Paris, France
Where to stay in Paris: the neighbourhoods you’ll love
An all-encompassing guide to Paris’s neighbourhoods
Choosing where to stay in Paris means choosing the version of the city you wake up to. Some arrondissements buzz until dawn with jazz clubs and student chatter, others greet the morning with quiet cobblestone charm and butter-scented boulangeries. Paris can be many cities at once – a romantic postcard, a modern metropolis, a collection of villages – and each neighbourhood reveals a different side of its personality. Every quartier has its own mood – bohemian, elegant, edgy, tranquil – and where you drop your suitcase will shape the Paris you discover. So, here’s our own patchwork of Paris – areas we return to for different reasons – find the one that feels right for you.
An overview of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Paris
Paris offers a wide variety of neighbourhoods, each with a distinct tempo and mood. Where you stay will shape your experience as much as what you see. So, how do you pick the right pocket of Paris for your trip? Here’s an overview.
For bohemian village charm
If you’re drawn to bohemian village charm, Montmartre and the Latin Quarter steal the scene. Montmartre’s cobbled lanes wind up the city’s famous hill, inviting you to chase after the ghosts of artists and poets. It’s a world of old-fashioned bakeries, tiny squares and that postcard view from the Sacré-Cœur steps. Down on the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter pulses with the city’s intellectual soul – think centuries-old bookshops, lively student cafés and secret courtyards where history hangs in the air.
For nightlife and edge
For those who come alive after dark, Pigalle and Bastille never disappoint. Pigalle’s edge comes with a playful wink – there’s always a neon glow somewhere and the cocktail bars and late-night bistros are where Paris lets its hair down. In Bastille, the mood is more local, with a young, creative energy flowing through packed music venues, dive bars and legendary nightclubs.
For style and culture
If style and culture are top of your list, Le Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés are impossible to resist. Le Marais feels endlessly current, home to independent boutiques, contemporary galleries and cafés spilling onto sunlit pavements. Saint-Germain-des-Prés, meanwhile, is the place for refined pleasures – literary cafés, antique bookshops and the easy glamour that comes from decades of writers, jazz musicians and philosophers making it their home.
For iconic Paris glamour
For a taste of iconic Parisian glamour, the Champs-Élysées and its grand boulevards deliver that big-city dazzle. This is Paris at its most cinematic, all luxury shops, golden façades and sweeping avenues. But if you’re after something quieter – almost secret – Butte-aux-Cailles slips under most visitors’ radar. Here, it’s all about laid-back charm, village vibes and discovering a slower side of city life, just a few metro stops from the hustle.
Let’s delve deeper into each neighbourhood.
01
Montmartre
High on the hill in the 18th arrondissement, Montmartre feels like a village floating above the city’s bustle. Winding cobbled streets, ivy-draped stairways and the gleaming white dome of Sacré-Cœur give Montmartre a timeless charm. Artists still set up their easels in little squares and there’s even a tiny vineyard tucked behind the houses. It’s one of the prettiest corners of Paris, offering sweeping views of the skyline at sunset. That said, Montmartre is a bit removed from the centre – be ready to hop on the metro or hike up steep steps to get home after sightseeing. Stay here if you crave romantic, old-world Paris. You’ll find boutique hotels and cosy bistros aplenty, but also crowds around the famous basilica. Montmartre suits dreamers and art lovers best (just expect some company at the top).
02
Pigalle
Straddling the line between the 9th and 18th arrondissements, Pigalle is where Paris turns up the volume after dark. Once known as Paris’s red-light district (the Moulin Rouge still blazes in neon glory), Pigalle has reinvented itself into a trendy nightlife hub. By day, the grand 19th-century facades hide record shops, retro cocktail bars and quirky boutiques. By night, the area comes alive with craft cocktail lounges, music clubs and late-night brasseries that draw a hip, international crowd. South Pigalle (SoPi) has emerged as a particularly chic pocket, full of natural wine bars and boutique hotels. Pigalle is perfect for night owls and those who don’t mind a little edge with their elegance – it’s buzzy and cool, though not Paris’s quietest area. If you want to see the city’s playful, after-dark side, Pigalle is happy to oblige (just pack your dancing shoes).
Photography courtesy of Grand Pigalle Experimental
03
Le Marais
Le Marais is central Paris at its trendiest. Spread across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, this historic district charms with narrow mediaeval lanes, elegant hotels and a patchwork of boutiques and galleries. By day, you can browse the Picasso Museum or hunt for vintage finds in hip fashion shops. By night, the vibe shifts to energetic and trendy, with chic cocktail bars and clubs keeping the party going. Le Marais has it all – history, art, food and style. It’s also one of the few areas where shops open on a Sunday – a rarity in Paris. Expect a mix of locals and visitors strolling Rue des Rosiers for falafel or relaxing in Place des Vosges. Le Marais suits culture vultures, foodies and shopaholics alike. It’s incredibly convenient (you can walk to Notre-Dame and the Louvre from here), but its popularity means the streets can fill up, especially on weekends. Still, if you want a neighbourhood that truly has it all, the Marais is hard to beat.
