First Time Visit to Paris - Help!
 

Hello! I'm planning my first trip to Paris and need help deciphering the differences between all the neighborhoods. This trip will be the first for both my husband and I, and we'll be there for 5 days. We don't want to 'overbook' our days, opting more to enjoy the walking, people watching and energy of being in a different country. However, we would like to be in an area that is safe and convenient to museums and other 'touristy' site seeing destinations... any suggestions? Thanks for your help!

Your hotel budget is an important factor in providing recommendations.

All areas of the city are safe, and the metro makes them convenient, but the closer you get to the center, the more hotel prices tend to rise.

I've been to Paris several times and I usually choose the left bank. My favorite was the best western eiffel (16e) The staff was wonderful and there was a metro stop close by. The metro is a wonderful way to travel around Paris and see all the main attractions with little time and cost.
Do you have a price range?
I hope this is of some help, enjoy your visit! I love Paris!

Hi

My wife and I went to Paris in April last year and we stayed at TimHotell Tour Eiffel. I have written a review of the hotel in my trip report http://www.gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm . You should also check out the interactive Google map that I have made of Paris http://www.gardkarlsen.com/paris_france_map.htm . The yellow marker shows the location of the hotel and blue markers shows attractions. Click on the markers for more info. Hope this helps :d

regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Hi

I recommend the Latin Quarter for first time Paris visitors. Handy to all attractions. And the Hotel du Danube -http://www.hoteldanube.fr - is verrry romantic. ;;)

Hi W,

I suggest the 4th, 5th, 6th and the 14th near the 6th.

What's your budget?

((I))

First of all, no matter where you stay you will never be convenient to all the touristy sights.

You need to define your budget for serious recommendations, but for a first timer I'd suggest the 7th Arr. It's close to the Eiffel Tower and Invalides, and has a more "neighborhood" feel to it. We've been to Paris a dozen times and still enjoy the 7th Arr. I'd recommend the Hotel Relais Bosquet there, but again I do not know your budget. It's just around the corner from Ecole Militaire Metro Stop and also Rue Cler.

As for safe .. Paris is a large city, You need to use your street smarts when out and about and in the Metro just as you would anyplace else. Generally speaking it's safe but still be aware of where you are and those around you.

I agree with other posters in that we need to know more about your budget to make good recommendations. That being said I prefer to stay in the 5th or 6th but anywhere in Paris is better than staying home.

Like worldinabag, I am also a fan of the left bank and of the Hotel du Danube. Just note that the hotel has no AC.

Latin Quarter would be also my choice.
It is sooo festive and brings your mood up right away. After the flight it is important. But we haven't stayed in Latin Quarter so I am not sure about cost.

Forget the budget theory, what kind of atmosphere do you want? I've stayed in almost every Arr. (neighborhood)lost count on how many times I've been to Paris.
Reputation -- Right bank will be more expensive than the left.
Reality -- I have found hotel deals on both banks in every Arr.
My preference -- I now choose to stay in the hotels in the seventh near Invalides.
Why -- Residential neighborhood feel w/an excellent central location! Quiet at night, larger hotel rooms(my opinion), walk across the Alexander Bridge (Beautiful bridge)and you are on the right bank 1/2 way between Arc and the "Louvre" in front of the Grand and Petitte Palace, stay on the left bank and you are midway between St. Germain (5th&6th Arr.)and the Eiffel (batobus & cross the bridge to Trocadero to get your pictures of Eiffel), and I have found some good inexpensive to moderate price restaurants (Pascal-74 Tour-Maubourg a must everytime I am in Paris)and in the morning a walk down Rue Cler (my mouth is watering now)my favorite market street.
Now arr. style/flavor lesson!
1st- Louvre, Ritz, Place Vendome, Cartier, ok maybe budget will have something to do with this one. But do stop in Angelina's for hot chocolate or tea just to see the decor.
2nd- Grand Boulevards, Department Stores and brokers (Wall Street)
3rd - Le Marais extends into the 4th, known as the gay neighborhood and the old jewish neighborhood, very trendy with lots of good shopping stores open on Sundays, clubs.
4th - Notre Dame, the Iles, Saint Chapelle, oldest parts of the city, compact, touristy
5th - Latin Quarter, universities, college nightlife, intellectuals, this is the area for people watching over coffee, streets are more narrow compact old city center feel.
6th - St. Germain/Luxembourg)much like the 5th but has more trendy shopping areas in competition with Right bank designer shops, nice parks.
7th - My favorite. Made up of monuments and residents. Eiffel, Musee d'Orsy, Invalides, Napoleon's Tomb, Rue Cler market street, not much nightlife in terms of clubs.
8th - Champs Elysees, Madeline, Concorde. Lots of shops, restraurants, night life, fast food joints, panhandlers, but the past few years it is making a comeback to it's grand old days. Expensive residential streets surround the Champs
9th -- Opera and Grand Boulevards on one border but on the opposite end is Pigalle the strip club red light district of the city.
These are the neighborhoods that circle around the River and are considered city center. The remaining Arr. have excellent qualities to them but are getting away from the center (unless you find hotels on the borders)and further away from your intent to stay central.
18th -- Montmartre, Moulin Rouge, Sacre Coeur, place du Tertre (the artist area), touristy souvenir shops and close to Pigalle prostitutes. Easy and safe to get to by metro and a must see. This is the one place I visit everytime I am in Paris but have never stayed in a hotel here. I go in the afternoon for the cobblestone streets, outdoor cafes, people watching and stay until evening to look out over the city below illuminated in lights and to see Sacre Coeur illuminated. At night on the weekends is where alot of young couples congregate on the steps of the church.
All are safe but be mindful around any touristy area for pickpockets like any other major city.
I was sold on the metro for years but now I prefer to take the Batobus (April to October)and stay top side. You can buy an all day pass. It is the boat that makes stops up and down the river near the major attrations. Hop on hop off all day and walk to the destinations to explore the areas.
For a quick reference guide with a fold out map that fits in the smallest of purses, try the Tripbuilder guide book $6. Not a substitute for Fodor's or other more inclusive guide books but is excellent for quich reference and I love it's plotted out maps from Museums to shopping.

