Paris neighborhoods: Les Halles, or Latin Quarter?

Question

Does anyone know if Les Halles is safe for 2 women (mid 30's) travelling together? The option is near intersection of Rue Rambuteau and Blvd de Sabastopol, in the pedestrian square.

Answer 1

Les Halles is close to Le Marais. Latin Quarter is more fun/funky ... but also more for younger people. If you like shopping -- especially in boutiques for one-offs -- Les Halles would be better. It also abuts the (mostly male) g*y neighbourhood, which should be a relative haven for you.

Le Marais is generally east of your hotel ... a 5-10 minute walk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Marais

Answer 2

Latin Quarter, no question.

Answer 3

I agree with David. Stay in the Latin Quarter.

The area around les Halles also has more than its fair share of prostitutes and drug addicts just a few blocks over on the rue St. Denis.

While Paris is generally safe and you are not likely to have trouble anywhere in the city center there are a few places which can be a bit dicey. the area around Les Halles is one of them.

Answer 4

If you have a choice between Les Halles or the Quartier Latin, my advice would be to stay in the latter. Les Halles is not especially dangerous, but bored and antagonistic teens from the Seine Saint-Denis (suburbs north and northeast of Paris) tend to hang out there, and it's a less than extremely pleasant atmosphere in my book. Also, and this is a matter of taste, I find the underground shopping mall at Les Halles to be rather ugly. If you stay in the Quartier Latin on the other hand, you're in the heart of one of the most beautiful parts of the city.

Answer 5

Quartier Latin, hands down. Les Halles is the meeting ground for teenagers, tourists, gangs, police, street artists.... It is not unsafe but it is not pleasant either. And blvd Sebastopol is a big street with plenty of traffic and not much to see. Go visit Les Halles during the day, it is lively, but not a place you'd like to have your hotel in.

Quartier Latin is very touristy but the atmosphere is totally different. And the place itself is lovely.

Answer 6

I just got back from an eight day stay at the Hotel Minerve in the Latin Quarter.  Very safe area. It was my fifth visit.  I went with a girl friend but I've also been there alone, twice.