10 Best Areas to Visit in Paris

10 Best Areas to Visit in Paris

Paris is one of the most eclectic cities in Europe. This has always been a place of equality and diversity; a place where immigrants are as welcome as locals.

Because of this, each area in Paris has its own uniqueness to it. There are few places in this city that I would dub “unworthy” of a visit, simply because every neighborhood has its own flair that makes it fascinating.

Paris – by Fábio Roque – Unsplash

Here are ten of the best. Visit them at your own leisure or sign up for a free guided walking tour for a more curated experience.

1. Les Halles in Paris

Les Halles is considered the center of Paris. It’s the 3rd arrondissement and includes the shopping district through to the Louvre.

This is where most people have their first encounter with Paris. There’s a lot to see and do, & les Halles is considered to be an upmarket area in terms of Parisian infrastructure.

When it comes to late night dining, this is one of the best areas in the city to do so. There are a lot of 24 hour bistros here.

les Halles – by Guilhem Vellut – Wikimedia Commons

2. Montmartre in Paris

Montmartre is my favorite neighborhood in the city. It’s where the Bohemian era lives on in both the streets and the culture.

Montmartre is the hilltop area in the north of the city. It takes up most of the 18th arrondissement and is where you’ll find the famous Sacre Coeur Basilica.

Some other attractions worth exploring would be the I Love You Wall, the Montmartre Museum, the Vineyard of Montmartre and the Lapin Agile Cabaret.

Montmartre – by Ana Paula Hirama – Wikimedia Commons

3. Bastille in Paris

Bastille is an area in Paris with strong historic significance. This was the heart of the Revolution, and the location where the Bastille state prison was stormed.

Today it lives on as an important residential and business hub for the city. The Place de la Bastille is a grand public square in the center of the neighborhood. There tends to always be something happening here, be it salsa dancing or riding electric scooters.

Bastille – by Kaihsu – Wikimedia Commons

4. Le Marais in Paris

Le Marais is the creative center of Paris. It’s one of the city’s most trendy and fashionable neighborhoods, and the site of Paris Fashion Week each season.

Le Marais is in the 4th arrondissement, right on the Right Bank of the Seine.

The streets are filled with places to eat, drink and shop. If you’re looking for places to stay in Paris, le Marais has some great Airbnbs on offer.

Le Marais – by David.Monniaux – Wikimedia Commons

5. Pigalle in Paris

Pigalle is the sleazy, sassy district in the city of lights. It’s at the base of the Montmartre hill in the 18th arrondissement, and was once the red light district when the city was the go-to for artists and escapism.

Pigalle’s main strip features the iconic Moulin Rouge cabaret. From here, it’s a short walk north up into the Montmartre district I mentioned earlier.

Come to Pigalle for wild nightlife and a few great places to eat in between.

Pigalle – by Chabe01 – Wikimedia Commons

6. The Latin Quarter in Paris

The Latin Quarter is on the Left Bank of Paris, right across the water of the Seine from le Marais.

This is another historic district to the city, gaining its name from years back when Latin was the dominant language at the universities in Europe.

The Latin Quarter is an interesting cultural hub. There’s a mix of local and immigrant life here, with a lot of great bookstores, cafes and galleries.

The Latin Quarter – by Mark Bonica – Wikimedia Commons

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7. Belleville in Paris

Belleville is in the far east of Paris, and is considered to be the more alternative, youthful district.

This remains one of the least gentrified areas in the city, with street art being the dominant form of expression.

Belleville also happens to be the hometown of the beloved Edith Piaf. Her memory lives on in this area, with cafes paying regular ode to her life’s work. You’ll also be able to visit her grave if you continue east into Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

Belleville – by Citizen59 – Wikimedia Commons

8. Chaillot in Paris

Of course, few people visit Paris without wandering through Chaillot at one point or another.

This is the home of the Eiffel Tower, as well as many other significant monuments that make Paris, Paris.

The Museum of Modern Art, the Palais de Tokyo, the Palais Galliera and the Crazy Horse Cabaret all call this district home.

Chaillot – by Gzen92 – Wikimedia Commons

Chaillot is a prime example of Haussmann architecture in the French capital. Nearly all of the buildings in this district were created under Baron Haussmann’s watchful eye.

Crossing over the Seine from Chaillot will take you into Invalides, another very historic part of the city worth exploring.

9. Montparnasse in Paris

Montparnasse is the south of Paris. You’ll find locals from here are extremely patriotic to their neighborhood.

The Montparnasse Tower is a major tourist attraction in the city. It’s taller than the Eiffel Tower, and boasts impressive panoramic views over almost the entire city.

Montparnasse – by Florian Pépellin – Wikimedia Commons

It also so happens that Montparnasse is the best district in which to eat crepes in Paris. The original recipe for the crepe was brought in from elsewhere in France through the train station in this area.

Montparnasse takes their crepes very seriously, as you will soon see by the many cafes and street vendors on option.

10. China Town in Paris

Even further south than Montparnasse, is China Town in Paris.

This is Europe’s biggest China Town, known to locals as the Quartier Asiatique.

From afar, the Quartier Asiatique looks like little more than just a group of high rise buildings. Once you make it to the streets, however, you’ll find it is bursting with immigrant life.

China Town – by dany13 – Wikimedia Commons

It goes without saying that if you’re hankering for authentic Chinese food or dim sum, this is the place to be.

Paris’ neighborhoods are best explored by foot. You’ll find free guided walking tours available for most of the districts mentioned above.