Like most large cities in the world, Paris is made up of various neighborhoods that are referred to as ‘arrondissements’ (municipal or administrative districts). In Paris there are twenty of them with the 1st arrondissement located in the historic center, near the left bank of the River Seine, and the others arranged around the city in the form of a clockwise spiral.
Understanding the neighborhoods of Paris is very easy as the last two numbers of Parisian zip codes are directly related to them: for example, if you are in an address with the zip code 75018, this means you are in the 18th arrondissement. Each arrondissement has its own charm and uniqueness but most of the famous tourist attractions can be found in any of the first 8 districts. However, regardless of where you stay in Paris, every arrondissement is well connected by a wonderful Metro system that allows you to reach any part of the city within one transfer.
The following is a concise overview of the 20 arrondissements and their most popular sights and attractions.
1st Arrondissement of Paris – Louvre
Retaining the atmosphere of elegance andregality, 1st Arrondissement is the heart of the museum district, featuring city’s most beloved attractions, including Louvre Museum, the amazing Tuileries Gardens, Musée de l’Orangerie, Place Vendôme, the enormous shopping center of Forum des Halles, Palais-Royal, Pont Neuf Bridge, Ile de la Cite (natural island on the Seine), etc., add to this a wide range of luxury hotels and best restaurants. This is the least densely populated arrondissement where most space is taken up by the world-famous palaces and museums.
2nd Arrondissement of Paris – Bourse
This is the smallest of the arrondissements and one of the most diverse parts of the city that is primarily a business district centered on the Paris Opera. Its main highlights include the former Paris Bourse (stock exchange), the old National Library, Opera Comique concert hall, Rue Montorgueil, Galerie Vivienne, Theatre des Bouffes Parisians and Spa Renaissens. There is a good range of hotel accommodation to suit different visitors from budget 1 and two star hotels to luxury properties like Millennium Opera Hotel and Hotel Scribe Sofitel.
3rd Arrondissement of Paris – Temple and Beaubourg
Located on the Right Bank, 3rd Arrondissement blends bustling commercial areas with quiet residential streets and is often referred to as ‘Temple,’ for once a medieval fortress stood in there, built by a military order known as the Knights Templar. The 3rd Arrondissement offers many Paris museums, beautiful gardens and state-of-the-art architecture, among which Picasso Museum, Carnavalet Museum and Conservatoire des Arts et Métieres are of great importance. With wonderful restaurants, luxury hotels and a plethora of things to indulge in, this is possibly one of the best places to live in Paris.
4th Arrondissement in Paris – Hôtel-de-Ville
In the middle of Medieval Paris, The glorious gothic Notre Dame cathedral can be seen in the 4th arrondissement, as well as, St Chapelle, the Place des Vosges, Hôtel-de-Ville — Paris town hall and the gothic St-Jacques and the well-known George Centre Pompidou with its most famous modern art collection. The district is also home to the trendy southern part Le Marais, including the gay district.
5th Arrondissement in Paris – the Latin Quarter
Opposite the 4th Arrondissement, the 5th district is where Paris’s academic institutions are situated, including the world-famous Sorbonne, Ecole Polytécnique, as well as many other famous schools and colleges. Other noteworth sights include the Panthéon, St-Etienne-du-Mont church, the roman-era Arènes de Lutèce and the Plantes Garden. The area’s popular avenue, the Boulvard ST-Michel, marks the border with the next arrondissement. This is one of the most expensive areas in the capital, and if you want to buy property here, be ready to pay around 10,000 Euros per square meter.
Learn all about the city’s marvelous and very different neighborhoods as before or during your stay in Paris, they will help you to orient and easily find whatever you want!