Best Arrondissement to Stay in Paris: A Neighborhood Guide

The best arrondissement to stay in Paris depends on your plans, and every neighborhood offers something different. We’ve stayed all over the city, in hotels and apartments, from Montmartre to Saint-Germain to affordable spots near the train stations. This guide covers the best arrondissement to stay in Paris by budget and travel style.

👉 Building your trip around more than just the hotel? Our Ultimate Paris Travel Guide covers flights from the US, daily itineraries, and what to eat.

The 6th: Best Arrondissement to Stay in Paris for Character and Café Culture

The 6th arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, is our top pick if you want to feel like you’re living in the Paris you pictured. You get café culture along the Seine, the Luxembourg Gardens, and the prettiest streets in the city. It costs more than the areas near the train stations, but the character is worth the splurge for the experience.

The Hôtel des Académies et des Arts is a boutique hotel on a quiet street in the heart of Saint-Germain, with rooms decorated by local artists. You’ll find independent hotels at every price point on the streets around Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Luxembourg Gardens, and Saint-Germain has some of the most charming apartment rentals in the city. We rented an apartment here on one trip that’s no longer available but they’re easy to find on VRBO.

Pro Tip: Check out the neighborhood on a map before booking and look for something on a side street rather than the main boulevard. The Left Bank blocks a few steps off Boulevard Saint-Germain are quieter and often cheaper.

The tradeoff is logistics. Saint-Germain is not the best neighborhood if you have an early train or flight, because there are closer, more affordable options by both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon.

Montmartre in the 18th: Best for Romance and Views

Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement is the most romantic, artsy spot in Paris, with gorgeous views over the whole city from the top of the hill. The tradeoff is crowds, because the streets around Sacré-Cœur get busy. But amazingly, wandering a block or two off the main tourist path gives you a much quieter experience.

The Terrass” Hotel is our favorite hotel on this whole list. The rooftop bar looks out over the Eiffel Tower and all of Paris, and it’s right by the Moulin Rouge and a Metro stop. We stayed here in winter, which turned out to be a great way to soak in the Paris vibes when it was cold and the city was less walkable. We paid extra for a room with the Eiffel Tower view and it was worth it. We’d also like to try the Hôtel des Arts – Montmartre on a future trip, which is on a quieter street in the neighborhood.

Pro Tip: Montmartre is a hill with some steep climbs. If you’re staying here, wear good shoes, and be prepared.

The 9th Arrondissement: Best for Budget Stays

The 9th arrondissement around the Opéra is a great choice for budget travelers, and it’s a smart alternative to the pricier 1st if you want to be central without overpaying. We stayed in an apartment here that worked out well and was affordable. You can walk to the Grands Boulevards and the department stores, like Galeries Lafayette, and you’re a quick Metro ride from most of the major sights.

You’ll find plenty of cafés and bakeries in the 9th, especially a block or two off the main streets. It’s ideal for a first trip when you want to stay central and save the money.

Near Gare du Nord in the 10th: Best for Transit and Families

The area near Gare du Nord in the 10th arrondissement is our preference for trips that connect to CDG airport or continue north into Europe. It’s well connected by train and Metro, walkable to Montmartre, and has quiet streets once you get away from the transportation hub. A lot of people write it off as too busy and only good for transit, but we love it if you walk 10 to 15 minutes south from the station. We rented an apartment in this area and would absolutely book it again.

Looking for a comfortable budget stay? Generator Paris is a hostel with a few large en suite private rooms that are affordable and comfortable, about a 20-minute walk to Gare du Nord, with a rooftop restaurant serving good cheese and wine. It’s a great pick for solo travelers and budget-conscious couples.

For families, we’d suggested an apartment on a quiet street near the transit lines. We stayed in this apartment near Gare du Nord and loved it. It gave us more space than a hotel, a local feel, and good cafés and bakeries. The only issue is that it’s a walkup, so keep that in mind if stairs are a concern, but for a family that wants more room on a quiet street near transit, we think it’s ideal.

