What is the Best Arrondissement to Stay in Paris? – Quick Guide by a Local

Which Arrondissement to Stay in Paris?

One of the most frequently asked questions from visitors coming to Paris is, “What is the best Arrondissement to stay in Paris?“ The truth is, when it comes to where to stay in Paris, there is no one right or wrong answer.

What Arrondissement to stay in Paris very much depends on the sort of trip you’re planning. If this is your first trip to Paris and you’re planning on visiting many tourist attractions, then you’ll look for the best Paris Arrondissements for tourists.

If perhaps you’re planning a trip to Paris with kids, you’ll probably be interested to know about the best Arrondissement to stay in Paris for families or which Arrondissement to stay in Paris close to everything.

To help you decide on the best area to stay in Paris for your upcoming trip, we’ve written this guide, which contains the best Paris arrondissements ranked for different types of vacations. This guide covers the best areas to stay in Paris for a family trip, a first-time trip, a romantic trip, a more local experience, and more.

So without further ado, let’s find the Paris best Arrondissement to stay in for your upcoming vacation.

Before we start discussing which Arrondissement to stay in Paris, let us explain what precisely an Arrondissement is.

Arrondissements are administrative areas within Paris, which, in most cases, include many neighborhoods or different historical areas. In Paris, there are 20 different Arrondissements, all with their town hall (Mairie) and a mayor (Maire), as well as elected officials, a council, a politician, and so on.

An Arrondissement is not to be confused with the Parisian quartiers (Paris Neighborhoods) as an Arrondissement is a much larger area than the Parisian quartiers and, as stated above, quite often includes several different neighborhoods.

The 1st Arrondissement of Paris is in the center of the city. Then, the other Paris Arrondissements are located, forming a spiral turning clockwise to finish in the 20th Arrondissement in the east.

In this article, we provide not only the best Arrondissements to stay in Paris for your trip type but also the specific area or neighborhood inside the Arrondissement that we recommend.

We suggest reading this article together with our Arrondissements of Paris Guide, so you have more details on the local vibe and things to see and do in each district.

GOOD TO KNOW: What is the safest Arrondissement to stay in Paris? All the areas and neighborhoods suggested below are safe places to be and explore.

Le Marais is located just east of the city center, in both the 3rd and 4th Arrondissements. Yes, that’s right, half of Le Marais is in the 3rd Arrondissement, and half of it is located in the 4th Arrondissement. We recommend staying in the area of Le Marais located in the 4th Arrondissement due to its central location.

Le Marais is our personal best place to stay in Paris close to everything. First-time visitors will love walking around the area’s narrow streets, all lined with historic private mansions and gorgeous gardens. The area is also home to some of Paris’ top tourist sites, such as Place des Vosges, Hôtel de Ville, Centre Georges Pompidou, and Victor Hugo’s house. Nearby attractions also include Notre Dame Cathedral (temporarily closed) and the Sainte Chapelle, located on an island in the center of the River Seine.

Le Marais of Paris 4 is also home to the gay district of Paris (particularly around the streets of Hôtel de Ville), so you will see many rainbow flags in this area. Also, in Le Marais, you will find lovely cafés, typical Parisian bistros, vintage shops, and hidden gardens.

The Latin Quarter in the 5th Arrondissement is another of the best areas to stay in Paris, particularly for first-time visitors. Located on the Left Bank of the Seine River, just south of Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter is one of the city’s most central districts and perfect for sightseeing.

The 5th Arrondissement is well known for having a significant student presence, with several universities and higher education schools nearby. As such, you can also expect a lively student atmosphere with many little bars and cafés.

In this area of Paris, you will find beautiful medieval churches, charming squares, the Panthéon, the Cluny Museum, the Roman Arena, and the Jardin des Plantes.

Other top sights nearby include the Saint Germain-des-Près neighborhood and the Luxembourg Gardens.

The 1st Arrondissement of Paris is full of popular tourist attractions, world-famous landmarks, and some of the city’s most beautiful parks and museums. The area is well serviced by a range of hotels and public transport to enable visitors to quickly get around, making it a great choice if you’re after the best Arrondissement in Paris to stay for sightseeing.

Some of the most popular tourist attractions in the 1st Arrondissement include the Royal Palace, the Tuileries Gardens, the Conciergerie, the Louvre Museum, and the Seine River. The hotels near the Louvre Museum are specially researched because it is a lively historical neighborhood close to everywhere.

