Guide To Hotel Districts (Arrondissements) in Paris
Identify The Appropriate District For Your Budget & Needs
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| Arrondissement Map of Paris With Major Landmarks Marked |
On this page we make an attempt so the first time visitor to Paris can make an informed choice on suitable districts to stay in Paris. There are literally hundreds of hotel accommodation options in Paris, each one of them meeting the needs of a particular market.
There is no 'best' hotel or 'best' district to stay in, there are better districts than others for your own individual preferences and budget.
Safety In Paris
First of all, Paris is generally a safe city for the visitor. All the main hotel districts are safe, even at night - but of course this assumes you take the normal common sense precautions like anywhere else in the world.
Having said that there is definitely a different feel once you get outside the central districts , (arrondissements 1 to 8 on the map right) especially at night and some districts here you may find threatening away from the main shops and stations - so do research the area if you are staying out from the centre.
The Paris Metro is the main way most visitors will get around Paris. Its perfectly safe (again with the normal common sense precautions) to ride the Metro until it closes. If you hire a taxi, make sure its a proper licensed Paris taxi.
Arrondissements - The Official Districts Of Paris
The centre of Paris is divided in 20 districts (arrondissements) in a sort of spiral with the first arrondissement in the middle and the higher numbers on the outer circle. Paris is also defined by areas (quartiers), the only one visitors will constantly come across is the Latin Quarter (5th and 6th arrondissements).
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Street names will have the arrondissement marked on them. Guide books and travel articles will often refer to areas by their arrondissement number.
Each arrondissement has its own administrative 'town hall' from where you can get very good and free street map of each arrondissement, probably the best street maps you can get - and they're free. These are the same street maps you will see big blown up versions on the streets for reference. On one side they have all hotels marked, on the other side all sites of historical importance and places of interest.
Impact Of Public Transport On Your Hotel Choice - Lack of 'Downtown' Paris
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Paris Metro Train |
Like many of the largest European cities there is no tight 'downtown' area of Paris in the American sense. Places you want to see in Paris are relatively spread out and so are the hotels.
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Paris has an excellent public transport system that runs at near full frequencies until very late at night.
Unless you are staying for just one day and going for a hop on, hop off sightseeing bus you will want to use the Paris Metro to get around, perhaps using the local buses to feed you into the Metro system.
It makes sense then for all visitors to research the various public transport travel passes of Paris that will save you an awful lot of money, time and stress.
Where Is The Centre Of Paris? (Where You Pay A Price Premium For Hotels)
If price is no object then there is a chunk of Paris which is convenient (walkable, if you like walking) for the major sights like the Louvre, Notre Dame and Champs Elysees and also the main shopping area.
This is also a major business area which provides the bread and butter occupancies of most hotels throughout the year.
Very loosely this area is around the Louvre, Opera and Madeleine in the heart of the city centre in arrondissements 1 & 2 and out west from here along a narrow corridor along the Champs Elysees Arrondissements 6. On the Left Bank, the premium district extends around St Germain and La Sorbonne along the northern border of Arrondissements 5 & 6.
This is the area within which you will pay sometimes a very sizable price premium compared to similar properties just a 10 minute ride on the Metro away. Many of the most exclusive hotels in Paris are around the Opera Garnier and along the Champs Elysees.
Chain Hotels In Paris - Ibis, Formule 1, Best Western, Holiday Inn, Comfort Hotels etc
In the centre of Paris there are very few purpose built, modern blocks run by the global hotel chains indistinguishable from clones all over the world. No tower hotels or buildings of any type were allowed to be built in the centre of Paris. In terms of numbers, the independent hotels tend to dominate in the city centre.
The dominant hotel chain in Paris is the French Accor group with its portfolio of hotel brands that address every hotel segment. Their budget hotel brands Formule 1, ETAP and Ibis, mid-range hotels All Seasons and Mercure and 4/5 star brands Novotel, Pullman and Sofitel really are the benchmark if you are looking for the reassurance of a global hotel chain.
Formule 1 and ETAP are relatively recent chains offering ultra no frills low budget hotels around the edge of central Paris close to Metro stations and offer really low rates. Ibis are a more traditional budget hotel with hotels much closer to the centre and around most major transport hubs in Paris.
Mercure and All Seasons and Novotel overlap slightly in the mid-market. Novotel and Mercure aspire towards 4 star status in some hotels. Mercure tends to be in comparatively smaller properties in 'character' buildings which applied to Paris means some presence in the very centre. Novotel is in large modern blocks that with the notable exception of Novotel Les Halles are away from the very centre of Paris where such modern building have been allowed.
All Seasons is a 'value' mid-range brand offering all inclusive rates including breakfast and internet access.
