Is there a bad place to stay in Paris? Arguably not – the city’s metro network is sprawling and easy to navigate, and there’ll be brilliant bars and bistros no matter where you end up.
However, whether for their centrality or their style, some neighbourhoods in Paris offer a truly unforgettable introduction to the French capital. First-timer and want to experience Paris at its most classic and romantic? Try Montmartre. Here for a special occasion? Head to oh-so-luxe Tuileries.
Both ’hoods feature in our recently revamped guide to Paris’s best neighbourhoods – but taking the crown as Paris’s best neighbourhood to stay in right now is Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
‘Beautiful, chic and New Wave at heart, Saint-Germain-des-Prés has recently acquired a new charm: the beating heart of the 6th arrondissement has become cool – all without losing its bourgeois nature,’ writes Alix Leridon, a writer at Time Out Paris, ‘Some highly popular new spots have opened there with great fanfare, such as the giant Cravan cocktail bar, the festive Grain(s) wine bar, the literary coffee shop Maison Fleuret or the Pamela Club, which brings a bit of madness to this sometimes overly polite corner.’
However, it’s not all trendy new spots. Le Bon Marché, the Luxembourg Gardens, the area’s bookshops and the smorgasbord of cafés, which have historically drawn visitors to the neighbourhood, are still there to mooch around.
Need some hotel inspo? Well, we’re big fans of Hôtel des Académies et des Arts, the Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs or the chic Villa-des-Prés – why not have a look at those to begin with.
We’ve also got a recently refreshed neighbourhood guide for Saint-Germain-des-Prés, as well as a list of the best shops, restaurants and museums in the city, and pretty much everything else you need, on our Time Out Paris page.
Fancy a closer look? Discover our full guide to where to stay in Paris
Did you see that this is the best cheap lunch in Paris, according to Time Out?
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