A Local’s Guide to the Paris Arrondissements (Paris Districts) [2023 Update]

03/19/23

The Arrondissements of Paris are not to be confused with the Neighborhoods of Paris (Quartiers). Paris Neighborhoods like Belleville, Saint-Germain-des-Près, and many more, are historic divisions while the Arrondissements of Paris exist only since the 18th century. One Arrondissement usually includes many Paris Neighborhoods within its boundaries.

To find your bearings in Paris there is a little trick: if you look at the Arrondissements of Paris Map here below, 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.

If you don’t have a map of Paris Districts on hand, another way to easily figure out what city district you’re in is to look for the street signs that are affixed to the sides of buildings on pretty much every corner of the city. In addition to telling you what street you’re on, the plaques also show the Arrondissement.

The 1st Arrondissement of Paris is one of the must-see districts of Paris, home to some of the most famous buildings and landmarks in the French capital. This is the district of (half) Ile de la Cité and the Kings of France, with the Royal Palace, the Tuileries Gardens, the Louvre, and the Seine River, best enjoyed from the water on a Seine River cruise. 

The First Arrondissement is also the district of Les Halles. This Paris neighborhood, historically known as “the belly of Paris”, is less upmarket than the areas around the Louvre, but it has a good choice of accommodations and restaurants for all kinds of travelers.

Come to Paris 1 for its monuments and elegant squares, and to enjoy the banks of the Seine River.

The 2nd Arrondissement of Paris is the smallest district of Paris, a quiet and largely overlooked business district organized around the Old Stock Market. It also houses many textile businesses, so it’s the perfect district for those who want to shop for fabrics.

There are not many tourist sites in Paris 2, but it has beautiful architecture, and elegant covered passages, and it is home to several hidden gems ready to reward the determined traveler. Foodies in Paris will be very happy to walk along Rue Montorgueil, one of the best food streets in Paris.

Come to Paris 2 for its shopping, restaurants, bars, and cinemas.

Half of the famous Le Marais (which is neither an Arrondissement nor a District) is located in the 3rd Arrondissement of Paris.

Paris 3 is both a historical and trendy district, a maze of narrow streets where historic private mansions rub shoulders with hipster coffee shops. Visitors will find lots of high-end art galleries close to Beaubourg (which is in Paris 4), while some of the most beautiful private mansions host interesting museums today.

The third Arrondissement is also home to the first Chinese community in the city, so it is a good opportunity to find cheap and authentic (Asian) food on their streets.

Come to Paris 3 for its beautiful cafés and wine bars, vintage shops, private mansions, and art galleries.

The 4th Arrondissement of Paris is where you can find the other half of Le Marais, covering the territory south of rue Francs-Bourgeois and rue Rambuteau. It is also the district of Ile Saint Louis and the other half of Ile de la Cité.

Paris 4 is an ensemble of narrow streets, lined with historic private mansions and pretty gardens. It is also home to some of the city’s top sites, like the Centre Pompidou, Hôtel de Ville, and Notre Dame. For this reason and because of its central location, Paris 4 is often considered one of the best districts to stay in Paris for visitors.

The Fourth Arrondissement, and more precisely the streets around Hôtel de Ville, is also the gay district of Paris, and you will see many rainbow flags in this area. If you are looking for gay bars and events in Paris, the 4th arrondissement of Paris is the place to go.

Come to Paris 4 for its history, shopping, pleasant walks, and to enjoy the Seine’s Right Bank.

The 5th Arrondissement of Paris is where the Romans settled for the first time, founding the Roman city of Lutetia.

Much more than the touristy streets of the Latin Quarter, Paris 5 spreads south from Notre Dame, up past the Panthéon, and down towards the 13th and 14th Arrondissements. Its ancient streets contain a few remnants of the Roman Lutetia, medieval religious buildings, the historic core of the Sorbonne University, charming squares, and an array of living culture in the form of art house cinemas and curious bookstores.

