Characteristics of Parisian Neighborhoods

Susan Hooks

Updated: 26 August 2025 ·

Characteristics of Parisian Neighborhoods

Some readers suggested we write about the neighborhoods of Paris. Information on the basic characteristics of the 20 arrondissements (districts) of the city can help in choosing hotels or apartments to rent.

neighborhoods of paris
The 20 arrondissements or districts of Paris

See below the basic characteristics of the neighborhoods of Paris, without exhausting the subject with precise descriptions of the various sub-neighborhoods and certain streets that sometimes deviate from the major characteristics.

Parisians orient themselves in terms of the left bank, right bank, western neighborhoods, and eastern neighborhoods of Paris. Read the article I wrote about the Parisian way of classifying and navigating in Paris.

The ideal for tourists who want to avoid long metro rides would be to choose the neighborhoods in the city center. I'm talking about the arrondissements (districts) 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the south of 9. These are the most beautiful neighborhoods, where you find the main tourist sights of the city. The major museums and monuments are also here. A friend, an ardent Parisian, says that Paris ends at the borders of these mentioned neighborhoods. The rest isn't Paris. I don't agree with her, but as a tourist, I would like to know that the imaginary Paris, the Paris of dreams circulated in postcards and films, is concentrated in the above-mentioned arrondissements.

Key Characteristics of Parisian Neighborhoods

The 1st is where the Louvre is located, the Palais Royal and rue Saint Honoré.

The 4th is the friendliest part of Le Marais, a bohemian, avant-garde neighborhood where you find gay restaurants and shops.

The 5th is the Latin Quarter of the Sorbonne.

The 6th and 7th are the most refined and elegant neighborhoods in Paris. The 7th is bourgeois, the area of the Eiffel Tower. The 6th is chic and intellectual (the iconic Saint Germain).

The 8th is the neighborhood of haute couture, business, Avenue Champs Elysées, and the Arc de Triomphe.

The south of the 9th is the shopping district because it is where the Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Zara, H&M, FNAC, Gap, Fauchon, etc., are located.

The north of the 16th is the Trocadéro district, elitist, with a cosmopolitan population.

The 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and 17th are residential neighborhoods that are further away from the Parisian hustle. The 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th are middle-class neighborhoods, while the west 17th is an elitist residential area, and the east 17th is more popular.

The 10th, 11th, 18th, 19th, and 20th are the popular neighborhoods of the city, with the 10th and 11th increasingly attracting a young and vibrant population.

Don't forget that these are general lines; the tourist Montmartre, for example, is located in the 18th.

Also read about this subject

  • Which area to stay in Paris?
  • Qualities and flaws of the neighborhoods of Paris. Where to stay?
  • The neighborhoods where I would not stay in Paris

The guide Paris, Five Itineraries in Four Days is ideal for both first-time visitors to Paris and those who have already visited the city and want to discover the secrets of Parisians. There are 5 exclusive itineraries that can be completed in at least 4 days. Available for purchase on the HotMart website.

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