Planning your trip to Paris? There are two things you are probably thinking about: where to stay and what to see in each of the districts, the so-called arrondissements of Paris.
As we said, you were probably planning what to see in the city, but… where are each of the places to visit located? And secondly, where should you stay to enjoy Paris more?
You may have heard or read about the first arrondissement, or the second arrondissement. But what are arrondissements?
Indice:
Arrondissement of Paris, where to stay and what to see
The so-called arrondissements are the districts into which Paris is divided. It is divided into twenty districts, and in each of them you will find different attractions, as well as good reasons to stay there.
Apart from the proximity to museums or different attractions that you want to visit, keep in mind security, proximity to metro stations, and gastronomic places in the area, in order to make the most of the place. In short, what we try to find is a good relationship between the price and what the area offers us.
Here is a map with the marked areas so you can download it and help you get organized.
Descargar mapa de París
The complete guide to the districts of Paris, one by one, what to see and where to stay, to help you plan your trip to the city of lights. Shall we begin?
►Districts: 1, 2, 3, and 4
►1st DISTRICT OF PARIS
The first is very touristy, there you will find places like the Louvre Museum, the Palais Royal, and the Tuileries Garden. It is a very interesting and touristy area, you will be very close to the places you plan to visit, but due to all this, the prices of accommodation will be somewhat high. In any case, always check, because there may be some offer, or a cheaper hotel, and it may be that this is the area you dream of staying in.
Some hotel options in the area:
Hotel Du Louvre in the Unbound Collection
Without a doubt, the area is very good, and you will find a lot to visit there.
►Search for a hotel in the 1st arrondissement
►II DISTRICT OF PARIS
The second district of Paris is the smallest, and is home to the old stock exchange building and the National Library. Places to visit include the Grand Rex cinema, the largest cinema in Europe, an Art Deco building built in 1932. The Vivienne Gallery, which is not as well-known as the Lafayette, is still beautiful. And very close by is the Musée Grevin (although the latter is already on the border with the 9th district).
►Route through the galleries and covered passages of Paris
It has the advantage of being very close to District 1, so if you choose to stay there you will be very close to the above attractions and you may be able to get a slightly better price.
Some hotel options in the area:
►Search for a hotel in the 2nd arrondissement
►Itinerary for 5 days in Paris!
►III DISTRICT OF PARIS
In the third district we find the so-called Le Marais district, which has a very special charm and several museums. In this area there are several places to eat, and one of them is the Marche des Enfants Rouges (the market of the red children), a place worth a visit. Crossing the border of the arrondissement we have the Place des Vosges, one of the most beautiful squares in Paris, apart from finding Victor Hugo’s house there.
Without a doubt, it is a very charming area in Paris in which to stay.
♥Some hotel options in the area:
►Find accommodation in Le Marais
►IV DISTRICT OF PARIS
After crossing the Place des Vosges and continuing into the Le Marais district, we continue walking towards the Seine, we are now in the fourth district of Paris. This is another well-known district, as it is where we find some of the most visited places in the city. Is it worth staying there? The price will be a bit high, and perhaps there are places very close to this area with more accommodation so that you can do a more exhaustive search and thus find the ideal accommodation in terms of quality/price.
Here we find the Pompidou Centre, the Hotel de Ville, the Saint Jacques Tower, and the island of La Cité is also part of this area.
The Notre Dame Cathedral stands out here, which was badly damaged by the fire that occurred in April 2019. It is currently being restored, but it has not lost its majesty and magic.
Some accommodation options in district 4:
►Find accommodation in district 4
►Districts 5 and 6
►V DISTRICT OF PARIS
We arrived at the 5th arrondissement, we are in the charming Latin Quarter. From this neighborhood, precisely from the Saint Michel Fountain, (located on the border with the 6th district), the free tours depart, as we always say, they are a great option to have the first contact with the city. Book your free tour of Paris here.
We stayed in this area the last time we visited the city, we stayed at the Hotel Europe Saint Severin, which was a great choice. The rooms are small, but as they always are in this French city, the breakfast is quite complete, and if you travel by car there is a parking lot very close by.
The 5th district is a very charming area. Here you can visit places like the Pantheon, the Sorbonne, the Shakespeare bookstore, the Saint Severin church, but best of all… get lost in its streets that have that very Parisian air.
►Route through the Latin Quarter
An area that, apart from its charm, allows you to quickly reach places such as Notre Dame, the Concergierie, or Saint Chapelle.
In the Latin Quarter you will also find a wide range of hotels, prices vary considerably, so start searching!
♥ Here are some of the accommodation options in the area:
►Book accommodation in the 5th arrondissement of Paris
►VI DISTRICT OF PARIS
If we continue walking we will reach the 6th district of Paris, where we find the Saint Germain des Pres district, the Luxembourg Gardens and its palace, or the Saint Sulpice church (which appears in the Da Vinci Code). Another charming area to stay.
