Where to stay in Paris
Paris is a small and very accessible city - and fortunately for visitors, it’s also packed full of hotels. The most popular tourist sites are distributed evenly around all parts of the capital, and all are quickly reached on the city’s admirable metro network, allowing tourists to pick from a wide selection of Paris’ surprisingly affordable accommodation options.
The central arrondissements are certainly the most popular places to stay, combining close proximity to popular attractions with easy access to pubs, shops and restarants. In particular hotels in the 4th, 5th and 6th arrondissements are high on many tourists’ wishlists. Combining the Marais, Latin Quarter and St Germain districts respectively, these three arrondissements represent the most picturesque, riverside areas of the city - not to mention the best of the capital’s cafe culture.
If your budget can’t stretch to the central districts, there are still rich pickings further out. The western arrondissements offer easy access to (and if you’re lucky, a nice view of) Paris’ monumental Eiffel Tower. While these districts can be expensive - and a little short on local colour - the upper reaches of the 15th combine lively streets with a quick metro into the centre.
Or better, perhaps, to head east; the 11th and 12th arrondissement (around Bastille and Gare de Lyon) have very affordable accommodation amidst some of the capital’s best night life. Equally the 14th, around the historic district of Montparnasse, is fames for its restaurants and brasseries, and is another pleasant spot from which to explore the larger city.
Most hotel listings will name the closest metro station, but if in doubt check the postcode to confirm its location. Paris zip / postcodes consist of 5 digits; while the first three will always be ‘750′, the following two digits indicate the arrondissement. Thus a code 75011 indicates an address in Paris’ 11th arrondissement. While hardly any quarters should be considered off limits, hotels in a few districts should still be booked with care. The 18th arrondissement, around Pigalle and Montmartre, is one of Paris’ tourist hotspots - but it’s also home to more than a few of it’s seedier hotels, many barely a stones throw from the famous Moulin Rouge. Many hotels claiming a ‘montmartre’ address nestle in fact amongst the sex shops and cinemas of Pigalle - an exciting spot to visit, but not a particularly pleasant place to stay.
Similiarly, a significant number of hotels, particularly the large chains, have set up shop just the other side of the peripherique. A location just a hundred meters beyond Paris’ exterior ring road can lower room rates quite considerably, and these are a popular option for travellers on the tightest budgets. But bear in mind that while these are relatively well plugged into the transport network, they are generally in undesirable locations - if you’re using public transport late in the evening, the short but noisy walk back under the underpass or over the road bridge might not be the perfect end to your perfect night.
