Le Marais is one of the best neighbourhoods to visit in Paris, with charming medieval streets, dozens of independent boutiques and vintage stores, and a vibrant, village-like atmosphere. Le Marais is one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Paris, home to some of the city’s best designers and shopping. The best things to do in Le Marais include some beautiful historic sights like Place des Vosges, Marche aux Enfants Rouge and Eglise Saint-Paul Saint-Louis. Museums & galleries in Le Marais include Centre Pompidou, Musee National Picasso and Musee Carnavalet. I hope you find this Le Marais guide helpful for planning your trip to Paris!

Le Marais is one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Paris, and one I’ve visited many times – I always love returning to this neighbourhood! Because of its central location & abundance of charm, I recommend it as one of the best areas to stay in Paris for first time visitors.

What is Le Marais known for?

Le Marais is Paris’ Jewish quarter, and is known for its excellent bagels and falafel. Le Marais is also known for its medieval charm, as it escaped Haussman’s wide neoclassical boulevards that can be found all over the city. Le Marais has been the home to many of Paris’ literary greats, including Victor Hugo and Colette. 

Where is Le Marais in Paris?

Le Marais is a neighbourhood in Paris on the right bank, roughly corresponding to the 3rd and 4th arrondissement. The main streets in Le Marais are Rue St Antoine, Rue Saint Paul and Rue Vielle du Temple.

Near Le Marais

Le Marais is surrounded by the 2nd, 10th, 11th & 12th arrondissements. Le Marais is on the edge of the Seine, and just across the river is the Latin Quarter, the 5th arrondissement. I recommend exploring the beautiful and under-the-radar 2nd arrondissement or crossing the river to explore the romantic Latin Quarter.

Where to Stay in Le Marais

If you have the budget, Le Marais is one of the best areas to stay in Paris. It has so much Parisian charm, is centrally located, and you can walk from here to Ile-de-Cite, where you’ll find Notre Dame. Le Marais is one of the more expensive places to stay in Paris, due to it’s fabulous location & charm.

I’ve listed some well-priced hotels in Le Marais, but keep in mind that “$$” and best value for Le Marais may still be more expensive than your idea of best value at home.

Luxury Hotels in Le Marais

• Maison Proust, Hotel & Spa La Mer ($$$$$) – More like a palace than a hotel, the Maison Proust hotel & spa offers a stay in Le Marais, fit for a queen.
• Le Grand Mazarin ($$$$) – Wow. The interiors at this luxury hotel give modern Versailles vibes, with candy-coloured, richly decorated rooms. Don’t miss the eye-popping indoor pool!
• Le Pavilion de la Reine & Spa ($$$$) – This one is officially on my wishlist! A gorgeous, elegant luxury hotel in the heart of Le Marais, right on the Place des Vosges. Looks like heaven.

Stylish Hotels in Le Marais

• Solly Hotel Paris ($$$) – A gorgeous hotel in Le Marais, with elegant French character. This would be my pick for where to stay in Le Marais
• Charles V ($$$) – A very elegant hotel in Le Marais, located between the Seine and the Place des Vosges.
• Maison Saintonage ($$$) – A charming boutique hotel, oozing character and a warm, vintage aesthetic. So cute!
• Villa Beaumarchais ($$$) – An elegant and traditional French hotel, just blocks away from the Place des Vosges and the Musee Picasso.
• Quartier Libre Le Marais (Studio Apartment) ($$$) – These stylish studio apartments in Le Marais have balconies, kitchenettes, and some even have dining tables.

Best Value Hotels in Le Marais

• Hotel Bastille Speria ($$) – Beautiful, recently renovated hotel at a great price, just a block from the Place des Vosges
• Hotel de Vieux Saule ($$) – A small hotel in Le Marais, with compact rooms and an excellent location.

The Best Things to Do in Le Marais

The best thing to do in Le Marais is simply to wander through this charming neighbourhood. Steer yourself in the direction of Rue St Antoine, Village Saint Paul and Place des Vosges, or towards Merci Paris for shopping.

Picnic in Place des Vosges

The Place des Vosges is one of the most beautiful places in Paris. The 16th century square is one of the oldest squares in Paris, and was built by Henry IV. It’s one of the best places for a picnic in Paris, which is something I love to do every time I’m in Paris, in warm weather. I like to buy some fresh fruit, cheese and bread or a pastry along nearby Rue St Antoine, and bring to the Place des Vosges.

The perfectly symmetrical square is dotted with beautiful fountains and fringed with trees, and is surrounded by elegant townhouses and an arcade lined with restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. Legendary French author Victor Hugo once lived in one of these townhouses!

Stroll Rue St Antoine

Beautiful Rue St Antoine is the bustling centre of Le Marais. It’s almost always busy, but it’s lined with historic buildings and plenty of lovely cafes, fresh fruit markets and Laurent Dubois, an excellent fromagerie worth a detour.

