Welcome to the Marais (Le Marais), my favorite neighborhood in Paris and maybe in the whole world. Here, between medieval lanes and Renaissance mansions, you’ll find the perfect mix of fascinating history and contemporary Parisian chic. I’ve put together the ultimate guide to help you “live” the neighborhood and not just visit it: from hotels that give excellent value for money, through comfortable apartments, to walking routes that will reveal the best-kept secrets of the place.
Recommended hotels in the Marais: my picks
The Marais stretches across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. I gathered the hotels I personally love most, the ones that strike the perfect balance between location, atmosphere and price:
My personal pick
Which place to stay suits you?
One short question, and I will pick out of the places I already checked and wrote about on the site the ones that fit the trip you are planning.
One moment, I am going over my recommendations to find what fits you…
Want to see more hotels?
I’ve prepared detailed, focused lists for each part of the neighborhood, so you’ll find exactly what suits you.
Feel at home: recommended apartments in the Marais
On my last visit (2023) I stayed in Udi’s apartments, and it was a wonderful experience. Here are a few well-equipped apartments in winning locations that will make you feel like real Parisians:
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Apartment for 6 on Rue Sainte-Croix
A spacious, stylish apartment for large families near the Hôtel de Ville. Close to the metro and to all the best restaurants in the neighborhood.
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Apartment for 4 on Rue Sainte-Croix
In the same building as the large apartment (great for groups and friends). Renovated, pleasant and bright, in the beating heart of the Marais.
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Apartment for 4 near the Pompidou
A strategic location facing the Centre Pompidou. Perfect for a family with two kids, very close to Rambuteau metro station.
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Studio near the Pompidou
A great option for a couple who want to be at the center of things at a sane price (in the same building as the previous apartment). Small but smart!
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Apartment in the northern Marais
Located between the lively market on Rue de Bretagne and Place de la République. A chance to experience Parisian life in the most chic neighborhood in the city.
More recommended apartments
Don’t miss the lovely Opalin apartment on Rue de Turenne.
The Marais: questions, answers and visitor information
Where exactly is the Marais?
How much time should I plan for a visit?
How do I get to the Marais (metro and bus)?
Bus: lines 38, 69, 72 and 74 take you right into the heart of things.
Is it an expensive area?
Where is the Jewish quarter?
Places you simply must not miss
The Marais is an open-air museum. Here are the places that make my heart skip a beat every single time:
Musée Carnavalet
My favorite museum in Paris (and admission is free!). It tells the history of the city in a fascinating way, inside two Renaissance mansions with stunning hidden gardens.
Hôtel de Sully
A magnificent 17th-century private mansion. Beyond the architecture, these walls have heard plenty of secrets about affairs, love stories and historical dramas.
Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis
The Jesuits’ Baroque church on Rue Saint-Antoine, with a Delacroix painting, a clock from 1627 and an inscription carved during the Commune. Admission is free.
Hôtel de Soubise
Home of the National Archives. The Rococo “Princess’s Room” is one of the most beautiful, delicate and romantic spaces you’ll see in all of Paris.
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
The only house by François Mansart that survives intact, with 17th- and 18th-century salons, portraits of Louis XIV’s hunting dogs and a stuffed fox asleep in an armchair.
Musée Picasso
Housed in the impressive “salty mansion” (Hôtel Salé). A must for every art lover, with the largest collection of works by the Spanish genius.
Place des Vosges
The oldest and most beautiful square in Paris. Perfect symmetry, warm red brick, and an ideal spot for a sunny picnic at lunchtime.
The Chancellerie d’Orléans
A real architectural detective story. A mansion that was torn down, hidden away in crates for decades, and recently restored to all its splendor.
How to explore the Marais? Tours and routes
You can simply “get lost” in the lanes, but to really understand what you’re looking at, it’s worth using the routes I’ve prepared or joining a professional guided tour:
🚩 Recommended guided tours in the Marais
Here you’ll find a series of recommended tours in the Marais from GetYourGuide:
Looking for more tours? See my page of recommended guided tours in Paris.
🗺️ Self-guided walking routes (my recommendations)
The Marais for beginners
First time here? This is the perfect classic route that takes in all the big, important highlights.
The western Marais
A hidden, less touristy gem. A chic, surprising, local route around the up-and-coming Arts et Métiers area.
The northern Marais for experienced visitors
For those who already know the Marais: 16 stops between Rue des Archives and Rue Charlot, with hidden courtyards, carved doorways and a meal at the Marché des Enfants Rouges at the end.
Rue de Turenne
The street many tourists miss by mistake. Amazing galleries, Parisian design and excellent restaurants all the way along.
A culinary walk
A decadent loop through the best pâtisseries and the finest chocolate shops in the neighborhood. Come hungry, it’s going to be sweet!
In the footsteps of Victor Hugo
Walk where the greatest writer of France lived and wrote (including a moving visit to his house on Place des Vosges).
Madame de Sévigné
The first great gossip of Paris. A rich historical route through the neighborhood’s glorious 17th century.