Pullman and Sofitel are the premium brands. In Paris Sofitel includes some of the most exclusive hotels in Paris, Pullman tends to be in less flamboyant premises orientated towards the needs of the businessman.
Timhotel is an interesting Paris regional brand offering small, simple traditional 2 and 3 star hotels throughout Paris including two very close to the Louvre.
Of the American chains those with Best Western affiliation are the most numerous. Local French hotels offering mid/upper range accommodation with a Best Western logo. There are often several Best Western hotels within the same district. Marriott /Renaissance have a presence but at this moment there are no 'standard' Marriott hotels in a good location for visitors offering affordable luxury. Holiday Inn hotels again have second tier locations for leisure visitors, but do offer for the most part competitive, if volatile prices.
Family Accommodation Including Aparthotels
It can be a frustrating experience looking for family rooms, quads or larger.
One of the facets of Paris that can help you a lot finding suitable, affordable family accommodation are two French global aparthotel chains, Citadines and Adagio. Paris is their home city and they both have plenty of apartment blocks with some hotel services across Paris.
In many cities, apartments are a nightmare dealing with largely independent owners using largely unregulated agents. Citadines and Adagio in addition to offering very good value offer the reassurance of dealing with reputable global hotel chains.
Seasonal Factors On Hotel Rates
Like most capital cities of the size of Paris, the hotels bread and butter comes from commercial visitors, coming to Paris for business meetings, government/egislation, training or trade exhibitions and conferences.
The laws of supply and demand result in most districts of Paris having their lowest rates when this commercial trade is at its lowest, at holiday periods and weekends.
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| La Defense Arch Paris |
The cheapest time to visit Paris is in August, the traditional month when the French take their summer holidays. Room rates everywhere come down heavily at this time.
At weekends you will find very low hotel rates in the La Defense district to the west of Paris. La Defense is a modern, business district and at weekends and holidays there are a lot of empty beds to be filled, most in good quality chain hotels.
Despite such a business orientation, La Defense has one of the largest shopping centres and RER and Metro trains that will have you on the Champs Elysees or Louvre in 15 minutes or so.
This crude rule also of course applies in reverse. At weekends hotels around the main visitor attractions like the Louvre and Champs Elysees are a magnet for leisure travelers and room rates are firmest then. Back in La Defense, the same rooms that were so cheap at the weekend become very expensive during work days.
Budget Hotel Districts
In terms of price, lowest prices tend to be where there is most competition.
In Paris this means the largest railway stations at Gare Du Nord (including its close neighbour at Gare de L'Est), Gare de Lyon, Montparnasse and Saint Lazare. As major transport hubs they also have great metro choices and airport train and bus transfer options.
Montmartre, just to the north west of Gare Du Nord is also a major budget hotel area.
In the Latin Quarter once you get away from the Sorbonne and Pantheon area of arrondissements, a transformation takes place. A glimpse of authentic Paris that is attractive to visitors and accommodation that is relatively easy on the pocket and spread out. If you fancy going 'native' this is a good choice.
A Broad Summary Of The Main Hotel Districts
Below is an overview of the main hotel districts with links to dedicated pages of that district.
The Louvre - Centred on arrondissement 1, the Louvre itself is of course the major landmark. One of the most expensive areas to stay in Paris, though there still are 2 star simple hotels available, but at 3 star prices.
As far as leisure visitors are concerned the Louvre is just about in the centre of everything they want to see. Notre Dame is 5 minutes walk east, the Latin Quarter you can walk across to, and going west you soon come to the Champs Elysees.
The main department stores are also only 10 minutes walk north of the Louvre.
The Chatelet Les Halles complex also within the local district has direct train transport to both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, just about the fastest and most reliable method to make your hotel transfer plus also direct trains to Disneyland.
Opera - The area of Paris located around the Opera Garnier is famous for its cabarets, nightlife and the main department stores of Paris. Its also where you find some of the most exclusive hotels.
The area around Opera Garnier and Madeleine are geographically very, very central for which you pay a sizable premium.
However, immediately beyond the department stores is Saint Lazare Station, a major public transport hub. Around here there is sea change in hotel prices with prices dropping dramatically. Just to the north and north-east of Saint Lazare station is a major cheap budget hotel area.
There is a convenient airport bus to and from Charles de Gaulle airport that has its Paris terminus besides the Opera Garnier. The bus service is called RoissyBus.
Champs Elysees - For the privilege of staying along or very close to the Champs Elysees you pay a hefty premium, some of the highest hotel room rates in Paris. Prices come down fast as you go north west past the Arc de Triomphe where there are some mid-range options that are worthy of consideration.
Line 1 of the Paris Metro runs the entire length of the Champs Elysees and goes on to major visitor attractions like the Louvre and Notre Dame.
