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Staying in the Rue Cler or the Luxembourg Garden Area

I will be in Paris in Spring 2019 and solicit your opinions. Stay in the Rue Cler area or Luxembourg? I will visit all of the major sights and museums in Paris, will be there for at least 5 nights and prefer an area that is a bit relaxed yet close to public transit making our visits to the various sights and museums easily assessable (i.e. not walking far to catch the metro, etc).
Kind regards;

Posted by
8257 posts

I have stayed in the Rue Cler area before at the Hotel Relais Bosquet. I loved the hotel and I loved the area.

This last summer, I stayed at Montmarte at the Hotel B Montmarte. I also loved the hotel and loved the area. I found that the transportation links in Montmarte were excellent and I really didn't have any difficulties getting anywhere I wanted to go. i block to the metro stop for two metro lines and bus #30 also just as convenient.

This time I had the Navigo Decouverte card that I used for taking RER in from airport, buses and metro throughout Paris. I loved the convenience and low cost. It was a good deal for me since I arrived on a Monday and had maximum value from the card. If you plan on getting one, just make sure you have a photo ready for when you buy it at the airport train station. Just do a photocopy of your drivers license picture. It is accepted without difficulty.

Posted by
16893 posts

In either area, you may find that a bus is more direct for some directions of sightseeing, especially if your closest Metro stop is only served by a single line.

Posted by
7126 posts

I’ve stayed in both of those areas. For metro access, we preferred the Luxembourg area because there were a couple of lines going different directions nearby. We could start at either Vavin or Notre Dame des Champs. And when we left Paris, we walked over to the Luxembourg RER stop to catch the RER back to the airport - didn’t need to make any metro connections with our suitcases that time.

Another bonus is that the Luxembourg garden is a wonderful place to either begin the day or relax late afternoon.

Posted by
6429 posts

Luxembourg, for the reasons Jean gave and because it's closer to more of the major sights you'll want to see. Rue Cler is closer to the Eiffel Tower and Invalides, but that's about it.

Posted by
870 posts

Have only stayed at Hotel Empereur near Rue Cler but loved it. The access to the metro was easy and we loved having a local bakery and laundry and grocery easy to use on Rue Cler a block or 2 away. We walked over to Rue Cler each day for breakfast and even made friends with the locals there as we shopped, etc. The hotel also had AC!

Posted by
25 posts

We just returned from 8 nights in Paris where we stayed the full time at the Hotel Relais Bosquet on Rue du Champs de Mars. This location is about a 3 minute walk from Rue Cler. Our experience was outstanding and we highly recommend this hotel. The room as first rate and the personnel friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. It has good access to the Metro and the bus lines but even better is the relaxed, intimate and historic feel of the neighborhood and the proximity to many cafes & restaurants. There is an excellent boulangerie/patisserie at the Rue Cler / Rue du Champs de Mars intersection, a fromagerie about 1/2 block from there, a wine shop across the street from the fromagerie and several fruit markets and grocery stores in the immediate area. As recommended in Rick Steves Paris guide we bought a "carnet" of ten bus tickets and used the on the Line #69 bus as a sightseeing tour then used the others for various jaunts around the city. We hope to return to Paris again next year and will definitely stay at the Relais Bosquet again.

Posted by
2023 posts

We also loved Hotel Bosquet and breakfast is included. We have stayed in the Marais, Latin Quarter, and on the Ile and prefer the Rue Cler area for the neighborhood feel.

Posted by
1103 posts

We have stayed in the Rue Cler area and in the Latin Quarter (just east of Luxembourg Garden). Both areas were enjoyable. Here is my review of the hotel in the Latin Quarter:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france-reviews/hotel-des-grandes-ecoles-paris-2b604cf6-f7a8-4b38-91fb-d1caefc3c6ae

The Hotel des Grandes Ecoles was around 50 meters from a metro stop, but was also within walking distance of Notre Dame.

When leaving for home, we walked to the Luxembourg RER B stop and took the train to CDG airport.