Would this be a good neighborhood to rent an apartment for a week or so, for our family of 3 young adults and us??? We want a place with a lively vibe, but not party central, that is close to sites and restaurants

Sure, do you have a particular apartment in mind?

Not at all

Just wondering if this neighborhood may be too lively at night?

It's a big area and no, it's not too lively.

the opposite, in fact nowadays. right bank quartiers are more interesting, imo

Its a big area and it depends on where you are if it is too lively or too quiet. Once you have decided on a specific location, we can probably be more helpful.

There are parts of the Latin Quarter that are very lively and filled with bars and restaurants, and there are other parts that are more quiet. I would not generalize and say it is more or less lively and interesting than the right bank, there are plenty of interesting spots all over Paris.

If you don't want too lively stay away from rue St Severin and rue de la Huchette. I made the mistake of renting an apartment on rue St Severin once. My worst stay in Paris.

But, other than that you have a lot of other nice areas to consider.

Thanks everyone!

Although I prefer other areas now, I thought that the Latin Quarter was the most fantastic area in the city when I first came to Paris, so probably you will, too.

Yes, the 5th is great. But depends exactly where you are, what street you're on. As already mentioned it's a large area. Some "lively" some not so much.

I think the further west from Notre-Dame and the restaurant ghetto area the nicer the Latin Quarter gets - some nice street markets and more a neighborhood feeling.

I totally adored the restaurant ghetto of rue de la Huchette and rue de la Harpe before I knew better.

People should also not think that Latin Quarter = all of the 5th arrondissement. To Parisians, the Latin Quarter stretches from Saint Michel to Port Royal and from Jussieu to Odéon -- in other words, part of the 5th and 6th arrondissements, but really a very limited part.

Great...too bad I didn't know this before. I'm staying a week at St Severin Hotel. We leave Sunday so too late to change hotels. Bummed

Do not be bummed, TAW. You will probably love it. Come back and tell us how it went.

TAW, I believe your hotel gets excellent reviews on trip advisor. I hope you have a wonderful time.

I think I'm just having last minute jitters and second-guessing myself. This is our first trip to Paris and I want it to be perfect. I'm sure it will be fine.

No second guessing!!! Paris is always wonderful and, in my opinion, you will never do it perfectly. That gives you a reason to go back. We stayed in the 5th on rue des Bernardin over Christmas and loved our apartment and the area.

I lived in the Latin Quarter for six months last Spring while I was studying in Paris. Unlike most of the other arrondissements, the Latin Quarter doesn't have any major clubs so it empties out fairly quickly after midnight, particularly on the weeknights. Fridays and Saturdays are a little busier, but most places still close by 2. However, during the day, there are lots of cafes and cute shops and it is easy to find something to do!