Atmosphere near Notre Dame

Well it is tourist central and there is a street Rue Hutchette not far away which is not where you want to go for dinner, but it could not be more central and is a great place in the evening to be able to stroll along the Seine and around Notre Dame all lit up at night. If we are going to be in Paris for a couple of nights, we stay at Henri IV Rive Gauche which is near Notre Dame and just around the corner from Shakespeare and Co and love the location. Since we have spent a lot of time in Paris when we are there for longer periods we stay in an outer arrondissement; this fall we will spend a month in the 18th on the back side of the hill. But for a first visit to Paris, I think near Notre Dame is a wonderful area and it is certainly in no way unsafe or unsavory. You may want to do a little homework on restaurants as there are both excellent and not excellent restaurants in this area. If you are a coffee maniac, the best coffee in Paris is at Cafeotheque at 52 Rue de l'Hôtel de ville just across the river near the Pont Marie metro stop. A couple of mid range restaurants not too far here that we have enjoyed are: La Cordonnerie which is across the river not far from the Tuilleries and Brasserie Balzar which is deeper in the Latin Quarter -- both nice walks -- reservations a couple of days ahead. The area is well connected by metro to other key tourist sites of Paris.

janettravels44
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I just stayed for a week near ND, close to Shakespeare and Company. It was a great spot. As stated it was wonderful to stroll along the Seine and see ND lit up at night. Close to other great churches and within walking distance of many museums etc. Plenty of restaurants too, so do your homework there. I never felt unsafe a bit.

I have never seen anything unpleasant in that area.

Maybe she was concerned about the petition girls working the crowd while waiting in the entry line or around there.

Why don't you ask her for specifics?

Nigel, I did try to ask her which area/what part she didn't care for, but she couldn't really tell me what neighborhood she was in that she didn't care for, or if it was a certain thing she didn't like. She just said that she didn't like the area around Notre Dame and didn't elaborate with specifics. To give further insight, Paris was a portion of their trip that everything went wrong and they just really weren't crazy about it and were ready to leave. So, I'm guessing they were feeling uncomfortable in general and on edge.

So glad to hear everyone's feedback that our area will be good to stay in! I really was thinking it was ok but her comments threw me for a loop. Janet, thanks for the suggestions on restaurants. That is one of the last things I need to do for our trip...food research! :)

My favorite restaurant in Paris is over on Rue Du Cler street and is called "Cafe Du Marche" the food is great and very reasonable. There is a Morrocan rest. Called Chez Bebert that is just south to the LQ and is excellent.

Julie, More relevant is what street your hotel is located on. There are a couple streets with lots of outdoor restaurants, people walking all hours of the night, some street people, and clubs letting out all night. No matter where you are, you need to ask for a back room or one facing the courtyard. Don't accept one facing the street if you are in the Latin Quarter. The Ile de la Cite where Notre Dame is located, right across from the Latin Quarter, is quieter, but still get a back room. It's a big picnic scene on the banks of the Seine every night with hundreds of people meeting up in groups to eat, chat, drink, listen to music, mingle--have a good time.

I think I understand where your niece was coming from. When I was in my early 20s, I was studying in France and I was to meet my friend in front of Notre Dame. This was before the internet and cell phones so communication was hard. I waited for my friend for several hours and he didn't show up. As a young woman, I was not entirely comfortable waiting there. It wasn't unsafe, but I felt vulnerable and I didn't like some annoying unwanted male attention. If I had not been alone and not been waiting for someone, it would have been a different story.

I never did meet this friend in Paris and I can't even remember his name now. I wonder if he remembers standing up his friend in Paris. :)

The plaza in front of Notre Dame and the side street nearest it with lots of tourist-trap shops is usually a mecca for the scammers. But walk a block away and you don't see them. I see them more as an annoyance than a threat. In April I walked through the plaza several times after dark (8-11 p.m.) and there were none at all. They follow the crowds, where there's a better likelihood of snagging the gullible.

As with Nigel, we didn't see of experience anything unpleasant in that area, either during the day or at night. As stated, the square in front of the cathedral is crawling with tourists - and you can expect the usual amount of panhandlers and whatnot wherever crowds of tourists are - but nothing out of the ordinary.

We stayed in an apartment on Rue Maitre Albert and could see the flying buttresses of Notre Dame when we came out the front door. Never had a problem in the area but it is quite touristy with some panhandling going on. All in all we found it safe and very convenient to everything.

That area has some of the highest police presence in all the city. You won't have to worry about safety. As some other people have said it will be slightly louder and more crowded than some other places but it is a great central location.

Stayed on the Ile de Saint Louis a couple years ago, so spent lots of time around Notre Dame. One of my favorite memories was listening to a talented street-performer doing Beatles tunes in front of Notre Dame in the evening. It was a blast, the crowd from all different parts of the world singing along to Let It Be. Also, the park behind the back side of the cathedral is very nice. And, as another poster noted, plenty of security present. Saw on more than one occasion groups of three police or soldiers in camouflage uniforms and automatic weapons by their sides, walking through the area.

