To me, the 20th arrondissement is “Paris for advanced users.” I once lived in a lovely apartment near the Alexandre Dumas metro station and really enjoyed it. On the other hand, it isn’t touristy (apart from Père Lachaise Cemetery) and it’s far from the center. I only recommend it if you want to experience a different Paris or if you found a particularly good deal.
So where should you stay in the 20th?
First, I find the area around Père Lachaise lovely, both for the greenery and the village feel and because the “neighbors” aren’t supposed to make too much noise 🙂
Another option is to stay close to Boulevard de Charonne. It’s a lively boulevard with plenty of restaurants, bars and places to go out.
Two quick notes before we start:
1. The apartments are sorted by maximum number of guests: from the smallest apartment to the largest. For details and booking, click the button.
2. Availability: apartments get booked faster than hotels. If the one you liked is taken, try the next option or use the search links at the end of the article.
Apartments for up to 3 people
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La Petite Maison de Paris
A small house rather than an apartment in a building, and that barely exists in Paris. The 20th arrondissement was built from a group of villages that were annexed to the city in 1860, and in some corners there are still streets of low houses with private gardens. Sleeping in one of them is a completely different experience from the usual Parisian fifth floor with no elevator. All around is a quiet residential area with neighborhood bakeries and corner shops, and hardly any tourists. Père Lachaise Cemetery is a short walk away, and I’ve gathered the rest of the area on my page of attractions in the 20th arrondissement. Keep in mind that you’re in the east of the city: every trip to the center starts with a metro ride, and you’ll feel it at night. I recommend it to a couple who have already been to Paris and want to live in it this time rather than tour it.
- A small house, not an apartment in a building, rare in Paris
- A quiet residential area in the east of the city
- Far from the center, every outing starts with the metro
Apartments in the 20th for up to 4 people
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Apartment near Père Lachaise
An apartment within walking distance of Père Lachaise Cemetery, which I think is one of the most fascinating places in Paris, and not only for fans of gravestones: Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), Édith Piaf (1915-1963), Molière (1622-1673), Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) and Jim Morrison (1943-1971) are buried there, and a stroll along its cobbled avenues is an outing in its own right. All around are the Ménilmontant and Belleville neighborhoods, which over the last decade have become the liveliest part of Paris for street art, small bars and restaurants run by young chefs, at prices far lower than in the center. Note that Ménilmontant is built on a hill, and the walk back in the evening is really steep. I recommend it to anyone looking for the Paris of Parisians, not the postcard version.
- Walking distance from Père Lachaise and the Ménilmontant neighborhood
- Prices far lower than in the center
- Ménilmontant is built on a hill, and the walk back is steep
Apartments in the 20th for 5 guests or more
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Résidence Labyrinthe
An apartment residence in the 20th arrondissement with several units of different sizes, a good fit for a group or a large family. The main advantage here is the price per square meter: the same budget that buys you a studio in the Marais buys you a whole apartment here. The 20th has more to offer than you’d think. Among other things, you’ll find Père Lachaise, the Parc de Belleville, Rue de Belleville with its Asian restaurants and one of the biggest concentrations of street art in the city. Keep in mind that this is a practical residence, not a building with character: if you’re after exposed beams and a fireplace, you’ll find them in the central arrondissements, at a completely different price. I recommend it to a group that’s watching its budget and doesn’t mind taking the metro every morning.
- Several units of different sizes, good for a group
- East Paris, good value for the space
- A practical residence without much Parisian character
All the apartments you liked in the 20th are booked?
Don’t worry! Here are a few more options to help you:
Booked an apartment? Here’s what to do next
Here are a few more articles to help you plan your trip:
