{"id":2765,"date":"2015-12-07T09:56:13","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T08:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/?p=2765"},"modified":"2019-05-03T18:22:03","modified_gmt":"2019-05-03T16:22:03","slug":"where-to-live-in-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/en\/where-to-live-in-paris","title":{"rendered":"Where to Live in Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many of us, the idea of living in Paris sounds like a dream come true and conjures up seductive images of sipping coffee at impossibly chic street-side caf\u00e9s and taking romantic strolls along the Seine. Which is all well and good, but if you do actually decide to move to Paris, there are lots of practical things to deal with before that first leisurely walk along the river. Pretty high up on the list comes deciding where in the city to live.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The arrondissements<\/strong><\/p>\n

The good news is that by most 21st century standards, Paris isn\u2019t a very large place. The area within the city\u2019s ring-road (known as the P\u00e9riph\u00e9rique<\/em>) is only 13km across at its widest point, which is less than an hour on a bicycle and about three hours by foot. So getting a handle on the city isn\u2019t too difficult, especially once you understand the arrondissement system, which divides Paris into twenty numerically-named districts.<\/p>\n

In fact, having some understanding of which arrondissement is where is useful for any visitor to Paris because locals are just as likely to tell you they live \u201cin the 4th\u201d or recommend a restaurant \u201cin the 5th,\u201d rather than saying that they live in the H\u00f4tel-de-Ville or that their favourite place to eat is in the Latin Quarter.<\/p>\n

Paris as a snail<\/strong><\/p>\n

One way to understand the layout of the arrondissements is to picture the city as a snail shell. Spiralling out clockwise from the centre are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th arrondissements on the Right (north) Bank of the Seine, then the 5th, 6th and 7th on the Left Bank. The 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th make a second arc on the Right Bank; the 13th, 14th and 15th complete the Left Bank; and the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th form the outer circle of the Right Bank.<\/p>\n

If it helps, you might also want to picture the axis that runs through the city east to west (line 1 of the M\u00e9tro) and all the way out to La D\u00e9fense. Another axis (line 4 of the M\u00e9tro) runs north to south passing Gare du Nord, H\u00f4tel de Ville, Ile de la Cit\u00e9 (Notre-Dame) and Montparnasse.<\/p>\n

\"Paris
The iconic, art-deco symbol of Paris\u2019s Metro system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Paris
The pedestrianised square in front of the H\u00f4tel de Ville, home of Paris\u2019s city council<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So where shall I live?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now we\u2019ve got that straight, it\u2019s time to consider the particular character of the different arrondissements and decide what Parisian neighbourhoods<\/a> would suit your needs. The type of accommodation varies from one area to another and ranges from apartments in medieval buildings in the Marais to sleek contemporary offerings in the Bastille neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

If price is a factor, you will need to bear in mind that the closer you are to the centre of Paris, then, not surprisingly, the more expensive it gets. Equally well, if getting about by car is important to you, then living in some of the heavily pedestrianised central areas might not be the best choice.<\/p>\n

Here then, to help you make a choice, is a breakdown of the city into five main areas, within which are a wide variety of different districts and neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n

Western Paris<\/h2>\n

Arrondissements: 8th, 16th, 17th, and the Western suburbs.<\/em>
\nDistricts: Madeleine, Trocad\u00e9ro, Champs-Elys\u00e9es, Auteuil, Monceau, Ternes, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Levallois, Boulogne-Billancourt<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Trocadero
The Eiffel Tower seen from the Palais de Chaillot in the 16th arrondissement<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The smartest Paris districts<\/a> are in the west and where you live will depend on how close you want to be to the centre. Around Madeleine<\/strong>, Trocad\u00e9ro<\/strong> and the Champs-Elys\u00e9es<\/strong> you will find gracious Haussmannian apartments, often with balconies, marble entrance halls and elevators.<\/p>\n

\"Pont
The Pont Alexandre III, probably Paris\u2019s most ornate bridge, spans the river between the 7th and 8th arrondissements<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Pont
A distant view of the Eiffel Tower from the Pont Alexandre III<\/div><\/div>
\"Seine
The Pont Alexandre III was built between 1896 and 1900 and reflects the gilded style of the period<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Bridge
A sea nymph decorates the Pont Alexandre III<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Monceau<\/strong> and Ternes<\/strong> in the northwest can be equally grand but, since these neighbourhoods are further out, apartments are a little less expensive. They have the advantage, however, of the attractive Parc Monceau.<\/p>\n

Auteuil<\/strong> and Passy<\/strong> are nestled in the western pocket of the Seine and are very residential, combining modern and Haussmannian apartments and exclusive homes with gardens. This area is great for sports or dog lovers as it is near to the Bois de Boulogne and several private tennis courts.<\/p>\n

Neuilly-sur-Seine<\/strong> and Levallois<\/strong> are smart suburbs on a M\u00e9tro line near the American and British hospitals, and Boulogne-Billancourt<\/strong> is also set to become sought-after with the redevelopment of the Ile S\u00e9guin, a former Renault factory. In all these districts you will find clusters of local shops and amenities including clothing boutiques, and fresh produce markets including the excellent Avenue du Pr\u00e9sident Wilson (Trocad\u00e9ro), which supplies several top chefs.<\/p>\n

Northern Paris<\/h2>\n

Arrondissements: 9th, 17th, 18th<\/em>
\nDistricts: Batignolles, Montmartre, Pigalle, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette<\/em><\/p>\n

Less expensive than Ternes, the neighbouring Batignolles<\/strong> district is popular with young families for its park, caf\u00e9s and bistros and organic market. Clustered around its butte<\/em>, or hill, on which stands the basilica of Sacr\u00e9-C\u0153ur is Montmartre<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Montmartre
The steep narrow streets of Montmartre add to the neighbourhood\u2019s immense charm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The \u201cvillage Montmartre\u201d just behind the basilica has some exclusive properties with gardens and rambles down the hill via picturesque staircases to the attractive and lively area near the Mairie (town hall) of the 18th and rue du Poteau market street. Its only disadvantage is that getting there (by M\u00e9tro or car) involves circumventing the butte<\/em> so takes longer. Abbesses is more easily accessible and also has a village atmosphere, though it\u2019s also more touristy.<\/p>\n

\"Th\u00e9\u00e2tre
The Th\u00e9\u00e2tre de l\u2019Atelier, open since 1822, in Montmartre\u2019s Place Charles Dullin<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Montmartre
A cobbled street in Montmartre<\/div><\/div>
\"Lapin
Opened in 1860, the Cabaret Au Lapin Agile, in the 18th arrondissement, was once the haunt of Montmartre\u2019s most celebrated artists and bohemians<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Crossing the boulevard that separates the 18th and the 9th (where the Moulin Rouge is located) you come to Pigalle<\/strong> and the lovely Notre-Dame-de-Lorette<\/strong>, a district full of 19th-century charm and including the rue des Martyrs, a haven for foodies.<\/p>\n

Eastern Paris<\/h2>\n

Arrondissements: 11th, 12th, 19th, 20th<\/em>
\nDistricts: Bastille, Buttes-Chaumont, M\u00e9nilmontant, Nation<\/em><\/p>\n

Traditionally the most populaire<\/em> (working class) area of Paris, the east is rapidly gentrifying as young couples buy their first property in these less expensive neighbourhoods that nevertheless have a great deal of charm.<\/p>\n

First to come up in the world was Bastille<\/strong> following the opening of the Op\u00e9ra Bastille in the 1980s. The lucky ones can find a converted \u201cloft\u201d atelier in the former cabinet-makers\u2019 district running along the rue du Fbg-St-Antoine, which also has the bijou place Trousseau. There are many bistros in the area.<\/p>\n

\"Bastille
A quaint cobbled street in the Bastille neighbourhood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Place
The Place de la Bastille straddles three different arrondissements: the 4th, the 11th and the 12th<\/div><\/div>
\"Bastille
The Colonne de Juillet on the Place de la Bastille<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Further east along this axis is place de la Nation, convenient for outdoor pursuits in the Bois de Vincennes. The northeast encompasses villagey M\u00e9nilmontant<\/strong> on its hill, and Buttes-Chaumont<\/strong>, centred around one of Paris\u2019s most lovely parks, where there is (unusually for Paris) plenty of grass to roll on. Stations like Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es and Jourdain are on the convenient M\u00e9tro Line 11 straight in to H\u00f4tel de Ville. Also in the 19th, the Canal d\u2019Ourcq, an extension of the Canal St-Martin, is becoming popular with young families for its waterside walks. Most of the accommodation here is in modern blocks which have the advantage of parking.<\/p>\n

