Which neighborhood should you stay in when visiting Paris? Our guide by arrondissement
The historic center, the Left Bank, Montmartre, or the 15th arrondissement: the neighborhood often matters more than the hotel itself. Here are our tips for choosing where to stay in Paris to suit your trip.
Before comparing hotels, you need to choose your neighborhood. In Paris, the arrondissement determines almost everything: your daily commute, the atmosphere in the evening, the room rate, and even how well you sleep. The same budget won't get you the same experience in the 1st arrondissement as it will in the 15th.
Our hotels are located across eight arrondissements, which gives us a very practical perspective on the issue. Here’s how we advise our guests, depending on the reason for their visit to Paris.
First trip to Paris: Head for the city center
If this is your first visit and you want to see everything on foot, the 1st and 2nd arrondissements are hard to beat. Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Marais, and Les Halles are all within a fifteen-minute walk of each other, and every major metro line runs through the area.
The downside: it's the busiest part of the city, and prices reflect that. It's also where the quality of restaurants varies the most.
Our hotels: our hotel near the Marais and Notre-Dame, on Avenue Victoria, and our hotel near the Louvre Museum, on Rue Marsollier, which is a little quieter in the evening.
Historic and Cultural Paris: The Left Bank
The 5th arrondissement is the Paris you imagine before you arrive: cobblestone streets, bookstores, the Panthéon, and the Luxembourg Gardens just ten minutes away. The neighborhood is lively without being noisy, and far more affordable than the historic center on the Right Bank.
The 13th arrondissement, a little further south, offers the same tranquility with direct access to Gare d'Austerlitz—a good option if you're arriving by train from the southwest.
Our hotels: our 3-star hotel in the Latin Quarter, on Rue Saint-Jacques, and our hotel near the Jardin des Plantes, on Boulevard Saint-Marcel.
Shopping, theaters, and department stores: the 2nd and 9th
The Grands Boulevards area is home to Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, the Opéra Garnier, and a good number of Paris's theaters and venues. It's the perfect neighborhood for outings that include an evening at the theater and a day of shopping—all without ever taking the metro.
Our hotels: our hotel on the Grands Boulevards, on Rue Montmartre, and the Hôtel Léman Opéra, on Rue de Trévise, a ten-minute walk from the Opéra Garnier.
Paris by Night: The 10th and 18th Arrondissements
If you're coming mainly for the atmosphere, the terraces, and the bars, Canal Saint-Martin and Montmartre are the two neighborhoods to consider. The 10th arrondissement is younger, more creative, and very well connected to the rest of the city. The 18th arrondissement has retained its village-like atmosphere high above the city, with the Sacré-Cœur and the streets of Abbesses.
Good to know: These neighborhoods stay lively late into the night, which can be a plus or a minus depending on your sleep habits.
Our hotels: our hotel near Canal Saint-Martin and our hotel near Sacré-Cœur.
The Eiffel Tower and western Paris: the 15th arrondissement
The 15th is Paris's largest residential arrondissement: grocery stores, markets, quiet streets in the evening, and noticeably lower prices than in the city center. It's the ideal choice for family trips and longer stays—and the Eiffel Tower is within walking distance of much of the neighborhood.
It's also the arrondissement where the Porte de Versailles exhibition center is located, which is a key factor if you're coming for work.
Our hotels: our hotel near the Eiffel Tower on the Beaugrenelle side, our hotel near Gare Montparnasse on the Pasteur side, and Hôtel Carladez Cambronne, on Place du Général Beuret.
Business travel: the 17th
Located between Porte Maillot, the Palais des Congrès, and the business district—just a few stops away—the 17th arrondissement is the ideal location for business trips and conferences. It also has the advantage of being a great neighborhood to live in—Batignolles and Rue de Lévis are among the most pleasant places in Paris to have dinner.
Our hotels: our hotel near Porte Maillot and the Palais des Congrès, and our hotel near Batignolles.
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Booking
Where are you arriving? Staying near your arrival station saves you a total of one hour on a short trip, including luggage. If you're arriving from the southwest, head to Montparnasse; if you're coming from the north or from abroad, head to the 10th arrondissement.
How long are you staying? For two nights, staying right in the center makes sense: every minute of travel counts. For stays of four nights or more, a residential district with good transportation links offers much better value in terms of comfort and price.
What are your hours like? If you come back late every evening, choose a lively neighborhood and a hotel with a 24-hour front desk. If you leave early, being close to a direct subway line is more important than anything else.
To learn more
Each of our hotels is just a few minutes from a metro station and features a 24-hour front desk, which helps alleviate the neighborhood constraints a bit. What remains is the pleasure of staying in the right place: discover our 3-star hotels in Paris, arrondissement by arrondissement, and book directly to get the best rate.
