Wow, Paris has a lot of Arrondissements!

When trying to find out what neighborhood you might want to stay in Paris, you will find the city broken down by Arrondissements (districts by number) and neighborhood names. Below is a list of the attributes of these neighborhoods as well as a couple of attractions within them.

1. First Arrondissement: Also called “Louvre”, this area is mostly taken up by The Louvre Museum and Tuileries Gardens as well as commercial interests. Centrally located, this neighborhood is a tourist hot-spot and hotels tend to be expensive here.
2. Second Arrondissement: Also called “Bourse”, is a mainly commercial area that also has some interesting neighborhoods and old markets. Take strolls on Grands Boulevards and Rue Montorqueil and don’t forget to visit Jean-Sans-Peur, the only other standing tower in Paris. It has a good choice of hotels.
3. Third Arrondissement: Also called “Temple”, contains part of the famous Marais neighborhood. This is the less vibrant part, though, and contains many old residences and museums like the Picasso Museum. This is a safe and quiet place to stay.
4. Fourth Arrondissement: Also “Beaubourg”, contains the trendy shops, bars and restaurants of the Marais and is has the oldest part of Paris. This district is many things including the Gay area of Paris. Also, Beaubourg is the Jewish center of Paris and shares the Place de la Bastille. This is a great place to stay for young people.
5. Fifth Arrondissement: The “Latin Quarter”, mixes young University students with businessmen and women. A great place to people watch and home to many churches as well The Great Mosque of Paris. Great stay for the “café scene”.
6. Sixth Arrondissement: “Saint Germain” and “Luxembourg”, while once bohemian in style, this area is now one of the most chic areas of Paris. It is a great center for shopping and another place to stay for the café scene.
7. Seventh Arrondissement: “Palais-Bourbon” contains the Eiffel Tower and Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon’s place of rest) is another hot-spot for tourists. The district contains high-wealth residences as well as government offices. A nice place for a quiet stay.



8. Eighth Arrondissement: “Elysees” contains Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. Home of the President of France, this district is home to elite shopping and is a main tourist area. This is a great place to stay for anyone but can tend to be expensive.
9. Ninth Arrondissement: “Opera” contains the Paris Opera and is similar to “Bourse” in that it is both commercial and residential and has many good places to stay in.
10. Tenth Arrondissement: “Enclos-Saint Laurent”, is home to two main rail stations, Gare du Nord and Gare de Iest. This is a bohemian district and is a trendy place to stay.
11. Eleventh Arrondissement: “Popincourt”, a mainly residential neighborhood, is home to the Place de Bastille. It has a cozy feel that is a reflection of the boutiques and upscale residences throughout the district. This is a nice neighborhood to stay in for anyone and the restaurants are very good.
12. Twelfth Arrondissement: “Reuilly”, is both residential and is a pleasant place to stay. Though not centrally located, the neighborhood is complimented by the large park, Bois de Vincennes. Also, the Bercy area will give you a village feel.
13. Thirteenth Arrondissement: “Gobelins”, contains Paris’ Chinatown and is mainly residential. Not the best place to stay or visit for strangers.
14. Fourteenth Arrondissement: “Observatoire” contains Montparnasse and its rail station: Gare Montparnasse. It is mostly residential and is a nice stay for anyone.
15. Fifteenth Arrondissement: ”Vaugirard”, has a range of residential makeup from the elite to the more affordable (yet still safe).
16. Sixteenth Arrondissement: “Passy”, is one of Paris’ elite districts. It has many beautiful avenues and is a nice place to stay
17. Seventeenth Arrondissement: “Batignolles-Monceau”, is much like 15 where there is a wide range of areas to stay. It’s a great choice if you do not being outside the city center.
18. Eighteenth Arrondissement: “Butte-Monmartre”, has more of a village feel and is a tourist haven. Sacre Coeur is located here. This has become a less attractive area, though, so there are better places to stay.
19. Nineteenth Arrondissement: “Buttes-Chaumont”, an area with many ethnic restaurants and shops.
20. Twentieth Arrondissement: “Ménilmontant”, is an up and coming residential area that is now leaning towards elite.

We hope this walk through of the neighborhoods help you in choosing where you would like to stay. Don't forget, more detailed descriptions are in the books we recommend in our Pilot's Bookstore.

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