Want to know the best area to stay in Paris with your family?

Paris is organised into 20 administrative neighbourhood districts known as “Arrondissements”, or quarters. Each Quarter has its own distinct character that makes it unique and also handy for tourists trying to find where to stay in Paris.

The quarters begin in the central part along the Seine, and move in a clockwise direction until they reach the outside quarters of the city.

I have compiled an easy-to-read Paris arrondissement guide for you to find out about each of the quarters and work out where to stay in Paris. I also point out where the main tourist sights and attractions are. This is important to know before you book your family’s accommodation.

Where To Stay In Paris: Arrondissement Guide

1st Arrondissement (1e)

LOUVRE/PALAIS ROYAL

The geographical centre of Paris is busy with tourists visiting the Louvre, Les Halles and Palais Royal.

2nd Arrondissement (2e)

BOURSE

The second quarter is primarily a business district. The Paris Stock Market (the Bourse) is located within this quarter.

3rd Arrondissement (3e)

MARAIS

The trendy and very touristy Marais comprises both the 3rd and 4th quarters. You will find the Picasso Museum here. As the Marais is popular with tourists, and if you are looking for the best family hotel in Paris, its worth looking for a hotel in this quarter.

4th Arrondissement (4e)

MARAIS/HOTEL DE VILLE

The 4th quarter is the trendy district of Paris that comprises a large gay community, and also has a large Jewish community.  In the 4th, you will find the Centre Pompidou as well as the Hotel de Ville (the town hall).

In this quarter, you will also find the two islands of Paris: Ile de Louis and Ile de la Cite which are the two oldest parts of Paris. The Ile de la Cite was the birthplace of Paris over 2000 years ago and here you will find the Notre Dame Cathedral. Most people visit the Ile de Louis for an ice-cream from Berthillon, the most famous ice-cream retailer in Paris. I like the two islands because they still contain a small number of medieval homes and buildings. Such a contrast to the rest of Paris!

5th Arrondissement (5e)

LATIN QUARTER

The Latin quarter is known as the student district. The Latin quarter is home to one of the first universities in the world, the Sorbonne, which was built circa 1150. The university makes this area popular with students.

When deciding where to stay in Paris, you will have no trouble finding the best family hotel and accommodation options in this quarter.

You will also find the Pantheon, Odeon and the Jardin du Luxembourg. Not far from here is the National Museum of Natural History in the Jardin des Plantes- this is a very popular attraction for families.

This quarter is lovely to walk through- its cobble stoned streets still have a few medieval buildings mixed together with takeaway and souvenir shops. Closer to the Seine near St Michel, you will find many souvlaki and takeaway shops and souvenir shops. This section is packed with tourists- be careful of pick pockets!

6th Arrondissement (6e)

ST GERMAIN-DES-PRES

For Melburnians, I would compare the 6th quarter to somewhere like Chapel Street: lots of boutique fashion as well as luxury fashion retailers. Here is where you will find many designer brands: Prada, Emporio Armani, Swarovski, Louis Vuitton and Longchamp.

As well as being famous for fashion, the 6th is the place to be for some serious people watching. Almost every street corner has a cafe or bistro, with people sitting out on the street, watching Parisian life go by. The world-famous Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots can be found in the 6th. This is where people go to see and be seen, and has been the haunt of many famous people over the years: Ernest Hemingway, Brigitte Bardot, Sharon Stone, Robert de Niro, Yves Saint Laurent. Lots of tourists come here as well. Personally, I found it too pretentious and slightly intimidating (although it’s fascinating to walk past and observe its patrons, with their air of superiority. Quite amusing!).

There are some lovely hotels in this quarter, although a bit more expensive than in other areas.

7th Arrondissement (7e)

EIFFEL TOWER

Musee d’Orsay

The wealthy 7th quarter is home to foreign embassies and important international visitors. The main attractions in this quarter are of course, the Eiffel Tower, as well as the Musee Rodin (famous for the sculpture “The Thinker”) and the excellent Musee d’Orsay along the Seine. The Musee d’Orsay is an unused railway station that has been converted into a grand museum . Its collection features paintings and sculptures by Monet, Manet, Degas, Cezanne and Van Gogh. Well worth a visit, especially with older children with some knowledge of art.

If you are looking for the best family hotel in the 7th quarter, expect the accommodation prices in this area to be in the upper range.

For everything you need to know about visiting the Eiffel Tower, please read HERE.

8th Arrondissement (8e)

CHAMPS-ELYSEES

Image: Wikipedia Commons

One of the most famous roads in the world, the Champs-Elysees is of course the finishing point of the Tour de France held annually in July. The 8th quarter is a mixture of wealthy Parisians and tourists, and is also the largest business district in Paris.

Other sights worth seeing are the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde and the Elysees Palace, which is the French President’s home.

9th Arrondissement (9e)

OPERA/PIGALLE

Image: Wikipedia Commons

A diverse neighbourhood- at one end is the opulent Palais Garnier (read more about it HERE) and the upmarket French chain store Galeries Lafayette, while at the other end is Pigalle: home to Moulin Rouge and Paris’ red light district. When looking for the best family hotel to stay in, try to avoid the red light district which tends to be unsafe.

