Where is the best place to stay in Paris. The safest and most convenient districts of paris, rating. 12th arrondissement of Paris

The capital of France needs no introduction: every year tens of millions of tourists come here who know perfectly well what they want to see in Paris itself and its suburbs. But they all have one thing in common: they all need somewhere to live. Parisian hotels, however, do not indulge travelers with accessibility and service: hotels here are expensive, and a room costing 120-150 euros does not at all guarantee you all imaginable and unimaginable benefits - it may well turn out to be a closet under the very roof with a non-working shower and breakfast in the form of coffee and a croissant. To prevent this from happening, you need to responsibly choose a hotel.

It hardly makes sense to settle outside the city center in Paris: it’s far from the sleeping areas and suburbs to get to the sights, and it’s expensive - the metro in Paris also costs money. Therefore, I advise you to pay attention only to those hotels that are located more or less close to the sights of the center. At the same time, it is not difficult to navigate - the hotel will certainly indicate in the description that it is located, say, 100–200 meters from the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe, or some other iconic landmark. This is especially important if you are traveling to Paris for the first time - focusing on well-known sites, the likelihood of getting lost in search of a hotel is much lower.

What is the best area to stay in Paris?

If you look at the map of Paris, then preference should be given to hotels located in the first 9 arrondissements (administratively, Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements). However, there are good hotels in other districts, and in the process of choosing a hotel, it is perhaps more expedient to focus not so much on the administrative division, but on the convenience of accommodation in certain districts or even quarters of the city.

Surroundings of the Louvre

The "most central" district of Paris is called Louvre(louvre)(This is the 1st arrondissement and is often referred to as the "Louvre Shuttle" on booking sites.) As you can easily understand, most of it is occupied by the Louvre Palace Museum itself, as well as the Tuileries Garden adjacent to it, part of Rivoli Street, Place Vendôme and the Palais Royal (often also called the Palais Royal). If you stay in this area, then an undoubted advantage will be the presence of many attractions within walking distance from your hotel, and there is a high probability that a piece of the Louvre will be visible from the window of your room, and you will live in some historical building, besides Rivoli Street has a significant number of shops, cafes and restaurants. There are also disadvantages, and quite significant: the cost of living in the local hotels is quite high, even for the most modest conditions they can ask for 120-180 euros per day or more, and it often happens that the description of the hotel and photos on its website do not quite correspond to reality. Since the buildings in this area are quite old, it may well turn out that the hotel does not have an elevator, and you will have to carry luggage on your own from the floor to the 4th floor. Another disadvantage is often small bathrooms, but this can be tolerated if it were not for poor pressure or lack of hot water. It often happens that the rooms are not equipped with air conditioning (this is especially important if you are going to Paris in the summer), the audibility between the rooms is terrible, and the furniture in the rooms is very shabby. To save yourself from contemplating all of the above, the reviews of tourists left on hotel booking sites will help: they will definitely not be silent if any of the above is noticed in the hotel. Despite the respectability of the area as a whole, I would not advise settling in the quarter that is located around the Forum des Halles shopping center- in the evenings it is rather dull there and I personally do not inspire confidence in periodically hanging around teenage groups, sometimes aggressive.

In the Louvre district, you can pay attention, for example, to the Mansart hotel with spacious rooms and bathrooms, or the cute design hotel Odyssey by Elegancia with colorful rooms, or the cozy Le Relais Saint-Honoré. If you like to cook on your own and want to feel like a Parisian, you should take a closer look at the apartments - for example, Apartments du Louvre, where you will have a fully equipped kitchen, a washing machine, etc. at your disposal. If the budget of the trip is not limited, then it makes sense to stay at Hôtel De Vendôme, overlooking Place Vendôme.

