The Best Areas to Stay in Paris for Any Budget

This is the geographical center of Paris and essential for tourists. The Louvre, Les Halles and the Palais Royal are all here. You will find the famous Louvre Museum, the Tuileries Gardens, the Orangerie Museum, Garden of the Palais Royal with the Buren Columns, Ste. Chapelle with its magnificent stained glass, the Conciergerie where Marie Antoinette was prisoner, shopping along Blvd. Haussman or the wonderful shopping center, Carrousel du Louvre underneath the museum of the same name. The shopping center has Printemps, Maxims, Lacoste ands Ladurée among many other stores. Interestingly, there are also some nice budget hotels in this area.

Attractions in 1st Arrondissement, Louvre - Palais Royale

• Louvre Museum
• Hôtel Ritz Paris
• Musée de l'Orangerie
• Galerie nationale du Jeu de paume
• Théâtre du Châtelet
• Musée des Arts Décoratifs
• Théâtre du Palais-Royal
• musée de la Publicité
• Carrousel du Louvre
• Angelina

This is primarily a business district. The Paris Stock Market, the Bourse, is located here and the Place des Victoires has fun shopping in trendy boutiques and picturesque Galeries. Here you will find Galerie Vivienne, the Passage des Panoramas, Restaurant Le Grand Colbert, Église Saint-Eustache and nearby historic restaurant Au Pied de Cochon and can wander through the renovated Quartier des Halles or even shop in the underground mall.

Attractions in 2nd Arrondissement, Bourse

• Cabinet des Médailles
• Le Grand Rex
• Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens
• Théâtre des Variétés
• Théâtre de la Michodière
• Drouant
• Théâtre-Musée des Capucines
• Théâtre Daunou
• Théâtre Favart

Along with the 4ème arrondissement, this neighborhood makes up the Marais, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. The Picasso Museum is found here, and many 17th century mansions that once housed the noblest families in Paris are still to be seen in this quiet and ungentrified neighborhood. You will find the (free) Carnavalet Museum, the (free) Cognacq-Jay Museum, the Musée des Arts et Métiers, the Museum of Hunting and Nature and the Museum of the Art and History of Judaism and if you have children, the Musée de la Poupée (Paris Doll Museum) in addition to many shops and cafés and wonderful ethnic restaurants.

Attractions in 3rd Arrondissement, Marais - north

• musée Picasso
• Musée Carnavalet
• musée d'art et d'histoire du judaïsme
• Musée des Arts et Métiers
• Musée Cognacq-Jay
• Museum of French History
• Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
• Carreau du Temple
• Musée de la Poupée
• Théâtre de la Gaîté

The southern part of the Marais is a lively neighborhood with lots of popular bars and restaurants and it's also known as the center of Gay nightlife. The rue des Rosiers is a centerpiece of Jewish lifestyle in Paris and the Ile St. Louis and the Ile de la Cité are the oldest parts of Paris where you can still find a few half-timbered houses. You will also find the Hôtel de Ville (city hall of Paris), the Pompidou Center and nearby square with the Stravinsky Fountain, the Place des Vosges, considered the most beautiful square in Paris and the free Victor Hugo Museum. St. Gervais Church, Cathedral Notre Dame, the Memorial to the Martyrs of the Deportation and the Mémorial de la Shoah are all found in the 4th arrondissement. There are also plenty of small, ethnic groceries and cafés.

Attractions in 4th Arrondissement, Marais - South, Notre Dame

• Notre-Dame de Paris
• Centre Georges Pompidou
• Musée national d'Art moderne
• Maison de Victor Hugo
• Théâtre de la Ville
• pavillon de l'Arsenal
• Mémorial de la Shoah
• maison européenne de la photographie
• Polish Library in Paris
• bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris

This Left Bank neighborhood takes its name from the fact that Latin was spoken by university students during the Middle Ages. It has the feel of a small village and students mix freely with business people and tourists in its winding streets. Rue Mouffetard is an ancient and busy market street where shops, restaurants and student bars and cafés are found. You can enjoy cafés on Place Contrascarpe, visit Eglise Saint-Medard, the Pantheon, the Grande Mosquée of Paris, the Arab World Institute and have tea at the rooftop cafe, the Jardin des Plantes with the Natural History Museum and a small zoo, the Arènes de Lutèce, Eglise Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, the Cluny Museum, Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, Square René Viviani with its magnificent view of Cathedral Notre Dame or have fun exploring the Tino-Rossi Sculpture Garden on the banks of the Seine. Because of the students, the 5th is also very good for budget food and accommodations.

