Paris Neighborhoods: 9 Parisian Districts You Absolutely Need to See

What You Need to Know About the Neighborhoods in Paris

Paris is divided into 20 administrative districts (arrondissements). The 1st arrondissement sits right in the city center and is the oldest part of the city. From there, the arrondissements spiral outward in a snail-shell pattern.

But the 20 arrondissements aren’t the end of it. Each district is further divided into 80 administrative units (quartiers). And those quartiers are what we ultimately call neighborhoods.

With 80 Paris neighborhoods spread across 105 square kilometers, there’s of course immense variety. Some are quiet and laid-back, others hip and alternative. And still others are historical and touristy.

We’re introducing you to the nine most beautiful Paris neighborhoods:

• Montmartre
• Cité
• Quartier Latin
• Marais
• Les Halles
• Canal Saint-Martin
• Odéon
• Belleville
• Père Lachaise

Each of these Parisian districts has its own unique character and highlights. A colorful mix so you can find the areas that suit your vibe and your sightseeing plans.

Our Top 9 Paris Neighborhoods on the Map

To help you get your bearings, we’ve marked the most beautiful Paris neighborhoods along with some key Parisian attractions on a map.

The neighborhoods outside the city center are super easy to reach by Paris Metro. From the Seine, train rides take between 30 and 45 minutes.

Montmartre

Montmartre is arguably the most famous neighborhood in Paris and ranks among the city’s most important must-sees in our book.

The neighborhood sits in the 18th arrondissement on the hill of the same name. You can get here easily by Metro.

In Montmartre, Paris’s creative culture meets mass tourism — in the best possible way.

What does that look like in practice? Lively squares lined with cafés and bistros, street performers of every kind, winding alleyways, and a wide variety of things to see.

Things you should see in Montmartre:

• Basilica of Sacré-Cœur: The second most famous church in Paris
• Moulin Rouge: The most famous cabaret in Paris
• Place du Tertre: A much-visited square and the heart of the neighborhood
• Musée de Montmartre: A small, historic museum
• Montmartre Cemetery: A miniature version of Père Lachaise
• Le mur des je t’aime: A monument to love

Our hotel recommendations for Montmartre

Montmartre isn’t just packed with attractions — it’s also a fantastic area for staying overnight in Paris. These are our hotel recommendations:

You can find more details and tips about Montmartre here:

Cité

The Parisian neighborhood of Cité consists of two small islands in the Seine in the city center — Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. This is where Paris originated as a city, dating all the way back to around 300 BC. That makes Cité the oldest part of Paris.

That comes with its pros and cons.

On one hand, this part of the city is of course very historic and absolutely beautiful to look at. After all, some of Paris’s most stunning attractions are right here — like the Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle. And the views of the Seine are unbeatable.

On the other hand, Cité is understandably also very touristy. A lot of people are squeezed into a small space here.

Our tip: Outside of peak season — from late fall to early spring — the island is much quieter. That’s when you can really savor the charming streets and highlights of Cité. Either way, a visit to this Seine island is a must on any Paris trip.

Things you should see in Cité:

• Cathedral of Notre-Dame: The most famous church in Paris
• Sainte-Chapelle: A Gothic chapel from the 13th century
• Pont Neuf: The oldest bridge over the Seine
• Île Saint-Louis: The small neighboring island of Île de la Cité

Our insider tip: If you’re in the mood for incredible ice cream, you absolutely have to stop by Berthillon. Seriously, the best ice cream in the city!

Our hotel recommendations for Cité

Because Cité is so historic and touristy, there are very few accommodation options here. The Île de la Cité has no hotels worth recommending. The best hotels and B&Bs in Cité are on the Île Saint-Louis. We’ve found two real gems:

You can find more hotel tips for Paris here:

Quartier Latin

The Quartier Latin is Paris’s student neighborhood and one of our personal favorites in the city.

The range of activities and points of interest here is wonderfully varied — a really cool combination of historic and modern.

In the Quartier Latin, churches, museums, small bookshops, and a zoo bring together history, culture, and nature in one place. We love it!

Things you should see in the Quartier Latin:

• Saint-Michel Fountain: A fountain featuring a large statue of the Archangel Michael
• Saint-Séverin Church: An 800-year-old Gothic church
• Sorbonne: Home to the historic university buildings
• Panthéon: A massive hall of fame and memorial site
• Rue Mouffetard: One of the oldest streets in Paris
• Jardin des Plantes: A large park with its own zoo
• Shakespeare and Company: The city’s most famous bookstore

Important: You need an admission ticket for the Panthéon. The entry fee is around 13 euros and you can easily book it online here.

Our hotel recommendations in the Quartier Latin

Staying in the Quartier Latin puts you in a central location with great transit connections and a pleasant, relatively quiet setting. A perfect combination. These are the hotels we recommend:

You can find more details and tips about the Quartier Latin here:

Marais

Marais is a charming neighborhood on the northern bank of the Seine near Cité. Here it feels as though you’ve briefly left Paris behind and wandered into a small French village.

Instead of massive landmarks, you’ll find narrow alleyways, pretty boutiques, old manor houses, plenty of greenery, and great markets.

Marais is simply a truly romantic, unhurried, picture-perfect neighborhood.

Things you should see in Marais:

• Marché des Enfants Rouges: The oldest covered market in Paris
• Centre George Pompidou: Museum of modern art (closed until 2030)
• Place des Vosges: One of the most beautiful squares in Paris
• Maison Victor Hugo: A wonderful, free museum in Paris
• House of Nicolas Flamel: The oldest house in Paris

Our insider tip: Try the cinnamon pastry (or something else) at Babka Zana on the Place des Vosges. Honestly, so good!