Some of the accommodations you can find in this area:
►Book accommodation in the 6th district of the city.
►Districts 7, 8, and 9
►VII DISTRICT OF PARIS
In the seventh arrondissement we find the famous Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars, the Orsay museum, and Les Invalides with Napoleon’s tomb, among many other places to visit. Like all the areas we have seen so far, it has its charm, so looking for a hotel there is something we will surely try.
Regardless of whether you stay here or not, and whether you go to the Eiffel Tower during the day, you can’t miss it at night, because the spectacle of seeing it lit up is simply wonderful. If you’re planning to go up it, don’t miss our article on how to go up the Eiffel Tower. Eiffel Tower without queues, in it you will find all the information to organize the visit step by step.
Located in a former train station, the Orsay Museum is worth seeing, both for the works on display there, as well as for the building in which it is located, because as we said, it was once a train station.
Have you already thought about a tourist pass to save on admission to Paris attractions?
As we can see, there are many options for accommodation in Paris. Here are some of the options in the 7th district:
Hotel & spa de Latour Maubourg
Have you chosen to stay in the seventh district? If so, check out the accommodation options it has to offer here.
►8TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
The 8th district is very glamorous, Champs Elyseés, the Arc de Triomphe, the Place de la Concorde, the Lido de Paris, the Madeleine church, shops and boulevards characterize this area.
As you can imagine, this is an area with a high price for accommodation, and also for lunch or dinner. However, if you want to treat yourself, you can find a hotel that is affordable by looking very patiently. This happened to us on our previous trip, and we were able to stay near the Champs Elyseés and the Arc de Triomphe. The accommodation chosen was the Mayflower Hotel, a quiet area, normal-sized rooms, good service and breakfast.
Shall we start searching for all the hotels in zone 8?
Some selected options may be:
Hotel Rochester Champs Elysées
►IX DISTRICT OF PARIS
On the 9th floor you will find the majestic Palais Garnier, the opera house. Taking a tour inside the Opera Garnier is something you cannot miss. If you want to see how interesting it is, here is a video of one of our visits.
The other highlight of this district is the Galeries Lafayette. Entering these buildings is magnificent, and free (as long as you don’t buy anything), so it’s a visit you can’t miss. Tip: on the top floor you’ll find a terrace from which you can get some very nice views of the city. It’s one of the most notable viewpoints in Paris.
The other galleries worth mentioning in the area are the Printemps Galleries, although not as famous, it is worth stopping by to see the beautiful building.
↓Are you going to visit several paid attractions? Perhaps a tourist pass is a good option↓
As you can see, as we pass through the first areas (all distributed in a spiral shape in the city), we realize that each of them has attractions that make them worth staying in the area to enjoy, or not?
Some options in this district:
Find all options in the 9th arrondissement
►Districts 10, 11, 12 and 13
►X ARRONDISSEMENT OF PARIS
In the 10th arrondissement we find the stations Gare de L’Est and Gare du Nord. It is quite possible that we arrive at them from where we arrive or that we depart from them towards a new destination.
You will find several accommodations nearby, although it may not be one of the most interesting places to stay, because near the stations, as happens almost everywhere, at night it may not be so safe. Although it is true that it can be a very comfortable option to get around, and the prices are usually somewhat lower.
Speaking of other destinations, have you thought about making any other visit in France, from Paris?, there are two places that we recommend and of which we have written articles, Mont Saint Michel, and the castles of the Loire.
All accommodation options in the 10th district
Some accommodation options if you choose this arrondissement:
Okko Hotels París Gare de l’Est
Holiday Inn París Gare De L’Est
Ibis Style París Gare de L’Est Chateau London
We have ten more districts of Paris to explore. Have you already made your choice? Wait, maybe you’ll find it in some of the remaining ones.
►Route through Rue Crémieux, Viaduct des Arts, Bastille and Canal Saint Martin
►11TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
We arrived at Place de la Bastille. This is a very lively area at night, and looking for a hotel there, near the third district, is a good option.
Are you on a budget? What do you think of these video options to enjoy Paris without spending too much?
Some accommodation options in the XI district:
Oh lala! Hotel bar París Bastille
O.. all options in district number 11
►12TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
Right next to the Place de la Bastille, we find the Opéra Bastille and the 12th arrondissement. The Bercy district, the Gare du Lyon, the Place de la Nation, the Paris Zoo, and the Paris-Vencinnes Hippodrome are some of the things that characterize this area, which is perhaps not so well known in terms of tourism. However, some accommodation near the Opéra Bastille, the Bercy district or near Gare du Lyon, may be an option for staying.
