Where to Stay in Paris
Top Tips
- First time in Paris? We recommend staying in the 4th Arrondissement.
- In Paris for a special occasion? You might want to consider hotels in Saint Germain, or the 1st Arrondissement.
- Brought your family to Paris? We think you should stay in the 3rd Arrondissement.
- In Paris for the art and museums? We like to stay in the 1st Arrondissement, the 7th, or the 4th Arrondissement.
- Here to do some shopping? Consider staying in the 8th or 9th Arrondissement.
- Looking for great value accommodation in Paris? Try the 10th Arrondissement.
- Want Paris’s hippest hotels? You’ll find some in Le Marais or the Latin Quarter.
Discover the best neighbourhoods to stay in in Paris using the Hotel Guru’s detailed guide. We’ll help you find the right part of Paris to stay in whether you’re here to appreciate the elegant sights, to enjoy the museums, to explore the streets, to experience the nightlife, do some shopping, or just soak up the unmistakable, incomparable atmosphere.
Neighbourhood Guide to Paris
Paris has been lauded in words, doted upon in paint, and sung about by so many people that there's little to add. So let's keep it simple: it's incredibly beautiful; it’s home to a glorious array of art and architecture; the food and the fashion have no equal, and its grand boulevards and their cafe culture offer one of the most pleasurable ways imaginable to while away time. Based on our combined experience, the best trips to Paris involve proper explorations, and new discoveries, as well as the appreciation of old haunts, because Paris is big and changeable. Use the Metro and your feet to get around and you shouldn’t have any problems, the road signs are prominent and elegant, and you’re never far from an impressive landmark in Paris.
- Where to Stay in Paris for the Museums — 1st Arrondissement or 7th Arrondissement
- Where to Stay in Paris for Couples — 4th Arrondissement or Saint Germain
- Where to Stay in Paris for Foodies — 7th Arrondissement
- Where to Stay in Paris for Art Lovers — 1st Arrondissement or 4th Arrondissement
- Where to Stay in Paris for Nightlife — The Latin Quarter or Montmartre
- Where to Stay in Paris for Families — 3rd Arrondissement
- Where to Stay in Paris for Shopping —8th Arrondissement or 9th Arrondissement
- Where to Stay in Paris on a Budget — 10th Arrondissement
- Where to Stay in Paris for Luxury — 1st Arrondissement or the 8th Arrondissement
1st Arrondissement
The 1st Arrondissement is also called Louvre, which is a good indication of where it is: on the right bank, surrounding the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens, and including some of the Île de la Cité and Les Halles, and some of the most prestigious boutiques and hotels in town, many of them located on the Rue de Rivoli. The 1st is one of the smallest arrondissements, but it’s super central, and makes a very easy base for exploring the city on foot, and it’s an especially elegant place to stroll around, with its covered galleries, or arcades, and its many grand buildings, though the 1st Arrondissement has 12 Metro stops, also. And there’s a very good choice of restaurants, though they do run towards the higher end.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: central, elegant, atmospheric, luxurious, major attractions, beautiful architecture, excellent restaurants, good public transport links
- Cons: expensive
- Ideal For: treating yourself, couples, foodies
Discover our recommended hotels in Paris’s 1st Arrondissement
8th Arrondissement, Champs-Élysées
With clear views between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées is probably the most famous avenue in Paris, and certainly up there globally too. It’s lined with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, bars and theatres, and isn’t as high-end as it once was, probably because of the tourists, but it is still the best known landmark in the 8th Arrondissement. The Elysée Palais, the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, are here too, plus the Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, on which you’ll find the flagship stores of many couture and luxury brands. If you know where you’re going the 8th is a luxurious place to stay, with some incredible dining options, but it does have its touristy pockets. It has more than 20 Metro stations, and its a very central spot to stay in, within walking distance of many of Paris’s prime attractions.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: luxurious, elegant, major attractions, central, good public transport links, great restaurants and bars, lively nightlife
- Cons: busy, touristy in pockets, expensive
- Ideal For: night owls, couples, shoppers, foodies, treating yourself
Discover our recommended hotels in the 8th Arrondissement, Paris
Notre Dame and the 4th Arrondissement
The 4th Arrondissement is the part of Paris between Notre Dame, on the eastern side of the Île de la Cité, and the southern side of Le Marais. Paris’s Hôtel de Ville and the Centre Pompidou are within this district, as is the charming Île Saint-Louis. This is the part of Paris for architecture appreciators, side-street-searchers, and flaneurs who enjoy a good cafe table on the street. There are great spots for this along the river, but also in Le Marais, which has some of Paris’s most impressive hôtels particuliers (or townhouses), and several of them have now been turned into museums, notably the Hôtel Salé, which is now the Picasso Museum. There are lots of great bars and restaurants here, and plenty of opportunity to have a great time after hours. There are ten Metro stations in the 4th, including Bastille, worth mentioning because it serves several lines, and you’re within walking distance of many of Paris’s major sights.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: central, major attractions, lively nightlife, great cafes, bars and restaurants, great architecture, interesting to get lost in
- Cons: expensive, congested
- Ideal For: couples, night owls, wanderers, romantics
Discover our recommended hotels near Notre Dame, Paris
Le Marais and the 3rd Arrondissement
Evocative and grand, Le Marais straddles the 4th and 3rd Arrondissements, with the southern side, in the 4th the livelier part. The northern side still has elegant bars and cafes, though, and this is where you’ll find some of the oldest houses in Paris, with Rue de Montmorency being a particularly good place to look for them. It’s also a good place for hip boutiques and little galleries, and elegant green spaces. The old Jewish quarter is in the 3rd too, and it has a very good collection of museums, including the Musée Picasso, the Musée Cognacq-Jay and an impressive museum of industrial design. The 3rd Arrondissement has ten Metro stations, but it’s very central for the rest of Paris.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: quiet, elegant, green, great architecture, good choice of cafes and bars, central
- Cons: quiet, residential
- Ideal For: a quieter base
Discover our recommended hotels in Le Marais, Paris.
