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Favorite Neighborhood to Stay in Paris

We’re looking to stay 5 full days in Paris next summer. We’ve been there before but it was a long time ago. We’d be doing an AirBNB type rental. What neighborhood would you choose? We loved the Marais but St Germain de Pres also appeals. 1st arrondissement? Other? Something with a quaint neighborhood feel that is centrally located and convenient is ideal. It’ll be me, husband and kids (11 & 12). Thanks!

Posted by
6431 posts

It's hard to go wrong anywhere in the first 16 (or so) arrondissements. The closer you are to the river the easier to get to most sightseeing destinations, and the more you'll pay for a given apartment size, floor, amenities etc. I like the 5th, we had a good stay in the 14th, I'd like to try the 11th and 12th. We stayed in the Marais and it was convenient but the sidewalks were narrow and crowded. Given how easy it is to use the Metro and buses, I'll be looking for somewhere a little farther out on my next trip, like the 12th, with a higher ratio of real Parisians to tourists like me. You might consider the 11th, a little closer in.

Check the apartment listing for a city-required registration number, I think it's 1`3 digits. Without it you risk losing the place (and possibly your deposit) if the city catches up to the owner who hasn't registered and paid taxes on the rental. Paris has been cracking down on short-term rentals that displace residents and drive up overall housing costs.

Posted by
10 posts

We just returned from Paris after eight days. This was our second trip and we stayed in the St. Germain de Pres area. I really liked being there because it was close to everything. The metro was right around the corner, the river was a five minute walk, and there are so many museums and restaurants all within walking distance. We rented a hotel this time, which worked out nicely.

On our previous trip, we did rent an apartment from "Paris Perfect". We stayed in the 7th, near the Eiffel tower. That area was also nice, but much quieter than St. Germain.

We spent time in the Marais, but as the previous person replied, it can be very busy, especially on Sunday.

With kids, I think I'd go with St. Germain, which is more convenient to attractions, but in the end, no matter where you stay in Paris, you'll have a great time.

Posted by
9404 posts

My favorite neighborhoods to stay are Ile St Louis (4th arrondissement), the Marais (3rd and 4th), the Latin Quarter (5th) and St Germain (6th), in that order.
I like being close to the river and Notre Dame (the heart of Paris) so i can easily walk to most places.
Ile St Louis is the little island next to the bigger island where Notre Dame is. It’s like a little village in the center of Paris, surrounded by the river and amazing views.
Between Ile St Louis and Notre Dame there’s a pedestrian bridge where street entertainers perform all day and into the night, they’re all great and your kids might enjoy that.

Posted by
2281 posts

hey hey dmacario77
from one "hawaiian" to another (big island), how fun to take the kids and enjoy paris.
we are going end of september and renting an apartment near parc montsouris (14th) for 8 nights. took a while to find what we were looking for and decided on this place. stayed in the 7th three times so this will be very different for us and we are excited.
be careful with airbnb's, crack down on illegal rental apartments, make sure they have a 13 digit license or registration number (check under read more about this place for number). we booked thru TA.
make sure A/C for the summer heat, arrival times and if early checkin or luggage storage, what floor with steps/stairs to climb with bags if mobility issues, pack light (we have a washer), fees, cash security deposits, read fine print. not to be donna downer, knowing your plans all in a row no stressing and having happy vacation. don't know your dates or budget in euros, cancellation rules, save your favorites since early now, some may not have next summer's calendar out yet. when it suits all your needs book it, one less worry. enjoy and have fun. any questions for later always ask. these people here on the forum are great, give you the good bad and ugly,
aloha

Posted by
203 posts

Thanks everyone! Some great suggestions. I really appreciate the heads up about the crackdown on illegal rentals. I wouldn’t have looked for that - we’ve used vrbo and Airbnb throughout England and Italy, so I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. Thanks for the link to cobblestone paris. Those apartments look beautiful and reasonably priced. That seems like a good way to go.

Posted by
2281 posts

hey hey
cross-pollinate.com
booking.com (left side has filters what you want and hope for)
alcoves&agapes.com (lodging, type of accomodations, unhosted studios/apartments, has an apartment in quartier latin hosted by marie-francoise)
some other ideas for you.
aloha

Posted by
184 posts

As an alternative and one we're looking forward to getting to in a few months we're staying in Hotel Le Mirelle in the 17th. Couple of minutes walk to the Metro, quick ride where you need to go. Quiet area from what I read, with plenty of food options around. It meet my requirements of cost and quick access to the Metro and wherever we need to go.

Posted by
9404 posts

Yes, you can stay in any arrondissement in Paris and take the mêtro. But i like walking out of my hotel /apt door and already be in the heart of Paris and easily walk to lots of places. Also, the mêtro can be very hot (sweaty) in warm months. The mêtro also involves a lot of stairs and a lot of walking.

Posted by
12172 posts

Like others have said, being walking distance to sights is more than just a nice idea. It changes the experience.

My first choice is the Marais. It's a short walk to Notre Dame, which is the center of everything. There are plenty of cafes in the area and nice people watching.

My second choice is the Latin Quarter. Also a short walk to Notre Dame and plenty of cafes. I don't like the feel of the area as much as I like the Marais but it's a good choice.

Ile St. Louis doesn't exist for me because it's beyond my budget. It's exactly in the middle so if you have the budget, it's a great choice.

I stayed on Montmartre one time and felt isolated. It was a huge effort to do things that would have been at my doorstep in the Marais or Latin Quarter.

I've stayed near Republic several times and didn't feel so bad but it's not as nice as staying in the Marais.

Posted by
3387 posts

We stayed in the 12th for a month last summer...we were just around the corner from the Gare de Lyon, it was a 25ish minute walk to Notre Dame, a 10 minute metro ride to the Marais, and 10 - 15 minute walk to the Seine and the Bassin de l'Arsenal with its beautiful boats and riverside bars. It's a very "real" neighborhood with a couple of great farmer's/brocantes markets, amazing tiny restaurants, and very pretty buildings. It's more affordable than some other parts of the city and we really enjoyed being there.

Posted by
1090 posts

Last year we stayed for 3 nights in each the 1st and 6th. Love the Luxembourg gardens! There’s just something about the St Germaine neighborhood that you can’t go wrong with. That’s where I would return next trip.

Posted by
9404 posts

“being walking distance to sights is more than just a nice idea. It changes the experience.”

So well said Brad.

Posted by
21 posts

I like the 2nd near the Eglise St. Eustache. Lots of good restaurants near-by and an easy walk to the Seine and many places of interest. It is a working neighborhood and yet has what a visitor would like - good cafes, restaurants and metro stops