Neighborhoods of Paris
The neighborhoods of Paris have different faces that represent the cultural, historical, and artistic richness of the City of Light. There is so much to see! We’ll tell you about the most charming places, the main monuments, and the hidden gems of the districts of the French capital.
The map of Paris is divided into administrative districts—or arrondissements—organized in numbers that spiral outward from district 1 (where the city was born) in a clockwise direction, up to district 20.
Many of the neighborhoods we describe below blur the lines between the different districts on the Paris map. However, you’ll soon learn to distinguish them, as many neighborhoods in Paris have very distinct identities and atmospheres.
Discover all that you can find by wandering through the neighborhoods and the places to visit in Paris.
The 10 Neighborhoods of Paris You Must Visit
There’s a French expression “flâner,” which means “to stroll aimlessly,” and we assure you that this is the right way to experience Paris.
In this list, you’ll not only get to know the main monuments of Paris but also a selection of lesser-known places off the beaten path.
Le Marais: Independent boutiques and multicultural atmosphere
BHV Marais Department Store
This neighborhood of Paris, now cosmopolitan and multiethnic, was once the residence of the French aristocracy. Here you can visit Victor Hugo’s house, the Carnavalet Museum dedicated to the history of Paris, and the oldest square in the city: Place des Vosges.
On the streets of Le Marais, you’ll find small independent boutiques and large department stores like Le BHV Marais, luxury shops, charming bars, and cafes. We recommend visiting on weekdays, as on Sundays the streets are closed to cars and tend to be quite crowded.
A hidden gem in this neighborhood is one of the oldest passages in the city: Passage de l’Ancre. This colorful cobblestone alley connects rue Turbigo with rue Saint-Martin and has all the potential to fill your trip to Paris with unique photos.
Île de la Cité: The historic heart of the city
The Seine and the two islands located in the center of the river are the heart of the French capital. On one of these islands, Île de la Cité, the first human settlement of the city was established and it served as the center of Paris. Today this area is home to some of the most popular historical monuments.
On Île de la Cité, you’ll find the Conciergerie, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Pont Neuf—places that you can explore in depth during the free tour Legends and Mysteries of Paris.
If that’s not enough, we’ll tell you that just steps from the latter is the Place Vert Galant, a pleasant little square where you can take a break from your charming walks while enjoying views of the Pont des Arts, the Hôtel de la Monnaie, and the Louvre Museum, one of the main museums in Paris.
Latin Quarter: Always youthful atmosphere
In medieval times, students from the Sorbonne (the historic university of Paris) lived nearby and spoke among themselves in Latin. Thus, district number 5 of Paris began to be called Quartier Latin or “Latin Quarter.”
The Sorbonne building is one of the attractions you can visit today in the neighborhood, as well as important sites like the Panthéon de Paris, the Luxembourg Gardens, the National Museum of the Middle Ages, and various Gothic churches.
The streets of the Latin Quarter still vibrate with the youthful spirit of students and are filled with restaurants, bookstores, and museums. A must-visit is Shakespeare & Co, the world-famous independent bookstore.
Montmartre: Home of the Parisian bohemia
Corners you can see in the Montmartre neighborhood
This is the site of the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur, the iconic Moulin Rouge, and the café of Amélie Poulain, Café des Deux Molins. The painters’ neighborhood, known for being the most bohemian area of Paris, has been home to dozens of artists like Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dalí, Suzanne Valadon, and Mary Cassatt.
A less-mentioned point worth visiting here is the Renoir Gardens; around the Montmartre Museum, there are three beautiful green spaces named after the painter, who also lived in the neighborhood.
Take advantage of your time there to enjoy the beautiful views of Montmartre and the urban landscape of Paris, and keep in mind the charming tea room open to the public every day.
Discover its most secret places on the Free tour of Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur.
Saint-Germain: The canal of the Parisians
The Boulevard Saint-Germain
On the “left bank” of the Seine lies Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Here you’ll find the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the notable Church of Saint-Sulpice, one of the largest in Paris and the setting of Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code.
The absolute must-see in the neighborhood is its 4.5 km canal: you can stroll along it, sail on a tour, or have a picnic by it. The latter is a favorite activity of Parisians on summer weekends.
In the cafés of Saint-Germain, intellectuals and artists gathered to discuss their works. Three of these places became legendary and are all located on Boulevard Saint-Germain, facing the L’Embâcle Fountain and the Saint-Germain metro station: Café des Deux Magots, Café de Flore, and Brasserie Lipp.
