Paris Arrondisements

You probably want to stay in the 5th, 6th or 7th. They are on the left bank with the 7th being closest to the Eiffel Tower and the border of the 5th and 6th closest to the Notre Dame. If you seek out a website goeurope.about.com, on the left side of the page there is a section marked browse. Just start with France and drill down to Paris Maps and you will find a nice interactive map with all the arrondisements marked and information about what is in each one. We have found the whole area to be quite safe although the standard warning about pickpockets applies. The most important thing is to take good comfortable walking shoes. Have a great time.

I prefer the 4th, 5th & 6th arrondissements. The 7th is close to the Eiffel Tower, but not much else. I find the others more central. And yes, my first trip to Paris I stayed in a hotel in the 7th next to Rue Cler because Rick recommended the area. My other two visits were in apartments in the 5th (Latin Quarter). The 7th is a very quiet area. I think the 5th is good for younger people. There is a lot of activity. If you would like an apartment recommendation you can sent me a private message for the information. I like apartments because they give you more space than a small hotel room, they have kitchens which allow you to do some meals there (especially breakfast, but also allows for making a picnic lunch or ?) which saves money. The apartments I have rented include guidebooks, maps and recommendations for things in the neighborhood. If you want to have someone else clean up after you each day, make your bed and so on, a hotel is better for you. Apartments are also usually less expensive than hotels.

Arrondisments are big enough that you can find busy, calm, elegant and sleezy quarters within a single digit. All parts of central Paris are pretty secure. I advise staying near a busy Metro subway station to make it easier to get around.
One aspect of apartment-shopping that deserves attention is how the rent, particularly the almost inevitable advance deposit, will be paid. I have more confidence in a credit card or PayPal than cheques or other forms of bank transfers.

I'm with Andrea... my favorite areas of Paris are the 4th, 5th and 6th. The most fun areas, imo... especially for a 13 yr old. Great street entertainers in front of Notre Dame at night, and behind Notre Dame on the pedestrian bridge leading to Ile St. Louis during the day. We've stayed in two apartments on Ile St. Louis. We love staying in hotels but we also really enjoyed staying in an apartment.

Kathy, on the strength of what folks here have said so far, PLEASE do not limit yourself to 4 arrondissements! No one here has yet mentioned the charms and attractions of the 8th (where the Arc de Triomphe is actually located), the 9th (the Opera Garnier and the Grands Boulevards), the 10th (parts of which were made famous in "Amelie!"), the 16th (Passy, which is charming and safe and elegant and residential and where I always stay), etc., etc. Here's a 30,000 foot overview to all of them: http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/arrondissements.htm Here's the GoParis guide of things to do listed by arrondissement: http://goparis.about.com/od/parisneighborhoods/tp/parisbyarrondissement.htm Paris is a mostly very safe city. Use all the precautions you would in any other large city, but don't freak out about "yikes! we are in the 10th arrondissement!" :-) Have a great time. It would be so awesome to be your daughter, and traveling to Paris at 13! She will love it.

Still maintain for a first time visitor, with a child, the 4th , 5th and 6ht are best.
I find the areas around the Arc and the areas around the Grand Boulevards boring. My kids were 11 and 13 when I took them , and they loved being in lively young areas.

I have to agree with pat. While branching out to more residential areas is well and good for people who have been to Paris multiple times, or maybe even for adults the first time, for a first time visitor with a young teenager a more lively area would be better. That's why I also recommended against the 7th.

I second Andrea's comment above. I have visited Paris many times and enjoy staying in the outlying arondissements more, but for first time and with a teenager, the 4th, 5th, 6th are probably the best. The downside is that rental apartments in this area are likely to be more expensive. But there are a lot of reasonable hotels there, if you want to take this option, I would check out Rick's recommendations, Trip Advisor, etc. and book soon.

PS I stayed in an apartment rented by Parisbestlodge and it was air conditioned, ( lovely modern and quiet) and it was in the 5th, not all the apartments are aced but it was a blessing to us to have it! We paid 800 euros for a studio.

I love the 1st and 3rd!! You are going to get so many different answers, so many opinions. Cannot go wrong in any, really. I would stay away from Monmartre, myself, some seedy areas. Happy Travels!!

We like the 9th. We have stayed at the studio listed below for the past 5 years. It is a 3 min. walk to the bus stop, 8 minutes to the Anviers Metro Station. The bus will take you directly to the Louvre. Coming, back, you need to consult a map, because Rodier is one way, the coming back is by another route. Nadine Giblin Studio 30 sqm Paris 9e near Montmartre E-mail : [email protected]
Website : http://locationparis9.canalblog.com

Best place is around the jardin du luxembourg in the 6th.

I just booked an apt in the 6th on vacationinparis.com. I'm also travelling with my kids 16,21,23 so I wanted to pick a place that was livelier and walkable to sites. I've stayed in the 15th before and although I had a view of the Eiffel Tower outside my hotel window, I thought my kids would enjoy a different area.
This way the older 2 kids can do stuff on their own in the evenings while my 16 yr old and I hang out together.