Most Charming Neighborhoods in Paris
Paris is one of the most popular tourist cities in the world. It’s beautiful, historical, and modern at the same time, filled with fantastic food, art, and culture.
This city is also filled with charming Paris neighborhoods, each with its attractions and appeal, perfect for any trip to Paris. In fact, there are so many great places in this city that you might have trouble choosing between the best neighborhoods in Paris to visit! That’s why we’re here to help you with a guide to the best neighborhoods Paris has to offer, highlighting the very best to see and do in each area.
GOOD TO KNOW: the neighborhoods of Paris are not to be confused with the Arrondissements of Paris (Districts of Paris), administrative divisions that usually group three to four Paris neighborhoods. For more information on the Paris Arrondissements, check out our quick guide to the Arrondissements of Paris.
Best Paris Neighborhoods to Visit
When planning a trip to the French capital, it looks best to see it from the most charming neighborhoods in Paris. To find your bearings, we added the Arrondissement (Paris 1, Paris 2, …) where these must-see neighborhoods in Paris are located.
Les Halles Neighborhood (Paris 1)
The neighborhood of Les Halles is one of the liveliest neighborhoods in Paris. It’s located around Les Halles – the former central marketplace of Paris – which was the local fresh food market until it was torn down in 1971.
Today, an underground mall is the showpiece of Les Halles and sees more than 150,000 people every day. Above the ground, there are street performers, mimes, musicians, and other entertainment on every street corner.
The Les Halles shopping mall is the central attraction in this busy Paris neighborhood, but the beautiful Saint-Eustache Church, with its world-famous church organ, is also worth visiting. You should also take the time to see the recently inaugurated La Bourse du Commerce, formerly a grain exchange and now home to the Pinault Collection.
Best Hotels in Les Halles: Handsome Hotel by Elegancia (mid-range), Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (mid-range), Hotel Madame Rêve (luxury)
Louvre Neighborhood (Paris 1)
The Quartier de Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, best known as the Louvre Neighborhood, is one of the must-see neighborhoods in Paris and also one of the most popular places to stay in the city, which is why hotels near the Louvre tend to sell out fast!
Located in the 1st arrondissement with the Seine River on the southern border, this Paris neighborhood contains the legendary Louvre Palace, which today houses the Louvre Museum. The Louvre Museum is world known for its extensive collection of some of the best artwork in the world!
But there’s much more to do and see in this neighborhood in Paris than just the museum. It’s also home to the famous Tuileries Garden, commissioned by Queen Cathérine de Medici in 1564, and a wonderful place to enjoy a more peaceful atmosphere. While you’re there, you should also take the time to explore the Orangerie Museum, the Jeau de Paume (art center), the Pont Neuf, and the Egyptian Obelisk in Place de la Concorde – not part of the Louvre neighborhood but a stone’s throw from the Louvre.
Best Hotels in Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois – Louvre: Hotel Britannique (mid-range), Hotel du Louvre (luxury), Le Meurice (palace)
Ile de La Cité Neighborhood (Paris 1 and 4)
If you want to explore medieval Paris, then this neighborhood is for you. Ile de la Cité is a small island in the middle of the Seine River which was the center of the royal and religious powers during the Middle Ages in Paris. Its location in the city’s center and numerous historical monuments make it one of the best neighborhoods in Paris to visit.
While you’re on Ile de la Cité, you’ll have easy access to some of the best sites in the city. This includes Notre Dame Cathedral, with its famous Gothic architecture, and La Conciergerie, the oldest part of the Palais de la Cité, where Queen Marie-Antoinette was housed before her execution.
You should also take the time to explore the regal architecture and stunning stained glass windows at the Sainte-Chapelle. You’ll also want to take a picture in front of the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, and stretch out on the grass out of the heat in the park at Square du Vert Galant, dominated by the statue of King Henri IV.
Best Hotels near Ile de la Cité: Hotel Esmeralda (budget), Les Rives de Notre Dame (mid-range), Hotel Le Notre Dame Saint-Michel (mid-range)
Le Marais Neighborhood (Paris 3 and Paris 4)
Le Marais is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Paris that’s known for its contrasts. This is where you’ll find gay bars, historical private mansions, art galleries, and one of the oldest Jewish communities in Paris. Stylish and hip, it’s located in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements on the Right Bank of the Seine.
There are numerous things to do in Le Marais for every type of traveler. You can spend time in the Place des Vosges, one of the most beautiful royal squares in Paris, which is a great place to shop, eat, or just people-watch.
