Where to stay on your next vacation in Paris

“Hey! Where should I stay when I come to Paris?”

It’s the question I hear the most often from friends, family, friend’s of friends, and even strangers on social media. My answer to this question always differs, depending on a few factors. In this post I will be highlighting a few key things to consider when choosing a location for your trip to Paris. I’ll offer suggestions and helpful info about each neighbourhood so that you can go into your trip knowing what to expect.

Is it your first time in Paris?

If you came across this post by searching “where to stay in Paris”, most likely your answer to this question is, “yes”. If so, how exciting! Or maybe you’ve been to Paris before and are looking for a different experience than previous visits. Either way, good on you for getting a jump start and researching your location first. The right neighbourhood is quintessential for any great vacation.

First time visitors

For first time visitors, I would recommend some of the more central districts such as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th arrondissements. Though different in their own ways, all of these districts let you experience the majority of Paris’ attractions by being in close proximity to almost everything. You can walk to most things and see Paris by foot (the best way), and connect to everything else with ease. These areas are more popular amongst tourists so they are usually quite accommodating for visitors; a plethora of hotels, restaurants, and shopping establishments (with English speakers). If you want to discover some of the less common tourist areas, or have a specific trip in mind, keep reading to learn about what the other districts have to offer. You can most definitely stay in any of these districts. The point of this is to choose the best fit for you.

Returning visitors

If you are returning to Paris, think about where you’ve stayed before. If you didn’t totally love an area for any particular reason, take that into consideration when reviewing the different arrondissements. Maybe it was too loud from all the bars around, or maybe it wasn’t lively enough. Maybe you stayed in a more touristy area and you want to stay like a local this time around. Keep in mind how much time you have to visit things you’ll be planning to do during this trip. My suggestions are going to be dependant on these things so stick with me.

That brings us to another important thing to consider when choosing a place to stay.

How long are you staying?

1 day? 3 days? A week? Two? The amount of time you have to explore Paris is also an important thing to keep in mind. Time is one of the hardest things to manage in a city like Paris. There is just so much to see at any moment and it’s impossible to do it all in a day.

If you stay in one of the outer districts, you’ll be spending more time going to and from from sight seeing on public transport. Whereas, if you stay central, you can see most of the sights with less time. If you only have a couple days in Paris, I suggest you stay in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 6th arrondissements.

If you have the time to explore then I would additionally suggest Montmartre (in the 18th), the 5th, 9th, 10th, and 17th arrondissements. You’ll enjoy exploring these neighbourhoods on their own, so the longer you’re in Paris, the more you’ll get to love these areas. I’ve chosen these because I think they are quite diverse on their own and each has a lot of character, while still being relatively close to the center. Read about them more in detail later on in this post.

What is your main purpose or objective for your trip to Paris?

Are you coming alone on business? A romantic trip with your lover? Are you coming for shopping or a specific event like an expo or concert? These are important questions to consider when planning your stay. If you are coming to a particular event, it may be best to book a location that is close to it. Same goes for business. Booking somewhere close to your planned meetings or in the business district just outside of Paris, La Defense. You can use your free time to explore the rest of Paris by public transport, but being close to your main activity will leave you with more energy for other things.

Romantic getaway

For a romantic getaway like an anniversary, honeymoon, etc., you really can’t go wrong by being near the Eiffel Tower in the 7th, or in a cozy hilltop flat in Montmartre overlooking the city from above. In the 7th you’ll be close to beautiful locations for photos such as the Bir-Hakeim bridge, Pont Alexandre III, and Trocadero to name a few. In Montmartre you’ll have the charm of the vine covered buildings, Sacré-Coeur, and historical spots like Place du Tertre, Le Consulat, and La Maison Rose. If luxury is where your romance lies or if this is a true special occasion and you want to go big, then the 1st, 8th, and 16th arrondissements are going to have your luxurious views and pampering with famous hotels like the Shangri-La, Four Seasons, and the Ritz.

