EmmaLaw

Hi,

I was hoping someone could be me some advice. I was looking to stay in the Marais area, but have ended up booking a place in the 2nd arrondissement.

Can anyone tell me about this area? The information online is limited, I am staying in an apartment on rue Montmartre, but now not sure if this area is ok?

Christina

It's probably the smallest arrondisement. Just seems like business to me, you know the BOurse is there, as well as the auction house. the National Library, also, and over in the NE, the garment trade quarter (or used to be, not sure if still is, around Sentier). There is a Passage over in the SE corner (Passage du Grand Cerf). Oh, and rue St Denis, former sex district (red light), well, still is to some extent, I believe, I've been on it and jsut lots of seedy shops, but I do seem to notice some women hanging around doorways in clothes I would never wear. Rue Reaumur is convenient for various shops (well, all the main streets that edge this district are.

And there is an excellent market street, rue Montorgueil not far from your street, several blocks long.

So it'll be fine, it won't take you long to cross the border to another one, anyway, that's for sure, and lots of metro stops.

manouche

What is the nearest metro station or intersection? Some parts of this street are very noisy some are not, some are pretty gritty, some are OK. Impossible to tell you anything without further information. This is a very long avenue.

Have you asked the agency you are renting from for more information? You could check Google Maps yourself to see what your address looks like if you are really worried. If you don't like what you see then maybe you should cancel and book elsewhere.

EmmaLaw

Thanks for the replies, it looks like the nearest intersection is rue Bachaumont. I've just done the street view and the street actually looks quite nice, with lovely old buildings.

flpab

I liked the 2nd. Mostly loved rue Montorgueil for shopping. I felt very safe.

apersuader65

You should be fine where you are. As mentioned above, Rue Montorgueil market is at the end of the block on Bachaumont, and just south of you is a lively little bar/restaurant called Le Tambour we enjoyed. Another block or two south of you is a little italian restaurant DW and I have eaten at every trip called Presto Fresco I'd recommend. It is just across from St. Eustache Church, Chatelet-Les Halles metro/RER is at the end of rue Montmartre.

Keep in mind, Etienne Marcel is the dividing line between the 1st and 2nd Arrondissements, and the third is less than 5 minutes walk to the east.

Rue Montorgueil itself is pretty famous: http://www.tale-of-two-cities.com/wp...ntorgueil1.jpg