The Eiffel Tower and the 7th Arrondissement
On the left bank of the Seine, just across the river from both the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe, the 7th Arrondissement is a big one, both in size and in attractions. Firstly this is where you’ll find the Eiffel Tower, and many of the big museums, including the Musée d'Orsay, Musée du quai Branly, Musée Rodin, the Musée de L’Armée and Napoleon’s resting place, Les Invalides. The stylish shopping district of Saint Germain des Prés is also in the 7th, and the traditionally aristocratic Faubourg Saint-Germain, which is where you’ll find many embassies, hôtels particuliers, and some of the fanciest of our recommendations for hotels on the left bank. There’s a huge range of places to eat and drink in the 7th Arrondissement, from traditional sidewalk cafes, to touristy eateries, to high end restaurants. The 7th has 16 Metro stations, and three stations on the RER C train line. It’s central, with a good mix of accommodation.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: central, major attractions, huge choice of places to eat and drink, historic, atmospheric
- Cons: touristy in parts
- Ideal For: sightseers, families, art-lovers
Discover our recommended hotels in Paris’s 7th Arrondissement.
Saint Germain des Prés and Faubourg Saint-Germain
Surrounding the former Abbey of Saint Germain des Prés on the left bank of the Seine, this is an especially elegant area, known for its hôtels particuliers and cafes, and some exceptionally charming squares. These streets are also lined with art galleries and antiques dealers, and there are a couple of small theatres too. Saint Germain des Prés has appeal for history buffs, as this was the centre of the existential moment, and where Oscar Wilde spent his last days, strolling the streets and lamenting. Faubourg Saint-Germain is next door, and is where the French nobility have made their homes since the 18th century. These are particularly rewarding areas to walk around, and great places to eat, drink and people watch.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: central, elegant, luxurious, historic. excellent cafe and dining culture, boutique shopping
- Cons: expensive, residential
- Ideal For: treating yourself, history-buffs, luxury-lovers, romantics
Discover our recommended hotels in Saint Germain des Prés, Paris.
The Latin Quarter, the 5th and 6th Arrondissements
Home to the Sorbonne, the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Panthéon and a lively cafe culture, the Latin Quarter runs up against the 7th Arrondissement on the left bank. There are lots of universities in this part of town, occupying a clutch of beautiful buildings, and the many student communities here give the place a lot of life. There are plenty of very Parisian cafes for the intelligentsia to mingle and discuss, and great restaurants and bars as well. The Latin Quarter is also known for its art galleries, book shops and fashion. And for its bridges!
Pros and Cons
- Pros: lively nightlife, great cafe culture, central, good transport links, historic, green space, elegant
- Cons: busy, lots of students in term time
- Ideal For: night owls, foodies, luxury lovers
Discover our recommended hotels in Paris’s Latin Quarter.
Montmartre
Montmartre is a hill, in Paris’s 18th Arrondissement, topped by the beautiful, white domes of Sacré-Cœur. But it gives its name to the whole surrounding area, which includes many cafes, restaurants and bars. Today it’s mostly known for its basilica, its nightlife, and for its role in the film Amelie, but historically it’s been well loved by artists, who have certainly left the legacy of their bohemian lifestyles — many of the bars, cafes, bistros and restaurants they frequented are relatively unchanged. The Musée de Montmartre is an important local landmark and museum, having housed many artists and their studios, including Renior and Suzanne Valadon. This is also where you’ll find the refurbished Moulin Rouge. Montmartre still has the same incredible views, and many of its charms, and it still has rather a village-y feel, considering it’s just a stroll downhill to the Louvre.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: lively atmosphere and nightlife, great cafes, bars and restaurants, historic, atmospheric, arty, great views
- Cons: some parts are a bit tired and scruffy, touristy
- Ideal For: romantics, night owls, good value
Discover our recommended hotels in Montmartre, Paris.
The 9th Arrondissement
Fashionable and elegant, the 9th Arrondissement is also called Opéra, and, logically, is the area around the Paris Opera, including the Boulevard Haussmann. As well as the opera house, this arrondissement has the Folies Bergères, the Théatre Mogador and the Théatre de Paris, so it’s lively in the evening, with diners and theatre goers. In the daytime this area is crammed with shoppers, visiting the Galleries Lafayette and Printemps, among other department stores and shops. Between Montmartre and the business district, the 9th Arrondissement has 20-odd Metro stations, so it’s well connected to the rest of Paris, and within a relaxed stroll of many of the major sights.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: great shopping, great choice of places to eat and drink, theatre nightlife, buzzy
- Cons: busy
- Ideal For: theatre-goers, romantics, couples, city-breakers
Discover our recommended hotels in the 9th Arrondissement, Paris
The 10th Arrondissement
The 10th is also called Entrepôt, which translates to ‘warehouse’, which makes sense when you hear that this is where you’ll find two of Paris’s major rail stations, the Gare du Nord and the Gare de l’Est. These big transport hubs make this an attractive spot if you’re passing through Paris, and the area is well set up for that sort of visit, with plenty of cafes, bistros and bars. It has its own sights too, though, one of the most popular being the Canal Saint-Martin area. The wide boulevards in this part of town are built over the canal, rather than beside it, along some stretches, but it’s still a popular place for a stroll or a cruise, and the working locks with their series of cast-iron footbridges add plenty of charm. It’s quite chic for boutique shopping too.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: central, great transport links
- Cons: busy transport hub
- Ideal For: short trips and passing through
Discover our recommended hotels in Paris’s 10th Arrondissement