Come to Paris 5 for its historical monuments, and lively student atmosphere.

When most people think of Paris, visions of the narrow streets and cafés of the Left Bank come to mind, and more precisely, those of the 6th Arrondissement. Indeed, the 6th Arrondissement of Paris is mainly known for its famous Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a meeting place for students, artists, and intellectuals at various times.

Still, visitors come to Paris 6 looking for this long-since-disappeared cool atmosphere, and they are ready to pay ridiculous prices in places like Café de Flore or Café Les Deux Magots.

Paris 6 is also home to Luxembourg Gardens, Saint Sulpice Church, beautiful architecture, and expensive art galleries, which, unfortunately, replaced all those little bookshops and printers that once populated the quartier to provide the universities nearby.

The 6th District of Paris is also a great place for foodies in Paris, with beautiful gourmet shops, and chocolate & pastry shops. Some of the most popular food tours in Paris explore and taste the latest trends in sweets in the pastry shops of Saint-Germain-des-Près.

Come to Paris 6 for luxury boutiques and art galleries and to follow Ernest Hemingway’s steps.

The 7th Arrondissement of Paris is the bourgeois district of the Eiffel Tower, and the Invalides, as well as big avenues and beautiful private mansions, transformed today into embassies and government buildings.

We must admit that we are not fans of Paris 7, but we like Rue Cler – one of the most famous market streets in Paris –, and the streets around Rue de Bac (Quartier Sèvres-Babylone), full of fashion shops and other beautiful stores.

Come to Paris 7 to see the Eiffel Tower, and other interesting museums like the Rodin Museum, the Orsay Museum, or the Quai Branly Museum.

The 8th Arrondissement of Paris is the district of fashion and luxury symbolized by the famous ‘Golden Triangle‘ formed by Rue Montaigne – Rue George V – Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

This is also the district of the Elysée Palace, the French President’s official residence, the Arc de Triomphe, beautiful 5-star historic hotels, and two of the best Cabarets in Paris. For all these reasons and more, Paris 8 is expensive, very expensive!

That said, Paris 8 has some of the best romantic places in all of Paris, from gorgeous museums to intriguing historic sites, and from jaw-dropping viewpoints to enchanting secret spots, you just need to know where to look.

Come to Paris 8 for luxury shopping and for beautiful views from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

With the 9th Arrondissement, Paris wanted to build a “New Athens” in the early 19th-century Romantic era. At that time, Paris 9 was the heart of intellectual life in the capital, hosting the likes of Georges Sand and Chopin.

Over the 20th century, parts of Paris 9 fell into seedy decline with the proliferation of brothels and then escort girl bars. The 21st century, however, is giving the area a hip makeover over and is now one of the city’s coolest districts of Paris.

With the Opéra Garnier and the Grands Magasins, the 9th Arrondissement has long been a classic destination for visitors, but there are plenty of hidden gems nestled amongst the well-known monuments and imposing Haussmannian architecture that we invite you to discover.

From the Pigalle neighborhood to the Opéra Garnier, explore a lively district with its old cafés, offices, and Grands Magasins, where you can still find true neighborhood life. Paris 9’s position, close to the Grands Boulevards and Montmartre, could be your best location to stay in the city to visit Paris’ main sights and to enjoy a little bit of nightlife.

Come to Paris 9 for its local life, and some great historical and contemporary sites.

Paris 10 is one of the coolest districts in Paris, eternally linked to Canal Saint-Martin waterway and its iron footbridges.

The 10th Arrondissement is also the district of two big train stations: Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est, with an always busy and popular (sometimes sketchy) atmosphere around.

The 21st century has given new life to this popular Arrondissement of Paris, and today Paris 10 is a district of bobos (bohemian-bourgeois Parisians), with agreeable cafés, vintage shops, cool bars, and excellent restaurants.

Come to Paris 10 for a stroll along the Canal Saint-Martin, vintage shopping, and evening aperós (or picnics) along the Canal’s banks. Some bars at Rue de Faubourg Saint-Denis are also worth a detour.

