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Home / TRAVEL GUIDES / Paris / The loveliest neighborhoods in Paris are located in the nicest neighborhoods to stay.

The loveliest neighborhoods in Paris are located in the nicest neighborhoods to stay.

2023-02-27  Diana Solomon

Planning a vacation to Paris is usually a fantastic idea, but where should you stay?

 

One of the finest European city breaks is Paris, but organizing a vacation to the French capital may be difficult, especially when figuring out where to stay in Paris. So which neighborhoods are the greatest ones to call home? It depends on the kind of trip you want to take. Fortunately, the greatest restaurants in Paris and the nicest hotels are dispersed throughout the arrondissements of the city. The good thing is that you have alternatives since you might choose a different neighborhood each time you stay in this city and have a unique experience. Here, we outline our top weekend-only arrondissements in Paris for everything from shopping to nightlife to sightseeing the city's iconic attractions.

Here, we respond to some of your inquiries regarding where to stay in Paris and share our top local neighborhoods with people who are unfamiliar with the city.

Which part of Paris is the ideal place for visitors to stay?

Everything depends on your travel goals to Paris, as we said above. Several of the most famous sites, including the Eiffel Tower and many museums, are located in the 7th arrondissement (more on these below), whereas the Pigalle neighborhood is where you'll find nightlife (including the Moulin Rouge). One of our favorite neighborhoods is Montmartre, which is touristic but offers a picture-postcard view of the city thanks to its steep, sloping streets and delectable street markets.

What does the French word "arrondissement" mean?

An arrondissement is only a district, similar to the boroughs of London or the neighborhoods of New York. There are 20 of them in Paris, and their numbers are arranged in a clockwise spiral that begins in the heart of the city and spreads outward.

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Paris's Montmartre

The greatest place to stay when visiting Paris for the first time is where?

The ideal way to see the city on foot (walking is one of the finest methods to tour here) or by using the metro is to stay in a hotel or apartment in one of the core neighborhoods if it's your first time visiting Paris. The Marais has streets that border the Seine, a variety of restaurants and bars, and is close to the Louvre and Notre Dame. A hotel in the 8th arrondissement, which is close to the Arc de Triomphe and puts you right in the action, is another option.

What part of Paris is the most beautiful?

Paris is pretty gorgeous overall. Yet, we contend that Montmartre is the most attractive neighborhood. Views of the entire city are available from the grounds of Sacré-Coeur, the white-domed church, which is perched on a hill in the 18th arrondissement. The stores, restaurants, and cafés that line the small streets look as though they were snatched out of a French arthouse film. There is also an artists' market available for browsing.

Is walking easy in Paris?

Certainly, to some extent. It's a pretty flat city, and many of the sights are grouped, except for Montmartre. For instance, it takes under 30 minutes to walk from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, and less than 20 minutes to get from the Louvre to Notre Dame. Plan to spend some time in each region and combine nearby neighborhoods into one day; if you become weary or are less mobile, you can always use the metro. You may get through the city using buses or cabs in addition to a large portion of the metro, which is wheelchair accessible.

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Cafe and brasserie on the boulevard in Paris

Here are our top 5 Parisian neighborhoods to stay in.

Montmartre

The neighborhood of Montmartre may be the most beautiful in all of Paris, and when we said it previously, we meant it. It's a classic for a reason even though it's neither obscure nor unheard of. We adore the side-street photo options (be sure to visit La Maison Rose and the Lamarck-Caulaincourt metro station), as well as the weekend artist market. Visit in October when, as part of an arrondissement-wide event, the local vineyard (yes, really) opens to the public for the only time all year.

Where to stay: While officially located in the 9th arrondissement, the wellness-focused, luminous Hotel HoY is only a short stroll from Sacré-Cur.

Pigalle

The Moulin Rouge is located here, after all, thus Pigalle's stately 19th-century streets that border Montmartre was formerly known as the crimson neighborhood. Years ago, this was the area of the city where artists would dwell, and that symbol is still there. With chic restaurants to reserve (we enjoy Bouillon Pigalle) and hotels to stay at, it has already advanced past up-and-coming to firmly establish itself on the map.

Where to stay: The Art Deco Hôtel Rochechouart captures the spirit of the Roaring Twenties and is surprisingly inexpensive.

Le Marais

With its cobblestone alleyways, courtyards, and tree-lined avenues, the lush Marais neighborhood in the 4th arrondissement (just across the river from Notre Dame) is a relatively calm area of the city. This is a prime location for shopping and is also home to the Marché des Enfants Rouge from the 17th century.

Where to stay: Sinner Paris is one of the sexiest and most luxurious hotels in Paris, ideal for a weekend of romance.

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View from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

St-Germain-des-Prés

This posh area of Paris is home to grand-dame hotels and upscale stores (Ladurée pit-stop, anyone?). In this area, there are several classic Parisian cafés (such as Cafe de Flore, which has a mixed reputation with locals but is worth a stride-by, if nothing else).

Where to stay: For breathtaking views, stay at Hotel Lutetia.

The 7th arrondissement

By staying here, you won't be nominated for any prizes for an unusual Paris vacation. So don't be deterred by it. It is understandable to want to be close to the major sites, especially if you only have a short amount of time in Paris. The 7th arrondissement is home to the Eiffel Tower, several churches, and the Musée d'Orsay, which has works by Monet, Manet, and Renoir.

Where to stay: While this area is popular with tourists, live like a local in an Airbnb; we prefer this cheerful flat.

Learn more about The top Paris Airbnbs here.


2023-02-27  Diana Solomon