The best hotels and neighborhoods in Paris

Are you looking for accommodation in Paris and don't know which neighborhood to stay in? The top below was made by Julie, Tim, Tyler and Kara. It's about a family who decided in 2014 to embark on a trip around the world. You can find their experiences HERE . They realized that their adventures could help other travelers choose a destination. That's how they started sharing their experiences. “ Our trip around the world wasn't just about seeing a bunch of countries and museums and UNESCO sites. It was about going on a family adventure, to LIVE, to do something unforgettable, to change our worldview and to learn about what's really out there ”

Paris accommodation: what you need to know if you've never been there before

Choosing where to stay in Paris can be overwhelming. There are so many options! To make your choice easier, the four of us have narrowed down the list to a few hotels, organized by neighborhood and budget. Before we jump into the best hotels in Paris, here's a quick geography lesson. This is especially important if it's your first time visiting Paris.

Paris accommodation on both banks of the Seine

The center of Paris is divided by the river Seine. The main sites of Paris are grouped on each side of this river. The Right Bank (Rive Droite) refers to the area of ​​Paris that lies north of the Seine River. Here you will find the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre, the Marais and the Palais Garnier, to name just a few. The Left Bank (Rive Gauche) refers to the area of ​​Paris that lies south of the Seine River. Here you will find the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, the Rodin Museum and the Latin Quarter.

Just to keep things interesting, there are also two islands that lie in the Seine River, Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint-Louis. Here you will find Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle. Spiraling out of the Seine River are the 20 arrondissements of Paris. An arrondissement is a neighborhood. They are numbered 1 to 20, starting with 1 at the tip of Ile de la Cite and spiraling out clockwise from there. The arrondissements with lower numbers are closer to the Seine. The ones with higher numbers are further from the city center.

Finally, there are many different neighborhoods in Paris. Some of these neighborhoods are located in more than one arrondissement. For example, the Marais is located in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Other famous neighborhoods are St.-Germain-de-Pres (6th arrondissement), Montmartre (18th arrondissement), and the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement).

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Here is a map of accommodation in Paris. Each color corresponds to a different neighborhood in Paris. Black markers indicate the top attractions in Paris.

Paris accommodation by neighborhood: where to stay

The hotels listed in this article are highly rated. Almost all have ratings of at least 8,5 on Booking.com. Most are over 9. They are also conveniently located near metro stations, an important factor when choosing where to stay in Paris. While this is a short list of all the hotel options in Paris, it is still a… very long one.

The heart of Paris – 1st and 2nd arrondissements

This area includes Ile de la Cite as well as a portion of the right bank. Popular destinations include Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden. Rue de Rivoli is one of the main streets that runs through this area of ​​Paris. It stretches past the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden to the Place de la Concorde.

Pros: Central location; easy walking distance to some of the most popular places in Paris; view of the Eiffel Tower from some hotels

Cons: One of the most expensive accommodation areas in Paris; it lacks some of the charm you find in other neighborhoods

LUXURY: The Ritz. The Ritz is considered one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Several apartments are named after famous guests who once stayed here, such as Coco Chanel and Frederic Chopin. This hotel has been featured in various books and movies. Hemingway frequented the Ritz, and one of the bars, Bar Hemingway, is a tribute to him.

More affordable Paris accommodation in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements

UPSCALE: Brighton Hotel

This hotel is located on Rue de Rivoli, directly opposite the Tuileries Garden. From your room you can see the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Ask for a room on one of the top floors for the best experience.

ENVIRONMENT: Le Relais Saint Honore

This boutique hotel has an excellent location. The Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde and Palais-Garnier are all within a 10-minute walk. Tuileries and Pyramides metro stations are less than 5 minutes away. The rooms are small but tastefully decorated and the staff are friendly and speak English. You don't have a great view from this hotel, but the staff is extremely friendly.

BUDGET:

Hotel Opera Maintenon . This small hotel is located near the Palais Garnier, and the rooms can accommodate one to four people. The hotel is listed as a budget option. But the 1st arrondissement is expensive, so prices can be relatively high.

Le Marais – arrondissements 3 and 4

For Paris accommodation with charm and slightly lower prices, Le Marais is a good choice. The Marais is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. For many visitors, this area is at the top of the list as one of the best places to stay.

This neighborhood is right next to the 1st and 2nd arrondissements. If you want a central location without a huge budget, the Marais is worth considering. It is a maze of narrow, cobblestone streets lined with small shops and cafes. Le Marais is the perfect neighborhood for a stroll. It is also home to a vibrant Jewish community and an LGBTQ community.

Top attractions here include the Pompidou Center, Place de Vosges, and the Picasso Museum. The area is within walking distance of the Louvre and Ile de la Cite. Hotel prices are slightly lower than in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements.

UPSCALE: Roi de Sicile . This hotel has a great location. It is a favorite for families or those who want a little more space. In 10 minutes walk you can reach the Pompidou Center and the Seine River.

ENVIRONMENT: Les Tournelles . This boutique hotel also boasts a great location in the Marais. The rooms are elegantly decorated.

