Where to stay in Paris
Paris is bigger than it looks on the map, but the middle of it is walkable and the metro fills in the rest. For a first visit, stay in the Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Prés, both on the river's doorstep and both with plenty to eat. Montmartre is for views and steep, quiet streets, the Canal Saint-Martin for a local evening, and the 7th for a calm base under the Eiffel Tower. A few areas, mostly around the big northern train stations, are worth choosing with care.
The short answer
- First trip
- The Marais for streets and shops, or Saint-Germain-des-Prés for cafes and calmer nights.
- Couples
- Saint-Germain or the south slope of Montmartre.
- Families
- The 7th, near the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars, or the Latin Quarter by the Luxembourg Gardens.
- Tight budget
- The Opéra area or the Canal Saint-Martin, with a metro stop close by.
- Arriving by train
- The Opéra area is a short ride from Gare Saint-Lazare; the Canal is close to Gare de l'Est and Gare du Nord.
How we judge an area of Paris: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Paris's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Louvre | Eiffel Tower | Gare du Nord | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Marais | First visits, shops | Busy; late bars | 25 min | over an hour | 40 min | Metro 1, 11, 8, 5 | €€€ |
| Saint-Germain-des-Prés | Couples, cafes | Quiet to lively | 15 min | 45 min | 55 min | Metro 4, 10, 12 | €€€€ |
| The Latin Quarter | Budget, bookshops | Lively; loud near Saint-Michel | 25 min | over an hour | 60 min | Metro 7, 10; RER B, C | €€ |
| The Louvre and the 1st | Short stays, location | Quiet after dinner | 5 min | 50 min | 40 min | Metro 1, 7, 14 | €€€€ |
| Opéra and the Grands Boulevards | Value, shopping | Quiet at night; busy by day | 20 min | 50 min | 35 min | Metro 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 | €€ |
| Montmartre | Views, a village feel | Quiet on the hill; loud at Pigalle | 45 min | over an hour | 20 min | Metro 12 (Abbesses) | €€ |
| Canal Saint-Martin | Local feel, value | Lively by the water | 35 min | over an hour | 20 min | Metro 5, 3, 8, 9, 11 | €€ |
| The 7th and the Eiffel Tower | Families, quiet | Very quiet | 40 min | 15 min | over an hour | Metro 8, 13; RER C | €€€€ |
Walking times are the straight line from the middle of each area plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. Montmartre climbs and the rest is mostly flat, and the metro is quicker than it looks for anything over twenty minutes. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
The Marais, for a first visit
Medieval streets, the Place des Vosges and more places to eat than you can get through.
The Marais spreads across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements on the Right Bank, east of the Pompidou Centre. It took in the aristocrats' townhouses that now hold museums, the old Jewish quarter around Rue des Rosiers, and a lot of small shops. The Louvre and Notre-Dame are both about twenty-five minutes on foot, and the metro is a few minutes away.
It is popular and it feels it. Rue de Rivoli and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois are crowded on weekends, and shops here open on Sunday when much of Paris is shut, so Sunday is the loudest day. The bars around Rue Vieille du Temple run late. Choose a side street, and ask for a room facing the courtyard.
Good for
- A first trip, on foot
- Shops, galleries and the Place des Vosges
- Eating out without a booking, on most nights
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly and the room faces a bar street
- You want somewhere quiet on a Sunday
- You'd rather be on the Left Bank
Staying in The Marais: nearby sights, food and getting around
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, for cafes and quiet streets
The Left Bank of old cafes and bookshops, close to the Luxembourg Gardens and the Musée d'Orsay.
Saint-Germain is in the 6th, on the Left Bank. It is the Paris of the long-established cafes, publishers' offices, antique dealers and small galleries, with the Luxembourg Gardens to the south and the Seine to the north. The Musée d'Orsay is about fifteen minutes' walk, and the Louvre is across the Pont des Arts.
It is calmer in the evening than the Marais, and noticeably more expensive. Rooms are small and the hotels are boutique rather than big. Boulevard Saint-Germain itself is busy with traffic, so a room on one of the side streets is quieter. There is plenty of food but not much cheap food.
Good for
- Couples, and anyone who likes cafes
- The Luxembourg Gardens and the Musée d'Orsay on foot
- Quieter evenings, still in the middle
Think twice if
- You're watching your budget: this is among the dearest areas
- You want nightlife
- You want a big hotel with a lot of rooms
Staying in Saint-Germain-des-Prés: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Latin Quarter, for students and bookshops
The university district around the Panthéon: cheaper rooms, lively streets and a few that are best skipped.
The Latin Quarter fills the 5th arrondissement on the Left Bank, around the Sorbonne and the Panthéon, with the Luxembourg Gardens on one side and Notre-Dame across the bridge. It has more affordable hotels than Saint-Germain, a student crowd, and a lot of bookshops and cheap places to eat.
Be careful near Saint-Michel and Rue de la Huchette. The streets packed with restaurants that have a tout outside are priced for tourists, and the area is loud late on. The quieter, prettier part is up the hill, around Rue Mouffetard and the Panthéon. The Seine is flat, and the hill up to the Panthéon is steady but short.