It's a great part of Paris and quite safe, though scammers and panhandlers can be annoying. Also pickpockets. But no worse than other areas where tourists congregate, and in no way dangerous. I'm guessing your niece and her friends were a little freaked out and uncomfortable, as I was at Place Pigalle at age 19 more than a few decades ago.

I hope you have a chance to visit the Archeological Crypt, beneath the plaza in front of Notre Dame. It's what remains of the original Roman town on the island, quite interesting and evocative.

Latin Quarter is a great area to stay in, though it can be noisy at night near the Place St-Michel and along the river. Good advice to look for a room in the back or on a courtyard unless you're willing to put up with street noise for the view.

Hi Julie, I was at a wedding shower last week and a woman told me that her 18 year old daughter just returned from a backpacking trip to Europe. They went to Paris and left after 1/2 a day because they didn't feel welcome. I said "Sorry, hope she'll go back some day..." I've been to Paris 8 times, loved it. Don't know know what the 18 year old didn't like about a beautiful, romantic, world-class city... Take it with a grain of salt. Notre Dame Cathedral is beautiful. Take the steps to the top to see the gargoyles, wonderful experience, great photo op. Neighborhood is fine. Enjoy your time in Paris!

The Prefecture of Police is just a block west of the ND courtyard with uniformed officers maintaining a high profile. Unseen are the undercover officers who are present from early morning to the last crowds leave at night, mingling with the crowds around ND and along the Seine. Can't get much safer than that.

Thank you all for your kind replies! Yes, I think something was just "off" for them, as many of you have expressed. It really is a pity that they didn't enjoy Paris more. As for DH and I, we can't wait! :)

Our hotel is Hotel Atmospheres, on Rue de Ecoles. I have just emailed them to see if our reserved room is on the street or not. We are a few minutes walk away from Notre Dame, but I imagine we will be walking in that area quite a bit.

You are far from the club and outdoor restaurant scene, in an area that is rather residential. The street is busy, but that is a quality hotel that will have double or triple windows. It's still a good idea to be on the courtyard side, if possible, but it's not a deal breaker as it would have been in the other area,

We have a standard room with a balcony on the street side. Street side standard room are 15 square meters; courtyard standard rooms are 13 square meters. I think we will stay with the larger room with balcony, especially since my husband is a big, tall guy. Maybe we should pack some ear plugs just in case! :)

Rue de la Cite is a veritable gauntlet of T-shirt shops. On the other hand, check out the Sunday morning bird market by the Cite Metro entrance. Pet birds, bird cages, bird feed and everything having to do with owning pet birds.

My wife and I spent a month in the 6th arr about 5 minute walk from ND this spring. Couldn't have been happier. Some of this depends on when you are going. The last few days we were there (early May), tourist traffic started to pick up and the character changed some. a bit off-season and it really nice.
It was a safe area day or night. Watch for pick pickets - like the girls with the charts - working lines like at the ND roof climb. Early mornings are a joy. Things don't crank up until around 8:30 or 9. Before that time, you can relax almost by yourself along the Seine or on the Ile de Cité. The RER between Notre Dame station and CDF is a 40 minute snap if you travel light. You can walk easily to Louvre, Luxembourg Gardens. Metro use works well from there as well. To me, this is the center and no better place. Safe. lots to do, but as some have said, check out the eateries closely. Many are pretty mediocre. Rule of thumb, if someone from the restaurant is working the street trying to usher you in, keep walking unless you know it's a good place. If you are cash user like me and are staying near an area of nightlife, get some cash for the weekend on Friday. I found there was not a Euro to be had in the ATM's near the Rue de Buci area where we stayed once the weekend started going. They didn't restock until Monday morning.

I literally just returned from Paris yesterday. Took my 19 yr old daughter.. and stayed within walking distance of ND..

Area is perfectly safe.. I would conk out with touring exhaustion some nights and my daughter would wander around area till 1 1 or so on her own.. and she loved area. I find it a bit busy.. but super convenient area. I too would consider it very safe area.

French people were so nice to us .. we did not have one bad experience.. ( and btw , not my first or 10th trip to Paris) .

At Louvre my daughter lost her ticket after we did one wing. You need to show your ticket to get into each wing. I was a tad frustrated with her.. but .. we ended up with no problem. We went to manned ticket booth and lady would not replace ticket ( fair enough and what I expected) .. but dd said.. lets try at wing entrance.. we did , and the lady there asked my daughter how old she is, she said "19" ( so too old for under 18 free entrance) .. then lady asked what country were we from, dd said "Canada"( they have some free nights for kids under 26 that are from EU countries) .. so not from a "free country".. lady then again asked my dd "how old are you " dd once again honestly said "19"... lady smiled and said "oh , you go in" and just let us pass. So .. nice people are everywhere!

My daughter had been to paris once before, when she was 11.

She said she didn't clearly remember much.. but she now says Paris is her favorite city.. she absolutely loved it.. and I do understand one can have an unpleasant encounter anywhere, we really find 99% of Parisians are polite and helpful if you are polite!