Hello,
I am still hunting for an apartment for me and my daughter to stay in for five weeks, mostly in July, this summer. She'll be taking a class at the Sorbonne and I might or might, too. I found an apartment in rue Mazarine that seems like a nice location but it's very small. It's within a couple of blocks of Buci. But I'm concerned that the smallness will drive us crazy for 5 weeks., and it is up on the 4th floor, no elevator. So I've continued to look, and recently saw an apartment the 5th on rue victor cousins between place de Sorbonne and rue Cujas. What is this area like, does anyone know? The apartment is much larger than the Mazarine one and has a separate bedroom (for me!) instead of a sleeping loft.
How do the locations compare, for our purposes (hybrid student/tourists)?

This part of the 5th is great, and very similar to the area around Buci/Mazarine. It is only one block off of St. Michel. It is still a lively and nice "studenty" and "toursity" area with shopping restaurants, etc. The only thing that isn't maybe as good is that you are just a tad further from the river, so have a little less choice in Metros-so you will need to walk just a bit more. One of the most "useful" metro around there is the 4 line going north and south and you will be a bit further from that line but not by much and you are very close to the Luxembourg B line RER stop which is a great line for the airport etc. I definitely think the trade-off is worth it. The only part of the 5th I would not recommend is over by rue Monge and near the 13th only because the metro connections aren't as good and it can be hilly and make walks to the metro longer. But the 5th as a neighborhood is really fun and desirable-lots of shopping, student stuff to do and restaurants and it is a bit less tourist intensive up where you are looking. I think you would really enjoy it. My niece is in law school at the Sorbonne and she would love to be that close

jpie has given you really good info. I'll just add - I think that is a great area. A little farther from the river but still totally walkable.

It looks like a reasonable location, not real near a metro stop, which is always an important thing for me. To my mind it is a fun part of town.
Rosiecaro

We stayed at the Hotel Sorbonne which is on Victor Cousins in 2003. At that time the area was fine. We were just in Paris last week and visited the area again and my feelings are the same. Plus we did more exploring in the area and found even more places to see and restaurants. It is very lively. It is not far to the Metro station on Blvd. Germain des Pris or St. Michel. Yes, you have to walk but not far. If you like the place, don't let the area stop you from selecting it.

There is no area in Paris to avoid. Some places are just better locations than others.

Thank you jpie, rosiecaro, Plan2GoSoon, and kerouac; that Victor Cousins ap't was not available after all. But now at least I know to include that area in my (neverending!) search.