Where to Stay in Paris: The Best Areas for First-Time Visitors

Trying to decide where to stay in Paris isn’t as easy as it seems. The city is divided into 20 districts (“arrondissements”), starting from the western tip of the Île de la Cité and spiralling outward in a clockwise direction through the Charonne quarter. 

As if that wasn’t complicated enough, each arrondissement is also comprised of several neighbourhoods. And each neighbourhood has a distinct look, feel and personality, catering to travellers’ interests. Some are in what’s considered a central location, whereas others are on the edge of the city. Similarly, there are districts that offer great value to tourists while others will make you stretch your budget. So, which one is best?

To help you make the most of your trip to the City of Light, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite areas to stay in Paris — and have provided a breakdown of the attractions, restaurants and historical sites you can expect to explore in each.

• Le Marais, 3rd and 4th Arrondissement
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6th Arrondissement 
• Gros-Caillou, 7th Arrondissement
• South Pigalle, 9th Arrondissement
• Montmartre, 18th Arrondissement 

Planning on bringing the kids to the French capital? Set your sights on Saint-Germain-des-Prés. 

First and foremost, the neighbourhood is conveniently located in the 6th Arrondissement — and is well connected to the rest of the city via two Metro stations (Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Mabillon). It also boasts an impressive selection of cafés, bookstores, supermarkets and novelty shops. Kids will especially love wandering around The Little Prince Store.

But even so, your family will be drawn again and again to the Jardin du Luxembourg. This sprawling park features peaceful French and English gardens, an orchard, an apiary, greenhouses, the incredible Medici fountain and so much more. Plus, there are countless activities for children to do, from watching puppet shows and riding carousels to sailing remote-control boats across a large pond.
    
Travel tip: Convince the family to leave the Luxembourg Gardens and spend a day in the nearby Latin Quarter. Ancient monuments, museums (including the National Museum of Natural History) and more incredible parks can be found here.

If seeing the Eiffel Tower is at the top of your travel bucket list, the best area to stay in Paris is the 7th Arrondissement. You can catch a glimpse of the iconic building from almost anywhere in the district — particularly the Gros-Caillou neighbourhood.

In addition to the “Iron Lady” and Champ de Mars (a stunning public greenspace) this residential area on the left bank of the Seine is within walking distance of some incredible museums, churches and landmarks. You can get to all of the below tourism sites in less than 30 minutes:

• Champs-Élysées
• Arc de Triomphe
• Musée d'Orsay
• Hôtel des Invalides
• Palais Bourbon
• Musée Rodin
• Fontaine de Mars

Gros-Caillou is also home to the famous Rue Cler, a market street brimming with cafés, bakeries, chocolatiers, butchers, cheese shops and every other type of specialty food store you can imagine. Grab what you need for a picnic and then head back over to the Champ de Mars to continue marvelling at the Eiffel Tower.

Travel tip: Be prepared to pay a premium for your hotel. Prices will be high since so many of the city’s main attractions are in close proximity.

There’s a reason whimsical films such as Amélie, Moulin Rouge and Midnight in Paris have been set in Montmartre. With its cobblestone streets, ivy-clad buildings and spectacular viewpoints, the neighbourhood has a reputation for being one of the prettiest, most romantic areas in Paris. It’s also famous for being the home and workplace of renowned artists such as Picasso, van Gogh and Renoir.

With that in mind, make plans to wander (and maybe even get lost) around Rue des Abbesses, Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Place du Tertre. Each is lined with charming bistros, vintage cafés and quaint apartment buildings just dying for a spot in your Instagram feed. Of course, there’s also the Sacré-Coeur; no trip to Paris is complete without visiting this dazzling white basilica at the top of the hill that is Montmartre. 

Travel tip: Take advantage of public transit if you’re staying here. The 18th Arrondissement is on the outskirts of Paris, so it’s not easy to walk to other districts from Montmartre.

Let’s be honest: no matter where you stay in Paris, you’re guaranteed to stumble upon famous shopping streets, luxurious hotels with stylish guest rooms and a conveniently located Metro station. Still, these are some of the best neighbourhoods and arrondissements — especially if you’re visiting the City of Light for the first time.

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