Good for
- Cheaper rooms near the middle
- Notre-Dame, the Panthéon and the Luxembourg Gardens on foot
- Families who want the gardens nearby
Think twice if
- You want a quiet night near Saint-Michel
- You eat where the touts are loudest: skip those streets
Staying in The Latin Quarter: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Louvre and the 1st, to be in the middle
The Louvre, the Tuileries and Palais Royal at your door, with the best location and the highest prices.
The 1st arrondissement is the old royal center of Paris on the Right Bank: the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden, the arcades of the Palais Royal and the long, tourist-heavy Rue de Rivoli. You can reach Notre-Dame, the Marais and Saint-Germain on foot in fifteen to twenty minutes, and five metro lines meet nearby.
It is a grand, rather formal neighborhood, and it is expensive. Streets are busy during the day and fairly empty after dinner, because there are more shops and offices here than homes. Around Châtelet-Les Halles to the east it is busy and scruffier at night, and pickpockets work the crowds there and at the Louvre.
Good for
- Seeing the Louvre early, before the queue builds
- A short trip where every minute counts
- Walking home along the river
Think twice if
- You want a village feel
- You want somewhere cheap
- You'd rather not wade through crowds on Rue de Rivoli
Staying in The Louvre and the 1st: nearby sights, food and getting around
Opéra and the grands boulevards, for value
Department stores, the Opéra Garnier and many mid-priced hotels, within a short metro ride of everything.
North of the Louvre, the 9th arrondissement around the Opéra Garnier is where the big department stores, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, line the boulevards. It has a lot of hotels, many of them mid-range and business-focused, and it is one of the better-value places to stay within reach of the middle. Gare Saint-Lazare and several metro and RER lines are close.
The streets are practical rather than pretty. It is busy by day and on Saturdays with shoppers, quieter in the evening and on Sundays, when many shops close. The Louvre is about twenty minutes on foot. For a pleasant walk home at night, stay on the south or west side, away from the busiest boulevards and from the edge of Pigalle.
Good for
- Good-value rooms close to the middle
- Shopping and the Opéra Garnier
- Easy connections, including RER A and the airport buses
Think twice if
- You want a charming old street outside the door
- You'll be out late and walking back through the northern 9th
Staying in Opéra and the Grands Boulevards: nearby sights, food and getting around
Montmartre, for views and a village feel
Steep little streets, stairs and the Sacré-Coeur, with a long way down to everything else.
Montmartre is a hill in the 18th, with the white dome of the Sacré-Coeur at the top and a village of narrow lanes and stairs around it. It is the most charming part of Paris to stay in, and the one furthest from the central sights: the Louvre is about forty minutes' walk, though Abbesses metro station takes you there in a quarter of an hour.
Stay on the south and west slopes, around Abbesses, where the streets are quiet at night. The Place du Tertre is a tourist trap, with painters and crowds, and the streets by Pigalle, at the foot of the hill, are loud and a little seedy after dark. Watch for the bracelet-tying men on the Sacré-Coeur steps. The hill is steep, and luggage up the stairs is hard work.
Good for
- Views, and an early walk with no crowds
- A quieter, village-like stay
- Cafes and bakeries within a minute of your door
Think twice if
- Hills and stairs are hard for you
- You want to walk to the Louvre
- Your room is near Pigalle or the Place du Tertre
Staying in Montmartre: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Canal Saint-Martin, for a local evening
A tree-lined canal with bars, bakeries and independent shops, and few tourists.
The Canal Saint-Martin runs through the 10th arrondissement from the Place de la République toward the Gare de l'Est and Gare du Nord. The quays are lined with trees, iron footbridges and bars, and the streets nearby have small restaurants, vintage shops and good bakeries. It feels more like where Parisians live.
It is lively, particularly on summer evenings, when people sit along the canal until late, so a room on the quay can be noisy. The 10th is mixed: the blocks close to Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est are rougher, so stay along the canal and around Jacques Bonsergent and République. The sights are a metro ride away, about twenty minutes to the Louvre on foot or by metro.
Good for
- A local feel and good food
- Value for the middle of Paris
- Arriving by train at Gare de l'Est or Gare du Nord
Think twice if
- Your room faces the quay on a summer weekend
- You want the main sights at your door
- You'd walk back near the stations at night
Staying in Canal Saint-Martin: nearby sights, food and getting around
The 7th, for a calm base by the Eiffel Tower
Wide streets, government buildings and the Eiffel Tower, quiet in the evening and dearer than it should be.
The 7th arrondissement is on the Left Bank, between the Seine and the Invalides, with the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Rodin and the Champ de Mars. Streets are wide and clean and lined with embassies and ministries, and the market on Rue Cler is good for breakfast and picnic food.
It is a quiet neighborhood where people live and work in offices, and it goes very quiet after dinner. There are fewer restaurants than elsewhere, and the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain are better for choice. Prices are high for what you get. The Eiffel Tower area is crowded and touted in daylight.
