Cindywho

We are considering staying in an apartment on Ile St-Louis. I have not really seen any discussions of this on Fodor's. Has anyone ever stayed there or have any opinions about staying there? This is our first time in Paris and it will be in May.

I read that it is quaint but expensive. Are there any positives or negatives to staying there?

Thanks for your help.

PalenQ

It's a tremendous location and very quiet - many people really like it and others think it too quiet and prefer a typically more vibrant neighborhood with outdoor markets, cafes, stores, etc. There are a few small stores on the island but generally not much there besides residences and hotels.

You will probably pay more for the privilege of staying on this quaint island - much more perhaps and get something not as nice perhaps amenity-wise.

But as for location it is superb for seeing sites like Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Saint-Chapelle, Latin Quarter, etc.

Mimar

Ile St-Louis is a great location, very central. And May is a great month for Paris. Don't worry, you'll love it.

goldenautumn

Nobody knows whether or not you'll love it. I've stayed there many times and it is my top pick for a place to stay, but I prefer an extremely quiet location in Paris (it gets next to nothing in terms of auto traffic if you are not on the main cross way that bisects the island). And it has a fantastic location for me when it comes to the things I like to do when in Paris, and I enjoy the Seine.

Much of the residential space on the island has been bought by people (sometimes foreigners) who have them as second homes and do not live there full time. So services on the island for shopping are very skimpy, and a few sou more.

But I find it very easy to walk off the island, get to everything I want to (excellent metro connections around there) and I quite like the neighborhood cafes at off hours (the ones closest to Notre-Dame can get lots of tourist trade, especially people looking for Berthillon ice cream).

If you are young and are looking for a neighborhood bar scene (no reason not to!) it might not be for you. If you were thinking of going to Paris and cooking up a storm with foods you forage from the markets and the bakeries, might not be for you. If you are not looking for either but just a lovely romantic place to stay, I think it is much, much, much nicer and more conveniently located than the Rick Steves popular 7th arr., with so many more things of cultural interest within walking reach.

Leely2

I stayed in an apartment there several years ago. Can be touristy (the main drags) and expensive (the shops/restos). No metro on the island itself. Those are the only negatives I can think of, and none of them bothered us. It's a pretty and central location.

BigRuss

We stayed there too. Nice location, just a couple of minutes from the Cathedral of Notre Dame, short walk to the 6th and to various Metro stops, just steps from Berthillon. Shops were expensive but even the restos near ND weren't too bad (we concentrated on places that called themselves "brasseries," which tended to be less expensive than places that called themselves restaurants - go fig.).

MarySteveChicago

Dh and I stayed on the Ile two years ago in an apartment. It was a good choice for our first visit to Paris and gaining knowledge of our surroundings. Last year we branched out to an apt in the 2nd and with the savings we were able to stay longer. Next year with our experience with the metro we are staying in the 14th, a residential area, for a month!

The island is small. You will feel a thrill when you see the little footbridge crossing over to the Ile de la cite and Notre Dame. Continue to the Place Dauphine and our favorite restaurant for cannard confit and the best roasted potatoes, Caveau du Palais. Make a reservation for an outside table and watch the lively games of something akin to bocce. Walk home along the Seine!

bouldercolo

I would love to stay there. No downside to staying there that I can think of other than I would think it could be more expensive than other areas.

PalenQ

Though there are few shops on the island itself just north of the island is a main main commercial drag with supermarkets and shops of all kinds just a short walk away.

And the Latin Quarter with all its eclectic restaurants is a short stroll as well.

and though there is no metro station on the island the metro is also a short walk away.

Friends of mine just stayed on the island for ten days and loved it as most folks do.

I am the outlier in this as I find the place not the real Paris that I so enjoy - a vibrant cafe scene with boulangeries, strollers about at night, etc. But most rave about it.

Cindywho

Thank you all for such insightful perspectives. I will talk to my DH and other traveling partners to decide if staying there is for us or not. You have provided enough information to make that decision.

The apartment we are looking at is actually very affordable compared to some in 6 or 7 that we have looked at.

annesherrod

It is a lovely area and as others mentioned there are some very good restaurants! Enjoy!

Maybe you will get lucky with a view of the Seine out your balcony!!

denisea

I know that one of the Fodorites (taconictraveller or TPAYT maybe) that I see post often about Paris almost always stays on ISL. No Metro station on the Isle but there are a few that are close. Quiet would be good for me, awful for others. But I love visiting ISL and I would be open to staying there because it is so central.

kerouac

Tourists absolutely love it, but as a Parisian I totally despise it. 50% of the apartments on Ile Saint Louis are now vacation apartments and everything authentic has been drained from the island. However, it will provide you with the illusion of what tourists think is authentic. If the rest of Paris goes down this path, the city is doomed.