Attractions in 5th Arrondissement, Latin Quarter

• Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
• Jardin des plantes
• Arab World Institute
• Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge
• Shakespeare and Company
• Sainte-Geneviève Library
• Tour d'Argent
• Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes
• Galerie de Paléontologie et d'Anatomie comparée
• Musée Curie

Once the hangout for the literati and intellectuals, this district has definitely gone upscale and is now one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Paris although budget accommodations are still to be found with a thorough search. Trendy boutiques, art galleries, antique stores and restaurants can be found throughout this district. You can enjoy the Luxembourg Gardens, the Musée du Luxembourg, Fontaine Saint-Michel, Église Saint Germain des Prés, Église Saint-Sulpice of “Da Vinci Code” fame, the three famous literary cafés, Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots and Brasserie Lipp. There are countless cafés, shops, theaters and clubs in the 6th and if you stay here, you can walk to nearly all the tourist sites in Paris. This may be the perfect district for a medium to high-budget tourist.

Attractions in 6th Arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Près - Luxembourg Gardens

• École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
• Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe
• Café de Flore
• Les Deux Magots
• Bibliothèque Mazarine
• Luxembourg Museum
• Café Procope
• Musée national Eugène-Delacroix
• Lipp
• Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier

The Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, the Rodin Museum and the market street, Rue Cler can be found here. This wealthy district is also known for being the home of foreign embassies and many international residents. You can walk past the Hôtel Matignon, home of the Prime Minister, of France on your way to visit the Rodin Museum. You will want to view the tomb of Napoleon at Invalides but don’t miss the Army Museum that is also there. There is the Maillol Museum, the Eugène Delacroix Museum and when you visit the Eiffel Tower, you can walk through the Champ de Mars to see the Wall of Peace in front of the Military Academy. The new Quai Branly Museum is an easy walk from either the Eiffel Tower or from Invalides.

Attractions in 7th Arrondissement, Eiffel Tower - Invalides

• Eiffel Tower
• Musée d'Orsay
• Musée Rodin
• Musée du quai Branly
• Musée de l'Armée
• Palais de la Légion d'Honneur
• Paris Sewer Museum
• Musée des Plans-Reliefs
• Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération
• musée Maillol

The 8th extends from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. The area around the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysèes has lots of expensive shopping and plenty of tourists, while in the area to the East, between the Champs-Elysees and Place de la Madeleine, you'll see 19th century buildings interspersed with businesses. You will find the Grand Palais and across the street the Petit Palais in a lovely park that extends out from the Place de la Concorde. The Church of the Madeleine and the Musée Jacquemart-André are here as is the Buddha-Bar and the home of the President of France, the Élysée Palace. The Berges of the Seine along the river runs through this area and are full of things to see and do. It’s the newest outdoor attraction in Paris. Farther out you’ll find the Park Monceau with the Musée Cernuschi (Asian Art Museum). Although no photos are allowed inside, you are welcome to visit the impressive Russian Orthodox Cathedral St. Alexandre Nevsky at 12 rue Daru.

Attractions in 8th Arrondissement, Champs Elysées - Arc de Triomphe

• Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
• Musée Jacquemart-André
• Crazy Horse
• Maxim's Paris
• Palais de la Découverte
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Paris
• Le Lido
• musée Cernuschi
• Musée Nissim-de-Camondo
• Buddha Bar

A diverse residential area popular among an artistic crowd. This Southern portion is similar to the 2nd arrondissement, with a mix of residential and business buildings. It’s a good district for sightseeing and for shopping. You will find the Opera Garnier, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette Department Stores, the Musée de la Vie Romantique (Museum of Romantic Life), the Musée du Parfum Fragonard (Perfume Museum), the Gustave Moreau Museum and Musée Grevin (Wax Museum). For entertainment there is the Olympia Theater and Concert Hall (historic performances by Edith Piaf and others) and the Les Folies Bergères Cabaret.

Attractions in 9th Arrondissement, Opera - Grands Boulevards - Pigalle

• Palais Garnier
• Folies Bergère
• Olympia
• Musée Grévin
• Café de la Paix
• Casino de Paris
• Musée de la Vie romantique
• Musée Gustave-Moreau
• Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie
• Théâtre de l'Œuvre

This lively and young district is the home of the two biggest train stations in Paris, the Gare de l'Est and the Gare du Nord. This multi-cultural neighborhood also contains a bohemian element. The cafes and restaurants along the Canal Saint-Martin make it a popular destination for both Parisians and tourists. You can walk along much of the canal and there is the small but pleasant Jardin Villemin on the canal. Watching boats go through canal locks is fun and many Parisians sit on the sides of the canal to have lunch. The Place de la République is built around the statue of Marianne, a representation of French liberty and is surrounded by cafés and restaurants.