Cultural or educational visit

If you’re here to scope out the vast array of museums, expositions, and historical parts of Paris, your best bet is true center in the 1st. Since the vast array of museums are spread around Paris, you’ll be running around from place to place and want the easiest connections possible. Already in the 1st district you have the Louvre, Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, and more. You’ll also be within walking distance to the museum of modern art Centre Pompidou and Musée d’Orsay. Overall it is your best chance at easily getting to the many other monuments and museums using public transport. Even getting to Chateau Versailles is easier from the center because you can catch the RER C directly.

If your cultural visit is a bit more theatrically focused, the 9th would be your best location to enjoy the many established theatres and opera house.

Family visit / kid friendly

Vacationing with kids can change the type of experience you have if you aren’t prepared. For a more quiet area that won’t have bars keeping you up late at night, go with the 7th, 14th, 15th, or 16th arrondissements. If you plan to visit Disneyland during your trip, the line 6 that runs through these districts easily connects to the RER A at Nation that takes you there (or catch it directly from Charles de Gaulle Étoile in the 16th). The airbnbs and hotels in these neighbourhoods are also typically bigger since they were developed later, so you won’t all be crammed in a tiny space together.

Just going with the flow

This might be you if you are simply coming to Paris to see what it’s about and aren’t big on all the typical tourist things, or you’ve been here before and you’ve seen most of the main tourist sites already. In this case I would suggest some of the more “local” and trendy areas like the 9th, 10th, 11th, des Batignolles (17th), and Belleville (20th). All of these areas will show you a different, cooler side to Paris.

I live in des Batignolles in the 17th and I always recommend it or applaud visitors who stay here. It’s young and vibrant but still quaint and classy. There are great little boutiques and artisan cheese, wine, dessert shops everywhere. Trendy bars and restaurants are aplenty and this area is on the border of the 8th, 9th, and 18th arrondissements. So essentially you get the charm and character of each by just walking a few minutes in any direction.

Belleville, and a lot of the 10th used to be a bit run down and are now very hipster and trendy. You get all of the character of the graffiti and youth mixed with new concept bars and restaurants. You might not discover these great places without a local or the advice to check it out, but here you have it, from a local. Definitely worth a visit or a stay for a unique trip.

The 9th and 11th are filled with cool eateries and bars and have a young, vibrant, cool energy. So, what’s there not to like?

Arrondissement Characteristics

I’ve mentioned arrondissements in most of my suggestions, so let me explain in better detail what this means, and get into the characteristics of each one.

Paris is divided up into 20 districts, called “arrondissements”. They start from the 1st (center city) and snail out in a spiral to 20, ending in the outer east end of the city. Each arrondissement is diverse and has its own attributes, therefore choosing the right one for you can really make your trip extra special.

To give you a more clear idea, I’ve listed some of the basic characteristics of what its like to stay (as a visitor) in each of the 20 districts of Paris.