Near Gare de Lyon in the 12th: Best for Trains South

The area near Gare de Lyon in the 12th arrondissement is a great base if you’re connecting by train to southern France, Italy, or Switzerland. It’s well connected by Metro and generally more affordable than the 1st or 2nd arrondissement.

The citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon is our favorite hotel here for the price, vibes, and views. But we only recommend it for solo travelers or couples. The rooms are very small, but citizenM’s model is efficient with stylish rooms and ample communal space. The beds are comfortable and the blackout curtains help with jet lag. We paid extra for the corner room, which came with an Eiffel Tower view. It’s now part of the Marriott portfolio, so you can book it with Marriott Bonvoy points.

Mistake to Avoid: We also stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Paris Gare de Lyon and don’t recommend it, even though the Eiffel Tower view from the room was great. The bathroom had no privacy and flooded the room with light, so you can’t turn on the bathroom light without waking your partner. Even if you’re comfortable with the person you’re traveling with, it makes for a bad night of sleep.

For travelers catching a high-speed train southwest, the Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse has a direct walking path to Gare Montparnasse, which connects to the TGV lines for the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, and southwest France. It’s a great choice when you have an early train, and the rooms are spacious and comfortable with a nice restaurant and bar downstairs.

View from our room at **Courtyard by Marriott Paris Gare de Lyon**

The 7th Arrondissement: Best for Eiffel Tower Access

The 7th arrondissement is where the Eiffel Tower is located, and we’ll be honest that it isn’t our top pick for most travelers. You’ll often find more tourist-driven restaurants, street vendors, and scammers right around the tower. Parts of the 7th are truly enjoyable, though, with quieter streets and local restaurants that aren’t built purely for tourist traffic. We rented an apartment here on a quieter street, and while it isn’t our first recommendation, it worked out great on a quick trip with family visiting Paris for the first time.

If you want to stay in the 7th, the Mercure Paris Centre Eiffel Tower Hotel worked out well for us on an overnight at the end of a trip, when we had a reservation at Le Jules Verne inside the Eiffel Tower (which was amazing!). We would also have booked the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel, right at the base of the Eiffel Tower. It’s technically in the 15th, but it puts you as close to the tower as any hotel in the city, and we hear it’s a step up from Mercure. It was too pricey for the dates we needed and Mercure worked out great.

📌 For the best local restaurants in the 7th, our friend Tamara, the Brunette Abroad, has a guide to the 7 best places to eat in the 7th arrondissement. We meet up with her in Paris often, and we fully trust her recommendations.

View from Eiffel Tower during the Olympics

The 1st Arrondissement: Central but Overrated for the Price

The 1st arrondissement is the heart of the attractions in Paris, near the Louvre and Tuileries Garden, which makes it a good option for first-time visitors who want to be close to the big sights. The problem is it’s overpriced, it’s not as dreamy as Montmartre or Saint-Germain, and it’s not as practical as the areas near Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon.

If your priority is being central on a first trip, the 9th arrondissement around Opéra gives you a similar location for less money. The apartment we rented in the 1st was our least favorite. You’ll get more character in the 6th and better value in the 9th.

The 15th Arrondissement: Best for Eiffel Tower Views on a Budget

The 15th arrondissement, just south of the Eiffel Tower, is known for good tower views at lower prices than the 7th. We haven’t stayed there ourselves, so we won’t claim firsthand knowledge of specific hotels, but it comes up often as a quieter, more residential base for travelers who want the Eiffel Tower nearby without the tourist premium. If a tower view is high on your list and the 7th is out of budget, the 15th is worth researching. BUT you can find amazing Eiffel Tower views all over the city, so we wouldn’t pick based on this alone.

Why We Book Accor Hotels in Paris

Across our trips through France, and even Europe more broadly, Accor is our go-to hotel group. As a French company, we find Accor is priced better than the competing brands at nearly every budget level. The loyalty program isn’t as strong as Hilton or Marriott, but we earned Gold status and got a free welcome drink and room upgrades with it. On the points side, Capital One Miles and Citi ThankYou points transfer to Accor at a 2 to 1 ratio, so it’s not the best, but it’s still a good value that we’ve used to stay free from time to time.

