Paris Hotels - A Guide To Choosing Your Hotel Location

• By: MFoley
• On: 25/Mar/2010
• In: Paris Travel Tips

First time to Paris? Well, just to tell you a bit about the city and its layout. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements (districts). They are numbered 1 to 20 starting in the middle of the city and spiralling outwards in a clockwise direction. So if you want to be based in the heart of the city centre you choose the lower numbers with the 1st arrondissement being the very core of the city.

1st Arrondissement – This arrondissement is the very heart of cosmopolitan Paris, so if you want to be based centrally then this is the arrondissement for you. This is usually the best starting point for your exploration of the city, as it's home to top attractions like the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendome, Le Palais Royal, the churches of Saint Chapelle and Saint Eustache and the medieval fortress of La Conciergerie. Les Halles is a superb commercial shopping district with both open-air markets and indoor markets.

2nd Arrondissement – This is considered one of the main financial hubs of Europe and is home to the Stock Exchange (the Bourse) and lots of charming shopping malls called 'The Galleries'. It's also the location of some theatres and operas, as well as some historic sights like the Place des Victories and Notre Dame des Victoires church.

3rd Arrondissement –  Here you'll find open air markets, flea markets and lots of quaint food stores and cafes. It's also the location of museums like the Musée Picasso and the Musée National des Arts et Métiers, the latter showcasing artifacts from the Statue of Liberty.

4th Arrondissement – This could be called medieval Paris and its showpiece is the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral. Other landmarks include; Hôtel de Ville (Paris city hall), La Bastille (at the Bastille Metro Station), the Holocaust Memorial, the Pompidou Art Centre and Hotel de Sully – a historical residence in the Le Marais area.

5th Arrondissement – Also known as the 'Latin Quarter' this arrondissement is distinguished by the magnificent Panthéon, which can be found perched on top of a hill in the centre of the arrondissement. It is also the location of many of the cities universities most notably Sorbonne.

6th Arrondissement  - The oldest church in Paris is located here 'Eglise Saint Germain des Pres'. It dates from 543 AD, but what you see today is mainly from the 11th century. This chic district is home to many writers, painters and artists. It situated just south of the 1st Arrondissement so you're also within walking distance of the Lourve.

7th Arrondissement – This 'elegant district' is home to one of the world's most famous attractions The Eiffel Tower. Other sights to see here include Hotel de Invalides, Musée d'Orsay and Musée Rodin.  Le Bon Marché is also located here and is one of the most famous department stores in Paris.

8th Arrondissement – This arrondissement is where you can walk up the world renowned Champs-Elysées to the iconic Arc de Triomphe. If you love your designer handbags and apparel then you must browse the shops of Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes, after all, this is the home of these world famous designer brands!

North city centre – 9th & 18th Arrondissements. Main attractions here include Galeries Lafayette, Opera Garnier, Basilica of the Sacred Heart and Montmartre.

East of city centre – 11th, 12th, 19th, 20th. Mainly residential neighbourhoods dotted with attractions like the Bastille and Gare de Lyon.

South of city centre – 13th & 14th Arrondissements. Again these are mainly residential and well connected with the city centre. Sights to see here include; Montparnasse where you can explore the creepy Paris catacombs! The Bibliotheque Nationale de France is also located here.

West of the city centre – 16th & 17th.  The 16th lies close to the 7th Arrondissement and so it is only about a 20 minute walk or there abouts to the Eiffel Tower. If staying here, visit the Palais du Trocadéro (great views of the Eiffel Tower). The 17th Arrondissement lies north of the 8th so it's not far from the Champs-Elysées.

There are lots of Paris hotels located in each one of the above arrondissements. Generally speaking, the closer to the city centre you stay the more expensive the hotel price you will pay. So if you're on a budget choose to stay in the outer arrondissements and use the convenient and efficient Parisian public transport system.

For example; the 1st Arrondissement boasts some of the most opulent hotels in the world and the restaurants are also very posh. If you're on a budget then we suggest that you sleep and eat outside of this arrondissement. However  the 19th –20th arrondissements offer affordable accommodation and are just about a half an hour metro ride from the city centre.

If you are price conscious, then avoid busy times of the year like Paris Fashion Week (middle of January) from Easter – June, September, October and Christmas.

There are literally hundreds of hotels in Paris to choose from. Whether you're looking for cheap hotels in Paris, mid-range hotels or luxury hotels, there is something to suit your taste and budget.

Why not check out our Paris Hotels page now and see for yourself!

Hope this little guide helps you to choose the perfect Paris hotel in the right location. If you've any queries for us, please do not hesitate to contact us via the comment box below.