazing value hotel on a quieter street but still just a number of minutes walk from the motion. The rooms are easy, clean, and comfy.
• Apartment Style: CMG Rambuteau/Archives. Renting a small flat is our favourite approach to stay in Le Marais. It permits you to live like an area, shopping on the markets and bakeries.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Arrondissement 6) – Best for First-Timers & Romance

The Vibe

If you have got a classic, romantic image of Paris in your mind, intellectuals debating in historic cafes, art galleries lining cobblestone streets, and exquisite Haussmannian buildings at every turn, you’re probably pondering of Saint Germain des Pres. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and residential to iconic cafes, luxury boutiques, and the peaceful Luxembourg Gardens. This is the historic heart of Parisian literary and artistic life on the Left Bank. In our opinion, it’s the proper location for a romantic getaway.

Our Personal Take

This is the neighbourhood we all the time recommend to friends visiting Paris for the primary time. It seems like you’ve stepped right right into a movie set. One of our favourite travel memories is solely sitting at an outside table at Les Deux Magots, sipping a coffee, and just watching the world go by. It’s the quintessential Paris experience, and it never gets old. hotel location here means you might be in walking distance of so many iconic sights, which is essential to exploring Paris without stress.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: The classic Parisian atmosphere is undeniable. It’s centrally situated and excellent for walking to the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Notre Dame. It’s a wonderful and really protected area.
• Cons: This is one of the crucial expensive neighbourhoods in Paris for each hotels and dining. It gets plenty of tourist traffic through the day.

Hotel Recommendations in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

• Luxury Pick: Hotel Lutetia. A landmark hotel in the realm that blends Art Deco history with modern luxury. It’s a real five-star experience with an incredible spa.
• Mid-Range Pick: Hôtel de Buci. An enthralling hotel with classic Parisian decor, including balconies overlooking the full of life Rue de Buci market street. The location is excellent for exploring.
• Boutique Pick: Hotel Dame des Arts. This lovely boutique hotel has a incredible rooftop bar with incredible views, letting you see the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night.

Montmartre (Arrondissement 18) – Best for Art and a Village Feel

The Vibe

Perched on a big hill within the north of Paris, Montmartre seems like a village that has been preserved in time. With its winding cobblestone streets, ivy-covered buildings, and wealthy artistic history (it was once home to artists like Picasso and Van Gogh) it has a singular atmosphere that’s completely different from the grand boulevards of central Paris. The area is crowned by the magnificent Sacré-Cœur Basilica and is legendary for the artists painting portraits within the Place du Tertre.

Our Personal Take

We love escaping to Montmartre for a day. After climbing the numerous stairs to the highest, we prefer to bypass the busiest crowds on the basilica and wander off within the side streets behind it. That’s where you discover the actual heart of the neighbourhood. We found a tiny cafe there on our last trip and just watched the local life unfold. It’s a component of Paris that actually rewards a little bit of wandering.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: It has a singular and picturesque village atmosphere. You can often find cheaper, mid-priced hotel options here, including some great budget hotels. The views of the town from the hilltop are spectacular.
• Cons: It’s situated removed from the town center, so that you’ll be using the metro loads. The area around Sacré-Coeur is one of the crucial crowded spots in Paris. The steep hills could be difficult to walk.

Hotel Recommendations in Montmartre

• Boutique Pick: Hôtel Monsieur Aristide. A classy and modern small boutique hotel with a give attention to sustainability.
• Mid-Range Pick: Terrass” Hôtel. The foremost draw of this hotel room is its incredible rooftop terrace and bar and you might be only a stones throw from Sacré-Cœur.
• Apartment Style: Montmartre Residence. Offers modern and spacious apartments, some with a settee bed or adjoining rooms making them ideal for families.

The Latin Quarter (Arrondissement 5) – Best for a Local Vibe & History

The Vibe

The Latin Quarter is the historic student hub of Paris, home to the Sorbonne University. This gives the neighbourhood a full of life, bohemian, and mental energy you won’t find anywhere else. The streets are a maze of narrow medieval lanes full of old bookshops, including the famous Shakespeare and Company, inexpensive bistros, arthouse cinemas, and jazz clubs. It’s a spot that buzzes with history, an authentic slice of medieval Paris.

Our Personal Take

We love the raw energy of the Latin Quarter. It feels less polished than other central districts, and that’s what makes it great. We all the time make a degree to wander off here for a number of hours, browsing the old bookstalls along the Seine before finding certainly one of the numerous incredible restaurants for a classic, no-frills French meal. It’s among the finest places in Paris to search out a delicious and inexpensive dinner.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: A really full of life and energetic atmosphere. It has a few of one of the best budget-friendly food in the town. The location is central and walkable to Notre Dame and the Luxembourg Gardens.
• Cons: The foremost streets could be very noisy and crowded, especially at night. It’s a preferred spot for each tourists and students, so it’s all the time busy.