Les Halles: To try a royal dessert
The famous restaurant “Le Bon Pêcheur” in Les Halles
“The Belly of Paris,” as Émile Zola would name this area of the city that was a wholesale market 800 years ago, is now home to the underground shopping center Forum-des-Halles.
This commercial district is a must-visit for food, wine, and shopping enthusiasts. Along rue de Rivoli and the Canopée mall in Les Halles, you’ll find all kinds of shops and establishments.
A place you must see if visiting Paris for the first time is the Pompidou Center; also, the Fountain of the Innocents in Place Joachim du Bellay and the Gothic-style Saint-Eustache Church.
Just a few steps from Les Halles, you’ll find the famous Stohrer bakery, opened in 1731 by the official pastry chef of King Louis XV of France. You have to try its most popular recipe: Babà au rhum, a traditional dessert named after a tale in One Thousand and One Nights.
The Bastille: A landmark of French history
In 1789, a furious mob tore down the Bastille prison, marking the beginning of the Revolution. Today, this site displays a column as a symbol of peace and is located in the square known as Place de la Bastille, an official historical monument of France.
The neighborhood housing the Bastille features the oldest passage in Paris: Faubourg Saint-Antoine, which connects Place de la Bastille with Place de la Nation. Nearby, it’s worth visiting the planted promenade (promenade plantée), the Bastille Market, one of the largest markets in Paris, and the graves of Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Isadora Duncan, and Marcel Proust, along with other equally important figures in the leafy Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Gros-Caillou, the neighborhood by the Eiffel Tower
The home of the symbol of Paris and all of France: the Eiffel Tower. This triangular area is bordered by Avenue de la Bourdonnais to the southwest and Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg to the east.
The entire area surrounding the Eiffel Tower is unmissable, especially the Trocadéro area and the Champ de Mars, two of the best spots to admire it. You can explore it with a guide on this free tour of Paris and the Eiffel Tower.
Of course, the Eiffel Tower is a must-stop in Gros-Caillou, but it’s not the only one. The Rodin Museum, the Musée d’Orsay, the Pont Alexandre III, and the beautiful Sainte-Clotilde are among the most important monuments you can discover here.
If you want to see several of these monuments from a different perspective, we recommend a night tour of Paris with a cruise on the Seine.
Montparnasse: Between catacombs and cemeteries
The Paris Catacombs, located in this neighborhood of district 14, were first used as a cemetery during the French Revolution. After a thousand years of city history, Parisian cemeteries became completely overcrowded, and as a result, it’s estimated that more than 6 million people found their final resting place in this Parisian necropolis.
The catacombs consist of more than 300 kilometers of labyrinthine tunnels filled with skulls and bones, although only a section of one and a half kilometers is open to the public.
This district of Paris is also home to the famous Montparnasse Cemetery, which houses the graves of Charles Baudelaire, Guy de Maupassant, Marguerite Duras, and many other recognized figures.
But Montparnasse is not just about cemeteries. Nearby is the Cartier Foundation and the Montparnasse Tower, the second tallest skyscraper in France.
The French jazz era of the 30s is still present at the Rosebud bar, which on rue Delambre hosted intellectuals like Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, where today you can enjoy classic cocktails and new versions of drinks served by formal waiters in white suits.
Champs-Élysées: the most beautiful street in Paris
On the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, you can visit the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, shop at the luxury stores on Avenue Montaigne, and stroll through Place de la Concorde.
In the area stands the Luxor Obelisk, given by Egypt, which in ancient times marked the entrance to the Temple of Luxor: this is the oldest monument in Paris. The obelisk is surrounded by two ornate fountains that became very famous for their cameo in the movie “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Discover more anecdotes about this square and other must-see places on the Paris Monumental Tour, which includes the Champs-Élysées, the Grand Palais, and the Petit Palais, the Alexander III Bridge, La Madeleine, and much more.
Our Paris Night Tour guides you on foot through this neighborhood at its moment of greatest splendor.
Place Vendôme: luxury at its finest
Among the many attractions you can see in this area of the Paris map, several must-sees are close to Place Vendôme. Surrounded by beautiful mansions, this symbolic square proudly displayed decapitated heads during the revolution. Today, the French Ministry of Justice is located here, as well as many luxury brands in Paris.
Nearby is the Tuileries Garden and the largest museum in the world, the Louvre. If you walk 15 minutes from there, you will find the Orangerie Museum.
On rue du Mont Thabor is the famous restaurant Ferdi, popular in the neighborhood and also in the world of celebrities. Its menu features classic French dishes with a modern twist, and its burgers have gained great fame. Make a reservation weeks in advance because it tends to be full!
Discover more activities to do in the capital of France with the best tours in Paris.