Place de la Concorde

Located next to the Louvre Place de la Concorde(Place de la Concorde) from which the Champs Elysees begin. In my opinion, from the point of view of walking, this is the best place to stay in the center of Paris: the Louvre is 10 minutes on foot from here, and this walk will be pleasant - through the Tuileries Gardens; from here it is convenient to go for a walk towards the Les Invalides (L "hôtel des Invalides) and in the direction of the Orsay Museum (Musée d'Orsay), not to mention the fact that the Eiffel Tower is literally at hand. Try, however, to avoid hotels / rooms , which overlook directly the Place de la Concorde - this is one of the noisiest squares in Paris.But in the depths of the district, on the contrary, it is very worth settling - it is much quieter here, because access to many streets is closed, and perhaps a car can go to a neighboring shop bring groceries. By the way, there are not only several grocery stores in this area, but also many cute cafes where you can have breakfast. Based on personal experience, I can recommend the pretty hotel New Hotel Roblinlocated near the Madeleine church (l "église de la Madeleine ) - in our room, for example, there was a spacious bathroom with a window into the courtyard, and in the bedroom there was a small balcony.

Champs Elysees and surroundings

Live near champs elysees(les Champs-Élysees), which stretch from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, is also quite interesting. Closer to the Place de la Concorde, hotels are located in traditional Parisian mansard houses, and if your room is on the top floor, it is very likely that you will get a nice balcony or attic. Further, towards the Arc de Triomphe, there are a large number of shops, and finally, near the arch itself there is a quite traditional quarter that does not lack food stalls, which are much more numerous here than shoe and bag stores (in the center it is usually the other way around). It is convenient to live here if your goal is shopping or trips outside the central districts of Paris (for example, to the Abbey of Saint-Denis or the Chateau de Vincennes) - the Gare St. Lazare station is located nearby, where 5 metro lines intersect, and close by both the shops of the Champs Elysees and the boutiques of Rue St. honore. It’s worth taking a closer look here, for example, at the Wo Wilson-Opera by Elegancia hotel, from where it’s convenient to go to shops on the boulevards, or at the Best Western Premier Opera Diamond chain, from which you can walk even to the Louvre, even to Montmartre. The Royal Garden Champs-Elysees hotel also seemed to me a nice option for staying, where we got a good and rather spacious room with a garden balcony and where there was absolutely no noise from the street, although the window was open all the time. I fell in love with the Arioso hotel for its patio with a spiral staircase, a balcony with a table and a chair, and walls upholstered in traditional Parisian-style cotton. In the immediate vicinity of the Arc de Triomphe, I can recommend Hotel Duret, in a quiet, not crowded place, there is a supermarket and many cafes nearby.

latin quarter

A popular and quite convenient place to base is also considered latin quarter(Quartier Latin), where the Sorbonne is located, one of the oldest universities in the world. The main attractions of the area are the Pantheon, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Baths of Cluny. Despite the fact that there are no less tourists in the same Luxembourg Gardens than in the Tuileries Park near the Louvre, the area itself looks more calm and homely, grandmothers are often seen walking their dogs or going home with a baguette under their arms. Closer to the university, there are a large number of inexpensive bistros, which are designed mainly for students, but tourists can also save a little on food. There are also shops here, and not only grocery stores, but also second-hand bookshops and antiques. The sights of the Ile de la Cité and the Louvre are also within easy reach from the Latin Quarter - all you need to do is cross the bridge. In this area, I like the Villa Pantheon, located a block from the Pantheon and decorated in the pre-war style, although, of course, there are other options.

