Where to Stay in Paris? Tips for Choosing Your Neighborhood in 2026

Pros: An aristocratic arrondissement with quite a few grand palaces, most of which now house government ministries and embassies. All of that makes it one of the safest areas in the city, thanks to the number of police officers around. The 7th also has some very important museums, led by the Musée d’Orsay, so it’s definitely not boring. And of course, how could we forget the Eiffel Tower, which so many travelers insist on seeing from their hotel window.

Cons: Because it’s an aristocratic arrondissement, not only are hotel prices fairly high, so are prices in the restaurants and cafés. The 7th is considered less dynamic and sleepier, and it empties out quite a bit at night once all the people working in its offices go home.

Pros: Like the 7th, this arrondissement is considered upscale (for the most part), which is why quite a few people recommend it. Its main attractions are, of course, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe right at the top of the avenue. The 8th is the most important arrondissement for anyone interested in haute couture, thanks to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne, where you’ll find the boutiques of the great Paris fashion houses.

If you’d like to stay near the big department stores, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, consider staying near the Saint-Lazare train station, even though it’s the less glamorous part of the arrondissement (one example of such a hotel is the Hôtel Océanic – Grands Magasins).

Cons: The Champs-Élysées has lost much of its glamour in recent years. The interesting cafés and shops have been replaced by fast-food chains and movie theaters (because of the astronomical rents on the avenue). Add to that quite a few reports of violence and pickpocketing in the area, and you get a place that hasn’t felt safe for a long time.

Pros: A lively arrondissement thanks to its proximity to the central 1st and 2nd and to the Grands Boulevards that run through it. It has plenty of restaurants, theaters, cafés and the famous department stores (especially lovely at Christmas). And of course, how could we forget the beautiful opera house built by Charles Garnier (1825-1898)?

Cons: Parts of the arrondissement (especially those north of the Grands Boulevards or around Galeries Lafayette) are fairly boring, in my opinion.

Pros: In my view, staying in this arrondissement has two advantages. The first is, of course, the price of apartments and hotels, which is lower because it’s farther from the center. The second is that parts of the arrondissement have a “cool” feel that’s a little hard to describe and explain (maybe because it’s a very lively area, where a new restaurant or bar opens almost every week and the atmosphere is very young).

Cons: The arrondissement is far from the center, and parts of it are rough around the edges (to put it mildly). Personally, I’d try not to stay on the streets right next to the Gare du Nord train station, nor in the western part of Rue du Château-d’Eau or near Boulevard de Strasbourg.

Pros: Geographically, parts of this arrondissement are close to Place de la Bastille, where quite a few metro lines meet, and to the Marais. Staying here means living not far from the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, but paying less.

The 11th arrondissement of Paris, which has changed a lot over the last few decades, has endless restaurants, some of them wonderful, especially on the streets leading off Place de la Bastille. So every time you head back to your hotel or apartment in the evening, you’ll have no trouble finding a good place for dinner, which makes it an excellent arrondissement to stay in.

And finally, this arrondissement is home to Rue Oberkampf, a real party for night owls thanks to all the clubs and bars around it.

Cons: The eastern parts of the arrondissement are far from the center.

Pros: Since this arrondissement is considered fairly far out, prices are lower, and you can find excellent hotels like the citizenM at very reasonable prices. The 12th is also home to the Gare de Lyon train station, so it’s a good option if you’re planning to take the train to the south of France.

Cons: In my view, the relative distance from the center is the main drawback of this arrondissement. Parts of it are also very modern, so if you stay there hoping to live in the middle of old Haussmann-era Paris, you’ll be disappointed.

Pros: The main advantage of this arrondissement is the price. Beyond that, it has a few lovely corners that are really nice to stay in, such as the Butte-aux-Cailles. And if you love Asian food, you’ll be happy to discover Paris’s Chinatown south of Place d’Italie, with all its Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodian and Thai restaurants.

Cons: The arrondissement (especially its southern and eastern parts) is fairly far from the center, and most of it is made up of dull residential towers that will make you feel as if you’re staying in a faceless suburb.

Pros: This is an arrondissement with history, thanks to the artists and intellectuals who settled here in the early 20th century. It has a cluster of very decent restaurants, and if you love crêpes, you’ll enjoy a visit to Rue du Montparnasse, home to some of the best crêperies in Paris.

As in every arrondissement far from the center, apartments and hotels here are fairly cheap. One option is to stay near the RER station called Denfert-Rochereau. That way you can get there straight from the airport, and even though it’s a little far from the center, you can walk to the Luxembourg Gardens quite easily.

Cons: The main drawback is the distance from the center, and the fact that a large part of the arrondissement (mainly its southern part) is a fairly boring residential area, in my opinion. Seasoned Francophiles won’t mind as much, because they’ll be happy to discover an arrondissement with plenty of historic charm, but beginners will prefer a more central location.

Pros: A quiet, pleasant residential arrondissement. It borders my favorite park in Paris, Parc Monceau, and this part is not only beautiful but also fascinating in terms of architecture and history. That’s because of the gorgeous houses built for some of the greatest courtesans of the 19th century. And finally, because it’s far from the center, you can find hotels and apartments at reasonable prices in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.

Cons: The distance from the center is the main drawback of this arrondissement. Its northern parts are also less pleasant (in my opinion).