Located in the east of Paris, the 11th Arrondissement lies between the squares Nation, Bastille, and République and occupies part of what was once the Faubourg Saint Antoine and the Faubourg du Temple.

Under the shadow of the formidable Bastille Prison, the district flourished during the reign of King Louis XIV. Feeding Versailles’ hunger for refined furnishings, the Sun King made it a tax-free zone for furniture-makers and other craftsmen.

This working-class district later became a revolutionary hotbed, especially during the June 1832 Rebellion (also known as the Paris uprising of 1832), which was Victor Hugo’s inspiration for his legendary book Les Misérables.

During the 19th century, with industrialization, the 11th Arrondissement saw the construction of many factories, especially in the fields of textiles, metals, glass, and ceramics. Some of these factories still exist, converted into trendy hotels, shops, or 21st-century museums like the Atelier des Lumières.

Today, Paris 11 retains its working-class roots, and its revolutionary spirit is now manifested in the form of inventive restaurants, hip cafés, and creative shops. It is also known for its night activity and festive character, with very cool places to party for people under 25:  Lautrec, Mansart, Sans Souci, Chez Moune, and le Carmen for those looking for the long run …

The 12th Arrondissement of Paris is one of the main residential areas of Paris. Also, it has the honor of being the greenest district of Paris, home of Parc Floral, Bois de Vincennes, and Parc de Bercy.

Paris 12 may not be one of the must-see districts of this Paris Arrondissements guide, but it is home to one of Paris’ best markets, the city’s best promenade, quirky historic sites, and other lovely delights. A stroll along La Coulée Verte or a glass of wine at Bercy Village are always a good excuse to visit Paris 12.

As you can see on the Paris Arrondissements map, the 13th Arrondissement of Paris occupies the far southeast of Paris, on the Seine Left Bank.

A kind of no man’s land with a very popular character and a strong Chinese population, this district of Paris has some cool things to see and do, like the arty Butte-Aux-Cailles neighborhood, some quintessential Paris bistros, or its incredible Street Art.

Formerly dotted with little villages and convents, Paris 13 was bisected by the Bièvre River, Paris’ second river. Due to pollution from the tanneries and factories that bordered its banks, the Bièvre River was gradually filled over during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The construction of the French National Library in the 1980s helped put the district back on the map, and the area around the building was revamped with avant-garde architecture, trendy bars along the Seine’s bank, and incredible street art.

The Mural Program in Paris 13 invited the world’s most renowned street artists to give some color to this district of Paris. If you are a curious visitor, we urge you to give it a chance!

Although the 14th Arrondissement isn’t on everyone’s list of best Districts in Paris, this mostly residential area in the south of the city has some lovely attributes, especially for locals or frequent travelers.

Paris 14 is also the district of Parc Montsouris, one of the most beautiful parks in Paris, and some of the most interesting sights in our Paris Underground Guide, like the Catacombs of Paris or the Carrières des Capucins.

In Paris 14, we like the Cité Universitaire de Paris, with its architecture from the four corners of the world and its student atmosphere, but there are also legendary cafés, quirky theaters, hidden gardens, and some gorgeous cobbled streets.

If you are looking for a residential arrondissement, Paris 15 is the place to go. Located in the southwest of Paris, the 15th Arrondissement is the largest in the city and also the most populated.

Definitely a family district, very quiet, and with no big-name sites or a special charm, Paris 15 is for us too far from everything.

Built predominantly during the second half of the 19th century, the 16th Arrondissement is the “posh” district of this Paris Arrondissement Guide, with beautiful Art Nouveau Architecture and a few interesting, lesser-known museums.

In Paris 16, you are never far from the Bois de Boulogne, perfect for running, a picnic, or just a lazy day on the grass. Le Chalet des Iles is a magical place for a romantic soirée.