Hotel Recommendations within the Latin Quarter

• Historic Pick: Hôtel Saint-Paul Rive-Gauche. This hotel is ready in a Seventeenth-century constructing that was once a Franciscan convent. It’s a wonderful, historic property on a quiet street. Every hotel room comes with a non-public bathroom and modern comforts.
• Mid-Range Pick: The fifth Hôtel. A comfortable and vibrant hotel with a friendly atmosphere. It’s known for its excellent breakfast buffet and is an amazing location for exploring.
• Boutique Pick: Hôtel La Lanterne & Spa. A contemporary and classy boutique hotel with a wonderful indoor swimming pool and spa, which is a rare find on this historic a part of the town.

1st Arrondissement (The Louvre) – Best for Luxury and Shopping

The Vibe

The 1st Arrondissement is the geographical and historical centre of Paris, and where we stayed on our last visit to Paris. This is where you’ll find the masters on the Louvre Museum, the manicured Tuileries Garden, and the opulent Place Vendôme. The vibe is grand, elegant, and opulent. The streets are lined with high-end designer boutiques, famous jewellers, and five-star hotels with iconic histories. It’s the Paris of royalty and runway shows.

Our Personal Take

Staying in the first Arrondissement makes you are feeling like you might be on the centre of the universe. Everything appears to be just a brief walk away. We love starting a morning with a walk through the Tuileries Garden before the crowds arrive. While it’s not a neighbourhood known for its cozy, local feel, you may’t beat the convenience and the sheer grandeur of the architecture that surrounds you.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: It is probably the most central location in Paris, making it incredibly convenient for sightseeing on foot. It’s perfect for museum lovers and high-end shoppers.
• Cons: This is the costliest area of Paris. It can feel very tourist-heavy and lacks the local, neighbourhood feel of other districts.

Hotel Recommendations in the first Arrondissement

• Ultimate Luxury: Le Meurice. An iconic “palace hotel” with extravagant decor, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and impeccable service. It overlooks the Tuileries Garden.
• Historic Pick: Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal. Located right next to the Palais Royal garden, this hotel offers a quiet and stylish retreat from the busy streets. Many rooms have private balconies.
• Boutique Pick: Maison Armance. A smaller, more intimate hotel situated on the upper floors of a constructing on the famous Rue Saint-Honoré, offering a singular and chic Parisian experience.

Where to Avoid Staying in Paris

While every neighbourhood in Paris has its own unique qualities, not all of them are perfect for a first-time or short-term visitor. Our advice isn’t about which areas are “bad,” but fairly which of them could be inconvenient or not offer you the experience you’re on the lookout for on a primary trip.

Based on our experience, we advise pondering twice before booking a hotel in these areas:

• Near Major Train Stations (Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon): While it may appear convenient to your arrival and departure, the immediate areas around the key train stations could be gritty and lack the Parisian atmosphere most visitors dream of. It’s higher to remain in a more central neighbourhood and easily take a taxi or the metro to the station when you might want to.
• Right by the Eiffel Tower (seventh Arrondissement): This could be a surprise, but we learned this lesson the hard way. The residential areas immediately surrounding the Eiffel Tower are surprisingly quiet and a bit faraway from the colourful, bustling heart of the town. You’ll spend plenty of time travelling to other neighbourhoods for food and sightseeing. It’s a powerful place to go to, but not one of the best home base.
• The Outer Arrondissements (nineteenth, twentieth, etc.): While these districts offer a more local and budget-friendly experience, they’re generally too removed from the town centre for a typical tourist visit. You’ll likely spend a significant slice of your beneficial time on the metro just attending to and from the foremost attractions.

Final Tips for Booking Your Stay in Paris

You’ve chosen your favourite neighbourhood, and also you’re almost able to book. Before you do, listed below are a number of final pieces of recommendation we’ve learned over time to be sure your stay is as smooth as possible.

• Book Far in Advance: Paris is one of the crucial visited cities on Earth, and one of the best hotels and apartments get booked up months ahead of time, especially through the spring and summer. To get one of the best selection and price, we recommend booking a minimum of 3 to six months prematurely.
• Check Proximity to a Metro Station: Your feet will thanks for this. Before you book, pull up a map and see how close your hotel is to a metro stop. Being a 2-minute walk versus a 15-minute walk from the metro makes an enormous difference. A convenient location with quick access to multiple metro lines will prevent a ton of time.
• Read the Most Recent Reviews: Don’t just take a look at the general rating of a hotel. Take a minute to read the three or 4 most up-to-date reviews. They provides you with probably the most current picture of your chosen Paris hotel’s cleanliness, service, and any potential issues.
• Don’t Obsess Over an Eiffel Tower View: We said it before, nevertheless it’s price repeating. An amazing neighbourhood experience will all the time be more memorable than a view of a landmark out of your room. Stay in a spot with character and visit the sights. You’ll have a significantly better trip.

Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay in Paris

Your Perfect Trip to Paris

Choosing the proper neighbourhood is step one to an unforgettable trip to Paris. We hope this guide, based on our own experiences, has made that call a little bit easier. The most significant thing is to choose a house base that matches your style, allowing you to get on the market and create your personal amazing travel memories.

If you have got any more questions, be at liberty to ask within the comments below!