Attractions in 10th Arrondissement, Canal St. Martin

• Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin
• Théâtre Antoine-Simone Berriau
• Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord
• Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell
• Musée de l'Éventail
• Théâtre de la Renaissance
• New Morning
• Le Manoir de Paris
• Alhambra

Place de la Bastille is found here joining arrondissements 4, 11 and 12. This is a primarily residential district popular among artists. It’s well known for its nightlife which is centered around the Rue de la Roquette and the Rue Oberkampf. You will also find the Cirque d'Hiver (Winter Circus), the Edith Piaf Museum and the Bataclan Concert Hall.

Attractions in 11th Arrondissement, Bastille - Faubourg-Saint-Antoine - Oberkampf

• Bataclan
• Musée Édith Piaf
• Musée du Fumeur
• Théâtre Artistic Athévains
• Le Chateaubriand

A residential neighborhood bordered on the east by the Bois de Vincennes, the modern Bastille Opera is found here. You can enjoy the Viaduc des Arts and Promenade Plantée, an elevated greenbelt that stretches for almost 3 miles from Place de la Bastille to the Centre sportif Alain Mimoun. The Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy (stadium and concert hall) and Gare de Lyon (site of acclaimed restaurant Le Train Bleu) are in the 12th. Visit Parc de Bercy and then explore Bercy Village, a shopping village built using former wine warehouses. While at the Parc Floral de Paris, cross the street to the medieval Château de Vincennes with the highest castle keep in Europe. The Château is technically in the town of Vincennes, but is directly at the end of line #1 of the Paris Metro and across the street from the Parc Floral of Paris. It is certainly worth the detour.

Attractions in 12th Arrondissement, Bercy - Bois de Vincennes

• bois de Vincennes
• Paris-Gare de Lyon
• Opéra Bastille
• AccorHotels Arena
• Cinémathèque Française
• Paris Zoological Park
• Coulée verte René-Dumont
• Le Train Bleu
• Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration
• Musée des Arts Forains

A multi-cultural residential neighborhood which includes Chinatown and the relatively new Bibliothèque François Mitterand. Place d’Italie is the site of one of the most ambitious French urban renewal projects and the Butte aux Cailles neighborhood with its cobblestone streets and numerous restaurants, cafes and nightlife, preserves a village-like atmosphere within Paris. This is the home of the new Paris Street Art Museum. Get a map and find the famous murals or just wander the streets and enjoy all the paintings. Visit the Gobelins Tapestry Museum (reservation only) and afterwards, walk through the peaceful Square René Le Gall one block away.

Attractions in 13th Arrondissement, Place d’Italie - Gobelins, La Butte aux Cailles, and The National Library

• Bibliothèque nationale de France
• bibliothèque Marguerite-Durand
• Le Batofar
• Bibliothèque universitaire des langues et civilisations
• Art Ludique
• Italie 2

Montparnasse and the Cité Universitaire are found in this residential district traditionally known for its lively cafés and restaurants around the Boulevard Montparnasse. The most obvious sight in the 14th is the tall, black Montparnasse Tower that has arguably the best view of Paris from the rooftop observation deck. In the shadow of the tower is the famous Montparnasse Cemetery with many graves of famous people including Stendhal, Émile Zola, Gustave Moreau, Berlioz, Sacha Guitry and Dalida. Get a map at the entrance. You can visit the Paris Catacombs Museum and the Fondation Cartier (the Cartier Contemporary Art Foundation) or the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, dedicated to photography. The Parc Montsouris is in the 14th as is the Paris Observatory and its gardens. There are a great many art stores and cafés in the Montparnasse area. There is a lively street market on Rue Daguerre and the amazing church Notre-Dame-du-Travail that was built by Eiffel Tower workers and has magnificent iron work and lovely murals inside the church.

Attractions in 14th Arrondissement, Montparnasse

• Catacombs of Paris
• Paris Observatory
• Comédie-Italienne
• fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain
• La Coupole
• Bobino
• Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse
• Théâtre Montparnasse
• Théâtre Rive Gauche

This large primarily residential neighborhood ranges from very upscale in the area bordering the 7th arrondissement and the Seine, to relatively safe and affordable in the more outlying areas. It is most notable for its many traditional markets. The City of Paris web site lists all of them and their times. If you enjoy either markets of photography, these are a must. The Marché Convention, Marché Grenelle and Marché Lefebvre are favorites. Here you will also find the Parc André Citroën with a tethered balloon you can ride to see Paris from the air. Find the Pont Grenelle and walk across to the Île aux Cygnes to see a small copy of the Statue of Liberty. The Bourdelle Museum of Antoine Bourdelle, a student of Rodin, is in the 15th.