Latin Quarter – District 5

The Latin Quarter offers Paris accommodation suitable for students, couples and budget travelers. On the left bank, just a stone’s throw from the Ile de la Cite, lies the Latin Quarter. Similar to the Marais, this is another neighborhood that is crisscrossed with narrow, maze-like streets and small cafes. Here you will find the Sorbonne University, the Pantheon and Shakespeare & Company.

Pros: Great central location and easy walking distance to many places along the Seine

Cons: Much more touristy than the Marais

 The Latin Quarter is relatively large. Recommended hotels are in the west of the Latin Quarter, near the Seine and the Saint-Michel Notre Dame metro station.

UPSCALE: Hotel Parc Saint Severin – Esprit de France. This 4-star hotel has a convenient location. It is just a few blocks from the Seine River and the Saint-Michel Notre-Dame metro station.

ENVIRONMENT: Hotel Albe Saint Michel . If you're looking for an affordable hotel with a central location, this is one to consider. This hotel is located one block from the Seine River. Notre Dame is just a few minutes' walk away. If you're traveling with a family or group, rooms can be combined to accommodate up to five people.

BUDGET: Hotel College de France. This budget hotel also has a great location in the Latin Quarter. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the city streets. Just be aware that it doesn’t have air conditioning. In the summer, you might want to choose another hotel.

Saint-Germain-des-Pres – 6th arrondissement

For elegant Paris accommodations on the Left Bank, Saint-Germain is hard to beat. Saint-Germain-des-Pres is right next to the Latin Quarter. The neighborhood is prettier, has more charm, and is more central than the Latin Quarter. If you’re torn between the two, Saint-Germain is the better choice. It’s full of cafes, boutique shops, museums, and art galleries. It was once the literary and artistic heart of Paris. Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre all met in the cafes here.

It is worth visiting Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore, Le Bon Marché, Brasserie Lipp, Jardin du Luxembourg and Église Saint-Sulpice.

Pros: Great location, central to Paris; recognized cafes; one of the best places to go shopping; easy walking distance to most attractions

Cons: Nothing

LUXURY: Hotel D'Aubusson . This 5-star hotel is a historic 17th-century house. It houses Café Laurent, a famous literary bar. In the late 1940s, the bar was called Café Tabou. It was a meeting place for famous intellectuals such as Camus, Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. This hotel offers 50 boutique-style rooms and suites.

Hotels in Saint-Germain, from upscale to budget

UPSCALE: Hotel Baume . This hotel is located in a quiet area of ​​Saint-Germain-de-Pres. The rooms are elegantly decorated. It is a short walk to Odeon Metro Station.

ENVIRONMENT: Grand Hôtel de L'Univers Saint-Germain . This boutique hotel is located in the historic center. The rooms can accommodate between one and three people.

BUDGET: Hotel Clement. This 2-star hotel offers air conditioning. It has a central location in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, near metro lines 4 and 10. The hotel is within easy reach of Notre Dame and the Seine River.

Paris accommodation near the Eiffel Tower – 7th Arrondissement

 If it's your first vacation to Paris, then a visit to the Eiffel Tower is probably on your list. It sounds like a great idea to stay in this neighborhood, right? For visitors, the 7th arrondissement is good, but not great. Yes, you can walk to the Eiffel Tower. But for the rest of Paris, even for other attractions in the 7th arrondissement, you'll probably be taking the metro. It's better to stay in another neighborhood, with a view of the Eiffel Tower, than right next to it. There are a few major attractions in this arrondissement: Musee d'Orsay, Hotel des Invalides, Musee Rodin, Rue Cler, Champs de Mars, and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

This is a large arrondissement, too big to walk through. So you have to get used to the metro.

Pros: Close to the Eiffel Tower

Cons: Lacks the charm of other neighborhoods on this list; even if it is relatively centrally located, you will frequently go to the subway;

Recommended hotels in the 7th arrondissement

UPSCALE: Hotel de la Bourdonnais . Located on a residential street just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower.

UPSCALE: Hotel La Comtesse. For a luxury hotel with a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower, this is worth considering. This hotel gets better reviews than Hotel de la Bourdonnais. It's located within walking distance of the Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower, and Rue Cler.

ENVIRONMENT: Hotel Muguet . This hotel is located a short walk from the Eiffel Tower. If you are traveling as a family, you can request two connecting rooms to accommodate up to five people.

Champs-Elysees – 8th arrondissement

Here you will find luxury Paris accommodation close to the Arc de Triomphe. I would not normally recommend this area. However, for a luxury stay in Paris, here are two very notable hotels. The Champs-Elysees is one of the most famous streets in the world. It starts at the Place de la Concorde and ends at the Arc de Triomphe. A walk on the Champs-Elysees is a must on your first visit to Paris. But this area is crowded, very touristy and a bit chaotic. This is a great place to visit, but there are better neighborhoods to stay in Paris

Shangri-La Hotel . For an unlimited budget and one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower, look no further. In addition to the view, the hotel also has two Michelin-starred restaurants.

Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris . This hotel exudes luxury. It is the only hotel in Europe with three Michelin-starred restaurants, for a total of five stars. Many rooms are suites, and some have views of the Eiffel Tower.

For other accommodation tips, see the most beautiful accommodations for vacations with children.

Julie, Tim, Tyler and Kara continue with recommendations for the 10th, 11th and 15th arrondissements. You can discover these on their website – https://www.earthtrekkers.com/