Other places to explore here include elegant squares such as Place Vendôme, Place Dauphine and Square du Vert Galant, the Covered Passages of Paris, and Les Halles, which historically is “the belly of Paris,” with many restaurants, food streets, and markets. You’ll be close to attractions like the Champs Elysées and its luxury shopping, the Opéra Garnier, and the Grands Boulevards.

Given this is the most central area in Paris, do expect to pay a bit more for hotels than you would in the nearby Arrondissements.

As well as the 1st Arrondissement, another of the best areas to stay in Paris for sightseeing is Ile de la Cité in the 4th Arrondissement. Located on a small island in the middle of the Seine River, this river island was the center of religious and civil life in Paris during Medieval times, and as such, there are many interesting sights here to explore.

The most famous landmark here is Notre Dame Cathedral (temporarily closed), but other popular tourist attractions include the Sainte Chapelle, the Conciergerie, and the Flowers Market. Given that Ile de la Cité is located in the middle of the Seine, this is also the perfect place to explore life along the river.

Within proximity to Ile de la Cité, you’ll also find Ile Saint Louis, which is a smaller and less touristy island than Ile de la Cité but very pleasant with seductive boutiques, historical buildings, and a small-town feel.

One of the lovely places to stay in Paris for a weekend of romance is Montmartre, a historical area in the 18th Arrondissement. Here, you can spend hours with your loved one wandering the narrow laneways lined with ivy-clad buildings, stunning multi-colored buildings, and trendy little cafés.

Perhaps the most well-known attraction in Montmartre is the Sacré Coeur, which sits high on top of a steep hill. Climb the stairs to the church for romantic views across Paris, where you can even see the Eiffel Tower in the distance. During your wanderings in Montmartre, be sure to see the nearby Wall Je T’aime with “I Love You” written in various languages.

Other attractions in the area include the romantic Museum of Montmartre, the Montmartre Cemetery, and various locations where the movie “Amélie” was filmed. Nearby, you can also see the world-famous cabaret, the Moulin Rouge.

For a romantic getaway to Paris, look no further than Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Located in the 6th Arrondissement, the neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Près is one of the cutest areas to stay in Paris. Here, you will find charming narrow streets filled with beautiful architecture, fancy art galleries, luxury boutiques, first-class restaurants, and lovely boutique hotels.

There is a great café culture alive in Saint-Germain-des-Près, and one of the best things to do here is to wander the cobbled streets until you find the perfect café to sit and relax while people-watching. Some great historic cafés that come to mind include Café Flore or Café Les Deux Magots.

Other things to do in the area include visiting the Saint-Germain-des-Près Church, joining a chocolate and pastries tour, or taking a stroll in the Luxembourg Gardens.

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Home to one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, the 7th Arrondissement is the perfect Arrondissement to stay in Paris for a 5-star experience.

While a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower or an apartment with an Eiffel Tower view would be fantastic if you stay in the area, no matter where you go, you will see this iconic attraction.

Other wonderful things to do in this Paris Arrondissement include a relaxing dinner cruise down the Seine or a more casual picnic at Champs de Mars. You can also explore the Musée d’Orsay and the gardens of Musée Rodin.

If you’re really out for a unique Parisian experience, the 7th Arrondissement is undoubtedly one of the best Districts to stay in Paris.

Click here to book the perfect hotel near the Eiffel Tower

2. Paris 8 (Champs Elysées)

HOTEL	CATEGORY	LOCATION	FAMILY ROOM	PRICE
Hotel Plaza Athénée	5 STARS	Paris 8	YES	View
Hotel San Régis	5 STARS	Paris 8	YES	View
Hotel de Crillon	5 STARS	Paris 8	YES	View
Pley Hotel	4 STARS	Paris 8	YES	View
Hotel Massena	3 STARS	Paris 8	YES	View

Nearby the Eiffel Tower District, but on the other side of the Seine River, why not enjoy the stunning views from the top of the Arc de Triomphe at sunset or go shopping at the Golden Triangle?

Paris 8 is one of the best Arrondissements to stay in Paris for an exclusive French trip. This is the Paris Arrondissement of chic stores, haute couture houses, and large art galleries at la Madeleine; Paris 8 is also the district of the busy Champs-Elysées, some of the most exclusive hotels in Paris, the Grand Palais, and the green enclosure of Parc Monceau.

Being within easy reach of the Tuileries Garden, the Louvre, and the First Arrondissement, Paris 8 also makes an excellent base for sightseeing in central Paris.