Here’s how the Accor properties work, from budget to luxury:

Ibis Budget: Bare-bones and affordable. We rarely book this option, just because it’s so basic, but have a few times and still got a clean room in a great location for a great price.
Ibis: A comfortable, no-frills step up from Ibis Budget.
Ibis Styles: Our preferred Ibis tier. They have a better design and more comfort for a little more money.
Mercure: Excellent for mid-range prices. Booking the prestige room here is a nice upgrade over the standard room.
Novotel: A step up from Mercure, with more spacious rooms. If the price is right, this is the best mid-range option.
Pullman: We’re starting to get fancy now with extra comfort and service.
Sofitel: Accor’s luxury tier. We’ve stayed at Sofitel properties around the world and the brand is reliably excellent.
S/O Paris: The most luxurious option right in the heart of Paris.

Luxe-for-Less Tip: Mercure is our usual pick for the right balance of price and quality. But not all Mercure hotels are the same. We loved the Mercure Paris Centre Eiffel Tower Hotel, but the quality varies by property, so read recent reviews before you book. When in doubt, upgrade to a Privilege room, which is Mercure’s better room category. We did this at the Hôtel Mercure Lyon Centre Beaux Arts on a train trip through France and got noticeably more space in a corner room with robes and slippers but still paid less than a standard room at Novotel.

Staying in a Paris Apartment: What to Know First

We’ve loved staying in apartments in Paris alongside hotels, and for families especially, an apartment on a quiet street near transit is often the better choice for space and value. A few things are worth knowing before you book an apartment, Airbnb, or VRBO in Paris, especially on a first trip from the US:

Many Paris buildings have weak or no air conditioning.
You could find a five-story walkup with no elevator.
If there is an elevator, it might be small and slow, and it may not reach your floor, which can leave you another flight of stairs with your luggage.
The first floor is called the ground floor, so what we call floor 2 is called floor 1 in most of Europe. Add that extra climb into your calculations.
These quirks come with the age and character of Paris buildings. It’s part of the charm, but it’s also something you have to factor into your booking decisions.

Book a hotel instead if: You have mobility concerns, or you’d rather not deal with the surprises of a European rental unit. If you go the hotel route, confirm directly with the property that it has an elevator and that your room is accessible, because older Paris hotels don’t always have one. For most trips, though, we happily book apartments and would again.

Best Arrondissement to Stay in Paris: FAQs

What Is the Best Arrondissement to Stay in Paris for First-Time Visitors?

For a first trip, the 6th arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, gives you the classic Paris experience with café culture and central access. If you want to save money, the 9th around Opéra is a more affordable central base. The areas near Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon work well if you’re connecting onward by train.

What Is the Safest Arrondissement to Stay in Paris?

The central arrondissements where most visitors stay, including the 6th, 7th, and the areas around Gare de Lyon, are generally comfortable for travelers using normal city precautions. The blocks right around Gare du Nord feel less polished at night, though walking 10 to 15 minutes into the residential streets changes that. As in any big city, keep an eye on your belongings on the Metro and in crowds.

Which Arrondissement Has the Best Eiffel Tower Views?

The 7th arrondissement puts you closest to the Eiffel Tower, and the 15th just south of it offers views at lower prices. For a view from your room, you can also book a corner or upper-floor room at hotels like the citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon or the Terrass” Hotel in Montmartre, both of which gave us excellent Eiffel Tower views.

Is It Better to Stay in a Hotel or an Apartment in Paris?

Both work, and it comes down to your personal preferences. Apartments are great for families and for longer stays with more space and a local feel at a better price, which we love. Hotels are the better choice if you have mobility concerns or want strong air conditioning, because many Paris apartments have neither. But you’ll still want to confirm with the hotel before booking because these things are not guaranteed.

What Is the Cheapest Arrondissement to Stay in Paris?

The 9th arrondissement around Opéra and the area near Gare du Nord in the 10th are two of the better-value central options. Booking an Ibis in these areas, or renting an apartment a few blocks off the main streets, keeps costs down while still being central and well connected by metro.