Picking the best neighborhoods to stay in Paris is just as hard as choosing a favorite museum to visit.
Paris is divided into 20 administrative districts, or arrondissements, spiraling out from the city center. Most Parisians you speak to will refer to a district by its number, but you may also hear Paris neighborhoods referred to as quartiers, like the Latin Quarter.
Your travels will most likely take you through the 1st to 8th arrondissements, but where should you lay your head under the Parisian moonlight? Here are a few of the best neighborhoods to stay in Paris, France.
Image Credit: Getty Images, KavalenkavaVolha. Image Location: Montmartre, France, Paris
Best places to stay in Paris for first-timers
Staying close to the most popular sites in Paris.
Louvre, 1st arrondissement
The 1st arrondissement is the first place many visitors to Paris seek out. It’s home to the Louvre, so this area is already on your itinerary. The Jardin du Palais Royal, Théâtre du Châtelet, and the Tuileries Garden, which also houses Musée de l’Orangerie (where Monet’s Water Lilies hang), make the 1st arrondissement best for first-timers. The only way you can make it better is by staying in a lavish room at the Ritz Paris.
Near the Eiffel Tower, 7th arrondissement
The 7th arrondissement is why you’ve come to Paris: to get as close to the Eiffel Tower as possible. Obviously, you should head to the top of the Iron Lady and take oodles of photos around the Champ de Mars. This arrondissement is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Paris for first-time visitors, particularly thanks to its hotels with Eiffel Tower views. This area is also where you’ll find the Musée d'Orsay and Musée Rodin.
Related: Your ultimate Paris 3-day itinerary
Image Credit: Getty Images, Bruno de Hogues. Image Location: Avenue de Champs Élysées, 8th Arondissement, Paris, France
Champs-Élysées, 8th arrondissement
Just across the Pont Alexandre III bridge from the 7th arrondissement, situated on the right bank of the Seine River, this chic neighborhood is bookended by the Arc de Triomphe in the west and Place de la Concorde to the east. Snag a ritzy hotel just off Avenue des Champs-Élysées, such as the Hôtel Grand Powers.
Montmartre, 18th arrondissement
Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement is best for a honeymoon or romantic trip with your beau. Trust us, this area of Paris speaks many love languages.
Dinner and a show? Dine at Café des Deux Moulins (of Amélie fame) and catch a performance at the Moulin Rouge cabaret. Arts and culture fans? Stroll hand-in-hand down the charming narrow streets to see The Wall of Love, a Banksy Champagne Rat, the Dalí Paris exhibition, and the Musée de Montmartre.
Home to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Montmartre Cemetery (where countless famous talents were laid to rest), and the last operational vineyard of Paris, Vignes du Clos Montmartre, you’ll swoon for Montmartre and the 18th arrondissement.
Pigalle, border of 9th and 18th arrondissements
If Montmartre is where you take your beloved, then Pigalle is where you take your bachelor or bachelorette party. Here you’ll find burlesque clubs and an intoxicating nightlife scene as electric as the neon-lit red light district. Partying at glam cocktail bars isn’t the only way to spend your time, though. Quartier Pigalle shares Boulevard de Clichy with Montmartre, giving you endless options for entertainment. We also point you to the bakeries on Rue des Martyrs and the Museum of Romantic Life, dedicated to painters and writers.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Tour Saint-Jacques, Rue Nicolas Flamel, 4th Arrondissement, Paris, France
Best neighborhoods for foodies and film buffs
A chance to relive your favorite movie moments filmed in Paris and savor an unforgettable meal.
Le Marais, 3rd and 4th arrondissements
So many Paris-based films show off the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Île Saint-Louis, which is why close-by Le Marais is not only the ideal area to stay but also one of the most exclusive. Take one look at the Tour Saint-Jacques and you’ll see why so many visitors wish to be within walking distance. Only a few hotels sit on the Seine, but if you can claim a room, you won’t regret blissfully wandering these two islands when the sun goes down. Here are our recommendations for the best hotels in Le Marais.
Latin Quarter, 5th arrondissement
If there’s one thing you can learn from the students at Sorbonne University, it’s that the Latin Quarter is a great neighborhood for getting a bang for your buck. The Shakespeare and Company bookshop is just one of the many used booksellers in the 5th arrondissement; and with thrice the number of cafés, you’ll always find a place to thumb through your purchase. From museum meandering to riverside strolls, there’s a lot to love about the Latin Quarter.
Bastille, 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements
Film buffs will be delighted to stay in Bastille, where movies like The Take (2016) and Inception (2010) were filmed. This Parisian neighborhood, also home to the Opéra Bastille, is a wonderful place to discuss iconic movie scenes over cheese at Fromagerie Langlet-Hardouin or a fancier affair at Septime.
