Hello, We are leaving for France tomorrow and will be ending our trip at the end of the month with 3 days in Paris. I have booked an apartment in Montmartre but am now thinking the area may be too busy and touristy for us. Also, I see now that there are a lot of stairs climbing up the hill to the apartment.
We would like to be close to some nice restaurants, cafes and shopping, as well as close to some of the sights.
As well, we will still have our rental car with us so we would need to be able access parking.
Any recommendations would be really appreciated.
Posted by
11569 posts
Drop your rental car off outside Paris and take a taxi into the city. You do not want a car in the city. If you need a car for after Paris, book another one. Or park it outside the city for three nights.
We always stay in the 5th or 6th arrondisement along the Seine. The 7th is ok too but more touristy.
Look in those arrondisements and book an apartment or hotel room there. Loads of nice restaurants, no hills.
Posted by
la la land...
1005 posts
You do not want to park a car in Paris. Can you turn it in early? You want to be car-free in Paris.
Montmartre is OK, but it is kind of remote from the main areas of interest in Paris. I would not choose to spend a 3 night stay in Paris there unless my intent was to pretty much spend all of my time there. On a week or longer trip to Paris, if I bother to go to Montmartre, it is for a half day at most...not a place I personally want to spend a lot of time, much less base my stay there.
For an "eating and shopping" oriented trip, I would steer you to the 15 eme on the left bank, just a metro stop or two below the touristy and more expensive Eiffel Tower 7 eme area. More reasonably priced lodging, and lots of shopping streets, and the Beaugrenelle Mall on the river Seine, and the Bon Marche Department store a little further to the east in the east end of the 7 eme, closer to the St Germain de Pres....https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/15th-arrondissement-paris.html
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2545 posts
“Busy and touristy” will apply to many of the central areas in Paris. I wouldn’t worry about this too much. The stairs are a different concern. There can certainly be a lot of them in Montmartre.
I agree with getting rid of the rental car as soon as you get to Paris, preferably somewhere outside of Paris. It will be a headache, and big expense to park. Can you drop it in a smaller town and take the train into Paris? Or at CDG and take a taxi?
Posted by
1038 posts
As other suggest, ditch the car before you get to Paris. Montemarte is kind of an awkward place to stay for most visitors imo. It requires a change (or two) of metro lines to get just about anywhere useful, and unfortunately those lines and stations are often crowded. The metro journey to Montmartre is the only place I’m ever truly worried about getting pickpocketed, and indeed almost was. If nothing else, try to avoid the rush hours and before sunset as everyone tries to get to Sacre Coeur.
I don’t especially feel like it’s the wrong choice for you though. This is at the end of a month long trip. If your focus is just on enjoying some Paris street life as you wind down a month of travel then I think you’ll enjoy it. The area has livened up a lot in my years, and seedier sections near Pigalle are pretty gentrified. The stairs thing is real, but you can always make your way to the funicular and work your way down.
If you’re still reconsidering, almost any neighborhood in Paris has something to offer. An area that has grown in popularity is the neighborhood around Place de Reunion, near Pere Lachaise. It’s a nice neighborhood with a more direct metro line.
Posted by
Paris
10193 posts
Looking for something else in Paris at relatively late notice for the end of September, you may end up keeping Montmartre out of necessity.
Posted by
Paris
7300 posts
I like Montmartre, personally, and most streets are quiet. Which street is your rental?
Line 12 is a bit slow but snakes its way through a good chunk of the city. It is not the most convenient location but it is not that bad! The 15th arrondissement certainly won't be that much more convenient...
As for the car: if you really really really need it, find an underground garage and get ready to pay 50€/day for parking. Otherwise, return it.
Posted by
Paris
10193 posts
The line 12 also intersects with lots of other lines, so it does get you out and about to different parts of the city.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2790 posts
You do need to dump the car. It’s just going to cost you a lot and there’s no way you can drive around in Paris. park it outside the city, turn it in early - do something!
Personally, the area you’re staying in is probably one of my least favorite and I would never stay there but you’ll be safe and a lot of people really love it