Which neighborhood should you stay in when visiting Paris? Our guide to the arrondissements
The historic center, the Left Bank, Montmartre, or the 15th arrondissement: often, the neighborhood 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 arrondissement determines almost everything: your daily commute time, the atmosphere in the evening, 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 in eight arrondissements, which gives us a very practical perspective on the matter. Here’s how we advise our guests, depending on the purpose of their visit to Paris.
First Trip to Paris: Stay in the City Center
If you're visiting for the first time and want to get around on foot, the 1st and 2nd arrondissements are unbeatable. Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Marais, and Les Halles are all within a fifteen-minute walk, and all the major metro lines run through there.
The downside: it's the busiest area of the city, and prices reflect that. This is also where the quality of dining varies the most.
Our locations: 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 in the evening.
Historical 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 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 locations: 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 many of Paris’s theaters. It’s the ideal neighborhood for a stay that includes an evening at the theater and a day of shopping—all without ever having to take the metro.
Our locations: our hotel on the Grands Boulevards, on Rue Montmartre, andthe Hôtel Léman Opéra, on Rue de Trévise, a ten-minute walk from the Opéra Garnier.
Paris in the Evening: 10° and 18°
If you’re coming mainly for the atmosphere, the outdoor seating, 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 arrondissement has retained its “village-in-the-city” atmosphere, with the Sacré-Cœur and the streets of Les Abbesses.
Good to know: These neighborhoods stay lively late into the night, which is either a plus or a minus depending on how much sleep you need.
Our locations: 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 a large residential district in Paris: grocery stores, markets, quiet streets in the evening, and significantly more affordable prices than in the city center. It’s the ideal choice for family vacations and extended stays, and the Eiffel Tower is within walking distance from most parts of the neighborhood.
It's also the district where the Porte de Versailles exhibition center is located, which is a key factor if you're visiting for business.
Our locations: our hotel near the Eiffel Tower on the Beaugrenelle side, our hotel near the Montparnasse train station on the Pasteur side, andthe Hôtel Carladez Cambronne on Place du Général Beuret.
Business Trips: The 17th
With 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 advantage of being a truly livable neighborhood: Batignolles and Rue de Lévis are among the most pleasant places in Paris to dine.
Our locations: 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 coming from? Staying near your arrival station saves you a total of one hour on a short stay, including time spent with your luggage. If you're coming 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 very center makes sense: every minute spent getting around counts. For stays longer than four nights, a well-connected residential neighborhood offers a much better value for your money.
What are your schedules like? If you come back late every night, you'll prefer 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.
Learn more
Each of our hotels is located just a few minutes from a metro station and offers 24-hour reception, which makes the neighborhood a little less of a constraint. You’ll still enjoy 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.
