Which neighborhood should you stay in in Paris? Our guide by district
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 based on the nature of your trip.
Before comparing hotels, you need to choose a neighborhood. In Paris, the neighborhood determines almost everything: your daily commute, the nightlife, the room rate, and even the quality of your sleep. The same budget won’t get you the same experience depending on whether you stay in the 1st or the 15th arrondissement.
Our hotels are located across eight districts, which gives us a very clear picture of the situation. That’s how we advise our guests, depending on why they’re visiting Paris.
First Time in Paris: Stay in the City Center
If this is your first time here and you want to see everything on foot, the 1st and 2nd arrondissements are still unbeatable. Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Marais, and Les Halles are all within a 15-minute walk of each other, and all the major metro lines run through the area.
The downside: it's the busiest part of the city, and the 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 bit quieter at night.
Historic and Cultural Paris: The Left Bank
District 5 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 much 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 the Gare d'Austerlitz: a good compromise 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: Districts 2 and 9
The Grands Boulevards area is home to Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, the Opéra Garnier, and many of Paris’s theaters. It’s the perfect neighborhood for a trip that includes a night at the theater and a day of shopping—all without having to take 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: Districts 10 and 18
If you’re coming mainly for the atmosphere, the terraces, and the bars, the 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 has retained its small-town feel 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 either a plus or a downside, depending on your sleep schedule.
Our hotels: our hotel near the Canal Saint-Martin and our hotel near the Sacré-Cœur.
The Eiffel Tower and Western Paris: the 15th arrondissement
The 15th arrondissement is Paris’s premier residential district: grocery stores, markets, quiet streets at night, and significantly lower prices than in the city center. It’s the ideal choice for family vacations and extended stays, and the Eiffel Tower is still within walking distance from much of the neighborhood.
It is also home to the Porte de Versailles exhibition center, a key destination if you're visiting for business.
Our hotels: our hotel near the Eiffel Tower on the Beaugrenelle side, our hotel near the Montparnasse station on the Pasteur side, and the Hôtel Carladez Cambronne, on Place du Général Beuret.
Business Travel: District 17
Located between Porte Maillot, the Palais des Congrès, and the business district—just a few stops away—the 17th arrondissement is the hub for business travel and conferences. It also has the distinction of being a truly vibrant neighborhood: 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.
The Three Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Booking
Where are you arriving from? Staying near your arrival station saves you a total of one hour on a short stay, including luggage handling. 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 a two-night stay, staying in the heart of the city makes sense: every minute of travel time counts. For stays of four nights or more, a residential neighborhood with good transportation links offers much better value for money.
What are the hours? If you come back late every night, choose a lively neighborhood and a hotel with a 24-hour front desk. If you leave early, proximity to a direct subway line is the most important factor.
To learn more
Each of our hotels is just a few minutes from a metro station and features a 24-hour front desk, which makes choosing a neighborhood a little easier. All that’s left is the pleasure of staying in the right place: discover our 3-star hotels in Paris, district by district, and book directly to get the best rate.
