Where To Stay In Paris, France (2025 Guide)

If you’re wondering where to stay in Paris for the first time, or even if you’ve been there before, there are several great neighborhoods to stay in. As they all have their own highlights, attractions, and advantages, you should plan your itinerary first. Below are my favorite Parisian neighborhoods that you can base yourself in for an unforgettable trip.

Best Places To Stay in Paris

In a hurry to find out where to stay in Paris? Check out my top picks:

Now, let’s look a little closer at the best Paris neighborhoods to stay in.

6 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Paris

1. The Heart (1st and 2nd arrondissements) – Best location for museums

Unofficially known as “the Heart” of Paris, the 1^st and 2^nd arrondissements host some of the most famous points of interest in the city. Even if you don’t base yourself here, you’ll likely venture to this part of Paris at some point. Staying here just makes your itinerary super convenient!

Perhaps the most important attraction in the Heart of Paris is the Louvre Museum, where you’ll find Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, amongst an array of other prestigious artwork. Nearby, you can also visit the Tuileries Garden, Galerie Vivienne, and the famous Rue Saint-Honoré.

If you want to see a few museums while in Paris, the area is home to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the famous Musée de l’Orangerie. For those interested in live performances, there’s also the Madame Sarfati Comedy Club and Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique.

As the area straddles the Seine, you’ll also get a chance to take a photo by the charming Pont Neuf!

Being one of the most popular and posh areas of Paris, many restaurants and hotels in this location will set you back quite a bit. This may not be the best pick for those traveling on a budget.

However, you can still find affordable eateries and accommodations as long as you overlook the busiest and most obvious choices.

2. Le Marais (3^rd and 4th arrondissements) – Best location for nightlife

Each year, Le Marais, which spans across the 3^rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris, becomes more popular. Much cooler than everywhere else in the city, this neighborhood is known for its nightlife scene. It’s a great area to stay in Paris if you’re interested in hitting the town after dark, but it also has plenty of daytime delights to discover, too.

There are a few great museums to enjoy in Le Marais, including Musée Carnavalet, Musée National Picasso-Paris, and Maison de Victor Hugo. It’s also the sight of the moving Place de la Bastille, the square highlighting the place where the infamous Bastille prison stood prior to the French Revolution.

Though this is the best place to stay in Paris for nightlife, it also offers a romantic setting. Many people imagine open cafes with sidewalk seating in Paris, sipping coffee and eating croissants as they watch people walk past, and that’s exactly the kind of experience you’ll get on the enchanting streets of Le Marais.

3. Latin Quarter (5^th arrondissement) – Best location for history and architecture

In the 5^th arrondissement, the Latin Quarter of Paris is slightly further out from the Heart and doesn’t feature as many well-known landmarks. But still, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris to stay in.

One of the reasons why I love the Latin Quarter is that it’s still relatively close to many major attractions, especially when you make use of the convenient metro system. But because it’s a little further out, you won’t pay premium prices on hotels and restaurants, the way you would in other more central areas of Paris.

If you’re traveling with a large group of people or with family and need extra space (and extra meals!), you can end up saving a lot by staying somewhere with overall lower prices—though you can still find places to splurge here if you want to!

Another reason why the Latin Quarter is a great place to stay is the beautiful architecture. You can simply spend a day walking through these streets and you’ll be awed by the historic buildings lining your path.

If you are a history buff, there are plenty of cool attractions to check out in the Latin Quarter, starting with the National Museum of Natural History. Also be sure to visit the Cluny Museum, where you can learn all about life in medieval France.

4. Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6^th arrondissement) – Best location for culture and tranquility

When it comes to the coolness factor, Saint-Germain-des-Prés gives Le Marais a run for its money. This neighborhood in the 6^th arrondissement is an art-lover’s dream, home to several galleries that will have far shorter lines and smaller crowds than the Louvre.

The area is set up around the old Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and is now known for its quirky stores and fashion boutiques.

One of the things that I love about this area is that it’s quieter than other more popular Parisian neighborhoods, so it’s a great choice if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the French capital.

If you are an art enthusiast, you can’t miss the Eugène Delacroix Museum. Housed in the former residence of Delacroix himself, the museum catalogs the work and life of the French Romantic artist, who is thought of as a pioneer of his craft and influenced icons like Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet.

You might also like to base yourself in Saint-Germain-des-Prés if you’re a writer or reader, as the area is home to many independent bookshops and publishing houses. With a string of delightful cafes, it’s the perfect place to kick back with a book and a café crème and take Paris at your own relaxed pace.

5. Eiffel Tower Neighborhood (7^th arrondissement) – Best location for sightseeing

The best place to stay in Paris near the Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly the 7^th arrondissement.

Often thought of as the most central and convenient area in Paris for tourists, the Eiffel Tower area is perfect for those who are visiting for the first time and want to be within walking distance of major sights, such as the Rodin Museum and Musée d’Orsay.

If your life-long vision of Paris includes opening your hotel room window to a stellar view of the Eiffel Tower, and you don’t mind the fast pace of city life, then this area will definitely fulfill your dreams of the perfect Parisian vacation.

However, it also happens to be one of the most expensive places to stay in Paris. There are several luxury hotels and restaurants in the area that would break the budget of most travelers.

That said, this is a wonderful area to stay in for a special occasion, whether you’re in town for a milestone birthday, a honeymoon, or even a destination wedding.

In the area, you’ll also find the Tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte and a few famous strips, including Rue Cler and Rue Saint-Dominique—with plenty of opportunities for retail therapy. There’s also a selection of museums and cultural landmarks to discover, from Musée Maillol to Maison de la Chimie.

6. Champs-Élysées Neighborhood  (8^th arrondissement) – Best location for shopping and dining

Strolling along the Champs-Élysées is non-negotiable, whether it’s your first trip to Paris or your 10^th.

While it’s enough just to walk slowly down the famous street and take in the iconic sights, there are also many things to do along the way, from shopping to eating to grabbing coffee and macarons. Staying in the 8^th arrondissement is a good idea if you’d like to spend a lot of time around the Champs-Élysées and the surrounding sights.

Of course, at the head of the strip is the Arc de Triomphe, another of Paris’s most unforgettable monuments. It will likely be within walking distance if you stay in the area (but remember to use the underpass to reach the arch; don’t attempt to cross the roundabout!).

There are also plenty of other bucket list items to see in the area, including the Grand Palais and the nearby Petit Palais, Place de la Concorde, and Cathédrale Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky.

If you love to shop, there’s Galerie Lafayette and Galerie Dior, and you can visit the Théatre des Champs-Elysées for a live performance after dark.

FAQs About Where to Stay in Paris