Attractions in 15th Arrondissement, Parc des Expositions - Vaugirard - Grenelle

• Parc André Citroën
• Musée du Montparnasse
• Musée Pasteur
• musée Bourdelle
• Musée de La Poste
• Musée Jean Moulin
• Théâtre Silvia-Monfort
• Centre commercial Beaugrenelle

Adjoining the 7th arrondissement, the 16th is a well-to-do neighborhood. The areas around rue de Passy and Place Victor Hugo offer upscale shopping and the Place de Trocadéro offers a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower from the terrace between the National Marine Museum and the National Museum of Architecture and Monuments. It’s an easy walk through the Gardens of the Trocadéro to the Aquarium of Paris. Excellent and free museums include the home of Honoré de Balzac (his house and the adjoining museum) and the Museum of Modern Art in the Palais de Tokyo. Not free, but unmissable for fans of Monet is the Marmottan-Monet Museum with the world’s largest collection of Monet’s work. The museum is across from the Jardin du Ranelagh, a beautiful park. Also, there is an amazing crystal collection at the Musée Baccarat. The amazing Frank Gehry building for the Louis Vuitton Foundation (modern art) in the Bois de Boulogne adjoins the Jardin d’Acclimatation, a fun amusement park for children.

Attractions in 16th Arrondissement, Trocadéro - Passy - Bois de Boulogne

• Parc des Princes
• Guimet Museum
• musée d'art moderne de la Ville de Paris
• Musée Marmottan Monet
• Musée de l'Homme
• Maison de Balzac
• Louis Vuitton Foundation
• Musée national de la Marine
• Musée du Vin
• Jardin d'Acclimatation

This diverse district really contains more than one neighborhood, with the portion, in the West, near the Arc de Triomphe and Parc Monceau, being very upscale. The Palais des Congrés de Paris is at Place de la Porte Maillot, and there is a colorful street market on rue Poncelet just off ave. des Ternes. There is another street market at Place du Dr. Félix Lobligeois, and you can watch Parisians playing boules at the far end of Square des Batignolles by rue Cardinal. You can visit the only carillon in Paris, housed in the 72-meter-high belfry of Ste. Odile, a Paris church with a distinctly modern feel.

Attractions in 17th Arrondissement, Palais de Congrèss - Batignolles - Monceau

• Arc de Triomphe
• Palais des congrès de Paris
• Théâtre Hébertot
• musée national Jean-Jacques Henner
• Cité de l'économie et de la monnaie

This artsy residential neighborhood situated at the top of a hill overlooking Paris has a small village feel. The view across Paris from the Sacré Coeur Basilica is breathtaking and the nearby Place du Tertre is a tourist favorite. Take the Little Tourist Train to get your bearings and then explore the Montmartre neighborhood on foot. Find the Moulin de la Galette (a real windmill, and the subject of a painting by Renoir) on rue Lepic and nearby Le Passe-Muraille (man emerging from a stone wall) at Place Marcel Aymé. Don’t miss the Musée de Montmartre that overlooks a working vineyard. You can visit the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret and the Dali Museum. The deepest Metro station in Paris is the Abbesses station and there is a mural on the walls if you use the stairs. The final resting place of Edgar Degas, Delibes, Stendhal, Émile Zola, Gustave Moreau, Berlioz and many more is the Montmartre Cemetery in the 18th.

Attractions in 18th Arrondissement, Montmartre

• Sacré-Cœur
• Moulin Rouge
• Au Lapin Agile
• Dalí Paris
• Musée de Montmartre
• Museum of Eroticism
• Élysée Montmartre
• Musée d'Art Naïf – Max Fourny
• Théâtre de l'Atelier
• Le Trianon

Probably the biggest tourist attraction in the 19th arrondissement is La Cité des Sciences et de L'Industrie (Museum of Science and Industry) in the Parc de la Villette. The huge spherical steel Geode is a theater in the round and not to be missed. Also in the park you will find the Paris Philharmonic and Cité de la Musique with interactive exhibits. Climb to the top of the futuristic Paris Philharmonic for amazing views of Paris.

The Parc des Buttes Chaumont has waterfalls and city views and two good restaurants.

Attractions in 19th Arrondissement, Parc de la Villette - Buttes-Chaumont

• parc de la Villette
• parc des Buttes-Chaumont
• Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
• Cité de la Musique
• French submarine Argonaute

Belleville, Ménilmontant are traditionally residential areas but one tourist draw is the Père-Lachaise cemetery, the largest cemetery in Paris, where celebrities like Oscar Wilde, Abelard and Héloïse, Molière, Delacroix, Bizet, Chopin, Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Georges Seurat, Sarah Bernhardt, Isadora Duncan, Gertrude Stein, Colette, Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison are buried. Maps available at the entrance. In the 20th you will also find the Edith Piaf Memorial and the Parc de Belleville with stunning panoramic views over Paris.

Attractions in 20th Arrondissement, Belleville - Père Lachaise - Menilmontant

• Théâtre national de la Colline