Batignolles-Monceau, 17th arrondissement
West of the Arc de Triomphe, the 17th arrondissement is where foodies can find Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte, one of the most popular restaurants in Paris. The single menu of steak, fries, and salad is impressively affordable. The 17th also serves up amazing French dishes at Maison Rostang, Frédéric Simonin, and La Scène Thélème.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Raquel Lonas. Image Location: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6th arrondissement, Paris, France
The coolest areas in Paris
If there’s an “it” place to be in Paris, you’ll find it in these neighborhoods.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6th arrondissement
After a day at the Louvre, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a welcome respite. Across the Pont des Arts in the 6th arrondissement, this cool neighborhood is a mix of culture and history, both brought about by its academic heritage. You’ll find historic monuments, luxury boutiques, and legendary landmarks like Café de Flore that are still haunts for young minds and talents.
Oberkampf, 11th arrondissement
Oberkampf only covers a few blocks in the 11th arrondissement, but its young spirit carries a big party scene. Between the clubs like Nouveau Casino and cafés like the famous Café Charbon, there’s always a place for you to groove to music and grab a bite. If you tire of the trendy bar scene, walk down to Cimetière du Père-Lachaise and pay respects to Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Chopin, and Oscar Wilde.
Belleville, 19th and 20th arrondissements
With the City of Lights sprawled out below it, Belleville is a solid place for a sunset. The sun’s portrait in the sky, however, hardly rivals the vibrant graffiti-splashed streets of this cool Paris neighborhood touching the 19th and 20th arrondissements. Its Chinatown gets the silver medal in terms of size and its once monthly Le Food Market got a nod from the Michelin Guide. Belleville is calm, cosmopolitan, and collected, showing a different side of Paris cool.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Canal Saint-Martin, 10th Arrondissement, Paris, France
Best neighborhoods in Paris for families
Good places for the little ones to lay their heads.
Canal Saint-Martin, 10th, 11th and 19th arrondissements
Canal Saint-Martin is more laid back than those districts across the Seine, making it ideal if you’re on a budget. Removed from the heavier tourist centers, these arrondissements have less of a “touristy” vibe. Traveling from the 11th through the 10th and into the 19th is effortless with two feet or two wheels, as these bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly areas are great for wandering at any pace.
The 10th arrondissement has kid-friendly hallmarks like children’s tours at the Choco-Story Paris and a wonderful playground at the Jardin Villemin. The 11th arrondissement is as hip as it gets, enticing you to window-shop the boutiques and sniff your way to foodie heaven. In the sprawling 19th arrondissement, you’ll find everything from beers by the family-friendly barge and quiet trails of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont to loads of events, theaters, and museums in Parc de la Villette.
And the cerise on top: the 10th offers easy access to Gare du Nord’s platforms, perfect for planning great day trips from Paris.
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Gare de Lyon and Bois de Vincennes, 12th arrondissement
We’ll concede that the sprawling 12th arrondissement doesn’t exactly narrow it down enough, but that’s one reason why it’s ideal for a family-friendly Paris itinerary. Bois de Vincennes is firmly within its borders, which means endless greenspaces to roam and instant access to the zoo. On the opposite end near the city center, the 12th puts you one bridge away from the National Museum of Natural History, an incredible collection of dinosaur fossils, and a riverside botanical garden with yet another zoo.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Christophe Lehenaff. Image Location: Bois de Vincennes, 12th Arondissement, Paris, France
Which neighborhood in Paris should I stay in?
The 20 arrondissements are in no way a ranking system of the best neighborhoods in Paris. Yes, the 1st arrondissement is pretty baller since it has the Louvre and Palais-Royal. Still, locals will add a one to that number and champion the hip 11th arrondissement’s famous squares and party vibes in the Oberkampf district.
And if we were being a cliché for all the right reasons: the 7th arrondissement is the best neighborhood in Paris because it hosts the Eiffel Tower. We won’t say it’s the best for foodies, museum hoppers, or boutique shoppers, but we doubt anyone would disapprove of waking up next to the Iron Lady.
Does Paris have a subway or metro system?
Yes, Paris has a web of métro lines running throughout the city. The métro is your best bet for discovering every corner of Paris, as well as connecting with the major train stations like Gare du Nord, Gare Montparnasse, and Gare de Lyon.
See all 20 arrondissements by train
Between the métro and the train stations connecting Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city center, you can explore all of Paris along the railways. Download the Trainline app today and scoop up a cheap train ticket to Paris.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Eiffel Tower, 7th Arondissement, Paris, France