Our hotel recommendations for Marais

Marais is very centrally located yet still a pleasantly quiet area. That’s a real bonus, especially when visiting Paris with kids. Or simply when you want some peace and quiet in the evenings. These are our hotel recommendations:

Quartier des Halles

The small neighborhood of des Halles — also known as Les Halles — sits in the heart of Paris, just west of Marais.

In the 18th century, this part of the city was famous for its large market. And even today, you’ll still find many flower, fruit, and vegetable markets here.

Added to that is the modern, underground shopping and leisure center Westfield Forum des Halles — a totally typical mall with the usual stores and restaurants.

Des Halles is a great neighborhood for shopping and browsing.

Things you should see in des Halles:

• Forum des Halles: Large, underground shopping center
• Bourse de Commerce: Historic building and museum
• Nelson Mandela Garden: Park with playgrounds
• Saint-Eustache: Large church from the 16th century

Des Halles is not a typical place to stay overnight in Paris. There are no hotels here and only very scattered vacation rentals that we personally wouldn’t recommend.

Looking for affordable hotels in Paris? Read on here:

Odéon

The Parisian neighborhood of Odéon borders the Quartier Latin to the southwest. You could easily combine both on a leisurely stroll.

Odéon is considered a cultural neighborhood, is super lively, and is great for a night out. You’ll find fantastic bars and restaurants, as well as theaters, movie theaters, and art galleries.

And if you’re after something quieter, Odéon is also home to the large Jardin du Luxembourg. Perfect for a leisurely walk and soaking up some greenery right in the middle of the city.

Things you should see in Odéon:

• Odéon Theater: Famous French theater
• Jardin du Luxembourg: Large park perfect for strolling, picnicking, or paddle boating, with its own small zoo
• Rue de Seine: Charming street lined with galleries and antique shops
• Saint-Sulpice Church: Cathedral from the 13th century

Our hotel recommendations in Odéon:

Odéon is also a great place to stay overnight. These are our hotel recommendations:

Canal Saint-Martin

Strictly speaking, Canal Saint-Martin isn’t really a neighborhood in the traditional sense. The Canal Saint-Martin is actually a long waterway that runs through the Folie-Méricourt and Hôpital Saint-Louis neighborhoods.

But the area right along the canal feels like its own little world — one that gives you a real taste of authentic Paris.

Tourists only trickle in here. Mostly you’ll run into genuine Parisians sitting by the canal and chatting, drinking coffee in small bistros, and shopping for books, art, and truly delicious baguettes and wine.

Unlike the Seine, you won’t find famous landmarks along the water here. But you will find a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere and, as a bonus, one of the best ice cream shops in Paris.

Things you should see along the Canal Saint-Martin:

• Galerie Artazart: A small gallery where you can pick up really unique souvenirs
• Rainbow crosswalk: A popular photo spot
• La Villette: Cultural park north of the Canal St. Martin

Our insider tip: At the ice cream shop Sucre Glace, alongside the usual — but truly excellent — chocolate ice cream, you’ll also find flavors like fig, lemon with basil, and apricot with rosemary. Sounds strange, but it’s genuinely delicious.

Our hotel recommendations along the Canal Saint-Martin

If you want to stay in an authentic part of Paris, the Canal Saint-Martin is exactly the right spot. These are our hotel picks for the area:

You can find more details and tips about the Canal Saint-Martin here:

Belleville

Not far from the Canal Saint-Martin lies the Parisian neighborhood of Belleville. About 150 years ago, this area wasn’t even part of Paris — it was an independent little village. In 1870, Belleville was incorporated into the city.

The neighborhood sits atop the 100-meter-high Butte de Belleville and is absolutely wonderful for walks. There are several viewpoints overlooking the city, colorful buildings, street art, and the truly lovely Parc de Belleville.

On top of that, the restaurants, bars, and cafés here are significantly cheaper than in the city center.

Things you should see in Belleville:

• Parc de Belleville: Large, elevated park
• Belvédère de Belleville: Viewpoint overlooking Paris
• Notre-Dame-de-la-Croix de Ménilmontant: Church from the 19th century
• Place des Fêtes: Square hosting food & flea markets
• La Mouzaïa: Winding streets with small houses and colorful villas

Our hotel recommendations for Belleville

Staying in neighborhoods outside the center is a great way to explore Paris on a budget. In Belleville, there are two truly wonderful hotels:

Père Lachaise

The Parisian neighborhood of Père Lachaise borders Belleville to the south. You might have heard the name before?

That’s because it’s also the name of the large, famous cemetery that is the absolute highlight of the neighborhood. Surrounding the cemetery, you’ll find residential areas with a scattering of bars and restaurants.

That might not sound all that exciting at first, but hidden among those bars is a real standout: La Bellevilloise. One of the most beautiful rooftop bars in Paris, with a truly spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower. And it’s only a ten-minute walk from the cemetery.

Things you should see in Père Lachaise:

• Père Lachaise Cemetery: One of the most famous cemeteries in the world.
• Tenon Hospital: Hospital complex with historic buildings.
• La Bellevilloise: Great bar with a rooftop and live music.

Our tip: Not far from the Père Lachaise neighborhood is the Atelier des Lumières. A really beautiful immersive art exhibition — a great option if you’ve already seen the more famous museums in Paris.

Père Lachaise is one of Paris’s outermost neighborhoods and is primarily a residential area. Don’t expect to find good hotels here.

We recommend staying in the city center or in Belleville and taking the Paris Metro out to Père Lachaise.

Frequently Asked Questions About Paris Neighborhoods