Paris has 20 arrondissements (a subdivision/district/neighborhood) that spiral out from the center like a snail shell, and if you pick the wrong neighbourhood, you’ll spend half your vacation on the metro wondering why you’re not seeing the Paris everyone raves about. This is actually a major issue for tourists, as they don’t realize just how big Paris is. While the city has great public transportation, the metro and buses can often be slow, subject to delays, maintenance, and rush hour traffic.
Like all major cities, not all areas (or in this case arrondissements), some areas in Paris are filled with tourist traps that are littered with overpriced hotels. Others are too far from everything worth seeing. After all, who wants to spend their Europe trip in the burbs? Luckily, you don’t have to do tons of research to figure out where to stay. There are two neighborhoods that consistently deliver for first timers, and they’re both in the heart of the bustling French city.
Le Marais Is Perfect For First Timers
Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements) is hands down the best neighborhood for your first trip to Paris. It’s right in the heart of the city, walkable to major attractions like Notre Dame and the Louvre, and it actually feels like Paris. The narrow medieval streets are packed with boutiques, bakeries, and cafes where locals actually hang out. Le Marais is exactly what you think of when you imagine visiting Paris. Bustling, diverse, and filled with tons to do, Le Marais is definitely the best place to stay in the French city.
There’s plenty of hotels in Le Marais, so you won’t have trouble finding a spot to stay. However, Le Marais is finding itself in an awkward position these days. The once lowkey, known just to locals, is quickly becoming a hotspot for tourists. This means that, over the next few years, Le Marais will continue to be gentrified, and that those cute boutiques will turn into generic, soulless tourist souvenir shops. Despite its rapidly changing vibe, Le Marais is one of the best places to stay in Paris, especially as a relatively affordable option.
Saint Germain If You Want Classic Paris Vibes
If Le Marais is too trendy and touristy for you, Saint Germain des Prés (the 6th arrondissement) delivers that classic Left Bank Paris experience. This is where Hemingway hung out, where historic cafes like Les Deux Magots still serve coffee, and where you can stroll along the Seine feeling like you’re in a Woody Allen movie. Saint Germain is outright cinematic and romantic, and this is one of the few places in Paris where class exists. Tipping etiquette in this area is completely different. Of course, where you save in tipping, you’ll have to overspend in lodging.
Saint Germain is one of the priciest neighbourhoods for tourists in Paris, so expect to pay a pretty penny to stay here. Hopefully, if you do stay here, you can get a bigger hotel room for free. But staying here is totally worth it, as you’ll be within walking distance of the Luxembourg Gardens, the Musée d’Orsay, and some of the best shopping in the city.
