One of the most visited European capitals, Paris is a beloved destination that you cannot miss if you enjoy history, art, architecture, fashion, good food, and romantic views… and a lot more too, to be honest. Receiving visitors from every corner of the world all year round, finding the best place to stay in Paris can be one of the most difficult parts of planning your French holiday.

Hotels are generally booked months in advance. Paris is popular every month of the year. It is full of visitors in its warm summers but also when extreme cold weather arrives. Frigid European winters don’t chase visitors away… on the contrary! 

The charming snowy streets of Paris make it a perfect winter destination for a different Christmas holiday or New Year Celebration. Autumn and spring attract travelers looking for milder temperatures, art, and cinema festivals, or fashion shows. The result? Paris is packed all year round which makes it quite difficult to find the right district to stay in. 

Read on to discover where to stay in Paris, the best accommodation areas according to your interests, and which is the best arrondissement for your Paris adventure!

 

 

Where to Stay in Paris

An Introduction to Paris Arrondissements

Although you might have read this word often when looking for the perfect place to stay in Paris, you might not really know what it exactly means.

It can be simplified by saying that an arrondissement is a district in the city.

However, in a few cases, a district can be so spread as to cover more than just one arrondissement (Le Marais for instance).

But let’s not be so strict, keeping in mind that there are exceptions, thinking of an arrondissement as a neighborhood will be a wise way to think about Paris.

The city features 20 different arrondissements, everything that falls outside of this circular area can be considered the suburbs and are not convenient in terms of transport and often less safe especially for female solo travelers.

These 20 different districts spread in circles from the heart of the city, the first arrondissement all the way to the twentieth.

 

 

As a general guideline, the lower the number of the arrondissement, the closer to the geographical center you will be. Perfect to visit Notre Dame and a few other attractions.

However, it is also important to keep in mind that the metro and bus network is extremely efficient and affordable, so there is no real need to stay in the center of town.

You can move from one district to the other in just minutes if you want to.

Popular Paris Attractions by Arrondissement

Depending on the activities you choose to do or the places that most interest you, choosing one district over the other will allow you to have easy, often walking, access to different museums, landmarks, shopping areas, or iconic restaurants.

Staying in the Latin Quarter (located in the 5th arrondissement) for instance is perfect to visit La Sorbonne University and Cluny Medieval Museum.

However, it is just a bridge over the Seine away from Notre Dame (on the Ile de la Cité, extremely close to the 1st arrondissement). As you can see, nothing is really far from anything in Paris.

Other more residential areas feature fewer attractions.

But this offers a more relaxed and authentic vibe, where you will be able to feel part of the area, discover some unique Parisian traditions, and live like a local since they are not so touristic places.

If this is your travel style, choose a hotel or a rental home on the twelfth or the nineteenth.

Those who prefer a more bohemian atmosphere will adore discovering the roads of the 18th arrondissement, home to the art district of Montmartre and the spectacular Sacre Coeur Basilica.

From here, the views of the rest of the city are incredibly beautiful, but they come at a cost… part of Montmartre is on top of a high hill which you can reach via a funicular cart (priced as the metro) or climbing very steep stairs.

Let’s take a look at the most popular places to stay in Paris and what to see in each area.

 

 

1^st and 2^nd Arrondissements: Louvre

Perfect place to stay if you want to walk to the city’s most popular attractions, including the Louvre Museum, the Tuileries Gardens, Place Vendôme, the Palais Royal, and Place de la Concorde among other landmarks.

These districts also shelter other interesting although lesser-known attractions that can be a great choice if you’re interested in beating the crowds that populate, for instance, the Louvre.

Smaller museums such as the Fashion and Textile Museum, the Musée de l’Orangerie, or the Museum of Decorative Arts can be fantastic alternatives for a quiet afternoon in Paris.

When looking for accommodation, keep in mind that the area tends to be expensive and often booked months (and even years) in advance. Chateau Voltaire offers a superb location in the 1^st arrondissement. This is where to stay for a 5-star luxury hotel experience in Paris!

 

3^rd and 4^th Arrondissements: Le Marais

Built over what were the marshlands of Paris, this represents the most authentic corner of the city, where the Haussmannian reforms of the local architecture did not interfere with ancient buildings and historic alleys.

For that reason, many consider Le Marais as the last remaining place of old-time Paris.

In case you were wondering, the Haussmann’s renovation of Paris was a vast public works program commissioned by Emperor Napoleon II between 1853 and 1870 that got rid of most medieval remnants of the city.

Le Marais still preserves some unique medieval corners that are a pleasure to discover during an attentive walk around the area.

A big part of Le Marais is also home to an important Jewish district where you can admire refined old synagogues and taste traditional middle eastern food.

The place is also home to several memorial monuments, and the remarkable Museum of Jewish Art and History. 

For more off-the-beaten-track places to visit, the area offers the gorgeous Picasso Museum, the Musée Carnevalet, the Maison Victor Hugo, and the Hotel de Ville, Paris’ magnificent Paris City Hall. Book a room at Le Marais at Maison Proust Hotel & Spa

 

5^th and 6^th Arrondissements: Latin Quarter / Saint Germain des Prés

Although two essentially different areas, both attract tourists alike for different reasons.

While the Latin Quarter houses glorious libraries and an intellectual atmosphere given by the seat of La Sorbonne University, the oldest in France and one of the most prestigious in the world.

The area is also home to dozens of souvenir shops that add an extravagant and colorful touch to the district.

Landmarks include the ethnic food stalls on Rue Mouffetard, the Pantheon, the historic Cluny Museum, and the Jardin des Plantes, a gorgeous botanic garden in the heart of Paris that was once the place where kings had their medicinal herbs cultivated.