Montparnasse

A good area to live in Paris, in my opinion, are the vicinity of the station monaparnasse(Montparnasse). There are not as many attractions here as in the very center, but they are still there: this is a tall observation tower from where you can see the whole of Paris, and the cemetery of the same name, no less visited than Père Lachaise. The area around the station (just in case, there are seven railway stations in Paris) is not a “station”, but quite decent, here we calmly walked both late at night and early in the morning. The main advantage of the area is good infrastructure: there are many grocery stores, and there is a huge shopping center at the metro exit, so in any case you won’t leave without shopping and you won’t stay hungry. A possible disadvantage of the area may be its remoteness from the center, but for those who like to walk a lot, this is not a problem - in some 20-25 minutes you can walk to the Eiffel Tower, and in 15-20 minutes - to the Luxembourg Gardens. In this area, I can recommend the modern Concorde Montparnasse hotel, where we got a room overlooking the square with fountains (we have repeatedly stayed in hotels of this chain in Europe and have always been satisfied). Hotel Waldorf Montparnasse, where we also stayed at one time, is located opposite the Montparnasse Tower, the rooms here are very compact, but cozy, I liked the large window into the courtyard in the bathroom. In this area, you can also live closer to the catacombs, it's a 15-minute walk from the station - the convenience is that a special bus comes to the square near the catacombs from Orly airport (Orlybas - Orlybus), and you can spend the night here (in a hotel, not in the catacombs) and the next day move towards the station to go in the right direction. Here I can safely recommend Best Western Nouvel Orléans with spacious rooms by Parisian standards with a balcony.

I will continue the topic Parisian railway stations , of which, as I wrote above, there are already seven pieces in Paris. Living next to them is optimal when you are passing through Paris and the next day early in the morning you need to go further. As an option, if you have quite a lot of time for a trip, you can combine hotels in Paris: while you are walking around the city, it is logical to live closer to the center so as not to beat your legs in vain, and when you need to leave, for example, to Tours or Reims with Amiens, you can move closer to the station, so as not to jump up neither light nor dawn, but calmly (and perhaps even on foot) take a walk towards the station. The areas near most of the stations are not at all scary, but rather bourgeois, quite orderly, they are all the same, as in the center, houses with attics that still remember Baron Osman. For those who are going to leave the Gare de Lyon station or the Gare d "Austerlitz station across the river, I can recommend the Villa Lutèce Port Royal hotel, from where it is about 10 minutes walk to the mentioned stations. A cozy hotel, however, several cramped, but cramped - sweet, not interfering, but giving a sort of charm.

There are other quite popular areas in Paris, such as Montmartre or Marais.

Montmartre

Montmartre(Montmartre) considered one of the most picturesque districts of Paris, artists, poets, writers and journalists have long settled here (many of whom, by the way, subsequently migrated to Montparnasse discussed above). Now there are a large number of shops selling all sorts of things and overpriced, in my opinion, cafes and restaurants, which shamelessly enjoy the popularity of the area. It’s nice to walk around Montmartre and buy all sorts of nonsense, but I don’t advise living here - personalities are constantly spinning here who strive to snatch your bag from you, tangling your hands with colored threads, beggars come across here, and in the evenings numerous establishments open under red lantern (and we are not talking about Chinese restaurants at all) and erotic-themed shops.

Mare

Area Mare(Marais) located closer to the center, in the 3rd and 4th arrondissement of Paris, and is still considered trendy now - not least because the gay community has chosen this area. There are a couple of streets of authentic, real Paris, where you can easily stumble upon a half-timbered building, and it’s 10–15 minutes walk to the center from here, so the area is strategically located well, but, in my opinion, it is very overrated, and in some hotels, even recommended by guidebooks, for example, Hotel de la Bretonnerie, there is something to complain about (if you get up late, you may not have enough pastries at breakfast), but you don’t really want to - it’s painfully cozy.

Defense

If you are going to Paris far from the first time, then to complete the picture, you can settle in an area where you have not been yet - for example, in Defense(La Defense), Parisian Manhattan. This is a good opportunity to see a place to which all the time it was impossible to reach. There is a fairly large number of retail spaces and a significant number of modern art monuments, while the area is well connected to the center of Paris by public transport. Hotels in La Defense are all modern, with spacious rooms, and you can often book a fine room with breakfast here for as little as 110-130 euros, which is not at all expensive for Paris. I advise you, in particular, to pay attention to the Hilton Paris La Defense hotel, where you can choose pillows for your room in advance and buy metro tickets without problems and queues.