We leave you some options, or……….All the options in district 12
►13TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
Located on the left bank of the Seine River, we find this less touristy district of the city of Paris. The Asian quarter stands out here, and you will find a more local life here, far from tourism. Although there are not many cons for staying here, we do not have any points in favor of doing so, but the price will surely be. Plaza Italia is perhaps one of the nerve centers, and if you want to find some cheap accommodation, this is an option.
Options in the XIII arrondissement:
Ibis Stlyle Paris Tolbiac Bibliotheque
All the options in district 13
►Districts 14, 15, 16, and 17
►XIV DISTRICT OF PARIS
We arrived at Montparnasse. If you are looking to be budget conscious, this is a very good option, the accommodation will be somewhat cheaper than in the more central areas, it is safe and you will be very well connected by metro to the same areas. The 14th district is a good option in Paris where to stay.
Separately, (although already in the 15th district), you have the Montparnasse Tower, from where you will get some very nice views of Paris with the Eiffel Tower.
Have you already chosen which viewpoints to climb to see the city? We’ll help you with this video
By now you will be tired of checking hotel prices, but… don’t forget that a good search is the key to finding the ideal hotel for us, the best in terms of quality/price/location.
Or check out this selection:
In this area we find the famous Catacombs of Paris, a place that is interesting to visit if you feel like it.
►15TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
The 15th arrondissement, also called Vaugirard, is a quiet but highly populated area of the capital. As attractions you have the already named Montparnasse Tower, and the not so well known Citroën park, where you find this balloon, (the Ballon de Paris) to which you can climb and get from there some beautiful views of the city, if you have already watched our video of the 6 best views of Paris, you will have seen it.
Located next to the Seine and in the 7th district, it is a very good option in Paris to choose where to stay, and not so touristy, which is good news for finding something cheaper.
Accommodations in the 15th arrondissement
►16TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
Trocadero area. It is clear that since the districts are spiral shaped, they are “touching” each other, that is why number 16 is next to number 7 and therefore this whole area is close to the Eiffel Tower. The 16th district is across the Seine, and in it we find the Trocadero gardens and esplanade, from where we get privileged views of the Eiffel Tower. If we are thinking about where to stay in Paris, this is perhaps one of the places we will look for, although obviously the price will be somewhat higher than in other areas, but let’s try! Maybe a little further away from Trocadero we will find something.
Room Mate Alain Champs Elysées
Or try searching the entire 16th arrondissement
►XVII ARRONDISSEMENT OF PARIS
This district extends beyond the Arc de Triomphe. There are several embassies and consulates in it. Although it has few tourist attractions, you may find some cheaper accommodation and this may be your option for “where to stay in Paris”. It is also true that you can stay a few steps from the Arc de Triomphe, because as we said, the districts are in a spiral, within the same district you will find more interesting places to stay than others.
Best Western Plus Hotel Mercedes Arc de Triomphe
Find accommodation in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.
►Districts 18, 19, and 20
►18TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
We arrived at Montmartre!!
One of the most famous neighborhoods in Paris is Montmartre, which used to be the artists’ neighborhood. When looking for a place to stay in Paris, we always take it as an option, but…
It is a very charming area, a must-see if you are in the city, but at night you should be a little careful. In any case, you will find many people who have stayed there, for my part, I prefer to avoid it at night, although I would never miss it during the day, it is one of the most beautiful and bohemian places in the city.
In this area you will find the Sacre Coeur, the Moulin Rouge, the Je t’aime wall and countless wonderful corners, apart from some great views.
Find accommodation in Montmartre
►19TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
A little further away, in the 19th district, we have very beautiful parks such as Parc Villette and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
Finding accommodation in the 19th district
►XX DISTRICT OF PARIS
In the 20th district we find the Pere Lachaise cemetery, the resting place of famous people and a much-visited place.
It may be a bit far away when looking for a place to stay in Paris, so if you choose one, look for one that is close to a metro station.
Find accommodation in the 20th district of Paris.
If you have not yet put together your itinerary, we leave you one with the main attractions to see in three days in Paris, don’t miss it.
If there is one thing you cannot forget, it is to travel with travel insurance. We are never free from something happening to us on our trip, from losing our luggage to a health problem, so we must be prepared and take out insurance that covers any inconvenience.
Iati insurance►EXTRA: INTERACTIVE MAP
Booking.com►Do you arrive in Paris from far away like us and having internet all the time is a problem? In our case we have used the Holafly eSim for data for travellers in Europe, a very good option. In the link you will find all the information as well as a discount for followers of Europe accompanied by the following code: EUROPAACOMPAÑADA5.↓
Finally, although we assume that you have already chosen your ideal area to stay, we leave you with a video with the districts and their attractions. Have a good trip!!
NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links.