This upscale residential district is also home to some of the palace hotels and 5-star hotels in Paris, like the Peninsula Hotel, or Hotel Raphael, and their elaborated rooftop bars are a cool place to enjoy fantastic views of Paris with your favorite cocktail in hand.

No matter which street you wander down, you’ll inevitably discover beautiful buildings, squares, and gardens. Come to Paris 16 to see the beautiful Art Nouveau Architecture and its interesting museums.

Located in the northwest of Paris, this area was mostly occupied by royal hunting grounds until the French Revolution.

In the 19th century, the area evolved into three zones, all annexed as part of greater Paris in 1860: merchant Quartier de Ternes, bourgeois Quartier Monceau, and the arty Quartier de Batignolles. The latest, Batignolles, still retains its charming village atmosphere.

Come to Paris 17 if you’re looking for the exquisitely authentic Haussmannien Paris.

This is the most paradoxical of the 20 arrondissements of Paris. It is home to the old village of Montmartre, one of the quintessential (and most visited) areas in Paris, but there are also popular zones long forgotten by everybody.

Yes, Montmartre, with its winding cobbled streets, is here, but there’s also Little India, Africa, and the infamous Goutte d’Or neighborhood.

In this Guide to Paris Arrondissements, we consider that there are no Paris Districts to avoid, but we prefer not to recommend neighborhoods like La Chapelle or La Goutte d’Or, both located in Paris 18. If you want to stay in the 18th District of Paris for its bohemian, oh-so-Parisian atmosphere, be sure your hotel or apartment is located north of Blanche, Pigalle, or Anvers metro stations, and you won’t be wrong.

Come to Paris 18 to see Bohemian Montmartre, the Sacré Coeur, the Paris of Movies (Amélie, Midnight in Paris), and the Moulin Rouge

The 19th Arrondissement of Paris is where World in Paris has its headquarters. The 19th District of Paris is a popular district perfect for those looking to escape the crowds and experience unique, offbeat Paris.

Paris 19, a former industrial area developed along Canal de l’Ourcq, is today home to the trendy area of Canal de l’Ourcq – Parc de la Villette, the lovely Parc Buttes-Chaumont, as well as a number of other secret charms.

Located in the northeast corner of the city, Paris 20 was a few years ago the cheapest district in Paris to live in, that’s why so many young Parisian couples moved to the 20th Arrondissement of Paris. Today, Paris 20 is one of the trendiest and most authentic districts of Paris, and all this without tourists!

Best known for being home to Père Lachaise Cemetery, there is no shortage of things to do in Paris 20, with Asian markets, art-filled streets, trendy low-key bars, and the most charming village-like pockets, harking back to when it was outside the limits of Paris. Last but not least, the Parc de Belleville offers some of the best views of Paris.

Come to Paris 20 if you want to enjoy Paris like a local.

Paris Districts F.A.Q.

What is the best arrondissement to stay in Paris?

It depends on what you are looking for. Have lots of money and want to be close to everything? Then choose Paris 1 or Paris 2. Looking for some cool local life, far from the crowds? Paris 20 might suit you very well. Looking for a party? Stay in Paris 11 . . .

What is the best area to stay in Paris for sightseeing?

The best area to stay in Paris for sightseeing, in our opinion, is Paris 1 and Paris 4.

What is the best place to stay in Paris close to everything?

The best place to stay in Paris close to everything is, without any doubt, the central Paris Arrondissements: Paris 1, Paris 4, Paris 5, and Paris 6.

Are there no-go zones in Paris?

In general, there are no Arrondissements in Paris to avoid, but we have our little list of places that might be best avoided, like the Eiffel Tower on a Saturday afternoon in summer, Chatelet Metro Station (we always get lost there!), or the Parisian metro at rush hour 😉

What if we are looking for non-touristy things to do in Paris?

You are in the right place! Check our posts by arrondissement, where we tell you where to sleep, eat, and play like a local in Paris.

We hope that you enjoyed this Arrondissements Paris Guide and that it was helpful to plan your next trip to Paris

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