I have been looking at apartments to rent for our upcoming Paris vacation next month but I need advice on location. I understand the different districts but am confused what Arrondissement's are. I have found a lovely apartment in arrondissment 18 but i'm thinking that's way off the beaten path and far from most things. If anyone could give me a bit more info on this area I would be appreciative. Thank you.

Arrondissements are areas of Paris. Google a map of Paris. They are in a snail arrangement beginning with the Louvre. The 18th is Montmartre area and not really central for a first-time visitor. Try the 4, 5, 6, 7 arrondissements.

You need to get a map of Paris and plot your sightseeing (use post it flags) to get an idea of what is where.

http://tinyurl.com/kmv7dxr

the centre of Paris, and arrondissement or district 1 are the 2 islands on the Seine with Notre dame cathedral. Look at this like the middle of a dart board. The districts then coil around the center and outward until they meet the circular ring road or the 'peripherique'. Arron. 1 & 2 are the most expensive places to live with the area around the 18,19 being the cheapest and with the most social problems.
If you lived in the city, you would be judged on what arron you live in.

Without knowing exactly where the apartment is in the 18th, it is impossible to know what the surroundings are like or what the access is like. The 18th is where Montmarte and Sacre Coeur are for instance and both of them have charming quintessential Paris neighborhoods in the vicinity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_ar...ement_of_Paris

If you post the exact address we will be able to tell you a lot more about what it is like. Also, you can take a look at the street view on google to see if there are restaurants and interesting commerce nearby.

In general, there can be some very nice neighborhoods in places that are not the traditional 1-7 arrondissements where tourists traditionally look. And access can be dramatically different depending on which metro stop is nearby. But I wouldn't be afraid to rent a unit in the 18th if the access and neighborhood are good-Paris is really pretty small. It is similar to SF in that way-Noe Valley may feel far from some things, but once you are there with good transport, it is simple to get anywhere in the city.

It's just the term used in France for districts of a city, that's all. It's like they use "district" in London (and in Prague, I think, but don't know the Czech word). They use that term in some other French cities, also, like Marseille. So if you understand "districts" in Paris, you would have to be referring to arrondisement as that is there is no other official district boundary. This is an official demarcation by the city, not just some loose term to refer to an area which may be what you are talking about when you say you understand districts. "Montmartre" for example is not an official civil demarcation.

Have a look at the 14th, particularly places within easy walking distance to a Metro stop on lines 4 or 6 or near a bus stop.

I prefer the 6th because so many of the places I like are within walking distance and my trips to Paris are now shorter, 3-4 days. You can find better-priced flats in the 14th, which would be my choice for a week or longer.

The Parisian transportation network is excellent and any arrondissement (or district) has relatively quick connections to another. While it is true that there are many apartments in the 5th and 6th, and that these can be lively areas popular with tourists, there is nothing wrong with the 18th.

The key element is to be in one of the 20 arrondissements and not outside.

I've visited Paris recently and had an apt just off Ch. Élysées, but this next visit, I've chosen 6e to have a different experience. For any visit of any length, it's important to me to be able to walk out the door and be in the middle,of an interesting area. One reason is: if I need a break, it's no big deal to pop up for a short rest, maybe even a power nap.
Ive chosen a very modest, inexpensive ( for Paris), tiny apt just 3 blocks off the Seine and in the thick of the Rive gauche for its location. I love being right in the center of the city and think its worth paying a bit more to be there...altho not a fortune ($2800/month). I LOVE Paris w a passion and want to be une flanneur (a wanderer), exploring little out-of-the-way narrow streets and small local cafes, but I don't believe I'd be able to do that as easily from places like 18e or even the posh 16e. Give me 1--8e instead!

The arrondisements are the city's codes for the official areas of Paris and any aparmtnet can be located in one by it's address (the last 2 numbers of the apartment's code - like zip code - are the arrondisement number - from 01 to 20).

Those with the lowest numbers are nearest in the center and generally within walking distance of the most sights. Some of the area in the outer arrondisements are not very salubrious/nor places I would travel alone or at night. But - this varies a lot by individual neighborhood.

For a tourist I would want to stay in the 8th or lower for convenience.

judy,

I like your thinking and hope in a year or two to do another extended trip. I get to Paris more often now but for much shorter stays.

Actually, you are une flaneuse. I've only heard the word used to describe a man so looked it up et voilà.

I like being central as well. Sometimes I like to return to the apartment before dinner to freshen up or drop packages, etc and I detest riding the metro or buses during the evening rush. Walking is so much better that time of day than being crammed in a sweaty metro car or stuck in traffic on a bus.

hi karen,

there are pros and cons about not being right in the centre of Paris and only you know what's going to be important to you. one thing you don't mention is when you're going and for how long? - I'm assuming a week or longer as you're renting an apartment?

on that basis, you might enjoy being out of the centre and being able to return to your own little corner of Paris in the evening, but Montmartre itself is pretty popular with tourists even at night, so that might not work. also you may get fed up of having to return back to Montmartre and then go out again into the centre of Paris - or with staying in the centre and not going back at all until after dinner.

Judy has summed up the advantage of staying in the very centre very well I think - only you know what matters to you most.

Thank you everyone! I now understand that district and arrondisements mean the same thing. We are only in Paris for one week so I think being more central makes more sense for us. I will keep searching!

I think I have narrowed it down to a quaint apartment in the arrondisement 9, on rue du faubourg Montmartre. Can anyone give me opinions on this area..is it a good one? Walking to anything or is it too far from the center. Thanks!

Sort of depends where on rue du faubourg Montmartre. The area is not posh, but not unsafe. Plenty of little shops and cafes in the neighborhood, and several Metro stations nearby make getting around easier. If the apartment is comfortable and well priced I would not hesitate. If you post a link to the actual property you may hear from someone who has rented it in the past.

It's okay. There are some good food shops on it, it's an older part of Paris, and things are kind of close together there, but there is an interesting chanson club around there you may want to go to (generally no entrance fee but they pass a hat). That is Au Limonaire on cite Bergere. http://limonaire.free.fr/

Chartier is on that street, also, a cheap but historic restaurant, ought to try it. http://www.restaurant-chartier.com/

Here is a picture of the street and a bakery on it http://www.geodruid.com/intl/en/plac...e-paris-france



No, the area isn't posh. It is certainly not too far from the center.

Don't you have a map of Paris to see where it is and how far from the center? I wouldn't rent an apt in Paris without a map and knowing more about that kind of thing. As for "walking to anything", depends what you want to walk to, you could easily walk to the Opera or dept stores, for example, but don't think you'll want to walk to the prime tourist attractions from there. Don't get hung up on having to walk to everything, Paris has an excellent public transportation system and Grands Boulevards has a couple lines going through it, and the line going through Cadet which is nearby goes right to the Louvre and the center.

Oh my gosh, Christina, I had forgotten about Chartier! It is certainly in no danger of a Michelin star but it is more than perfectly adequate and a piece of history, plus it was one of the first restaurants at which I ate on my first visit to Paris. Did not plan it in advance, but stumbled upon it while walking the neighborhood and have fond memories. I was anticipating difficulty with my rusty (at best) academic French but the waiter was delightfully droll.

Sorry to hijack, karen77ca - if you do end up in that area give Chartier a try!

I was staying in the 4th district, in the Marais, this is very central, and I really enjoyed it.

Merci for information that I am une flaneuse, pas un Flaneur!