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Staying in Bastille or Republique?

Posted by on

Hello,

I'm in my late 30s, traveling to Paris for the week of Thanksgiving solo, and I have been looking at St. Germain or Marais to stay for my trip. However, as I've been looking at nightlife spots, it looks like Bastille or Republique, bordering Marais, might be the best because it would be closer to nightlife but bordering Marais, where I'm planning to spend quite a bit of daytime. I like the "near everything" of Marais, but it looks like I can also get more bang for my buck for an apartment rental.

I like to really fit into a city when I travel, so I prefer something that feels more like a neighborhood than a tourist center. I imaging that there's markets near most any of the central neighborhoods, so while that's something that I want, I'm not concerned about that for this decision. I'm planning on checking out museums and sights (though I'm not packing too much), eating, and "living Parisian life" for the week I'm there.

Any thoughts on staying in these neighborhoods? Or is the more central/convenient Marais worth staying in a less nice flat?

Posted by
3122 posts

Can't advise you about nightlife, but don't stay on the Ile St Louis if you want to "live Parisian life." My goodness, we saw and overheard so many Americans on the streets of the Ile St Louis we felt like we might as well be in St. Louis, MO.
The Ile de la Cite is full of tourists too, of course, but they're from all over the world so it's more of a cosmopolitan experience -- and if I'm not mistaken there are relatively few overnight accommodations on the Ile de la Cite, making it a moot point in choosing where to stay.

Posted by
20137 posts

I don't know what the "everything" is you are near to in the Marais. Republique is a good area for clubs nightlife etc. It may get a little noisy on the street on weekends, if you are a light sleeper. I've stayed just a bit north of there. Definitely had more of a "80's lower East Side" feel. Canal St Martin is just a few blocks away and it is a major Metro hub, so it is also "close to everything".

Posted by
9590 posts

Either one of those is a fun neighborhood and heavens not any less central than the Marais (I mean, maybe further out from the classic sites by about 5 minutes, but not enough to make any difference).

Posted by
2466 posts

Depends on where the apt is located in either le Marais or Republique.
There are 3 arrondissements which converge at Metro Republique - the Northern ends of 3 and 4 and the Southern end of 11. All these areas are pretty much indistinguishable IMO.
If you want to go out and party, Republique would be the better option, but if you want to sleep, I'd look for something away from Oberkampf, Canal St Martin and rue de Bretagne.

Posted by
131 posts

I live in 11th - about in the middle between Bastille and Republique. I think that you'd be fine staying on the eastern edge of the 11th. You might also consider the 3rd near Arts & Metiers.

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