I like the 6th for location. It's easy to go to the 5th or the 7th, and it's full of cafes. Buses & metro are close by, and it's not too far to walk to the Seine.
Sandy

my vote also goes for somewhere in the 4th thru 7th arrondisements. any of them are convenient to some thing, none to everything!

look at an overview of the map. the arrondisements spiral outward going upward in number like a snail from the 1st. seeing that really helped me sort out the lay-of-the-land my first trip.

I am amazed by all of these desires for residential neighborhoods (7th). When I am staying in a city, I want as much action as possible out on the streets around the hotel -- shops, cafés, restaurants, people. Otherwise, I would stay in the country.

We're traveling to Paris in April. It's our favorite city in Europe. This will be my ninth visit and my wife's fifth. Our preference is the 8th district for accomodations. We choose chain hotels simply because you know exactly what you're getting. Screw those little mom and pop, boutique hotels with closet sized rooms, no elevator, and lousy beds. The Holiday Inn in the 8th is our choice. Great buffet breakfast, just off Hausemann Blvd., spacious rooms. I'll post some more suggestions once I get my travel journal out. I've got some great suggestions for restaurants. Oh, make sure you familiarize yourself with the Metro system. It's like air. YOU NEED IT!!!!

Kidneys, sweetbreads, brain.... organ meats rule!!!!!

First trip..I vote for 4th or 5th.

"I am amazed by all of these desires for residential neighborhoods (7th). When I am staying in a city, I want as much action as possible out on the streets around the hotel"

Here is my rationale for staying in the 7th. I love the night life, I love to boogie (sorry, couldn't resist) as much as anyone else. I just don't want it next to my hotel at 2 a.m. when I want to sleep.

All the "action" is within minutes via the metro. I can have my night life and sleep, too. Voila!

((H))

I agree that the 4th or 5th districts are good for a firsttime visit to Paris. I will add that the 6th is a good choice too. We stayed in the 16th on our first visit and, of course, the best part was seeing the Eiffel Tower all the time. It got tedious (for us) to have to depend on the metro and we noticed there were not as many restaurants in the area at least not as much as there are in the above mentioned 4th-6th districts.

Sorry for the long post. My intent was to give you an overview of each arr. You need to choose the one that best fits your interest/ambiance/lifestyle.

I'm with Ira (comme d'habitude). The XIVe around Gare Montparnasse has a lot to recommend itself:

Montparnasse has a "village" feel rather than being just another city neighborhood. It's almost like being in a provincial town.

Better lodging values than in the single-digit <i>arrondissements</i>.

Well-supplied with transit options - M&eacute;tro Lignes 4, 6, 12, and 13 converge at Gare Montparnasse (and Ligne 10 serves nearby Duroc), so you can be virtually anywhere in the city in ten minutes.

Wow! Thank you all for your suggestions! We're trying to keep our budget to no more than $150 euro, our pockets aren't very deep. :)