Paris - Left or Right Bank?
 

I am visiting Paris soon and would like suggestions on which bank to stay in. I am in my thirties and taking my mom so night life isn't that important to me in case you are wondering. I have searched various web pages looking for major differences b/w the two banks and I can't find anything. Thanks!

Stay at the right Bank:look for Hotel Champs de Mars(cheaper and near the Tour Eiffel) or Grand Hotel de Champagne (near Place du Ch&acirc;telet, Hotel de Ville, Louvre)- around USD 140.00/day.<BR>nice trip,<BR>enio

The H&ocirc;tel du Champs de Mars and the Tour Eiffel are on the left bank, which I prefer. As a broad generalization, the right bank is more businesslike and residential, while the left bank is more bohemian and artsy. That said, the part of the left bank I prefer, the 7me arrondissement, is fairly quiet and residential. If you or your mom want to be near the big stores, that would be the right bank. It really doesn't matter. Paris is a city of many extremely varied neighborhoods, all of which are easily accessible on the m&eacute;tro and bus systems from wherever you base yourself.

In my opinion-<BR>The Right Bank is more touristy,more expensive,more big buildings with business(American Express,etc)beautiful-<BR>The Left Bank is still touristy but more villagey,more art galleries,more "bohemian",charming,good restaurants,streets just to get lost in,beautiful,and a little more reasonable in price.<BR>The farther you get away from the Seine the less expensive things are also, so the Marais which is Right Bank, is less dear then near the Louvre.<BR>A book I once read said that the wayParis is getting gentrified,there is not much difference anymore.The Left Bank is as bohemian as Betty Crocker! but it still is the part of town that wasn't modernized by Houssman,the master of grand boulevards.<BR>Almost all the Grand hotels are on the Right Bank.They cost a fortune.The St Germain neighborhood is chic, and has a better mix of small hotels with charm and some very inexpensive.<BR>I hope tis helps~C

Mary<BR>How much would you prefer to spend on a hotel per night? <BR>I have stayed on both banks several times and I personally prefer the right bank. This is how I evaluate my preference: the right bank locations that I prefer (in the first arrondissement) are walking distance to the Louvre, to browsing/shopping on<BR>rue Faubourg St Honore, rue Royale, etc. I like strolling into the grand hotels just to "sight see" or to have a drink or lunch if I'm feeling flush.<BR>I stay near the Concord/Tuileries metro stops and find I can be on the left bank<BR>(Musee d'Orsay, etc) or in the right bank's Marais section in 5-10 minutes.<BR>I even like browsing in the tourist trap souvenir stores on rue de Rivoli--it's only there that I can find Mona Lisa dish towels.<BR>However, the left bank has more small charming streets and shops to browse in, and many many more moderately-priced restaurants and cafes to drop in on. <BR>Are you familiar with New York City?<BR>To me, the right bank is more like the Upper East Side, and the left bank is more like Greenwich Village or the Upper West Side. They don't look the same at all, just the atmospheres have some similarites to me.

Check out this site for basic information:<BR>http://www.paris.org./glossary.html

Stay right in the middle on Isle St. Louis. Very easy to get to both banks from there plus you get true charm and a residential neighborhood. You can stop for ice cream at Berthillon on your way back to the hotel to end a day of touring with a treat. Metro is right across the bridge.

Each bank has its nightlife areas (Bastille on the Right, Latin Quarter on the Left) and its touristy areas (mostly right along the river). There are areas in the 6eme and 7eme (Left Bank) which are residential, but still near the tourist sights. So do the 3eme and 4eme (Right Bank). My suggestion is to draw a line along each side of the river (start at the Eiffel Tower and end just east of Notre Dame) about 400 meters from each side - that'll give you close but out of the hurly-burly of the tourist crowds.<BR><BR>The city is easily accessible via the metro, buses and on foot. What you want is an active neighborhood in the evening - Parisians walking after dinner, food shops open, many restaurants... so avoid the area around the Bourse (2eme) or the l'Arc de Defense or southern part of the 15eme - business areas that sort of peter out at night.