Best Neighborhoods in Paris to Walk Around

Most Charming Neighborhoods in Paris

This Paris Neighborhoods guide describes the best neighborhoods in Paris to walk around for tourists, highlighting the very best to see and do in each neighborhood. If you are in a hurry, jump straight to the Paris neighborhood list here.

Paris is one of the most popular tourist cities in the world. It’s beautiful, historical, and with fantastic food, art, and culture.

This city is also filled with charming 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 what Paris neighborhoods to visit! That’s why I am here to help you with a guide to the best neighborhoods Paris has to offer.

Table of Contents:

If you are in a hurry, here’s the list of the must-see neighborhoods in Paris:

• Les Halles Neighborhood
• Louvre Neighborhood
• Ile de la Cité Neighborhood
• Le Marais Neighborhood
• Montmartre Neighborhood
• Latin Quarter Neighborhood
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés Neighborhood
• Eiffel Tower Neighborhood

For your convenience, I’ve split this list of best neighborhoods in Paris to visit into Right Bank and Left Bank. This has an obvious logistics advantage: all the proposals are concentrated on the same side of Paris, so the walking and metro distances are optimized.

These best Paris neighborhoods are also good areas to stay in Paris, and have added some hotel suggestions for each one.

GOOD TO KNOW: the neighborhoods of Paris are not to be confused with the Arrondissements of Paris (or Districts of Paris), which are administrative divisions that usually group three to four neighborhoods. For more information on the Paris Arrondissements, check out my quick guide to the Arrondissements of Paris.

Best Neighborhoods in Paris to Visit on the Right Bank

To find your bearings, I 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 coolest 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, musicians, and many restaurants and bars catering to tourists.

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.

Where to Stay in Les Halles: Handsome Hotel by Elegancia (mid-range), Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (mid-range), Hotel Madame Rêve (luxury).

Saint-Germain-L’Auxerrois – Louvre Neighborhood (Paris 1)

The Quartier de Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, best known as the Louvre Neighborhood, is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris to visit and also one of the most popular places to stay in the city.

Located in the 1st arrondissement with the Seine River on the southern border, this neighborhood in Paris contains the legendary Louvre Palace, which today houses the Louvre Museum. The Louvre Museum is world-famous 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 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), and the Egyptian Obelisk in Place de la Concorde. Place de la Concorde is not part of the neighborhood but a stone’s throw from the Louvre.

Where to Stay in Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois: Hotel Britannique (mid-range), Hotel du Louvre (luxury), Le Meurice (palace). Best hotels near the Louvre.

Ile de La Cité Neighborhood (Paris 1 and 4)

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 in medieval Paris. Its location in the city’s center and numerous historical monuments make it one of the best neighborhoods to visit in Paris for tourists.

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 can explore the main things to do in this neighborhood with this free and self-guided Ile de la Cité walking tour.

You should also take the time to admire the 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.

Where to Stay 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, and it is 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 of Paris.

There are numerous things to do in Le Marais for every type of traveler. This Marais walking tour (self-guided) covers most of the highlights.

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 artist’s most iconic works. And if you want to learn more about the city, then spend some time at the Musée Carnavalet, which is dedicated to the history of Paris.

Where to Stay in Le Marais: Hotel Les Tournelles (mid-range), Cour des Vosges (luxury), Le Pavillon de la Reine & Spa (luxury). Best Hotels in Le Marais.

Montmartre Neighborhood (Paris 18)

Montmartre is one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Paris, if not the prettiest one! Once an independent village home to many bohemian artists, it’s now one of the best neighborhoods in Paris to walk around because of its unique charm.

Located on a hill in the 18th arrondissement, 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 my secret map of Montmartre, with all those lovely places that only the locals know.

Where to Stay in Montmartre: Timhotel Montmartre (budget), Jardins de Montmartre (mid-range), Hotel Particulier (mid-range). Best boutique hotels in Montmartre.

Best Paris Neighborhoods to Visit on the Left Bank

The Latin Quarter Neighborhood (Paris 5)

The Latin Quarter is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris to visit, and it’s located in the 5th arrondissement. 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 visit the Panthéon, a monument to some of the most remarkable men and women of French history, as well as the gardens and museums at Jardin des Plantes. You can explore the main things to do in this neighborhood with this free and self-guided Latin Quarter walking tour.

Where to Stay in the Latin Quarter: Hotel des Grandes Ecoles (mid-range), Hotel Les Dames du Panthéon (mid-range), Hotel Le Petit Paris (mid-range). Best hotels in the Latin Quarter.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Neighborhood (Paris 6)

Saint-Germain-des-Prés occupies a small area of the 6th Arrondissement, and is bordered by the River Seine and the Monnaie neighborhood in the north and the neighborhoods of Odéon and Notre-Dame-des-Champs in the south. Once home to some of the most famous artists of the roaring twenties, Saint-Germain is today one of the most charming neighborhoods in Paris.

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.

The main places to visit in this charming neighborhood are the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Delacroix Museum (located in the so-pretty Rue de Furstenberg), and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Some other things to do near Saint-Germain-des-Prés include taking a break in nature at the Luxembourg Gardens and marveling at the beauty and history of the Saint-Sulpice Church.

Where to Stay in Saint-Germain-des-Prés: Hotel d’Anglaterre (mid-range), Relais Christine (luxury), Hotel Lutetia (palace). Best hotels in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Gros Caillou – 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.

Where to Stay in the Gros Caillou Neighborhood: Hotel de la Paix -Tour Eiffel (mid-range), Derby Alma (mid-range), Le Narcisse Blanc (luxury)

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