What else to consider when choosing a hotel in Paris

In conclusion, I will add a few words about the features typical of Parisian hotels in general. It should be understood that with the high congestion of Paris with tourists staff a significant number of hotels are not at all interested in accepting you as relatives (tourists are already so full, why else try), but they answer most questions and do their job - to put you in a room - they do quite clearly. Breakfasts in the vast majority of Parisian hotels, in our understanding, they are scarce and not worth their money at all: if breakfast costs 6-8 euros per person, this, as a rule, means that coffee and croissants will be served. If breakfast costs 12–15 euros, then they will add more cereal and, possibly, some fruit and cheese. There are exceptions, but in most cases you can safely refuse hotel breakfasts and eat in your room or in the nearest cafe, fortunately, Paris does not experience a shortage of catering establishments. Availability in the hotel room kettle or coffee maker- rather an exception to the rule, this is very rare. If you prefer to travel by car, you need to remember that automobile- not the best means of transportation in the French capital, it is better to leave the car in the parking lot and use public transport or a bicycle to move around the city.

See also:

See also:

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i-Traveler.ru : details about self-standing travel - where to start, where it is better to book hotels, how to plan an itinerary and other important questions

Traveling is an important component of a person's self-development, it is not only a way out of the comfort zone, but also gaining new experience, knowledge and changing habitual outlooks on life. A trip to another country both fascinates and frightens new tourists. Once abroad, many are afraid of the appearance of unsolvable problems. Therefore, the trip is planned for months and even years, from buying tickets to booking hotels. But if you decide to rent an apartment for a day or a month in another country, or choose the location of the hotel, then how to determine where it would be better to live in Paris, and what areas of Paris exist?

Conditional division

Like any large city, Paris is divided not only into districts, but also into districts. Depending on the approach to the outskirts, twenty districts are divided. Each of them should be visited in order to plunge not only into the beautiful life of the center of the capital of France, but also to appreciate the daily existence of the nation. Licked tourist streets will not give an understanding of how people in this city really live.

However, even if you are going to visit each of the districts, you will have to choose only one for residence, but how to determine where it is better to live in Paris?

Below we will give a brief description of each district and their nuances, but you will have to choose only one. To make it easier to determine where it is better for a tourist to live within Paris, it is necessary to take into account several important parameters:

1. Remoteness from public transport and places of landing on it. It depends on the particular hotel or house you rent, but still, in the center, the metro or tram will be much more crowded than in the outskirts, and this is worth considering. In principle, you should not count on a taxi in Europe, and there are several reasons for this. A small number of taxi drivers, even in the capital of France, speak English. It is wrong for the French to speak a foreign language in their own country, because they are an extremely patriotic nation. Although the service staff in hotels and some restaurants knows without fail, at least English. From the lips of taxi drivers you will hear mainly French with dialectisms. Taxis in Europe are an expensive pleasure, because the well-established infrastructure there allows people to easily get there by public transport, and the high standard of living makes it possible for anyone who wants to buy or borrow a car. Accordingly, taxi prices will surprise you unpleasantly and cost you the same as dinner in an average cafe or restaurant. Not to mention that tourists are told the price is 2 or 3 times higher than the residents of Paris, and it is extremely easy to understand that you are not a local.
2. Proximity to the center. Even if the nearest metro station is a 10-minute walk, and you live on the outskirts of the city, it will still take up to half an hour to get to the first district. It is much more pleasant to go outside and immediately see many sights or walk to the Louvre on foot in the same half an hour. In parallel, you can explore the architecture of the city, rather than crowding in public transport. The closer to the outskirts, the quieter and calmer in the areas, and the brighter the color of the country itself becomes. Naturally, prices for food are also decreasing, including in catering establishments.
3. your personal preference. Each district has its own flavor and characteristics, respectively, here it is already a subjective matter for everyone, what is more to their liking. Some districts are filled with old buildings, some are closer to the station and airport. This will allow you to quickly get to your place of residence from a long flight or trip. You need to decide what is the main choice for you.
4. Travel budget. This is the most influential factor, because in the districts close to the first, the prices for accommodation and meals are high; if you want to rent an inexpensive hostel or even rent housing for a few days, then this is worth doing from the 8th district and beyond. The areas along the Seine and the central ones are considered tourist areas, respectively, the prices for living there are extremely high.