Eglise Saint-Paul Saint-Louis

Eglise Saint-Paul Saint-Louis is truly one of Paris’ most underrated gems. Located on bustling Rue Saint Antoine, the church is astonishingly calm and peaceful, given its popular location and the beauty within. Commissioned by King Louis XIII in 1641, the Eglise Saint-Paul Saint-Louis is the first church in Paris to break away from the Gothic style, and embrace the Baroque. The magnificent interiors are a sight on their own, as well as holding a number of significant paintings and sculptures, including a statue of Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, Jean d’Arc and the painting Christ in the Garden of Olives by Delacroix (currently on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but replaced by a convincing copy as placeholder).

Galleries & Museums in Le Marais

Centre Pompidou – Contemporary Art

Centre Pompidou is Paris’ modern and contemporary art museum, which is just as famous for its controversial architecture as it is for its prized art collection. Designed by architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers in the 1970s, the Centre Pompidou is designed to embody the workings of the human heart. Inside, you’ll find the works of Picasso, Klee, David Hockney, Andy Warhol and Philippe Starck to name a few. Get in quick, as the Pompidou will close for major renovations from 2025-2030.

Musee National Picasso: For the world’s largest collection of Picasso

Visit Musee National Picasso in Le Marais to find the world’s largest collection of Picasso’s artworks, including paintings, sculptures, poetry and photography, along with some love letters.

Musee Carnavalet: For an eccentric history of Paris

History lovers will love the quirky Musee Carnavalet, an eccentric mansion showcasing the history of Paris. Access to the permanent galleries is free.

Hotel de Sully

The elegant Hotel de Sully was built in the 17th century, and is complete with gardens and an orangerie. While you can’t go inside, you can make a quick detour off Rue St Antoine to admire the courtyard, and a few moments of quiet away from the hustle and bustle.

Shopping in Le Marais

Le Marais is known for excellent shopping, especially around the trendy Rue Vieille du Temple for fashion, and Village Saint Paul for antique dealers.

Best French stores in Le Marais

• Le BHV – Le BHV is one of the grandest and oldest department stores in Paris, dating back to 1869. French department stores are something else! There’s also a Diptyque inside Le BHV.
• Merci – Merci is a three-storey fashion, homewares and lifestyle concept store, and one of the absolute best shopping destinations in Le Marais, especially if you’re looking for a stylish souvenir rather than tourist tatt
• Fragonard – Fragonard is a French perfume house which was founded in Grasse, France, in 1926. I love their fragrances!
• APC – APC is a ready-to-wear luxury fashion brand, with simple, understated silhouettes. The APC in Le Marais is located on fashionable Rue Vieille du Temple.
• Maje – Maje is a gorgeous French fashion brand that blends Parisian chic with a bohemian spirit, and is my favourite French brand. Maje has a boutique at 49 Rue Vieille du Temple.
• Zadig & Voltaire – Zadig & Voltaire is a French fashion house founded in the 90s, with a luxury meets rock ‘n roll aesthetic. Zadig & Voltaire has three locations in Le Marais, plus you can find them inside Le BHV.
• Sandro – A sister brand to Maje, Sandro is a luxury French ready to wear brand, that delivers Parisian elegance with a balance of masculine and feminine energies. Sandro has a few boutiques in Le Marais, including an outlet and a dedicated mens store.

Where to eat & drink in Le Marais

Breizh Crepe Cafe

Crepes come from Brittany, in western France, but the best crepes in Paris can be found at Breizh, which make crepes in the traditional Bretagne style. 

L’As du Fallafel

L’As du Fallafel is an institution in Le Marais, and has been serving their famous pitas stuffed with falafel since the 1970s. There is often a line, but it moves quickly – perfect for a takeaway lunch. L’As du Fallafel is in the heart of Paris’ Jewish quarter, on the Rue des Roisiers. Note that it observes Shabbat, and is closed on Friday nights and all of Saturday.

Marche aux Enfants Rouge

Marche aux Enfants Rouge in Le Marais is the oldest covered market in Paris. More than 400 years old, the market was named for the nearby (former) orphanage, Hospices des Enfants Rouge. The market was built in 1615 by Louis XIII to supply food to the neighbourhood, and today it remains an excellent spot to find a bite to eat at one of the many vendors.

Further Reading

Planning a trip to Paris? Check out these Paris travel guides:

• 3 Days in Paris for First Time Visitors
• 5 Days in Paris for Return Visitors
• Where to Stay in Paris: 10 of the Best Neighbourhoods to Stay
• Montmartre Neighbourhood Guide
• Montparnasse Neighbourhood Guide

The Wanderbug is reader supported. This site may contain links to affiliate websites, which means when you buy through links on this site I may receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!