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Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, each with a distinct vibe. Here we provide you with insights on what to see and do to enjoy each neighborhood.
Most tourists will find themselves in the 1er on a trip to Paris. The arrondissement is home to major sites likes the Musée du Louvre and Tuileries Gardens and the portion of Île de la Cité, which is home to Sainte-Chapelle. This is a favorite neighborhood for art lovers and shoppers and is filled with many restaurants and cafes. Most of the 1er is on the Right Bank of the Seine River.
The 2nd is Paris’ smallest arrondissement is primarily a business district and offers some interesting historical sites and is one of its most photogenic. Here you will find a number of glass-roof covered passages in the Grands Boulevards neighborhood dating back to the 1800s. You can see the former Paris Stock Exchange (Bourse de Paris), La Tour Jean-Sans-Peur, a tower from medieval period and the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, the original site of the French National Library. Head to Rue Montorgueil, which is pedestrian-only and lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants. Without major tourist attractions, this is a very authentic area to tour.
These two arrondissements make up the neighborhood known as Le Marias. In the 3e, known as the Upper Marias, you’ll find top museums like the Musée National Picasso and Musée Carnavalet, which is devoted to the history of Paris. Here you’ll also find Synagogue de Nazareth, which is the oldest synagogue in Paris and The Marche des Enfants Rouges, which is the oldest covered market in France. The neighborhood is home to hip cafes and design ateliers. In the 4e you’ll find cultural highlights like the Centre Pompidou , Notre Dame (although it is currently closed), National Museum of Modern Art and the Old Jewish District.
The 5e is home to one of Paris’ most famous neighborhoods, the Latin Quarter on the Seine’s Left Bank. Here you’ll find the top French university La Sorbonne and this arrondissement is definitely known as the student quarter. There is plenty of boho culture with jazz clubs, book shops, bars, and sidewalk cafes. The neighborhood also has some major cultural attractions including the Panthéon.
Another classic Parisian district, the 6e is where you’ll find the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg and adjacent Luxembourg Palace, where the French Senate works. This is also the district that is home to Paris’ oldest church, Saint-Germain des Prés St-Germain des Prés, sections of the Latin Quarter and some of its most elegant hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and literary cafes. Many of Paris’ art galleries, antique shops and small art museums can be found here. You will find some of the most charming streets and best walking neighborhoods to experience Parisian daily life. Then take a break to indulge at one of the many patisseries and bakeries.
The 7th Arrondissement is home to the Eiffel Tower as well as Hôtel des Invalides, which is where Napoléon’s tomb is located. There are also plenty of museums in this wealthy Left Bank neighborhood that is shaped like a fan, including Musée d'Orsay and Musée Rodin. There are beautiful shops throughout the 7th with Bon Marche, Paris’ oldest and most stylish department store one not to miss. The restaurants and cafes are abundant, especially on rue Cler.
This swanky Right Bank neighborhood is also known as the Golden Triangle. It is home to the Arc de Triomphe, the Place de la Concorde, luxury hotels, art museums and one of the world’s most famous shopping streets, the fabulous Champs-Elysées. Don’t miss the beautiful Parc Monceau to enjoy a picnic lunch. And stop by the L'Église de la Madeleine church dating back to the early 1800’s.
In 9e, you'll find the original Paris Opera House, Palais Garnier, which was the inspiration for The Phantom of the Opera. Palais Garnier is now home to the Paris Ballet, while the opera performs in a different venue. This neighborhood is also home to the famous Galeries Lafayette and Le Printemps department stores.
If you arrive in Paris by rail, you will likely begin in the 10e, which is home to the Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est train stations. The working-class neighborhood definitely has a grittier vibe than its neighbors. But it is also filled with popular nightlife spots and affordable restaurants.
This is the creative heart of Paris. In the 11th Arrondissement, you’ll find everything from graphic design studios to a digital museum, Atelier des Lumières, ultra-hip restaurants, craft breweries, and art galleries. If nightlife is your scene, head to rue Oberkampf for clubs with everything from live to DJ music.
The 12e on the Right Bank has a very Parisian vibe and is home to buzzing markets selling everything from fruits and vegetables to vintage goods. Here you will also find the Place de la Bastille, the Bois de Vincennes, and the new home of the Paris opera, the Opéra Bastille. You can even walk between different parts of 12e via the elevated Promenade Plantée walking trail.
On the Left Bank, 13e is home to the biggest Chinatown in Paris, as well as lots of street art and the National Library of France. Take in the great views of the Siene from the floating public aquatic pool center, Piscine Joséphine Baker. It’s open year-round. Here you can also find outdoor food markets and some excellent Asian and non-Asian restaurants. Overall, it is more of a local neighborhood than one holding many tourist attractions.
On the Left Bank, in the 14e you’ll find Montparnasse, which used to be the stomping grounds of Hemingway and Satre. It is known for its creperies and historic bistros as well as chain shopping stores. Les Catacombes are also in the 14th. The Montparnasse Tower offers breath taking views of Paris. Take a glimpse of Montparnasse Cemetery where you can visit gravesites dating back centuries of famous and in-famous Parisians.
This is Paris’ most-heavily populated residential neighborhood on the Left Bank, so it is not very tourist driven. Here you’ll find mostly apartment buildings, local bars and restaurants. There are a few museums such as Musée du Montparnasse and the Tour Montparnasse – the tallest skyscraper in Paris with an observations deck where you can see all of Paris’ landmarks for 25 miles. There is also, La Petite Ceinture (little belt), a railway built in the mid 1800’s that circled around Paris. Le Cordon Bleu, the most renowned cooking institute in Paris since 1895 is here and a free tour can be booked in advance.
The 16th Arrondissement is on the Right Bank and is home to some top tourist attractions including the Palais de Chaillot, Fondation Louis Vuitton, and the Palais de Tokyo. This is one of the swankiest neighborhoods in Paris and is also home to some of the city’s most expensive real estate. You’ll also find hot restaurants, foreign embassies, and luxe hotels.
Another arrondissement that tourists are less likely to venture into. The 17e is mostly residential including a “sustainable eco-quarter” known as Clichy-Batignolles. There, the Batignolles Covered Market is open daily except Monday selling a variety of ethnic foods and unique non-food items. The neighborhood is known for its artists, fashion designers, cafes and boutiques.
The 18th is home to Montmartre, which is the hilltop neighborhood where you will find Sacre-Coeur, the magnificent stained glass basilica. It is also filled with steep streets home to restaurants, shops, and bars. To the south of Montmartre is Pigalle, Paris’ tame red-light district where you can still catch a show at the Moulin Rouge cabaret.
The last two arrondissements also see very few tourists. If you are meeting up with a local friend out this way or want to explore, the 19th has a few museums such as the Cité des Sciences et de I’Industrie, the largest science museum in Europe, and two of the largest parks in the city, including the Parc des Buttes Chaumont. The 20th Arrondissement also has some pretty parks such as Parc de Belleville which offers panoramic views over the city and cemeteries and is known for some of its night scene rock clubs.