Best choice for tourist

The best place for a tourist with an average budget is the area along Rivoli Street, opposite the Louvre, all the most important sights are within walking distance. If the trip is planned for no more than a week, then you can stay not only in expensive hotels, like the famous Ritz, but also in more mundane establishments with 2 or 3 stars. Even 4-stars bring down the price of a room by almost 2 times, or more, although you will not notice a big difference in the level of service, traveling all day around the city and only coming to spend the night.

Therefore, most often a tourist center means exactly the district along the Seine or the 1st metro line, as well as hostels and hotels nearby. It passes through all the important sights, respectively, if you find an overnight stay within a 10-minute walk, then without much effort you can walk through all the important places in 1-2 days. Among the best places to live is also a segment from the city hall of Paris to the Arc de Triomphe, the first 7 districts fall here.

What can a tourist visit?

Within walking distance from these districts is not only the Louvre, but also the Notre Dame Cathedral, as well as many other famous museums, both modern and classical art. But to travel to the Eiffel Tower or Montmartre you will need public transport.

Outlying Hotels

Paris is also suitable for relatively budget travel, because you can always choose an overnight stay in the Montmartre area. So, you will be closer to the Sacré-Coeur and the Eiffel Tower, and getting to the same first arrondissement of Paris will not be difficult.

If you are going to save money when traveling to Paris, then you should not be afraid of public transport, it is cheap and extremely convenient. The infrastructure of the city is developed and adjusted even better than in Moscow or St. Petersburg. That is why it is worth choosing a place to sleep closer to the 1st branch, so you can get anywhere without transfers.

Another good solution would be housing in the Latin Quarter on the left bank of the Seine, on the right you should pay attention to the Chatelet - Le Alle, formerly the Womb of Paris, where one of the largest shopping centers in Europe is located. The Marais area will also be a good and budget solution. However, if you want to save even more, then you should consider the districts as far from the center as possible, but in this case, caution is needed.

The 11th, 14th, 17th and up to the 20th district can be dangerous for first-time tourists, despite the fact that, compared to the center, housing there costs almost a penny. The winding streets and relatively high crime rate are not suitable for someone who visits the city for the first time and wants to leave a positive impression about it. There are many old buildings and beautiful architecture. However, on your first trip, you are unlikely to want to breathe in the atmosphere of the residential areas of Paris, so it is better not to go there.

Features of districts

The first 7 arrondissements of Paris are the best choice, but each of them has its own characteristics that may influence your decision.

1. The first arrondissement is traditionally the district of the rich and is located in the heart of Paris. It is here that the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden are located, serving as a favorite place for tourists from all over the world. Also here you will find the most expensive fashion boutiques and fashionable 5-star hotels, one of which stayed Princess Diana. There is also a giant shopping center here, and the area itself is a commercial center. This is the safest place for the first visit to the country and the capital, and the district itself lacks the inscription "Lux", as well as in all its accommodations, shops and even ordinary cafes. Living here is a pleasure.
2. The second district, which is the financial center of Paris, is a small layer between the first and third; the famous Paris Stock Exchange is located here. There are fewer hotels here, but the quality is high, and prices are 10-20 percent lower than in the previous version. The convenience of the district lies in the fact that it is located between the hammer and the anvil - the Paris Opera and the Louvre.
3. All lovers of history will feel at home in the fourth district, because this is the official and historical center of the city, not far from the main areas of the city. Here is the city hall, as well as the Cathedral of Notre-Dam de Paris and the Marais quarter with part of the Latin. The penultimate one was practically untouched during perestroika and the ancient architecture, with all the finds of that time, remained in place. Pompidou is also located here. If you do not want to visit only the most banal tourist "hooks", but want to personally see the mixture of modern and old city with average housing prices - choose this option.
4. The sixth arrondissement is a favorite place for all Parisians, although there are not very many sights in it. It's all about the beauty and well-groomed streets, as well as parks and high security, because it's still close to the center of Paris. Place de la Bastille, the Champs-Elysées, the Church of Saint-Sulpice and the Luxembourg Gardens are the main attractions in this area. They will also be a good choice for excursions and rest between walks in the center. Prices here are skyrocketing again, the district itself is the residence of many famous personalities, whether they are writers or artists. And now more than one famous cultural figure still lives there. Most of the famous French people you can meet in Paris, who live there, can often be found walking or jogging in the park.
5. The seventh arrondissement has average and expensive hotels, but if you want windows with a view of the Eiffel Tower, you will have to pay almost the same as in the first arrondissement. It is this attraction that makes this area a favorite among tourists. The eastern seventh district will be a good place for a walk.