On the other hand, often considered the most classy and refined Parisian neighborhood, Saint Germain des Prés, or simply the Sixth is great for those interested in visiting one of the most gorgeous gardens in Paris, the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Saint Germain Le Prés is also home to beautiful, quaint cafés as well as Le Bon Marché department store and La Grande Epicerie de Paris considered the best grocery shop in the world. How about staying in a 17^th century private mansion in the Latin Quarter

 

7^th and 8^th Arrondissement: Eiffel Tower / Champs Elysées

Staying in the seventh arrondissement is not the most practical idea since it is not close to many attractions and some commuting is necessary to get to other popular areas in Paris.

The district is a popular place to stay among those who would only stay in a hotel with close-up views of the Eiffel Tower.

 

 

The district hosts several government buildings, embassies, and other public offices, which makes the whole area quiet during the weekends.

Also over here, accommodation can be quite expensive. One of the gems in this neighborhood is the fantastic Musée d’Orsay.

The eighth arrondissement hosts the impressive Arc de Triomphe as well as the exclusive Champs Elysées, where it is possible to find the best French high fashion brands.

Perfect for fashion addicts, this is also quite a pricey area to stay in Paris. Hotel San Regis is a highly rated boutique hotel in the 8^th arrondissement

 

9^th, 10^th, 11^th Arrondissement: Galeries Lafayette / Canal Saint Martin

These three arrondissements can be a good compromise if you do not expect to stay in the heart of the city but still want to admire some impressive landmarks.

Head to the ninth arrondissement to visit the spectacular Opera Garnier but also to enjoy a myriad of typical small restaurants and cafeterias for your morning coffee or a quick snack.

 

 

In the area, the impressive architecture of the Galeries Lafayette comes with a free-of-charge ride to the rooftop where you will be able to admire some of the most stunning views of Paris’ skyline.

The tenth is the perfect district for those wanting to move around the country by train. In fact, both Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est are located in the neighborhood.

One might argue that staying close to a train station is not the best choice for a solo traveler, however, both areas are quite safe, even at night, and can be real lifesavers if you need to catch an early train.

Finally, the eleventh, with the charming alleys along Canal Saint Martin, is a more affordable (because less central) area of town, not far from Place de la Bastille, another great place for restaurants, bars, and some nightlife too. An affordable option in the 11^th is Le General Hotel

 

12^th and 13^thArrondissements: Gare de Lyon / Budget Hotels

If you had to choose the right district to catch an early train to the south of the country, then book a hotel in the twelfth arrondissement and stay close to Gare de Lyon.

The station also houses one of the most amazing and prestigious restaurants in Paris, Le Train Bleu.

The district is close to the Opera Bastille and Bercy Village, another cool shopping area with dozens of affordable places to eat.

Finally, on the thirteenth, you can catch a glimpse of a more modern aspect of Paris.

The lack of aristocratic buildings and historic monuments can make the area more affordable for travelers on a budget.

14^th and 15^th Arrondissement: Paris Like a Local

There are not as many hotels in this residential corner of Paris as you would want to, but that’s because this is one of the most tranquil and residential areas in town.

It’s here where many locals live, shop, and go to school.

The district has grown a lot in recent years, featuring dozens of flats and Airbnb properties. 

Also the fifteenth shares some of that vibe, with dozens of brasseries and bistros scattered along the Left Bank of the Seine.

It is here that you will find the imposing Montparnasse Tower, another incredible observation point with breathtaking views of Paris’s skyline. Quinzerie Hotel is well reviewed (and an excellent location in the 15^th)

 

16^th Arrondissement: Across from Eiffel Tower

As we mentioned earlier, the different arrondissements in Paris follow a circular pattern that looks more like a snail shell than a city plan. 

So once in the sixteenth arrondissement, you will find yourself in the heart of Trocadero, just opposite the Eiffel Tower and stretching all the way to the famous Bois de Boulogne.

This is another expensive, residential neighborhood home to the Marmottan Museum. Stay in the heart of Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower at Shangri-La Paris

 

17^th Arrondissement: Parisian Markets

This is another residential area where it is easier to find rental homes rather than luxurious hotels.

The area hosts several street markets but also great food shops where to buy all those Parisian foodie goodies that you can fit in your luggage. Check rates at Paris j’Adore Hotel & Spa in the 17^th arrondissement

 

18^th Arrondissement: Bohemian Montmartre

Probably the most beautiful district in the city, even if far from the center of town, Montmartre houses the world-famous Sacre Coeur Basilica as well as an incredibly beautiful collection of alleys and squares where artists gather to paint and draw under the shades of trees.

 

 

Sitting high on a hill above Paris, the eighteenth arrondissement has gained fame for being home to famous artists including Van Gogh, Picasso, and Renoir among others.

In the district, it is possible to check out the Dali Museum but also the Moulin Rouge near the Blanche metro station.

Montmartre is also home to the last vineyard in the city, and there are several souvenir shops, cafeterias, and restaurants scattered all over the area. Le Relais Montmartre is an affordable option in the 18th arrondissement in Paris

 

19^th and 20^th Arrondissement: Off the Beaten Path

If you don’t mind staying a bit far from the center, these two districts feature beautiful green areas as well as entertainment venues quite off the beaten track.

On the nineteenth, you can enjoy quiet walks in one of the two largest parks in Paris, the Parc the la Villette.

Other interesting attractions include the Cité des Sciences, the city’s most important science museum, and the new Philharmonie de Paris.

Finally, the twentieth houses one of the most visited landmarks in the city, the fascinating Pere Lachaise Cemetery where you can explore for hours in its quiet alleys, discovering the resting place of numerous celebrities, artists, and poets.

Save this to Pinterest!