Central Paris<\/h2>\n

Arrondissements: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th<\/em>
\nDistricts: Ile St-Louis, Ile-de-la-Cit\u00e9, Louvre, Les Halles, Marais, Grands-Boulevards, Montorgeuil, R\u00e9publique, Canal St-Martin<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Montorgueil
Montorgueil is a lively neighbourhood full of bars, shops and places to eat<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Caf\u00e9
The lovely facade of the Cafe Biard (now a bookshop) in the Montorgueil district<\/div><\/div>
\"Caf\u00e9
A traditional cafe in Montorgueil<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Street
Fresh flowers in abundance<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Quai
The Ile de la Cit\u00e9 and Notre-Dame on the left; the Ile St-Louis to the right<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Hugely varied in terms of its available accommodation, the centre of Paris ranges from the exclusive h\u00f4tels particuliers<\/em><\/a> (townhouses) of the Ile-St-Louis<\/strong> or Place des Vosges (in the Marais) to affordable apartments.<\/p>\n

\"Place
The arcades of the elegant, 17th century Place des Vosges<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Notre-Dame
The majestic Notre-Dame cathedral and, to the right, the Ile St-Louis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Louvre<\/strong> and Les Halles<\/strong> are most suitable for a really central pied-\u00e0-terre, but do not have many residential amenities. The Marais<\/a><\/strong> is a much-loved area for its old-world charm: if old beams and tomette tiles are your thing you will find plenty to choose from here, but probably not with an elevator as historic building preservation often prohibits it. It is also Paris\u2019s gay quarter, with the by-product of many tastefully restored apartments.<\/p>\n

\"Pont
The Pont Neuf, in the 1st arrondissement, is Paris\u2019s oldest and perhaps prettiest bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The upper part of the Marais<\/strong> (\u201chaut Marais<\/em>\u201d, the 3rd) is less noisy and less touristy than the 4th, with the covered March\u00e9 des Enfants Rouges on rue de Bretagne, young designer boutiques and art galleries.<\/p>\n

\"March\u00e9
March\u00e9 des Enfants Rouges, Paris\u2019s oldest covered market and still one of its most popular<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Exposed
Rue de Poitou Paris 3rd – Furnished apartment in the Marais district<\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"Rue
Paris\u2019s Jewish quarter is centred in and around the Rue des Rosiers in the 4th arrondissement<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Rue
Exposed beams in a historic apartment in the Marais district of the 3rd arrondissement – Rue Vieille du Temple<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Fromager
A wonderful selection of cheeses at a traditional fromager on the Rue de Bretagne<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Montorgeuil<\/strong> is a lively food-shopping and bar district, while the 10th around the newly pedestrianised Place de la R\u00e9publique<\/strong> includes the hipster Faubourg St-Denis and bucolic Canal St-Martin<\/strong>. If you don\u2019t yet know what a bobo<\/em> is (short for bourgeois-bohemian) here you will see them in their natural habitat: promenading infants in strollers, shopping at Ben Simon and drinking natural wine along the canalside bars.<\/p>\n

\"Canal
The quays of the Canal St-Martin are a great place for a stroll (or a rest)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Left Bank<\/h2>\n

Arrondissements: 5th, 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 15th<\/em>
\nDistricts: Biblioth\u00e8que Fran\u00e7ois Mitterrand, Panth\u00e9on-Sorbonne, St-Michel, St-Germain-des-Pr\u00e8s, Invalides, Champs-de-Mars-Tour Eiffel, Convention, Al\u00e9sia, Butte-aux-Cailles, Montparnasse<\/em><\/p>\n

Left Bank inhabitants may not agree with our grouping the whole of the south side of the Seine as one. But its many districts share the quality of being residential, safe, and full of the traditional Parisian charms, though it also includes one of the city\u2019s rare modern developments.<\/p>\n

\"Orsay
The Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay, a treasure house of 19th and early 20th century painting, on the Left Bank in the 7th arrondissement<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Going from east to west along the Seine you have the Biblioth\u00e8que<\/strong> quarter, which is now coming into its own with the opening of several rooftop restaurants at the Les Docks Seine-side complex. Here you will find modern condo-style apartments with parking and the additional benefit of being on the ultra-fast Line 14 into the centre of the city.<\/p>\n

West of here is the Latin Quarter around the Panth\u00e9on<\/strong>, Sorbonne<\/strong> and St-Michel<\/strong>: the home of well-bred students now grown up, its pretty narrow streets still filled with bookshops and unpretentious bistros. For those looking to educate their children in the public school system the Lyc\u00e9e Louis-le-Grand and Lyc\u00e9e Henri IV found here are renowned for their academic results.<\/p>\n