• 1st: Grand central Paris – Touristy and expensive but close to everything. There is not much local vibe or community here, but you can walk to most things that you want to see. You’ll mostly find high-end luxury shopping, hotels, and restaurants, including The Ritz Paris, Hotel Costes, Le Meurice, and Mandarin Oriental at Place Vendôme. It’s also home to the Tuileries garden, Louvre, Palais Royal, Châtelet and Cité which is the island where Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle sit.
• 2nd: Petit central Paris – A vibrant and bustling district filled with shops, restaurants, bars, and small streets. One of my personal favorites for its aesthetic and establishments. You’ll find some really trendy places here, including speakeasy-style bars, especially near Rue Montorgueil which is a closed walking street that is a market by day and lined with terrace restaurants and surrounded with tiny side streets packed with little gems.
• 3rd & 4th: Marais and “Top-Marais” – A very popular and vibrant part of central Paris. Le marais is known for being both the jewish quarter as well as the gay quarter. There is a lot of character in this part of Paris, from rainbow sidewalks and gay hangouts, to endless thrift stores, art galleries, and busy restaurants. Modern art museum Centre Pompidou and the National Picasso museum are also notably located here. These are some of the more popular areas to stay and prices usually reflect that.
• 5th: Latin quarter – On the left bank of Paris, the 5th is known as the latin quarter. It is home to the Sorbonne university and the Panthéon. The architecture and area are authentically old from the Middle Ages, and filled with classic old movie theatres and bookstores, including the infamous Shakespeare & Company.
• 6th: Saint Germain des Prés – Chic and historical left bank of Paris. Famous cafés such as Les Deux Magots line the boulevard along with many interior design showrooms and posh boutiques. The Luxembourg garden takes up most of this district but is far from the only attraction. A notable history of writers such as Hemingway who frequented the cafés here, make this area a popular place to stay.
• 7th: Eiffel Tower – The 7th district is home to the Eiffel Tower and adjoining park, Champs de Mars. There are also some notable museums here including Invalides’ Army Museum and Musée d’Orsay.
• 8th: Upscale & chic – this district consists of big avenues, fancy shops and offices. The general population in the streets consists of office workers and fashionable tourists doing their shopping. Similar to the 1st arrondissement, you’ll find luxury hotels like the Four Seasons. Avenue Montaigne, Avenue George V, and Avenue Champs Elysées are all lined with luxury and designer stores.
• 9th & 10th: Up and coming right bank – so much variety depending on the street. You could be near the numerous theatres, Opéra Garnier, upscale mall Galleries Lafayette, or go for a different vibe with skaters, graffiti, and hipster establishments. The Canal Saint Martin runs through the 10th and becomes a social gathering in the warmer months. You’ll find a lot of really interesting restaurants and a more local vibe in these two districts that are evolving at lightening speed.
• 11th: Local and hip – This district is a good place to have drinks and/or dinner and see some of the more non-traditional architecture. Larger buildings take up this area, with stories reaching 11 or higher. The areas near Oberkampf and Bastille will be bustling with young people in the evenings thanks to the bar scene here.
• 12th: Quiet & newly reformed – formerly a more “gritty” side of Paris, the 12th is now pretty quiet and home to families and younger people looking for affordable rent. The Vincennes forest takes up a good portion of this area.
• 13th: East meets west – the 13th is known for its asian culture, boasting a ton of asian restaurants and markets, while at the same time remaining a rather chic and expensive area to live in. I like to refer to it as “fancy china town”.
• 14th, 15th, & 16th: Residential & quaint: These are districts occupied mostly by families. The 16th is a bit more on the chic side, with 5-star hotels like the Shangri-La and the Peninsula. Major tourist attractions like Trocadero and Arc de Triomphe make the 16th a preferred place for touring, while the 14th and 15th are better for a slower holiday in quiet surroundings.
• 17th: Up and coming neighbourhood of young, wealthy families. I personally live in the 17th and I love it. You have a posh side, and a hipster side and the two sort of blend together in an area called des Batignolles. This is a nice area to feel local but remain close to things while in a lively neighbourhood.
• 18th: Montmartre (“La Butte” meaning the hilltop) – charming, artsy, and very touristy area of Paris. Not many locals live here, but it sure is beautiful! For a more local feel, the “back” Montmartre (Lamarck-Coulaincourt) isn’t a bad spot to look for accommodation. Other parts of the 18th might be attractive in price, but are still being gentrified and don’t represent a great tourist vibe (just yet). Search near metros Abbesses or Lamark-Coulaincourt for the Montmartre experience.
• 19th & 20th: Urban-industrial – These districts used to be the industrial heartland of Paris. Now, they are transforming into a hipster, bohemian hangout for the younger generations. Belleville in the 20th and La Villette in the 19th are the more interesting parts of these districts where you’ll find more to do. Prices will be relatively cheaper here as these areas are a bit further from center attractions, however, there are some sites to enjoy such as the large Buttes Chaumont park and Père Lachaise cemetery.

There you have it!

Choosing a place to stay in Paris doesn’t have to be intimidating. Regardless of where you choose, you are bound to discover new and interesting characteristics about your area. By now you should have a good idea of what area suits you best. Taking your ideal trip into consideration and learning about what each district has to offer will steer you in the right direction. In the end, you are going to have a great time!

Do you have questions?

Comment below! Or, contact me. I am happy to help and will get back to you asap!

xo

♥ Tamara