10th Arrondissement (10e)

CANAL ST MARTIN

If you are arriving in Paris by train, you will most likely begin your Paris journey in the 10th quarter which is the home of two of Paris’ major train stations: Gare de l’est and Gare du Nord.

Along the canals (which are reminiscent of Amsterdam) are many cafes and restaurants. The 10th quarter is an ethnically diverse neighbourhood which also attracts a few hipsters.

11th Arrondissement (11e)

BASTILLE

The 11th quarter is largely a residential area frequented by artists. Here you will find the Place de la Bastille and the New Opera.

12th Arrondissement (12e)

BERCY

Bercy is a large residential neighbourhood.

13th Arrondissement (13e)

PLACE D’ITALIE

This quarter was part of a large urban renewal project- it is a mixture of modernised buildings on cobblestone streets, with numerous cafes and restaurants. It is also home to Paris’ Chinatown and is a very multicultural neighbourhood.

14th Arrondissement (14e)

MONTPARNASSE

The 14th quarter is also largely residential and has numerous cafes that were once visited by writers and artists such as Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Picasso. It is now known for its controversial skyscraping tower which offers great views of Paris, as well as the morbid but fascinating Paris Catacombs (recommended for teens!).

Tourists who do not mind staying a little out of the centre of Paris often find their best family hotel option in the 14th.

15th Arrondissement (15e)

PARC DES EXPOSITIONS

A residential area that is partly-upscale, partly-middle-class.

16th Arrondissement (16e)

TROCADERO

The 16th is a very wealthy neighbourhood although not as wealthy as the 7th. Go to the Place de Trocadero for excellent views of the Eiffel Tower.

17th Arrondissement (17e)

PLACE DE CONGRES

The area near the Arc de Triomphe and Parc Monceau is very upmarket.

18th Arrondissement (18e)

MONTMARTRE

A residential neighbourhood (many artists live here) set high on a hill overlooking Paris. A very popular area for tourists wanting to visit Sacre Couer and Place de Tetre. Also popular for pickpockets- the steps leading up to Sacre Couer is one of the most pick pocketed areas in Paris.

If you are looking for the best family hotel on a small budget, you are bound to find a few options in this quarter!

19th Arrondissement (19e)

PARC DE LA VILLETTE

Home of Parc de Butte Chaumont, one of the largest parks in Paris complete with a temple and an artificial lake. The 19th quarter is an ethically diverse residential neighbourhood that also features the Cite des Sciences and Cite des Enfants (popular with families).

20th Arrondissement (20e)

BELLEVILLE/PERE LACHAISE

Oscar Wilde’s Tomb. Photo: Mamma Loves Travel

Traditionally, the 20th arrondissement was the place where migrants would live. Now there are neighbourhoods within the quarter that are very cosmopolitan.

The most well-known attraction in this quarter is the cemetery Pere Lachaise, resting place of many famous people including Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison.

Where To Stay In Paris

As you can see, the arrondissements in Paris are quite diverse.

When deciding where to stay in Paris, I’d consider the following:

1. Which sights and attractions do you plan on visiting during your time? (here are some suggestions on what to do in Paris with kids).
2. How long will you be in Paris?
3. What is your budget? Are you prepared to spend more money and time on the metro if you choose an arrondissement that is further away from attractions and sights?
4. What amenities are important to you? Markets, supermarkets, ATM machines, restaurants, cafes?
5. Do you prefer a quiet neighbourhood or one that is lively?

Personally, I would recommend staying close to the major attractions if you are only in Paris for a short time. If you are there for a weekend or a few days, then staying somewhere in the 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th quarters would probably be ideal.

If you are staying a bit longer, then you could stay a bit further out if you wanted to find cheaper accommodation.

For families, I would avoid parts of Montmartre or the Pigalle area of the 9th quarter. My husband and I stayed here in 2002 and we found it unsafe- we had a drug addict outside our ground floor hotel room! Things do change over time and Im not sure if the neighbourhoods are still that bad, but I would not be willing to risk it with my children.

If you prefer a quieter neighbourhood, I would avoid the 5th quarter particularly around St Michel as this area is overrun with tourists and is very lively at night, as is the Marais district. For 20-somethings, this would be perfect!

We stayed in the 6th quarter near St Sulpice and Jardin du Luxembourg.  We loved being in this quarter! We had all the amenities we needed- supermarket, cafes, boulangerie, pharmacy and we were across the road from the Metro. The kids loved the playground at Jardin du Luxembourg. It was not very touristy and we were able to walk to places such as the Louvre, Notre Dame and Musee d’Orsay. It was quiet at night and also very safe. Highly recommended!

I hope that my guide and advice helps you decide where to stay in Paris the next time you visit.

Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing with you some of the different types of accommodation you can find in the arrondissements which I think are the most suitable for families. I want to help YOU find where to stay in Paris with your family.

If you’ve found my guide on where to stay in Paris helpful, please Facebook “like” or share via social media.

You can also purchase the following pocket guide to Paris’ arrondissements, via Amazon, which is used by tourists and locals alike:

Has your family been to Paris and if so, which quarter did you stay in? What did you think of the neighbourhood you were in? Please share your thoughts- you could be helping another reader!

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