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Les Halles Neighborhood - Paris

My wife and I are considering staying in a place located in Les Halles neighborhood. The place itself seems to be a great balance of cost/quality/proximity. The neighborhood looks safe on googlemaps, but just curious if anyone else is familiar with the 'hood....what are your thoughts about it? We just dont want dangerous or seedy. Oh! and we are in our early 30s (as "seedy" can vary with age I suppose) :)

Michael

Update: We are staying very near the Etienne Marcel metro stop....1 minutes walk, appearantly.

Posted by
11507 posts

Michael.. I think the area will be fine for you.. I know some folks don't like it that much but not sure exactly why. Yes. there are some teens that hang around the area near the mall.. but teens do that here .. and I have walked by groups of them numerous times and they have never bothered me a solo woman so doubt they will bother you. I will admit I have never walked around in that area late at night solo .. but my bf and I have as a couple and we didn't feel the least bit threatened.

Its not a dangerous area.. and I don't think its seedy really. its not a "cute" to me then some other areas though.. . and really to be more helpful you should give us actual location as saying "Les Halles" doesn't completely narrow it down.

And to put it in perspective I am about 20 yrs older then you ,, so I have a feeling you will actually like the area more then me.. as I have become slightly spoiled by age.. lol

Posted by
28 posts

I updated where we are staying: staying very near the Etienne Marcel metro stop

Posted by
1446 posts

You're going to be just around the corner from a great foodie street - Montorgueil.

Posted by
19637 posts

There is a large pedestrian area to the north of Etienne-Marcel with lots of bars and restaurants. The area south of Les Halles can get a little seedy(Girls! Girls! Girls!). Les Halles itself has a big underground shopping mall and a large RER rail station. Chateau O is a couple of blocks away on Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau and has daily wine tasting classes.

Posted by
248 posts

Just wanted to note that currently, Les Halles itself is a huge construction zone.

Posted by
19637 posts

Here is the website for the redevelopment project, http://www.parisleshalles.fr/00371
The construction is pretty much the park area and the mall. I did not notice anything in the RER station last month, but not being a prairie dog, I didn't stick my head above ground.

Posted by
248 posts

Yes, just the mall area. As a side note, St. Eustache is looking much brighter and fresher these days.

Posted by
149 posts

My wife and I had a layover in Paris and stayed in Les Halles. "Dangerous" and "seedy" never crossed our minds. We walked extensively and had no problem. My only complaint would be the noise from the street overnight, but I'm sure it varies. The bonus is that Chez Janou is nearby for dinner for a nice slice of Provence in Paris.