We're headed to Europe and are just wondering.... What's your favorite area of Paris and why?

Montmarte, The Marais including Hotel de Ville area up to Les Halles and the entire 6 th Arr. I ain't explaining why cause this ain't no mid-term exam.

Hope you enjoy Paris as much as I.

Larry J

Favorites are Latin Qtr. and St. Germain. Lots of shops, restaurants, and the areas are close to the Seine-very picturesque.

Couldn't agree more francophile. Quartier Latin and St. Germain rock, the Marais is cool, and I'm rather fond of Montparnasse too.

Oh, it's so hard to choose. . .

I love the area of Montmartre from mid-way up rue Lepic to Place des Abbesses.

Also love the Marais and Bastille areas. I also like Oberkampf. I like the "heart" of St. Germain--around the church--and also the area around Odeon.

In Montparnasse, I'm fond of the rue Daguerre and the area around the cemetery and then again the Carrefour Vavin (these are all rather close, actually). In the 13eme, the Butte aux Cailles area has a lot of character.

In the Quartier Latin, I love the place du Contrescarpe and I also like to sit in the shadow of the Pantheon on rue Soufflot and look down the street toward the Eiffel Tower.

In the 7eme, I like the area around L'Ecole Militaire and in the 17eme, I like the area around Place Periere.

But wait--I'm forgetting about the Ile St. Louis and the Place Dauphine!

Sigh. I guess I can't pick just one--it's like trying to pick a favorite child.

To Elle,

Good list. How about the St.Martin Canal area in the 10 Arr near Place de La Republique.

Larry J

We like the area between the Tuileries Gardens and the Plâce Vendôme in the first--many good cafés and restaurants, intereting shops, the Palais Royal, the Louvre...and not all that far from the Left Bank.

Very true to Underhill's comments. Also not too far from shopping, for example, La Sammaritaine over by Pont Neuf. And right across from La Sammaritaine it is also fun to check out the Quai de la Megisserie where the whole street is lined with pet shops and a few gardening shops. Last time I visited this area, I really wished I could have brought home a King Charles Spaniel puppy that I saw in one of the shops.

Ditto for St. Germain des Prés, close to pont neuf and walking distance to a lot of fun stuff, including Jardins du Luxembourg; loved that parc..... the Fontaine de Médicis is astounding..... those green metal chairs all over the parc make it a perfect spot to watch locals go by.

My favorite neighborhood in Paris is the 16th, particularly around the Place Victor Hugo. Beautiful residential neighborhood with excellent shops, cafes, restaurants. If I had my choice of living anyplace in Paris, this is where I would go.
I don't like the Marais as much as most Fodorites. Too crowded, too hot and muggy in summer (those little streets really trap the pollution), not enough green spaces (my dog would hate it), tour buses everywhere. Ditto for the Latin Quarter. I like parts of the 6th (most around the Lux. Gardens) and most of the 7th, but for me, the 16th is the place I would love to call home.
I know some people will say the 16th is boring and dull, but I suspect many of them haven't been there lately. Go to Cafe Scossa (Place Victor Hugo) late on a sunny afternoon and THEN tell me if you still think it's a boring place.

LarryJ--

Haven't been there yet! A walk along the canal has been on my mental list forever (along with a visit to Jacques Melac's wine bar, which is also in the 10eme, I think).

Also haven't spent any time in the 16eme, not as an adult anyway. Last spring, we had plans to visit the Musee Marmotan and do a walking tour, but it was during the strike and so we ended up not straying too far from our hotel in the 17eme.

for BTilke: Do you have an address for that cafe?

Scossa is right on the Place Victor Hugo. You can there easily by metro or bus. By metro, the Victor Hugo stop is right at the Place. You could also walk down the Ave. Victor Hugo from the Arc de Triomphe (about 10 minutes, an easy walk).

I am partial to the 7th Arr, particularly around the Musee Rodin and Rue Grenelle area. It has a very neighborhood feel to it, yet is within walking distance to Paris' most famous landmark: the Eiffel Tower.

Likewise, I really liked the area around the Luxembourg Gardens in the 6th Arr. The gardens make a nice respite far from the maddening crowd that is the hustle and bustle of Paris. I took afternoon strolls there nearly every day and thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance relaxing with local Parisians doing the same.