Where to stay · Paris · France
Where to stay in Paris
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ZeusUpsistos, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Le Marais. Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Best alternatives — families: Latin Quarter; budget: Latin Quarter.
Key facts
- First visit
- Le Marais
- Families
- Latin Quarter
- Budget
- Latin Quarter
- Nightlife
- Le Marais
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Le Marais | Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements |
| Families | Latin Quarter | Student energy, the Sorbonne and cheap eats in the 5th |
| Couples | Le Marais | Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements |
| Budget | Latin Quarter | Student energy, the Sorbonne and cheap eats in the 5th |
| Luxury | Saint-Germain-des-Prés | Literary cafés, art galleries and elegant Left Bank streets in the 6th |
| Nightlife | Le Marais | Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements |
| Food lovers | Canal Saint-Martin | Iron footbridges, natural-wine bars and a young local crowd in the 10th |
| Solo travellers | Latin Quarter | Student energy, the Sorbonne and cheap eats in the 5th |
| Shopping | Le Marais | Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements |
| Quiet stays | Eiffel Tower and 7th arrondissement | Grand avenues, Rue Cler market street and tower views |
Paris neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, shopping and nightlife
Le Marais
Le Marais escaped Haussmann's rebuilding, so its narrow streets still hold 17th-century mansions such as the Hôtel de Sully and the arcaded Place des Vosges. It is the city's liveliest area for independent shops, small museums (Picasso, Carnavalet) and Sunday opening, and it sits within walking distance of Notre-Dame and the Louvre.
- Good
- Central and walkable to most sights; Shops and restaurants open on Sundays; Lively in the evenings
- Watch out
- Rooms are small and pricey; Busy weekend crowds on Rue des Rosiers
- Nearby
- Place des Vosges, Musée Picasso, Musée Carnavalet, Notre-Dame
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, luxury and culture
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The 6th arrondissement is the classic Left Bank: Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, antique dealers, bookshops and the Luxembourg Gardens. It is quieter at night than the Marais but one of the most polished and calm bases, with the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre across the river.
- Good
- Beautiful, calm streets; Excellent cafés and bakeries; Short walk to the Seine
- Watch out
- Among the most expensive hotels in the city; Quieter nightlife
- Nearby
- Luxembourg Gardens, Musée d'Orsay, Saint-Sulpice
$$ · Best for budget, first-timers, solo travellers and families
Latin Quarter
Around the Sorbonne and Rue Mouffetard, the 5th mixes university life with Roman ruins, the Panthéon and the Jardin des Plantes. Hotels here are generally better value than in the 6th next door, and the area is a short walk from Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité.
- Good
- Good-value hotels for a central location; Lively but not rowdy; Easy RER link to both airports
- Watch out
- Rue de la Huchette restaurants are touristy; Some streets are noisy at night
- Nearby
- Panthéon, Jardin des Plantes, Shakespeare and Company, Notre-Dame
$$ · Best for couples, budget and culture
Montmartre
Montmartre keeps a village feel on its upper slopes, with vineyard terraces, steep stairways and views across the city from the Sacré-Cœur steps. Lower down around Abbesses and Pigalle it has wine bars and cabarets including the Moulin Rouge. It is further from the central museums, but hotel prices drop accordingly.
- Good
- Romantic streets and views; Cheaper hotels; Strong neighbourhood character
- Watch out
- Hilly, with many stairs; Pigalle can feel seedy late at night; Pickpockets and petition scams around Sacré-Cœur
- Nearby
- Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre, Moulin Rouge
$$$ · Best for shopping, first-timers and families
Opéra and Grands Boulevards
The area around the Palais Garnier is Paris's practical centre: the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores, theatres and a dense web of Métro and RER lines. It is less charming than the Left Bank but excellent for shoppers and for travellers who want fast access to everything, including direct RER and Roissybus links towards CDG.
- Good
- Superb transport links; Wide choice of hotels; Department-store rooftops with free views
- Watch out
- Busy, commercial feel; Fewer neighbourhood restaurants
- Nearby
- Palais Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Louvre
$$$$ · Best for families, couples, luxury and quiet stays
Eiffel Tower and 7th arrondissement
The 7th is residential and stately, home to the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides and the Musée Rodin. Rue Cler is a pedestrian market street with cheese shops and bakeries. Evenings are quiet, which suits families and couples who want to see the tower sparkle on the hour after dark.
- Good
- Iconic views; Safe and calm at night; Green space at the Champ de Mars
- Watch out
- Expensive; Little nightlife; Further from the Marais and Montmartre
- Nearby
- Eiffel Tower, Musée Rodin, Les Invalides, Rue Cler
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and budget
Canal Saint-Martin
Along the tree-lined canal, Parisians picnic on the quays on summer evenings and fill small restaurants and bars around Rue de Lancry and Rue Beaurepaire. It is close to Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, convenient for Eurostar and trains to eastern France.
- Good
- Local atmosphere; Good restaurants at fair prices; Near Eurostar terminal
- Watch out
- Few classic sights within walking distance; Station surroundings can feel rough
- Nearby
- Canal Saint-Martin, Gare du Nord, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and budget
Bastille and Oberkampf
East of the Marais, the 11th is one of the city's main going-out districts, with dense bar streets around Oberkampf and Rue de Lappe and a growing number of acclaimed neo-bistros. The Marché d'Aligre is one of the best-value and liveliest food markets in the city.
- Good
- Some of the best-value dining in Paris; Lively nightlife; Good Métro links
- Watch out
- Noisy on weekend nights; A Métro ride from the big museums
- Nearby
- Place de la Bastille, Marché d'Aligre, Promenade Plantée
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Le Marais | $$$ | Place des Vosges, Musée Picasso, Musée Carnavalet, Notre-Dame |
| Saint-Germain-des-Prés | $$$$ | Luxembourg Gardens, Musée d'Orsay, Saint-Sulpice |
| Latin Quarter | $$ | Panthéon, Jardin des Plantes, Shakespeare and Company, Notre-Dame |
| Montmartre | $$ | Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre, Moulin Rouge |
| Opéra and Grands Boulevards | $$$ | Palais Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Louvre |
| Eiffel Tower and 7th arrondissement | $$$$ | Eiffel Tower, Musée Rodin, Les Invalides, Rue Cler |
| Canal Saint-Martin | $$ | Canal Saint-Martin, Gare du Nord, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont |
| Bastille and Oberkampf | $$ | Place de la Bastille, Marché d'Aligre, Promenade Plantée |
Getting to your hotel
From Charles de Gaulle, the RER B train reaches Gare du Nord and Châtelet in about 30–35 minutes; Orly is linked to the centre by Métro line 14 and the Orlyval shuttle. Taxis charge fixed flat fares to the Right and Left Banks. Beauvais is about 85 km away and served mainly by coach.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Paris for first-time visitors?
Le Marais. Le Marais escaped Haussmann's rebuilding, so its narrow streets still hold 17th-century mansions such as the Hôtel de Sully and the arcaded Place des Vosges.
+Where should families stay in Paris?
Latin Quarter: Good-value hotels for a central location.
+Which area of Paris is best for a budget stay?
Latin Quarter ($$): Student energy, the Sorbonne and cheap eats in the 5th.