Best neighborhood for a 1st time visitor?

Short trip so stay by the Notre Dame right in the center where the Seine river flows.
You can walk to a lot of the tourists attraction from there,
The metro goes everywhere you want and most guide books list the stops.
It is a great walking city that is the best way to see it while you are able that way,
However reality Your budget may dictate where you stay. My first trip out of 9 times I stayed in a hostel for 20 dollars night near Gare de Lyon

For our first trip (and hopefully not the last) we stayed a little further out in the Montmarte area and loved it. Our hotel- a Holiday Inn of all things- was on something of a side street with a bunch of small shops and the courtyard/park area to the back of the hotel was where local kids practiced soccer skills.

On our first stay we actually stayed at the French Army's hotel near the Opera Garnier ( my husband was posted to a NATO facility). Luckily, we were half a block from the nearest metro stop, so getting to all the tourist sites was a breeze. But we quickly learned that our favourite area was the Latin Quarter, so we've stayed there on all our subsequent visits. The key is to be close to a metro stop, but any of the arrondissements bordering the Seine between the Eiffel Tower and Ile St. Louis is good.

I agree that near Norte Dame is a nice central location. It is walkable to many things. The RER C (train) goes to Versailles and you can get the train at the St. Michel station. If you are coming from or going to CDG that station also services the RER B to the airport. I am getting ready to go to Paris for the 6th time and I still don't want to stay in Montmartre. It's too far out of the way for me.

I stayed in the Marais area. I did a lot of research before choosing where to stay - on this forum and others and guidebooks. i knew I wanted to be within walking distance to major sights like Notre Dame, Louvre, etc and close to metro station/s for getting to different areas of Paris and for day trips outside of the city. I loved where I stayed - it was between 2 metro stops (on different lines) so very convenient for getting around that way, it was close to the river and 10 minutes walk to Notre Dame and it was in an area with lots of shops, bakeries, restaurants. It was touristy, which I liked because there was always people around late and I was out and about by myself, but I could easily avoid the tourist spots by walking to other areas or hopping the metro so I didn't mind. For a first visit it was a perfect area.

Thank you all so much! Jazz + Travels, selkie, CJean, and Andrea thank you for taking the time to help.

Nancy - can you please tell me what hotel you stayed in?

I very much agree with Andrea, Jazz, CJean and Nancy... very near Notre Dame in the 4th arrondissement (the Marais and Ile St Louis, the little island next to ND), the 5th (Latin Quarter) and the 6th (St Germain), in that order, are the best for me and for first time visitors for the reasons others explained. It’s the most beautiful area imo, the most central, and the most fun imo. I don’t care for Montmartre and it’s very far from the center and the areas I like best.

thank you Susan

2gozino, You picked the best time of year to go! Enjoy!

I agree that whether in the Latin Quarter (5th - near Norte Dame) or the Marais (4th - near Norte Dame), you can't go wrong. As close to the river as possible is best. You can stay anywhere near a metro station and get around the city, but why spend your time underground when you can be walking around enjoying the beautiful city?

I agree with Susan about the weather in October. I've been twice in early - mid October and the weather was perfect.

2gozino, I didn't stay in a hotel when I stayed in the Marais. I stayed in a studio apartment that I found on VRBO - it was perfect for me but many people would shy away from it because it was a 5th floor walkup (no elevator). If that doesn't bother you I would be happy to give you the VRBO # and he does have the 13 digit registration number. I have recommended it to others that have stayed there and enjoyed it also.

Best places are walking distance to Notre Dame. When you stay in that area you will enjoy being able to walk to most sites. I've stayed in the Marais mostly, and really like it, but the Latin Quarter would also be good. The few times I stayed further out (Montmarte, Pigale and near Gare de Lyon) I felt too far from things.

I found the 7th arrondissement of Paris (near École Militaire) to be perfect. There are many restaurants there and most of them have seating facing the wide boulevards - just perfect for people watching. Additionally, there is a large Carrefour grocer nearby to pick up a few items (saving money instead of using room service for soda, etc.) and the École Militaire metro station (Metro Station in 7th arrondissement) is convenient and quite easy to master with a little pre-preparation. And, of course, the Eiffel Tower is a VERY short walk and can be seen and admired.

I have stayed at the Hotel Diana. It is in the Latin Quarter and centrally located near the Musée Cluny. The rooms have mini fridges which I love so I can keep some snacks in the room. The breakfast is extra but very ample and tasty. I was a solo traveler and I felt safe in the neighborhood even at night.

Urban Carrefours can be fun. The Carrefour Express convenience store version has floor space about the size of my living room and every item in there in there looked tasty, cool, interesting, all that.

The only down side is I left France addicted to some Milka snack cakes that don't really seem to be distributed in North America.

I agree w Angela, Hotel Diana is very good. Good location and budget friendly.

Also check out Hotel Jeanne d’Arc in the Marais. Very good hotel, location and budget friendly.

Thank you all for your advice and your generosity!