Hello all,
I will be traveling to Paris in March and meeting my young adult daughters (20,21 yrs) who will be arriving seperately. The younger daughter will be there by herself for a day. None of us speak French. We've booked an airbnb close to Iglise Saint-Eustache and Rue Montmartre since it looked to us like a great, interesting area.
Wikitravel however, says that the eastern part of 2nd arrondissemont "has an entirely different reputation, having been home to Paris' red-light district since sometime in the early renaissance". Another guidebook says Les Halles is seedy and to be avoided at night. However, when I read current airbnb descriptions, the area seems fine. Can people please advise me:
1. is the Rue Montmartre/Rue de Jour area safe at night, especially for a solo, young woman traveler?
2. Are there sections of Les Halles that you would avoid altogether or at night?
Thank you!
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2544 posts
Absolutely safe. Check the date of this guidebook. Rue Montmartre has been completely made over is a very charming area with many interesting shops and cafés.
Les Halles is not in the least dangerous.
Consider purchasing a better guidebook.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10188 posts
The area around and north of St. Eustache is very lively and desirable. The street with sex workers is to the east, with workers standing in the doorways at night, rue St. Denis. People walk to and from the Pompidou Center, restaurants and movie theaters all night passing by this street. Your daughters would be fine.
Posted by
OP
Boston
10 posts
Thank you so much I appreciate it greatly!
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10188 posts
I believe Ashley is referring to the south side of the church where there are gardens.
Les Halles has been controversial from the beginning because some less advantaged suburban teens, who take the RER into town particularly on weekends, have made the underground mall, a hangout.
But with the trendy rue Montorgueil area just to the north, this is fine.
Édit: like Tocard, thé Parisien alcoholic, called a clochard, won't bother you. Just look straight ahead and keep walking, no friendly smiles. On the other hand, I'll be politically incorrect and divulge that I do cross the street away from any long-term homeless traveling with their dogs, no matter in France or the US. I have no prediction if they might be in this garden area
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2544 posts
Homeless drunks are not going to hurt you. They are found at night all over the city, even in its most exclusive areas. The area around les Halles has been refurbished in the last several years and is much nicer than it was even 6 or 7 years ago. Les Halles is not any more dangerous than is any other part of the city.
Posted by
OP
Boston
10 posts
Thank you all for the very helpful advice and information. I'm looking forward to visiting the area and will be cautious in the Place de Halles after the shops close.
Posted by
Chicago
8049 posts
We stay near Butte aux Cailles where there are homeless drunks allowed to camp in the square with perhaps the best Artesian well water in Paris and which many people visit every day to get water. This is fairly far off the tourist track and not a 'bad area' but nevertheless belligerent probably disturbed homeless people live on the sidewalks and parks here. This is a problem all over the world in urban areas; France is no exception.
Posted by
Paris
6889 posts
Les Halles used to be worse, but since the reconstruction of the mall, I would say it's fairly safe. Usual city precautions apply.