Choosing where to stay in Paris can be overwhelming, with 20 arrondissements to choose from and major sights scattered all over the city. Whether you’re planning your first trip to Paris or a return trip, I hope this guide helps you find the best area to stay in Paris for your trip. I’ve visited Paris five times, and have explored all of the city. The best areas to stay in Paris for first time visitors are St Germain, Le Marais, Montparnasse, The Latin Quarter and the 2^nd and 16^th arrondissements. Below, I’ve shared the 10 best areas to stay in Paris for visitors, with notes on some of the best sights in each.

I’ve also included my personal opinion on where not to stay in Paris, which might surprise you! While this neighbourhoods is a must-visit, it’s not in the most convenient location for sightseeing and you’ll need to be extra on guard against pickpockets. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend staying in Montmartre even though I do recommend visiting.

St Germain (6^th Arrondissement)

If you’ve got the budget, St Germain is the best area to stay in Paris for first time visitors. St Germain is one of Paris’ most legendary and elegant neighbourhoods, but also offers the convenience of being centrally located. St Germain is the sixth arrondissement, in the heart of the Left Bank. St Germain is located between some of Paris’ major sights, between the neighbourhoods containing the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame and more. Within St Germain, you’ll find elegant streets and historic bistros, from the iconic yet touristy Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore, and Brasserie Lipp, which has stood the test of time and yet maintains a more authentic charm.

Montparnasse (14^th arrondissement)

I’ve stayed in Montparnasse on three of my five trips to Paris, including my most recent trip when I spent five days in Paris. I think Montparnasse is one of the best areas to stay in Paris because it feels like a more authentic Paris experience. It’s a beautiful neighbourhood, with dozens of local boulangeries, bistros, restaurants and bars, but without the tourist crowds.

Montparnasse is located directly south of St Germain, so it’s a short stroll into the Jardin du Luxembourg and St Germain, but much more affordable. Within Montparnasse, there are classic bistros like Café Le Dome and Le Select, Parc Montsouris, and sights like the Paris catacombs and Tour Montparnasse, which offers the best views over Paris.

I recommend staying at Hotel Raspail Montparnasse, which is where we stayed on our last visit – and had this amazing view from our room (pictured below).

Check out my Montparnasse Neighbourhood Guide for more tips!

Le Marais (3^rd & 4^th Arrondissement)

Le Marais is the best area to stay in Paris for a chic, village vibe in the centre of the city. Le Marais spans the 3^rd & 4^th arrondissements, and is located on the right bank of Paris. It’s one of the most charming neighbourhoods in Paris, with excellent shopping and historic, medieval streets. Some of the major sights and attractions in Le Marais include the lovely Place des Vosges, Eglise Saint Paul Saint Louis and the Centre Pompidou.

The only areas of Le Marais I’d avoid are around Les Halles and close to the Pompidou, this area is significantly less charming than the streets around Place des Vosges, Rue Saint Antoine and Rue Saint Paul.

Check out my Le Marais Neighbourhood Guide for more things to do & see in the area.

The Latin Quarter (5^th Arrondissement)

The Latin Quarter is Paris’ 5^th arrondissement, named for Latin that the students attending the Sorbonne would speak. The Latin Quarter is home to the Pantheon, is located on the Left Bank of the Seine, and is also used as a key Emily in Paris filming location for Emily’s Apartment and Gabriel’s restaurant! The Latin Quarter is east of St Germain, and just across the Seine from Le Marais, making it an excellent place to stay in Paris if you’re looking to spend most of your time in these beautiful neighbourhoods.

Check out my guide to the 25 Best Emily in Paris filming locations for more sights around the city!

Eiffel Tower (7^th Arrondissement)

As the name suggests, Trocadero Eiffel Tower is one of the best areas to stay in Paris to be near the Eiffel Tower. While you can get hotels with Eiffel Tower views all over the western half of the city, you’ll likely find it easier to get a hotel with a view here. This neighbourhood is the 7^th arrondissement, and beyond the Eiffel Tower is also home to the excellent Musee Rodin and one of Paris’ best food shopping streets, Rue Cler. Because of it’s location near the Eiffel Tower, you’ll pay a higher price to stay in this neighbourhood.

