The snail-shell principle
The arrondissements wind clockwise around the 1st. The number is part of the postcode (75001 to 75020) and appears on street signs. The Seine separates the Right Bank (north: 1st to 4th, 8th to 12th, 16th to 20th) from the Left Bank (south: 5th to 7th, 13th to 15th). The Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis belong to the 1st and 4th.
The map, arrondissement by arrondissement
| Arr. | Bank | To see | To stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Right | Louvre, Tuileries, Palais-Royal | Great for a first visit, central but pricey |
| 2 | Right | Bourse, passages couverts, rue Montorgueil | Central and lively, good value |
| 3 | Right | Haut-Marais, musée Picasso, Carreau du Temple | Trendy, boutiques, a bit pricey |
| 4 | Right | Marais, île Saint-Louis, Hôtel de Ville, Notre-Dame | Great for a first visit, charming and central |
| 5 | Left | Panthéon, Jardin des Plantes, Sorbonne | Great for a first visit, student and lively |
| 6 | Left | Saint-Germain-des-Prés, jardin du Luxembourg | Great for a first visit, elegant but pricey |
| 7 | Left | Tour Eiffel, Invalides, musée d'Orsay, musée Rodin | Great for a first visit for sights, quiet evenings |
| 8 | Right | Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Madeleine | Luxury and business, quiet at night |
| 9 | Right | Opéra Garnier, grands magasins, Nouvelle Athènes | Practical: transport and shopping |
| 10 | Right | canal Saint-Martin, gare du Nord, gare de l'Est | Good prices, near stations, mixed |
| 11 | Right | Bastille, Oberkampf, rue de Charonne | Nightlife and bars, noisy |
| 12 | Right | gare de Lyon, Bercy Village, bois de Vincennes | Quiet, good prices near Gare de Lyon |
| 13 | Left | quartier chinois, Butte-aux-Cailles, BnF | Good prices, authentic |
| 14 | Left | Montparnasse, catacombes, Cité universitaire | Quiet, residential |
| 15 | Left | tour Montparnasse, parc André-Citroën, Porte de Versailles | Good prices, away from the action |
| 16 | Right | Trocadéro, Fondation Louis Vuitton, bois de Boulogne | Chic and quiet, far from the centre |
| 17 | Right | Batignolles, Palais des Congrès, Épinettes | Local area, good prices, quiet |
| 18 | Right | Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur, Moulin Rouge | Charming but touristy and hilly |
| 19 | Right | parc de la Villette, Buttes-Chaumont, canal de l'Ourcq | Green, families, far from the centre |
| 20 | Right | Père-Lachaise, Belleville, Ménilmontant | Local and bohemian, budget |
Where to stay: the quick choice
- First visit, everything on foot: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th.
- Best central value: 2nd, 9th, 10th, 11th.
- Quiet and low budget: 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 20th.
Finding your way
The official metro map (ratp.fr/plan-metro) does not show arrondissements, but stations tell you the area. Street numbers rise away from the Seine, and each street's blue plate shows the arrondissement. To go further, see our guide to the arrondissements of Paris, the tourist map by metro, where to stay in Paris on a first visit and the metro and RER.
The descriptions (quiet, lively, price) are general guides: check the street and station before booking.
