What is the best general area to stay in in paris,( best arrondissement for a tourist?

Question

planning a 10 or 14 day vacation next year. first time in paris need quality information.

Answer 1

If you're going to be there that long, I would recommend staying somewhere slightly out of the main tourist areas, such as the Montparnasse district. Paris is very small and easy to get around, so if you make sure you're close to a Metro, you'll be able to get to all the sights very easily. But in the evening, you'll be able to eat and drink in nice local bars and restaurants, where both the food and the prices will be much better than in the rip-off tourist places.

Answer 2

best place to stay is bobigny or la courneuve around paris.great entertainment at night for free , cars burning , buses broken and smashed , terrorists all over .worth a visit and a little safer than iraq.

Answer 3

At the Splendid Hotel located next to Ecole Militaire.  It's walking distance from the Eiffel Tower and one block from the Metro.  We had a 5th floor room with a balcony,  Magnificent views of the tower, and the Arc de Triomphe.  Very near the Champs Elysee.

Answer 4

"Best" depends on what your expectations are.  You probably want a fairly lively area, close to the Metro and centrally located.

For that you are probably most interested in the Marais (3eme, 4eme), or the Rive Gauche (5eme, 6eme, 7eme).

However, don't overlook the rest of the Rive Gauche (13eme, 14eme, 15eme).  These are very nice districts, have a lot of charm with calm residential areas, and still close to good transport.

Answer 5

I'll suggest you Ascot Opera hotel - rue Monsigny no.2 (arr.2). It's a small hotel, cheap enough, but in a safe area, very well located, just close to the main "must see" places of the city.

Answer 6

My opinion is that for a tourist the 4th, 5th and 6th arrondissements are the best choices.

But I would go even further and suggest that you limit yourself to the parts of these arrondissements that are closest to the Seine. That means the southwest part of the 4th, the nortwest part of the 5th and the north half of the 6th.

This is because for a first time visitor to Paris who has only 10-14 days I think it is best to be in the very center of things.

Yes, it is true (as I myself often say) that Paris is a very compact city with an excellant public transport system (the best in the world in my opinion).

However,  it still takes time to get form one place to another. Being able to get back to your hotel room during the day in just a short walk (rather than even just a short Metro ride) is a great convenience when a sudden downpour soaks your socks or you need to use a bathroom.

Also, a first time visitor needs to be be able to quickly orient themselves to the city. If your hotel is within sight of Notre Dame or only a few steps to the Seine that becomes much easier to do.

And while I don't suggest patronizing cafes or restaurants that make a point of advertising that they speak English or have English menus, the fact is, that in the area I describe its all but imposible to find someone who doesn't speak English.

None of these factors may mean that much to those of us who are familiar with the city and speak French but I suspect that it can make a crucial difference to the first timer.