Bourse (2^nd Arrondissement)

Bourse is one of the most centrally located neighbourhoods in Paris, and yet it totally flies under the tourist radar. This elegant neighbourhood is the second arrondissement, and is Paris’ historic financial district. It’s home to Rue Montorgueil, one of Paris’ famous foodie streets, where you’ll find Stohrer, the oldest patisserie in Paris. This is a perfect neighbourhood to stay in Paris for being close to the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Palais-Royal, without needing to pay the luxury hotel prices in the neighbouring 1^st arrondissement. Bourse is the on the right bank, between the 1^st arrondissement and Le Marais.

Check out my 2^nd Arrondissement guide for more things to do & see in the 2^nd.

Passy (16th Arrondissement)

The elegant 16^th arrondissement is one of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Paris for being located close to the Arc du Triomphe and the Champs-Elysee, without being in the most touristy parts of Paris. Passy is an elegant residential neighbourhood on the western edge of Paris, and where I stayed on my first trip to Paris with my family. We loved staying in this area, because it wasn’t crawling with tourists – it’s a perfect place to stay for feeling like you have slipped into Parisian life. The Trocadero, with its famous views of the Eiffel Tower, is in the 16th arrondissement, which means the Eiffel Tower is just a short stroll across the Seine. It’s also home to the Musee Marmottan Monet, which is the best collection of Monet pieces in the world.

Opera (9^th Arrondissement)

Opera is the 9^th arrondissement, and is the best area to stay in Paris for shopping. Opera is home to two of Paris’ best department stores; Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. Opera takes its name from the Palais Garnier, which was Paris’ original opera house, and is worth visiting for the opulent beaux-arts architecture alone. Opera is located directly south of Montmartre, making it well located for walking into the historic Montmartre neighbourhood, while being a little more conveniently located and a safer feeling area.

Louvre-Tuileries (1st arrondissement)

If you’ve got the budget, Paris’ 1st arrondissement is an excellent area to stay in Paris for sightseeing. Located in the heart of Paris, Louvre-Tuileries is home to the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries and the famous streets Rue de Rivoli and Rue St Honore. This is one of the most expensive parts of Paris, and to be honest it is also very busy with tourists, so while this is an excellent location, I’d try and stay in the neighbouring 2nd arrondissement for all of the charm, with less of the crowds.

Champs-Elysees (8th arrondissement)

While I don’t recommend staying on the actual street of the Champs-Elysee, staying in the 8th arrondissement, which is called Champs-Elysee, is a convenient area to stay in Paris for sightseeing. You’ll want to spend no more than five minutes on the crowded Champs-Elysee, but otherwise this neighbourhood is very elegant. You’ll be close to the magnificent Arc de Triomphe and stately sights such as Petit Palais and Grand Palais, Eglise de la Madeleine and Place de la Concorde. Staying in neighbouring Passy (16th) would be my preference, but the 8th is a very beautiful and central neighbourhood in Paris.

Where not to stay in Paris

Montmartre

The only popular neighbourhood I would recommend not to stay in, in Paris is Montmartre. Montmartre is an iconic Paris neighbourhood, but it’s located on the northern edge of the city. This makes it one of the least convenient places to stay for sightseeing in Paris. The other reason I would recommend not staying in Montmartre is that it is very crowded, there’s lots of tourist tat, and it has a reputation for being worse for pickpockets. I’ve visited several times and have never been pickpocketed, but I’ve always felt I have to be more alert in this area. There are some very charming pockets, but I think you’d be better staying somewhere else and visiting.

Montmartre is still one of Paris’ most beautiful neighbourhoods, and a must-visit – check out my Montmartre guide for the best things to see & do in the area.

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