Of the extreme districts, it is worth noting the 12th and 14th, which are safe and comfortable for life, given the affordable prices in hostels, as well as catering establishments. The only drawback is that it is difficult to get to the center. The 13th arrondissement is also a good choice, with plenty of bike rentals and the city's Chinatown.

Conclusion

It is not necessary to spend fabulous sums on your first visit to the capital of France, however, if you are ready to do this, then the center will provide you with the highest class of service and many places for leisure.

For those who want to enjoy the atmosphere, and the Eiffel Tower, visible from the window, is not the main point of the trip, slightly more distant areas will do. In them you can see the whole life of the city and get acquainted with the indigenous people. The main thing is to try to avoid settlements on the outskirts on your first trip, because for tourists without knowledge of French, this is a dense forest in which you risk spending your entire vacation.

Paris is divided into 20 administrative districts. Each district is like a separate city. Here and the mayor and living conditions for tourists are different. Let's talk about each district in terms of accommodation for tourists. In the attached file you will find a map of Paris with districts to better understand what we are talking about.

First arrondissement of Paris

Second arrondissement of Paris

The best hotels in Paris in the 2nd arrondissement at the link.

Third arrondissement of Paris

Fourth arrondissement of Paris

You can see the best hotels in the fourth district of Paris.

5th arrondissement of Paris

6th arrondissement of Paris

There are few world-famous attractions here. However, the favorite place of the Parisians. The district, one of the most pleasant and beautiful quarters of the city, is comfortably located in this place. Philosophers and writers once lived here, and now just the intellectual intelligentsia of Paris. Also in the sixth arrondissement is the most Parisian park - a place for jogging and relaxing for Parisians. There is a church in the same area. There are many art galleries and exhibitions here, and the locals will invite you to stay in their designer apartments. As a result, the district is calm and quiet, and at the same time it is still the center of Paris.

The best hotels and apartments in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, see the link.

7th arrondissement of Paris

8th arrondissement of Paris

9th arrondissement of Paris

The 9th arrondissement has perhaps the best value for money hotels in Paris. There are many 3-star hotels at relatively reasonable prices.

The best hotels in the 9th arrondissement of Paris are listed at the link.

Tenth arrondissement of Paris

We are gradually starting to move away from the center of Paris. In there are two stations in the neighborhood - and. By the way, it arrives at Vostochny. However, these two stations are far from the best place in Paris. There is a huge concentration of immigrants and pickpockets. You can live here, but be vigilant and careful. But accommodation is much cheaper than in previous districts, and there are many student hostels.

Eleventh arrondissement of Paris

12th arrondissement of Paris

thirteenth arrondissement of Paris

14th arrondissement of Paris

Fifteenth arrondissement of Paris

Good area, but you will not find attractions here. Although it is not far from and. Safe, quiet, peaceful area. And here are relatively inexpensive hotels.

16th arrondissement of Paris

- the richest and most prosperous district of Paris! Living here is comfortable, living here is comfortable, living here is very prestigious! The dream of any Parisian is to move to the 16th arrondissement. It borders on

Arriving in the French capital, not all tourists think about which districts of Paris they will visit on their journey. They are interested in several famous sights that are definitely worth seeing and taking photos against their background. Meanwhile, the magical city is fraught with a large number of charming corners and wonderful architectural monuments, located far from the tourist trails and therefore less famous.