Click here to book a stunning hotel near the Champs Elysées

While above, we recommended the area of Montmartre in the 18th Arrondissement as a wonderful place to stay for a romantic weekend away; it’s also the place to stay to explore the quintessential bohemian side of Paris.

Montmartre is known as being the center of the flourishing artist community from 1907 through 1914. During this time and in later years, artists, including Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, Dali, and others, lived and worked here.

Still today, you can visit Place du Tertre, where the local artists can be found. Stop by and have one of these talented artists paint your portrait, or purchase one of their paintings as a great souvenir from your trip.

One of the best things to do in Montmartre is to spend hours exploring the narrow laneways. The streets are lovely, lined with ivy-clad buildings, stunning multi-colored buildings, and trendy little cafés. Other things to do include seeing the iconic stairs of Montmartre, the historical vineyards of Montmartre, and little cabarets such as Au Lapin Agile.

Also, nearby, you can visit the Marché des Puces de Saint Ouen for some vintage shopping.

If you’re not so much interested in all the Paris tourist attractions but instead would like to have a more local Paris experience, the Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th Arrondissement is the perfect district to base yourself on.

The area of Canal Saint-Martin is one of the coolest areas in the city. Spend your days and nights strolling along the banks of Canal Saint-Martin, where you’ll find a range of little bars, vintage boutiques, and great restaurants and cafés. You can even take a canal cruise or hire a bike to explore the area along the Canal.

Foodies will love the area of Canal Saint-Martin. There are many organic wine and cheese stores, as well as craft coffee shops and restaurants serving fantastic cuisine from across the globe.

Located in the northeast corner of the city, Belleville in the 20th Arrondissement of Paris is another excellent place to stay for those who want a more local experience during their trip to Paris. Belleville is quickly becoming a trendy area to live in and a great place to stay and explore the city, away from all the typical tourist attractions.

Perhaps the most well-known attraction near Belleville is the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Other things to do include exploring the Asian markets in rue de Belleville, seeing excellent street art, hanging out at trendy low-key bars, and exploring charming village-like streets dating back to a time when Belleville was outside the limits of Paris. Also, head to Parc de Belleville for great views of Paris (Eiffel Tower included!).

This is the district of students, easy-going and relaxed. The area has many cheap restaurants, and Rue Mouffetard is an excellent street market to browse.

Le Marais is also the best Arrondissement in Paris to stay for families. This part of Paris is more about cobbled streets, private mansions, and cute corners. It is also well surrounded, with lots of choices when it comes to cafés and restaurants.

Best Arrondissement Paris for UK travelers (and Thalys travelers)

If you want to visit Paris from London or from the neighboring countries of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, Paris 10 may be the best District in Paris to stay.

1. Gare du Nord (Paris 10)

HOTEL	CATEGORY	FAMILY ROOM	PRICE
Hotel Hor Europe	4 stars	YES	View
Libertel Gare du Nord Suede	3 stars	NO	View
Hotel d’Amiens	3 stars	NO	View
Hotel Mademoiselle	4 stars	YES	View
Hotel Les Deux Gares	4 stars	NO	View
25Hours Hotel Terminus Nord	4 stars	NO	View

So what is the best Arrondissement to stay in Paris for UK travelers and Thalys travelers? A real Parisian crossroads, Gare du Nord is close to Gare de l’Est and several metro lines (4, 5, 2), but also the Eurostar, Thalys, and Charles de Gaulle Airport, making it easy to visit Paris for UK travelers and other European travelers.

Admittedly, after a certain hour, the Gare du Nord district is not always the most pleasant, but the neighborhood does not lack charm. It is located near interesting places to see (the Canal Saint-Martin, Montmartre, and the Grands Boulevards), and the number of metro /RER lines stopping at the station makes it easy to get around the capital during a short stopover.

If there’s a metro strike in Paris, a hotel near Gare du Nord means you can reach the train station without any stress and on foot. This neighborhood in Paris is also ideal for early departures from Gare du Nord or Gare de l’Est.

Logically, there are quite a few hotels near the Gare du Nord, but advance reservation is often necessary to secure a bed. You will find good hotels in the “triangle” formed by Rue de Dunkerque, Rue La Fayette, and Boulevard Magenta. Small hotels or chain hotels, the choice will be from one to three stars, usually at better prices compared with the most-touristy neighborhoods in Paris.

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