Where in Paris?
 

I am about to spend 11 days in Paris. The first 6 with teenagers. What arrondissement should I try to rent in. There will be 3 first time visitors. Thanks for any help.

4, 5, 6

Definitely the 5th !

What's your budget? Many tourists do like to stay around the center their first time, it's understandable, I do also. But places will be cheaper in the outer arrondisements, on average--or you get more for your money.

What do you mean by "rent"? If you have a high budget, then I think most likely arr. 4-6 would suit you best, maybe 3-7 really.

You may be seeking an apartment, but for a hotel go to booking.com and enter 6th arr. They are known for their guest reviews, which are detailed. Crosscheck for proximities to Metro stations on google maps.

3,4,6
Look into the St.Germain, Le Marais, and Ile St.Louis areas.

Don't bother with the 5th arrondissement unless you're into cheap kebap joints and gyros.
I found this area totally devoid of Parisian Charm. Not the best area to dine out either.

Or choose any arrondissement but make sure your apartment is within Walking distance to a metro station. I stayed in the 15th last time, just two steps from the metro and found it really convenient to get around.

6 or 5

loacker I can only assume you have visited Paris.. once.. as you don't seem to know it very well.

Yes.. there are a few busy touristy streets in the 5th.. with doner kebabs stalls too.. but the 5th is a large area and there are quieter and less touristy areas and streets in it.

Don't let limited experience stop you though from offering your advice.

For a first time visit.. I too endorse the 4th , 5th or 6th,, however.. there are also other nice areas.. I like the 14th, 11th, and parts of the 9th,, but some also like the 1st and 7th.. its a lot to do with tastes and expectations.

Anywhere in the 1-7 arr. puts you pretty central.

And yes.. its important to check after you have narrowed down your choices because while the area you pick may be lovely.. your apartment may be over a night club.. lol..

5, 6 or 7th

Oh gosh, one can't say his opinion on this forum without getting lectured.

Wasnt trying to lecture you, just note when you make such a decisive emphatic proclamation that its best that they be based on fact or extensive knowledge.

I'm not a big fan of the 5th, either, but for many first-timers it ticks off all the things they are expecting from Paris, and Loacker's description does indicate a very paltry knowledge of Paris, as it's not all bad dining and doner kebab stalls - it's a very big arrondissement and apparently his/her experience was limited to a very small part of it.

1-7 is usually a good benchmark for first-time visitors, though it is well worth researching other areas as well.

Hi Loacker
You don't want to feel lectured ?
You give opinions, not peremptory judgments.
And you try to know what you're talking about.
It will help.

Someone better tell OP about the legality of renting apartments in Paris these days.

Oh my Gretchen, that horse has been beat enough. There are already enough of those threads.

I recommend the 10th and the 11th.

There will be no consensus on this subject, so the OP (who has not returned yet) probably needs to give more information about the interests of the group. Many of the oldies want to be as close to the 'sites' as possible so that they can walk to them; younger people don't give a crap about that and see no problem with riding the metro (which they enjoy very much in most cases) -- they are more interested in interesting neighborhoods with activity at night. Kebab places and nightclubs are a plus for most teenagers (just to address the post by justineparis), so we really need to know more before we can give useful replies.

I don't agree with that, I think a lot of young people really like being around the center, also, and there is plenty of activity around the center, anyway.

Remarks about the 5th are ridiculous, most people have never seen most of the 5th, when they say things like that (about touristy, don't care for it, kebabs, etc) they are only referring to a very small part of it near the Seine and off bd St Germain. In fact, I have stayed a couple times in apts around Monge and Censier metros and believe me, there are plenty of young people around there as there is a branch of the Sorbonne there, not to mention all the other schools in the bottom half of the 5th arrondiosement). And there are parts of the 5th that are real quiet, also, say between rue Claude Bernard and bd de Port Royal.

I like the 14th but if it was my first time would stay more center. I liked the 2nd. The metro does make it easy but some want a view. We have some on here that love Île de la Cité. It is Paris, hard to go wrong.

My fave is 18th.
Some fab places.