The Arc de Triomphe is a bit of a transport hub with airport buses run by Air France, 3 metro lines radiating in all directions and the RER line with frequent direct trains to Disneyland.
Grands Boulevards (Arrondissement 9) - A loosely defined area just to the north-east of the very centre of Paris, but still easily walkable to the Opera Garnier, Louvre etc.
The attraction of the Grands Boulevards area for visitors is that it is very central, yet hotel prices are definitely a big step down from the options just a short distance away around the Louvre and Opera Garnier.
The Grands Boulevard hotel area reflect the 'value for money' attraction of the area and is full of mid-range and budget hotels including global chains like Ibis, Best Western and Comfort Hotels.
Public transport is very good with an endless stream of buses every few seconds passing along the main boulevards on bus lanes as well as the Metro. Many of the buses are going to Gare Du Nord on the edge of the district with fast rail links to both main airports and Eurostar and Thalys rail services to Northern Europe. There is also an airport bus from Opera Garnier to CDG airport.
Latin Quarter (Arrondissement 5 & 6) - The Latin Quarter is technically centred around the Sorbonne, which has attracted students for many centuries long before many countries in Europe had universities of their own.
Today the 'Latin Quarter' term is often used in a very loose manner to cover quite a large area including St Germain, Luxembourg Gardens, Pantheon, Botanical Gardens and Rue Mouffetard, famous for its street market.
Once you get away from the Sorbonne, St Germain and Pantheon (premium hotel area), a transformation takes place. A glimpse of authentic Paris that is attractive to visitors and accommodation that is relatively easy on the pocket and spread out. If you fancy going 'native' this is a good choice.
St Michel is the pivotal public transport hub of the district. Besides the Metro, from here RER Line B trains provide direct and fast access to both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports as well as Gare Du Nord station. RER Line C goes direct to the Palace of Versailles.
Eiffel Tower - Hotels near the Eiffel Tower are spread over a wide area. No hotel is literally on the doorstep of the Eiffel Tower as it is sited in a large parkland area on three sides and the River Seine on the other. The Eiffel Tower itself is not in the centre of Paris.
Hotels within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower are mostly located to the west of the Eiffel Tower along the route of Line 6 of the Paris Metro. There are some other possibilities just to the east of the Eiffel Tower around Invalides, normally more expensive than that found west of the Eiffel Tower.
A few of the hotels have rooms with views of the Eiffel Tower.
This area isn't blessed with the greatest public transport links to the airports.
Gare Du Nord - If you are on a budget, this is definitely somewhere to check out. Choices are largely made up of cheap, simple independent hotels and budget / mid-range global chains like Ibis, Mercure, Holiday Inn and Best Western
Very frequent fast RER trains connect Gare Du Nord to both main Paris airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Gare Du Nord has a major bus station above the railway platforms with local services to all the major sights and the L'Opentour Paris hop on, hop off sightseeing bus also stops at Gare Du Nord.
Gare De Lyon - A good choice between local independent hotels and global chains, including Ibis, Novotel, Holiday Inn and Mercure and all grades of accommodation at competitive pricing.
Just to the south of Gare de Lyon is the Bercy district, one stop away on Line 14 of the Metro.
The Bercy district is redeveloped and has a large number of newish, chain hotels that can offer very competitively priced rooms well below that of similar hotels 1-2 kms away at the Gare de Lyon.
Air France run a frequent airport bus from Gare de Lyon to CDG Airport too.
RER trains run direct to Disneyland and Line 1 of the Metro goes direct to key visitor stations for the Louvre, Notre Dame and Champs Elysees.
Montparnasse - Dominated by the Montparnasse Tower with the railway station underneath. One of the few large skyscraper building outside La Defense. Unless you are on local business or using Gare Montparnasse there is little reason at first glance for visitors to seek out accommodation here. However, for 'value seekers' looking for sensibly priced hotels well below the prices asked in the very centre of Paris, Montparnasse has its attractions.
If you are using Orly Airport this is one of the most convenient value for money hotel districts with good transport links. Air France run a direct airport bus to Orly Airport and there is another one from nearby Denfert Rochereau.
Montmartre - Major budget hotel accommodation district and home to a large proportion of the backpacker hostels in Paris. The environment here changes dramatically almost from street to street from quite seedy around the Moulin Rouge to quite affluent and village like on Montmartre hill itself.
Really when it comes down to it, its price that brings most to use accommodation in Montmartre.
La Defense - business district to the west of Paris centre where Line 1 of the Metro terminates. Unless you are on business the big attraction is very. very attractive prices on quite decent hotels at weekends and holidays (August) when the businessmen are away. Little attraction for leisure travelers during the working week.
Despite such a business orientation, La Defense has one of the largest shopping centres and also RER and Metro trains that will have you on the Champs Elysees or Louvre in 15 minutes or so.
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