Good for
- Families, with the Champ de Mars to play in
- Being near the Eiffel Tower and Orsay
- A quiet, safe-feeling base at night
Think twice if
- You want nightlife or a lot of restaurants
- You want a bargain
- You'd like to walk to the Louvre without a long trek
Staying in The 7th and the Eiffel Tower: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Paris, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Paris. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- The streets right around Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, if you'll be out late
Handy for the Eurostar and the airport train, and rough at night, with petty crime and street drinking. Stay along the Canal Saint-Martin or in the 9th instead, and take the metro back.
- Pigalle and the foot of Montmartre
Loud and a little seedy after dark, with sex shops and late bars. Stay up the hill near Abbesses or choose a different area.
- A room on Rue de la Huchette or the Saint-Michel tourist streets
Packed with restaurants with touts outside, and noisy until late. Look up the hill toward Rue Mouffetard, or in Saint-Germain.
- Barbès and La Chapelle, because the rate is low
Cheap for a reason: crowded streets, street selling and fewer places to eat. A little more in Opéra or on the Canal buys a calmer street.
- A hotel near the airport or on the ring road, for a city break
The saving disappears in the train fare and the time. Paris is worth sleeping in; stay in the middle.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Paris
The Marais or Saint-Germain, both on foot to the river.
Couples
Saint-Germain, or the south slope of Montmartre.
Families with children
The 7th, or the Latin Quarter by the Luxembourg Gardens.
A tight budget
The Opéra area, the Canal Saint-Martin or the Latin Quarter.
Food
The Marais, the Canal and the Latin Quarter, away from the touts.
Nightlife
The Canal Saint-Martin and the bars of the Marais.
Peace and quiet
The 7th, Saint-Germain, or Montmartre up the hill.
Arriving by Eurostar
The Canal Saint-Martin, a short metro ride from Gare du Nord, or the Opéra area.
Walking to the Louvre
The 1st, or the Saint-Germain side of the river.
Before you book a room in Paris
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Paris makes a good stay.
- The tourist taxParis charges a tax per person per night, and it varies with the hotel's rating. Since 1 January 2026 the total, including the regional surcharges, is about €2.60 at a one-star hotel, €5.53 at three stars, €8.45 at four stars, €11.70 at five stars and €15.93 at a palace hotel. It is usually paid at the hotel and is not always in the price online. Unclassified places such as apartments pay a share of the nightly price, capped at €15.93.
- From Charles de Gaulle airportThe RER B train runs from both CDG stations to central Paris, such as Gare du Nord and Châtelet-Les Halles, in roughly 30 to 45 minutes. Check the fare on the Île-de-France Mobilités site, as it changed this year.
- From Orly airportMetro line 14 runs from Orly to Châtelet in about 25 minutes, without a change. It replaced the old Orlybus. Check the fare on the Île-de-France Mobilités site.
- Arriving by EurostarTrains from London come into Gare du Nord, in the 10th. It is a busy station and worth keeping an eye on your bags. Have your hotel's metro route ready before you leave it.
- Hills and stairsMontmartre and the streets up to the Panthéon are steep, and many older Paris hotels have a small lift or none. Check the floor and the lift before you book.
- Air conditioningMany Paris hotels in older buildings have none. If you're going in July or August, check before you book.
Where to stay in Paris: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Paris for a first visit?
The Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Both are central, both have plenty to eat, and the Seine, the Louvre and Notre-Dame are within twenty-five minutes on foot. The Marais has more life and shops; Saint-Germain is calmer and costs more.
Is it better to stay on the Left Bank or the Right Bank?
Either works. The Left Bank, around Saint-Germain, the Latin Quarter and the 7th, is quieter and more residential. The Right Bank, around the Marais, the 1st and Opéra, is busier and closer to the Louvre and the shops. Nothing in the middle is more than a short metro ride from the other side.
Is Montmartre a good place to stay?
For views and a village feel, yes, if you stay on the south slope near Abbesses. The streets are steep and quiet at night. It is a long way up from the sights, and the area close to Pigalle is noisy and a little rough after dark.
Is it safe to stay near Gare du Nord?
The station itself is busy and has petty crime, and the streets around it feel rough late at night. Many people stay in the area for the Eurostar and the airport train and are fine. If you can, pick the Canal Saint-Martin side or the 9th, and keep your bags close.
How many days do you need in Paris?
Three days covers the main sights. Four lets you add Versailles or a slow day in the Latin Quarter and along the canal. Stay close to the middle so you don't spend them on the metro.
Can you walk everywhere in Paris?
In the middle, mostly. The Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Marais and Saint-Germain are all within thirty minutes of each other on foot. Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower and the Canal Saint-Martin are a metro ride from the rest.
Which area is best for families?
The 7th, near the Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower, and the Latin Quarter, by the Luxembourg Gardens, both have green space nearby and calm evenings. Expect smaller rooms than you may be used to everywhere in the middle.
How much is the tourist tax in Paris?
From about €2.60 per person per night at a one-star hotel to €8.45 at four stars and €15.93 at a palace, since 1 January 2026. It's paid at the hotel and is often added to the price shown online.
