• Where to stay in Paris?

    Deciding where to stay in Paris will depend on your budget and your interests.  The city is enormous city and the major attractions are spread out.  First you need to get your bearings; the river Seine divides the city, to the south is known as the left bank or riva gauche and is known for classic architecture – the Paris of 19th century artists and writers.  North of the river, the right bank is hipper and trendier.

  • Paris is divided in 20 districts called arrondissements, that are arranged in a sort of spiral emanating from the centre of the city which is arrondissement one.  As a visitor to Paris the main arrondissements of interest (central Paris) are arrondissements 1, 2, 5 and 6 where you will find the Louvre, Opera Garnier, the Latin Quarter and Champs-Elysees.

    Paris may be huge but it has an excellent transport network, the best advice we can give is to choose accommodation near a metro station.

    Like all capital cities, accommodation in the centre tend to be more expensive.  If you want to surround yourself with the glamour of the Champs Elysees and Cartier, you will pay a premium; but there are other characteristic parts of the city with class an atmosphere that don’t have to break the bank.

  • 1st Arrondissement – The Louvre

    Many of Paris’s most famous landmarks like the Louvre Museum are in the first arrondissement or close by.  Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter, the Centre Pompidou and to the west the Champs-Elysees are only 5 minutes’ walk.  The Tuileries Gardens are a wonderful place for a stroll or enjoy a glass of wine at one of the quaint cafes lining the garden of the Palais Royale.  If shopping is your thing, the main department stores are also only 10 minutes’ walk north of the Louvre.   Just across the river are the Musee D’Orsay and Saint Germain.

    The first arrondissement is seriously sophisticated and you can’t get more central.  This the most sought-after location which is reflected in the prices; there are 2-star hotels, but you will be paying 4-star prices!

    The first is also well connected, the nearby Chatelet Les Halles complex is a bit of a transport hub with links to five metro lines, both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as direct trains to Disneyland.  You can also walk across the river from the Louvre to St Michel RER station where there are frequent trains to Versailles.

    Best for:  The seriously posh and those who want to be in the centre of everything

  • Champs-Elysees & Grands Boulevards (arrondissement 8 & 9)

    The Champs-Elysees is perhaps the most exclusive area of Paris.  This famous wide avenue lined with horse-chestnut trees is known for its glamour and boasts luxury boutiques like Cartier and Tiffany, classy street café’s including branches of Pierre Hermé and Ladurée if you want to try the famous Macarons (see what to eat in Paris).  The nearby Grands Boulevards area is just to the north-east of the centre of Paris, but still easily walkable to the Opera Garnier, Louvre etc.  It is a bustling, lively area with lots of small restaurants, boutiques shops and markets along the main thoroughfares.

    Known for the Arc de Triomphe and Grand Palais, this is a great place from which to explore on foot or by bicycle.  The Marché Président Wilson is a must-visit – a market with fresh flowers and organic produce. For art fans the Musee Galliera, Palais de Tokyo and Petit Palais are close and for park lovers, the compact Parc Moncea filled with statues and neoclassical architecture is to the north in the 8th arrondissement.  From here you can stroll the banks of the Seine, or enjoy it by boat with Bateaux-Mouche.  Step away from the main roads and there is a village like feel with old fashioned shopping galleries now filled with collectors’ shops and small second-hand book shops.

    Hotel prices are ‘value for money’ and are a big step down from the options just a short distance away around the Louvre and Opera Garnier, this area is full of mid-range and budget hotels including global chains like Ibis and Best Western.

    Best for those who want the shopping of Paris

  • Montmartre

    To the North of the city, you will find a village feel among the hilly streets of Montmartre with ivy-clad buildings and an air of enchantment.  This is where Amelie was filmed and is perhaps for many the ‘true’ Paris.  Retro cafes and multicoloured houses surround the dazzling white Sacré-Cœur perched high on the hill.  There are breath-taking views from here.

    Montmartre is a great place to explore with interesting shops and a plethora of eateries.  The Sacré-Cœur and the Musée de Montmartre with its beautiful rose gardens are a must.  The Cimetière Montmartre is the final resting place of a number of historical figures including Stendhal, Émile Zola, Degas and many more.  You can also visit Paris’ only vineyard ‘Clos de Montmartre’.  Further down the hill in is an up’-and-coming’ area known as South Pigalle.  Alongside raunchy cabarets and peepshows you will find trendy new wine bars and restaurants.

    Hotels range from former mansions and villas of the belle epoque to quirky boutique hotels.

    Best for couples looking for a romantic hideaway or hipsters looking to check out the edgier parts of town

  • The Latin Quarter

    The Latin Quarter in the 5th arrondissement is often traversed by tourists who come to chill out in the nearby Jardin di Luxembourg or to visit some of the finest museums all in the city: The Panthéon, Musée National de la Moyen, the Natural History Museum and the Institut du Monde Arabe.

    Home to Paris’ university the Sorbonne, the area is buzzing with plenty of packed pubs, bars and clubs as well as diverse restaurants to suit all budgets.  For those who want typical Paris charm minus the students, just walk a little away from the student bars and you will find cobblestone streets and leafy squares.  Some of the most diverse architecture in the city is here, there are even Roman ruins!  Don’t miss a stroll down the oldest street in Paris, Rue Mouffetard which has a permanent open-air market at the Saint-Médard Square; from here the street is lined with numerous stands, small independent shops and cafes.

    You will find boutique hotels and urban chic at an affordable price in the Latin quarter.

    Best for those who want Parisian charm in a quiet area

  • Le Marais

    The Marais spreads across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements on the right bank of the Seine across from Notre Dame.  Perhaps one of the more traditional areas of Paris known for its beautifully kept squares, aristocratic mansions, grand hotels alongside traditional restaurants and boulangeries.  Still fairly central, to the west is the Louvre, the Tuileries and the monumental Hôtel de Ville, the city hall.  This area hosts a number of independent art galleries, the Musée Picasso and the magnificent Place des Vosges where you can visit Victor Hugo’s house. The Musée des Arts et Metiers is fantastic for kids who can don hard hats and build things and the Centre Pompidou is close by.

    Perhaps the trendiest neighbourhood, attracting the uber cool and somewhat younger crowd.  But it is also the most diverse as the Marais is home to Paris’ large LGBTQ+ community as well as the Jewish quarter. Boutique shopping for unique fashion and art pieces in Haut-Marais is second-to-none.

    Marais has a selection of hotels ranging from grand hotels from the belle epoque to decadent retro.

    Best for those that want to discover old Paris, shop at chic boutiques and families with slighter older kids

  • 7th Arrondissement – Eiffel Tower

    The 7th is the perfect place to stay for first-time visitors to Paris whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a family vacation. Here you will find the Eiffel Tower alongside breath-taking architecture, world-class restaurants, high end shopping and on Rue Cler, a charming village feel.  As it is close to the river, you can take a romantic stroll along the seine or visit the family-friendly Berges de Seines with a riverfront play area.

    There are great museums here too, Musee D’Orsay is second only to the Louvre with its impressionist collection, the Musee Rodin, the Military Museum at Les Invalides; you can even take a guided tour of Paris’ sewer at Les Egouts – the Museum of Paris Sewers!

    You will find a great range of hotels with affordable prices; many even have a view of the Eiffel tower!

    Best for first timers to Paris and families