\"Place
The Place de la Sorbonne, in the 5th arrondissement, is home to France\u2019s most famous and prestigious university<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

St-Germain-des-Pr\u00e9s<\/strong>, once shabby and bohemian, is today the home of chic with its top designer boutiques, galleries and expensive restaurants, but what could be more Parisian than taking your morning coffee at the Flore or the Deux Magots? The gorgeous Luxembourg Gardens are nearby, and apartments, as in the Latin Quarter, are often pre-Haussmannian with exposed beams. Going further west you get into the ministerial territory of the Invalides<\/strong> and Champs-de-Mars<\/strong>, with Haussmannian apartments on quiet, distinguished streets and fine dining aplenty.<\/p>\n

\"Caf\u00e9
The Caf\u00e9 de Flore in Saint-Germain-des-Pr\u00e9s is little changed from its days as a hangout for Paris\u2019s leading intellectuals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bar
A typical Parisian bar at 75, Rue de Seine, in the 6th arrondissement<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Bar
Bar du March\u00e9 Paris 6th<\/div><\/div>
\"Palais
The Palais du Luxembourg and the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, Paris\u2019s most popular park<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Luxembourg
The tranquil Luxembourg Gardens in the 6th arrondissement<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

The outer districts of the Left Bank include the 13th\u2019s large Chinatown around place d\u2019Italie, with its little village enclave of the Butte-aux-Cailles<\/strong>. West of here is Montparnasse<\/strong> (convenient for the centre of the city via M\u00e9tro Line 4) with its boulevards, brasseries and theatres and Parc Montsouris. Al\u00e9sia<\/strong>, a district famous for its \u201cstock shops\u201d or retail outlets, leads into the quiet residential district of the 15th, or Convention<\/strong>, and the modern Parc Andr\u00e9 Citroen.<\/p>\n

What to expect from a Parisian apartment<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Paris has modern condo-style apartments, the true Parisian experience comes from living in one of its medieval or Haussmannian buildings. In the second half of the 19th century Baron Haussmann\u2019s town planning eradicated much of the medieval city in favour of wide boulevards and a particular, grand architectural style using hewn stone.<\/p>\n

\"Oldest
A traditional facade on the Rue Volta<\/a> in the Marais district of the 3rd arrondissement<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Courtyard
A peaceful courtyard off the Rue Elzevir in the Marais district<\/div><\/div>
\"Courtyard
A historic courtyard in the Rue Vieille du Temple in the 3rd arrondissement<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Designed as apartments, they are entered by a communal hall feeding into several staircases with either door codes or intercom as security. Mailboxes are in the hall, or, if the building is lucky enough to have a caretaker (guardien\/ne), mail will be delivered by him or her. You will often be equipped with a \u201cbip\u201d that gets you entry via an electronic sensor.<\/p>\n

Haussmannian apartments have well-proportioned living rooms and bedrooms and small kitchens and bathrooms, though the cuisine am\u00e9ricaine or open kitchen is now very common. Parisians prize having a WC separate from the bathroom. Parquet floors, ceiling mouldings and marble fireplaces often feature in Haussmannian apartments<\/a>, though don\u2019t expect to be allowed to light a fire! Heating and cooking are by gas or electricity and heating is sometimes communal.<\/p>\n

\"Rue
Furnished apartment Paris 5th<\/a> – Rue de l\u2019Abb\u00e9 de l\u2019\u00c9p\u00e9e<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Staircase
An elegant staircase in a typically grand Parisian building<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Apartments in medieval buildings (in St-Germain-des-Pr\u00e9s, the Latin Quarter or the Marais) are less likely to have an elevator because of historic building regulations, but they often have exposed beams and tomettes (hexagonal terracotta tiles).<\/p>\n

\"Staircases
If you don\u2019t mind the walk, Parisian staircases are often full of charm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most apartments are now double-glazed, but if you really prize tranquility opt for one sur cour (overlooking the courtyard). As most traditional apartments have wooden floors noise can travel from above and pretty much the only way to avoid this is to take a top-floor flat, many of which are mansarded.<\/p>\n

\"Top
Top floor apartments often offer higher ceilings and great views<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Find the Neighbourhood that\u2019s Right for You in Paris. What is the character of the different arrondissements and what neighbourhoods would suit your needs?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3237,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"amp_status":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2765"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2765"}],"version-history":[{"count":115,"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13044,"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2765\/revisions\/13044"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.book-a-flat.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}