If you want to enjoy Paris to the fullest and explore it as best you can, then you need to learn more about the districts of the city. This will help not only to orient yourself in the French capital, but also to create an ideal travel route for yourself. What are they, the districts of Paris, and what interesting things can be found in each of them?

How is the capital of France divided?

Administratively, the French capital is divided into 20 sections called districts. Each of them is a separate "town", headed by its own mayor. All counties are assigned a specific number from 1 to 20 and a zip code. The authorities decided to number the numbering, starting from the city center and moving in a spiral from west to east to the outskirts of the capital. It turned out 3 spiral circles.

Expert opinion

Knyazeva Victoria

Guide to Paris and France

The smallest were located in the center, and the districts of the outskirts became large in area. The map of the districts of Paris, if you look at it, resembles a snail. All areas were divided into 4 quarters, arranging a police station in each of them.

Central areas of the city

The oldest districts of Paris are located in its center. The historical core of the capital, from which in 52 AD. and began the history of the city, is the 1st arrondissement of Paris, the Louvre. Located in the western part and opposite the right-bank territories adjacent to the Seine, the area is small in size. But because of the rich history, it is literally “stuffed” with sights. Here is the largest museum on the planet, the Louvre, after which the district is named.

The 1st arrondissement of Paris occupied a huge market for more than 8 centuries, described in detail by E. Zola in the novel The Belly of Paris. Now a multi-level shopping center-forum has been built here. The architectural gem of the area is the Saint-Chapelle chapel. The theater Comédie Francaise is located in this district; Moliere himself staged his productions here. History buffs will love the Louvre area.

Paris is a city without a center, where instead of the main square there are numerous districts of Paris, each of which is beautiful in its own way and could safely claim to be the facade of the French capital.

Main division of Paris- on the left and right sides. Historically, it has been Left Bank (Rive Gauche) with overgrown latin quarter around the Sorbonne - bohemian and artistic, where students, artists, poets and artists live, and Right Bank (Rive Droite)- administrative and business.

Of course, today this distinction is no longer so obvious, noisy parties are thundering throughout the city, and office buildings have filled everything around, but still, this difference in the characters of the Left and Right Banks hovers somewhere in the atmosphere.

Paris is divided into 20 districts: the 1st is the most central, and then the districts grow in a spiral towards the outskirts.

Districts from the 1st to the 6th are considered historical (tourists rarely leave these areas with museums, architectural monuments and ancient buildings), the western 7th, 16th and 17th are prestigious and expensive, the aristocracy traditionally settled here , and the northern and eastern 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th and 20th are more democratic, there are more students, workers and immigrants.

What are the most colorful quarters of Paris? About this in our article.

Ile de la Cite, Ile Saint-Louis and Quartier Latin

Island of the City- the same one where Notre Dame Cathedral stands. Perhaps you should start your acquaintance with Paris from here in order to immediately plunge into the city from a postcard: enjoy the luxurious architecture, climb onto the roof of the cathedral and look at the roofs of Paris along with the gargoyles of Notre Dame, walk along the embankment, where old books and magazines are sold on the ruins. True, be prepared to share space with hundreds of the same curious: there are more architectural monuments here than residential buildings, and there are more tourists and police officers than local residents.

Second island Saint Louis- the absolute opposite of the City - quiet and calm, the richest people in Paris live here.

The main attraction of the island - Cafe Berthillon, which has been serving the best ice cream in all of France for half a century, 70 varieties of which are prepared according to the recipes of Mr. Reymond Bertillon.

The address: Berthillon - 31, rue Saint-Louis-en-I'lle, Wednesday-Sunday from 10.00 to 20.00, closed during school holidays

latin quarter- the traditional abode of students and professors. There are gradually more and more tourists here, but so far the area retains its charm. You can have a great dinner in the narrow lanes: local taverns and restaurants offer famous formulas, when for 10 euros you can taste a set of appetizers, main course and dessert.

