Where To Stay In Paris: Budget To Luxury Locations

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WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS: BUDGET TO LUXURY LOCATIONS

With 20 districts, or arrondissements as they’re known in France, choosing where to stay for the ultimate trip can be tricky, especially if it’s your first time in Paris. Where you choose to stay is going to be entirely dependent on what type of trip you’re looking for, so after countless trips from across the channel, we’ve managed to list out some finer details below to help you make that decision!

KEY INFORMATION

Best time to visit: June – October
Average flight time from the US: 7.5 hours
Visa: No visa is required unless you’re staying for more than 90 days
Language: French is the main language spoken, but most also speak English
Currency: Euros
Plug: Type C and E – make sure you pack a universal power adapter
Daily budget: €50/£45/$60 USD
Safety: Paris is predominantly a safe city to explore both day and night, however it’s always wise to take a money belt

WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS

LE MARAIS

Le Marais sits in the centrally located 4th arrondissement, roughly 20 minutes walk from the Louvre. It’s filled with serene gardens, hidden courtyards, and cobbled streets that meander around boutique shops, quirky cafes, and independent art galleries. Le Marais is considered safe, with a large LGBTQ+ community and hipster vibe, featuring countless funky bars and a vibrant nightlife.

Cost: Expensive
Taxi time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): 1 hour
Closest landmarks: The Louvre & Notre-Dame

CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES

Champs-Élysées is situated in the 8th arrondissement which is on the edge of central Paris. It’s a glamorous location and home to one of the most famous streets to shop on, making it a tourist hotspot with a variety of great places to eat and drink. That being said, there are plenty of side streets to escape down which offer an authentic and luxurious, Parisian vibe. Due to its popularity among tourists, it offers a lively nightlife with little crime. If you’re looking for hotels in Paris with a view, then this spot is a good choice.

Cost: Expensive
Taxi time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): 30 minutes
Closest landmarks: Arc De Triomphe & Place de la Concorde

SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is situated in the 6th arrondissement, with the river Seine on one side and Le Jardin du Luxembourg on the other. It’s a central neighbourhood that provides easy logistics to many of the key landmarks in Paris, however, it will come at a high price! If you’ve got any money left after splashing the cash on a hotel here, you’ll be able to do so in the dozens of high-end shops and quality restaurants during the day, before boogieing the night away in swish bars and leaving bankrupt!

Cost: Expensive
Taxi time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): 1 hour
Closest landmarks: The Louvre, Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Le Jardin du Luxembourg & Panthéon

MONTMARTRE

Montmartre sits on a large hill within the 18th arrondissement. With cobbled streets and colourful buildings ridden with ivy-covered cladding, Montmartre fits the bill perfectly for your typical Parisian suburb that oozes romance. You’ll see here why Paris is the city of love.

Among the artistically graffitied buildings and rustic cafes, you’ll find some hidden gems offering panoramic views of Paris. it’s also swamped with history, with Basilica of the Sacré-Cœu among the most famous landmarks nearby. Bars and entertainment performances around Sacré-Cœu make it energetic in the evenings with only minor crimes such as pickpockets targeting the area; to combat this it’s always worth carrying a money belt.

Cost: Reasonable
Taxi time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): 30 minutes
Closest landmarks: Basilica of the Sacré-Cœu & Palais Garnier

Read more: Montmarte isn’t only featured in our post on where to stay in Paris, it’s also on our posts: top 10 things to do in Paris and hidden gems in Paris

SOUTH PIGALLE

Next to Montmartre is South Pigalle aka SoPi, located in the 9th district and famous for its performances of Moulin Rouge. This is known as Paris’ red-light district, formerly filled with sex shops and adult entertainment, making it a dodgy area of Paris to roam around at night. However, in recent years these have been ditched and replaced with funky bars and trendy restaurants, meaning it has become THE place to go out at the weekend and is perfectly safe. Equally, with countless Instagrammable cafés and bakeries, it’s the perfect hot spot for brunch the following morning!

Cost: Reasonable
Taxi time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): 30 minutes
Closest landmarks: Basilica of the Sacré-Cœu & Palais Garnier

Read more: South Pigalle isn’t only featured in where to stay in Paris – it’s also in the top 10 things to do in Paris

BASTILLE

Bastille is slightly further out in the 11th arrondissement, however, it’s a great option for those looking for a more affordable stay with an authentic atmosphere and safe environment. You’ll find chic places to wine and dine, as well as Marché d’Aligre; the popular food market with antique stalls. It’s also home to the Opera Bastille and only a 20-minute walk to the Musée National Picasso-Paris!

Cost: Reasonable
Taxi time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): 30 mins
Closest landmarks: Jardin des Plantes & Notre Dame

BELLEVILLE

Belleville is located in the 20th arrondissement, and although less central, you’ll benefit from this if you’re on a budget. It’s an up and coming area with an edgy vibe, hosting monthly street markets in between the graffitied streets with a heavy focus on Chinese cuisine. You’ll also discover contemporary art galleries along with great city views as you stroll around Parc de Belleville – not a location to be missed if you’re staying in this area! It’s also a 10-minute walk to Parc des Buttes-Chaumont which is always on my list regardless of where you stay in Paris. Although it may look rough around the edges and feel less safe than other more pristine neighbourhoods, any Parisian will tell you they’ve never had any serious issues in the area.

Cost: Cheap (for Paris!)
Taxi time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): 40 mins
Closest landmarks: Notre Dame, Louvre & Sacré-Cœur all within a 1-hour walk

CANAL SAINT-MARTIN

Canal Saint-Martin predominantly sits in the 10th arrondissement and is another good option for those looking for a cheaper stay. With the hilly Parc des Buttes-Chaumont on your doorstep offering city views among waterfalls and suspension bridges, it’s the perfect spot for a picnic! You’ll also find an abundance of great food shops to try while enjoying the slower pace this safe neighbourhood has to offer and benefit from having both Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord close by.

Cost: Cheap (for Paris!)
Taxi time from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): 45 mins
Closest landmarks: Palais Garnier, the Louvre & Sacré-Cœu all within 30-40 minute walk

Read more: Canal Saint-Martin isn’t only featured in where to stay in Paris – it’s also in hidden gems in Paris too

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If you’re planning a trip to Europe then we’ve got some other posts that may be useful:

• Things to do in Paris / You won’t want to miss some of these bucket list things to do and see in Paris
• Paris in March / Discover why visiting Paris in March is the perfect time
• Hidden Gems in Paris / Discover some of the best kept secrets in the city

Stay Wild Travels.