Photography courtesy of Hotel Le Grand Mazarin
04
Bastille
Centred around the historic Place de la Bastille, this neighbourhood delivers a buzzy but local feel. Bastille and its surrounds in the 11th arrondissement are where young Parisians actually hang out – you’ll find countless bars, cafés, live music venues and late-night crêpe stands. It’s a bit rougher around the edges than postcard Paris, but that’s part of the appeal. The area is more affordable for both nightlife and lodging and it’s great if you’re travelling on a budget. Don’t come to Bastille seeking major museums or famous monuments – aside from the modern Opéra Bastille, there are few big sights here. Instead, you come for the atmosphere – streets like Rue de la Roquette buzz with energy every evening. Multiple metro lines converge at Bastille, so getting around is easy. Choose this area if you want a fun, down-to-earth Parisian experience. You’ll trade off a bit of polish for plenty of character and late-night excitement.
Photography courtesy of Oh la la hotel
05
Champs-Élysées
If you want to wake up on one of the world’s most famous avenues, head for the 8th arrondissement and the Champs-Élysées. This area is anchored by the famed Champs-Élysées – stretching from the Arc de Triomphe down to the Place de la Concorde. Along and around it, you’ll find luxury flagship stores, theatres and iconic cafés, all with bustling crowds of shoppers and sightseers. It’s a postcard-perfect location for first-time visitors – you can easily walk to the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and many major museums from here. High-end hotels and palace properties abound, offering glamorous terraces and postcard views. The trade-off? Authentic Parisian charm can feel diluted – many restaurants cater to tourists and prices are as high as the Louis Vuitton flagship’s windows. Stay here if you want immediate access to big sights and don’t mind the tourist bustle – the wow factor is guaranteed, especially when the Champs-Élysées lights up at night.
Photography courtesy of Hotel Balzac
06
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
On the Left Bank in the elegant 6th arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the picture of Parisian art de vivre – classy, cultured and a touch nostalgic. Its streets are lined with art galleries, antique bookshops and designer boutiques, but the soul of the area lies in its historic cafés. This is where Hemingway, Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir lingered over coffees, debating art and philosophy at Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore. Today, you’re more likely to rub shoulders with well-heeled shoppers than starving poets, but the intellectual aura remains. Daytimes are for strolling the Boulevard Saint-Germain, visiting the mediaeval Abbey church or relaxing in the nearby Luxembourg Gardens. Come evening, the vibe is more low-key than frenzied – think jazz in a cellar bar or a quiet apéro at a sidewalk table. It’s safe, elegant and undeniably romantic, though you’ll pay a premium to stay in this storied quartier.
Read the article on our pick of the best St-Germain-des-Prés hotels.
Photography courtesy of Villa des Pres
07
Butte-aux-Cailles
In the southern reaches of the 13th arrondissement, Butte-aux-Cailles is a Parisian village hiding in plain sight. This hilltop neighbourhood (whose name means quails’ hill) was once a working-class hamlet and still exudes a quaint, communal vibe. Low-rise houses with pastel shutters, cobblestone streets and ivy-covered walls set a scene that’s more Provence than Paris. Street art is part of the charm here – keep an eye out for colourful murals as you wander. There are no famous monuments in Butte-aux-Cailles and that’s exactly the point. You come for an authentic, off-the-beaten-path atmosphere where tourists are few and the welcome is warm. It’s a bit removed from the centre, but the Corvisart and Place d’Italie metro stops connect you easily. Butte-aux-Cailles is for those who want to unplug, slow down and catch a glimpse of Paris as its locals live it – quietly rebellious, always up for a chat and full of little surprises.
Photography courtesy of Beau Qaurtier and Do You Street Art
08
Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is Paris in its most bohemian, bookish mood, located in the 5th arrondissement. Centred around the Sorbonne University and the Panthéon, this area earned its name from the Latin-speaking scholars of the Middle Ages. Its narrow streets twist past Gothic chapels, bookshops and academic halls, opening onto lively squares. By day, browse the books at Shakespeare & Company or explore the Musée de Cluny’s mediaeval tapestries. By night, join the crowd on Rue Mouffetard, where cosy pubs and jazz clubs hum with conversation. The Latin Quarter is equal parts scholarly and bohemian – a place where centuries-old academia meets a laid-back café scene. It’s also home to plenty of inexpensive eateries (student budgets demand it), from crêperies to international bistros. Being in the 5th arrondissement, you’re a short walk from Notre-Dame and the Seine, making it a convenient base. Just be prepared for a bit of chaos: this area is popular with tourists too and in high season, the tiny lanes can get crowded.
Share this
Book your stay
Stay in the know
Sign up for the latest hotspot news from the Mediterranean.
