I've been searching the Paris postings and pulled this quote from a thread. Can someone please explain arrondissements (briefly).

"As a general rule, as first-time visitors they will want to be in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th arrondissements"

Pardon my ignorance and thanks in advance!

Cheers!

Here is a map of Paris' 20 arrondissements :

http://www.intransit-international.c...ment_tour.html

As you can see, the arrondissements mentioned are among the most central in Paris, and are mostly very pleasant areas.

That said, I've not yet stayed in those arrondissements - there are many nice places a little further out too.

Thanks WillTravel!

very easy-to-read info on Paris arrondissements : http://www.way2stay.com/area-info-Paris-en-109.htm

Travel buzzing, I found that guide a bit strange. For example, we usually stay in the 16th arrondissement because it's an elegant residential area with good shopping, dining, cafes plus tree lined avenues and a sprinkling of good museums (Marmottan, Guimet)...but the guide focuses almost entirely on the sports facilities! Most people who choose the 16th as a base for their visits to Paris aren't sports fanatics.

It does mention some non-sports things there in the 16th.
Anyway the guide is good to get a "brief" overview of paris and the layout of the arrondissements that the OP requested.

Arrondissements are zip codes as in US. You know the zip code and you know the area..........

All addresses in France have a five-digit postal code which is the equivalent of a US ZIP code.
Paris codes begin with 75 and the second part indicates the arrondissement. Thus the postal code 75006 is the 6th arrondissement.

The 16th, however, gets two...75016 and 75116. Greedy!

I never knew that, BTilke...thanks for that tidbit!