My husband and I are spending 4 nights in Paris in September, both on our first trip. We will be visiting Normandy and Loire Valley first, then are ending our trip in Paris, the day after the Paralympic closing ceremonies. We have found AirBnBs in both areas I mentioned, after looking at the guidebook’s recommendations for great areas to stay. I am just having a hard time deciding which area to choose. What matters to us: Being able to explore on foot—museums, parks, architecture. We are comfortable using public transit, but would prefer to explore by walking when we can. (Maybe getting out at a further metro stop, then walking) Quiet neighborhood at night, a neighborhood with a quintessential Parisian look, close proximity to cute cafes to linger at, pretty parks to have a picnic, safe for walking home at night. What doesn’t matter to us: Vibrant nightlife, shopping. Any suggestions on 7eme (Rue Cler) vs. 6eme?
Posted by
921 posts
I really liked staying in the very edge of the 7th, literally adjacent to St Germain in the 6th, last month re: restaurants, walkability, nearby Jardin Luxembourg; ease of getting to all others neighborhoods, metro access, etc. As for Rue Cler, will deconstruction of the Champs de Mars following the Paralympics impact your stay there? (I have no idea; just wondering.)
Posted by
OP
wichita
10 posts
You know, KD, I wondered that as well. I am thinking we may want to scoot over to the 6th….
Posted by
Chicago
8554 posts
Rue cler is not well positioned for transit and is not central enough for me -- stayed there years ago. for a first trip we prefer either the Marais or Latin Quarter. 4 nights is very short -- you want to be within walking distance of the things you want to see.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10625 posts
Agree with Janettravels. I could never understand why there was an emphasis on rue Cler until I heard an interview with Steve Smith, perhaps on Monday night travel. He stayed there as a students decades ago, loved it, took RS there, and it ended up as the recommended spot in the guide book. If Steve Smith had lived in another area, that's what could have been listed in the guide books all these years. It was happenstance. There are a lot of excellent areas to stay.
I'd choose the 6th.
Posted by
Chicago
1139 posts
I had traveled to Paris for years before RS began his TV show and books. Never heard of Rue Cler until his appearance on the travel stage. Thanks for the Steve Smith explanation above, Bets - the RS Rue Cler fascination now makes sense.
Latin Quarter is great. Also check the area around Rue Montorgueil for a market street and atmosphere. (Having noted RS's opinions as being quite personal - I will say that these recommendations are to my taste. Others are free to disagree!)
OP - Enjoy your first visit! You may find as you ask your question that many are quite opinionated regarding the "best" area to stay in Paris. I frequently hear things like: I will only stay in the 6th (or 2nd, or whatever). Personally, I've stayed all over Paris!
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
Interesting to learn why Rue Cler gets so much RS attention, and is so full of RS travelers. Nothing wrong with it, but as noted it's not that convenient to other sights. The OP doesn't specify where in the 6th her Airbnb is located, but in general the 6th is more central for sightseeing purposes, with shorter walks to more sites and more Metro stations.
But this is a hard question to answer because one choice is quite specific and the other is a whole arrondissement. It might help to say where in the 6th the option is located.
Posted by
OP
wichita
10 posts
Thanks, all for the suggestions. The AirBnB we have found is in the Latin Quarter, so it sounds like that may be our best bet!
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2790 posts
For me the two places I like to stay are Rue Cler and near Rue Daguerre in the 14th. Both of these feel like "neighborhoods" instead of "tourist destinations", I enjoy the quite nights etc.. Now both of these are going to require a little more use of the metro but I am fine with that. I did Latin Quarter once and really didn't enjoy it as much.... I do have some French friends and they avoid that area at all costs during tourist season :)