Where to Stay on Your First Time in Paris

“Charming, romantic and cultural, Paris is an ideal destination for every kind of traveller: lovestruck couples, activity-focused families and solo travellers looking to immerse themselves in adventure.

And while Paris is relatively small, making it incredibly easy to hop on the Metro and be across town in no time, choosing where to base yourself is nevertheless an important decision to make – especially if you’re new to the French capital. Here’s where to stay in Paris for your first time.

Montmartre for Romance
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While the iconic Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of Montmartre’s main draws, it’s far from the only reason to go. The neighbourhood is incredibly charming. It’s got cobbled streets, pastel-coloured restaurants and old buildings covered in ivy, perfect for couples looking for a romantic getaway.

The entire area is has a quaint, picturesque and, even to this day, bohemian charm about it. It was once home to famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Edgar Degas and often features as a backdrop to movies (the quirky cult classic Amélie, for example, was set and filmed here). Top activities include strolling through the picturesque gardens at the Musée de Montmartre – which once inspired Pierre-Auguste Renoir himself – visiting the Clos Montmartre vineyards and seeing the tombs of literary giants like Émile Zola and Alexandre Dumas at the Montmartre Cemetery.

Champs-Elysées for Variety
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If you’re travelling with your family, a group of friends or as a couple with varied interests, staying near the bustling Champs-Elysées may be a good plan. The most famous avenue in Paris caters to everyone. Expect fast food joints and fancy restaurants, as well as shops from budget high street brands to high end designers.

Stay in Champs-Elysées and you’ll also benefit from location. Beyond the shops, the avenue is also near to some of Paris’s best-known tourist sights and museums, including the Arc de Triomphe, the Grand Palais and the Palais de Tokyo. Foodies should also check out the open air food market, Marché Président Wilson, where you can not only buy fresh ingredients, but also hot food to take away, from Thai to Lebanese.

Le Marais for Coolness
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If you’re looking for foodie-focused adventures, bags of charm and cultural experiences, you can’t go wrong with staying in Le Marais. Set on the right bank of the Seine, right across from Notre Dame, the trendy neighbourhood is features cute boutiques, independent art galleries, designer hotels and quirky restaurants and bars.

It’s also home to the magnificent Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris, as well as important museums such as the Musée Picasso, the eye-catching Centre Pompidou and Europe’s oldest science museum, Musée des Arts et Métiers. Le Marais was once the centre of Jewish life in Paris, and to find out more about this – other than snacking in the district’s kosher restaurants – you can visit the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme.

The 1st Arrondissement for Culture
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Paris is crammed with world-famous art museums, but the most iconic of all is undoubtedly the Louvre. The planet’s largest art museum, the landmark is set on the right bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement.

Staying in this area is a great way to make sure you’re the first in line each morning to visit not just the thousands of priceless artworks and antiquities at the Louvre itself – including, of course, the Mona Lisa – but also to be in close walking distance of the Musée de l’Orangerie, home to eight large Claude Monet Water Lilies murals, and the stunning Jardin des Tuileries. You’ll also be easy walking distance from Paris landmarks such as the Musée d’Orsay, Cathédrale de Notre Dame and Centre Pompidou.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés for Elegance
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For an elegant and quintessentially Parisian experience, set up base in the stylish Saint-Germain-des-Prés. A favourite location of literary giants, such as Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a great place to walk around, browse the boutiques and, if you tire of the crowds, to pause at a cafe to people watch.

Popular sights in the neighbourhood include the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg and the Musée d’Orsay, one of the largest art museums in Europe – and housed in a former railway station no less. There are also smaller museums for art lovers, including the Musée Maillol and the Musée Delacroix.

The 7th Arrondissement for Major Sights
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High up on most visitors’ bucket lists, especially for your first trip to Paris, is the Eiffel Tower. If you’re keen not just to be near the recognisable landmark but to have a view from your hotel window, make sure you stay in the elegant 7th arrondissement.

You’ll be able to see the tower first thing in the morning and last thing at night, when it’s all lit up with twinkling lights. The neighbourhood has other draws, too: the sprawling park Champ de Mars, the ornate bridge Pont Alexandre III, and the impressive and historic Hôtel des Invalides, the final resting place of Napoleon.

Ready to explore the City of Lights? Book your accommodation and activities for your first time in Paris with Expedia’s Paris holidays.”