Around the Louvre

TO Louvre it is worth going not so much for the sake of the museum itself, but for the sake of the surroundings around. Views from Place du Carrousel you will never forget: on the one hand - the square in front of the Louvre with fountains and towers, on the other - tuileries garden And Triumphal Arch. Walk in the garden, sit on the famous chairs around the ponds, walk to Place de la Concorde with majestic sculptures and go further to Champs Elysees.

It's funny, but the Tuileries Garden has not turned into a living monument - every morning (and afternoon, and evening) crowds of French run around it, confirming by their own example the status of a healthy and athletic nation.

Les Halles and Marais

The main thing in these areas is, of course, Pompidou Center. And even if you are not a fan of modern art, it is worth wandering here for the real life in front of the museum: street musicians, jugglers and artists, constant performances, an eternal holiday that is always with you.

And you can walk around the Marais all day long - narrow streets with shops of young designers, cafes and art galleries, this is the same Paris - beautiful, but not crowded with tourists.

Saint-Germain-des-Pres

Once this quarter was considered the philosophical capital of the world, around Odeon Square was written by half of the French, English and American literature of the 20th century. Today, the area is one of the most bourgeois in Paris, with designer boutiques and antique shops scattered throughout.

Be sure to take a walk Luxembourg garden- a favorite among the parks of the Parisians themselves. In addition to the famous ponds, flowers, the Luxembourg Palace and the Medici Fountain, it is pleasant to watch the locals here: students with notes, couples in love on benches and pensioners playing petanque.

Montparnasse

Today tourists go to Montparnasse to climb the famous tower, which offers the best view in the city, and visit the ashes of the great at the local cemetery, and once real life was in full swing here: Picasso, Apollinaire, Modigliani lived and worked here.

During the golden age between the two world wars, famous artists and writers would gather on cafe terraces and discuss politics. The former glory is long gone, and instead of democratic cafes, the showroom of the Cartier Foundation now flaunts.

Trocadero and Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)

This 7th arrondissement of Paris is home to embassies, ministries and government offices. First time look at Eiffel Tower worth it with Trocadero: from here it appears in all its glory and grandeur, and this view is much more breathtaking than if you look at the Tower from below or from Field of Mars (Champ de Mars). Be sure to reach Walls of the World (Mur pour la Paix), where the word "Peace" is engraved on a glass wall in various languages.

Montmartre

When approaching the heart of Montmartre - the hill with the basilica Sacre Coeur - it becomes a little scary: crowds of tourists and sellers with key rings, trying to tie bracelets on your wrists as a keepsake almost by force (for which, of course, they later demand money). Climb the hill (on foot or by funicular), take in Paris from a bird's eye view, and head deeper into Montmartre to be surprised to find almost deserted streets with local old ladies and bakeries, where the cozy atmosphere of the former French village is still preserved.

Where is the best NOT to stay?

Of course, Paris is a big city, so troubles can happen anywhere, but still in some areas it is better not to deliberately settle. Some places are really unsafe, some can be just frustrating to come home late at night.

For example, Montmartre is a great place for morning walks, but pickpockets often hunt in narrow alleys late at night. It is especially unsafe near the Barbes-Rochechouart metro station.

The 10th arrondissement of Anclos-Saint-Laurent (around Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est and Canal Saint-Martin) is popular with adventurers heading to the local red-light district, but unfortunately, the adventures you can earn on your head are not the most pleasant . But housing here is understandably cheap, there are many student hostels, so if you dare to stay, be careful.

The 11th arrondissement, the center of which is Place de la Bastille, is hectic, here every day until late at night music plays and parties rumble, and drugs are on sale. Especially unsafe near Belleville and Couronne stations.

District 13 Tapestry is a local Chinatown where many immigrants from the East live: Chinese, Filipinos, Malays, Koreans and Vietnamese, they are all quite calm and harmless.

The 19th arrondissement of Butte Chaumont has traditionally had a bad reputation, but lately things have been getting better and the area around the Buttes Chaumont is getting safer.

The 20th arrondissement of Mesnilmontant, where the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery is located, is not quiet, here, as in the 13th arrondissement, many immigrants live.