The Musée Picasso is also located in this neighborhood in Paris, where you can explore some of the artists’ most iconic works. And if you want to learn more about the city, then spend some time at the Musée Carnavalet, the museum dedicated to the history of Paris.
Best Hotels in Le Marais: Hotel Les Tournelles (mid-range), Cour des Vosges (luxury), Le Pavillon de la Reine & Spa (luxury)
The Latin Quarter Neighborhood (Paris 5)
The Latin Quarter is one of the best neighborhoods to visit in Paris, and it’s located in the 5th arrondissement on the left bank of the Seine. Thanks to the La Sorbonne – the oldest university in Paris – and other historical colleges, the Latin Quarter is a lively neighborhood full of students. This Paris neighborhood is also where you can get a glimpse into the Lutetia – Roman Paris.
If you’re interested in the past, spend some time exploring the Arènes de Lutèce, the most important Roman ruins in the city, and the Musée Cluny or Museum of the Middle Ages, which also contains the remains of the Roman baths. The Place de la Contrescarpe is also worth exploring and was the opening setting for Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. While you are there, check out Rue de Mouffetard, a paradise for food lovers.
You’ll find no shortage of things to do in the Latin Quarter, from bookshop hopping and independent cinemas to soaking up the lively atmosphere. Make sure you see the Panthéon, modeled after the building in Rome and a monument to some of the most remarkable men and women of French history, including Marie Curie and Victor Hugo. You can also explore the gardens and museums at Jardin des Plantes.
Best Hotels in the Latin Quarter: Hotel des Grandes Ecoles (mid-range), Hotel Les Dames du Panthéon (mid-range), Hotel Le Petit Paris (mid-range)
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Neighborhood (Paris 6)
Once home to some of the most famous artists of the roaring twenties, Saint-Germain is today one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Paris. Located in the 6th arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is bordered by the River Seine in the north and the Rue du Four in the south.
This Paris neighborhood is famous for its connection to Ernest Hemingway, and you can still visit some of the writer’s most beloved haunts while you’re in the neighborhood. Today, it’s filled with celebrities, art galleries, and high-class restaurants. It also contains some of the best historical cafés in Paris, like Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots.
Some other things to do in Saint-Germain-des-Prés include taking a break in nature at the Luxembourg Gardens and marveling at the beauty and history of the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés or the Saint-Sulpice Church.
Best Hotels in Saint-Germain-des-Prés: Hotel d’Anglaterre (mid-range), Relais Christine (luxury), Hotel Lutetia (palace)
Eiffel Tower Neighborhood (Paris 7)
You can’t visit Paris without seeing the iconic landmark that is the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower Neighborhood is, in reality, part of the Gros Caillou neighborhood, which also includes the Champs de Mars. It offers an array of large avenues, amazing architecture, museums, restaurants, and beautiful hotels with Eiffel Tower views.
This is one of the top places to pinpoint on the Paris neighborhood map, and it is located on the Left Bank. The departure point of most of the city’s Seine River Cruises, it offers a mix of convenience and beauty that makes Paris so magical.
In this neighborhood, you will also find the Musée du Quai Branly, a museum featuring the indigenous art and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, the unique Paris Sewer Museum, and Rue Cler, one of the best food streets in Paris.
Best Hotels in the Eiffel Tower Neighborhood: Hotel de la Paix -Tour Eiffel (mid-range), Derby Alma (mid-range), Le Narcisse Blanc (luxury)
Montmartre Neighborhood (Paris 18)
Montmartre is one of the most iconic neighborhoods of Paris. Once an independent village home to many bohemian artists, it’s now one of the best Paris neighborhoods to visit because of its unique charm.
Montmartre is the best neighborhood in Paris to stay out of the city center. Located on a hill in the 18th arrondissement, Montmartre is in the northern part of the city and part of the Right Bank. This is where you’ll find the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the Musée Dali with its surrealistic works of art, and the iconic Moulin Rouge, one of the top cabarets in Paris.
Just steps from the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, you’ll find the Place du Tertre, the main square of the former Montmartre village, and the Musée de Montmartre, home to a collection of artworks that depicts the history of the neighborhood. You should also have a quick eat in the Maison Rose and explore Le Consulat, one of the oldest cafés in Montmartre.
If you have already visited the main sights of this neighborhood in Paris, check out our secret map of Montmartre, with all those lovely places that only the locals know.
Best Hotels in Montmartre: Timhotel Montmartre (budget), Jardins de Montmartre (mid-range), Hotel Particulier (mid-range)
