Choosing where to stay in Paris is a matter of finding the best compromise between your wishes and your budget.

Paris isn’t cheap, so you’ll want to do your homework before booking your stay.

coulee verte apartments paris

Apartments near Place de la Bastille – photo taken from the Promenade Plantee

Here are some considerations on the best areas to stay in Paris.

I picked a few hotel choices for each of these areas. My choices are based on ratings and reviews from other travelers, as well as on my own experience with some of those accommodations.

Best Areas in Paris for First Time Visitors

First timers and those on a short vacation would better choose central accommodation, in order to be close to as many Paris landmarks as possible.

Montmartre

Montmartre is one of the best areas to stay in Paris, thanks to its proximity to landmarks such as Sacre-Coeur Basilica, Moulin Rouge, Place du Tertre, Place Pigalle, Montmartre cemetery, and Rue Lepic with Amelie Poulain’s Cafe des deux moulins.

Even though it is one of the known tourist areas, always chocked-full of people, Montmartre has its quiet areas, with narrow, cobbled streets, with small hotels and apartments, away from noise and crowds.

On Rue Biot, a few steps from Place de Clichy, there’s Hotel de Paris Montmartre, a hotel I stayed at more than once.

This is a 3-star hotel with small rooms, but clean and convenient in terms of value for money.

Rue Biot is a street that gets animated in the evening, with its restaurants, its bars, and its cultural venues.

If you prefer accommodation near the top of the Butte Montmartre, check out this one.

Located on Rue d’Orsel, Mom’Art Hotel has raving reviews from hundreds of tourists. The hotel sits on a quiet street right near Sacre-Coeur Basilica.

Click here to see the rates and to book a room now.

Hotel Le Relais Montmartre is another great choice in this area. Click here to check it out now!

le vrai paris montmartre

Les Passages Couverts

Les Passages Couvert are the ancient shopping galleries of Paris.

This network of glass-covered walkways stretches over a wide area, thus being the perfect walk in Paris on a rainy day.

Check out my article about the covered passageways of Paris.

Located inside Passage Jouffroy, Hotel Chopin is one of the most romantic hotels in this area. It is a 2-star hotel, and therefore less expensive that other central Paris accommodations.

paris passages hotel chopin

Musee Grevin is right there, just around the corner.

Porte Maillot – Arc de Triomphe – Champs Elysées

Located not too far from Arc de Triomphe, Porte Maillot is best for those who fly into Paris via the Beauvais Airport.

Bus shuttles from the airport arrive at Porte Maillot.

From here, you have metro and bus connections to any other area of Paris. You’re at walking distance from Arc de Triomphe.

Hôtel Toujours & Spa: 24-hour desk with laundry service, AC, elevator, soundproofing, very nice spa center.

Hotel Etoile Maillot: a renovated 18th century villa featuring a sauna, a hammam, and a massage room. The hotel offers both continental and full English breakfast (your choice).

Le Marais

Le Marais is an old and very beautiful neighborhood of Paris, home to Hotel de Ville, the city hall of Paris. The huge square in front of Hotel de Ville hosts lots of interesting and entertaining events.

Le Marais is within walking distance to the Seine river, to Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame de Paris, and Louvre.

Other good reasons to choose a hotel in Le Marais are the countless cafes and restaurants in the area, the quaint and romantic streets outside of the tourist areas, the oldest square in Paris, Place des Vosges, and the castle hotels that offer a glimpse into the life of 17th Century nobles.

Museums in the Marais neighborhood include Centre Pompidou, Musee Carnavalet, Memorial de la Shoa (free entry Holocaust museum), the house of Victor Hugo, Picasso-Paris national museum, and the Museum of Hunting and Nature (Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature).

Le Petit Moulin is one of the hotels in Marais that score very high ratings. The decor looks so good that I’ve added this hotel to my bucket list for the next trip to Paris.

Hotel Saint-Louis Marais is another interesting option. Located near Place des Vosges, Hotel Saint-Louis Marais offers 24h concierge service and luggage storage.

Chatelet

Located in the 1st Arrondisement, Chatelet is Paris’s oldest district.

Le Jardin Nelson Mandela in Chatelet is a huge garden that’s open 24/7, all year round.

Just around the corner, the restaurants and cafes in Chatelet – Les Halles are perfect for a lavish brunch, a quick lunch stop or a great dinner.

I tried a very nice vegetarian platter at Poppy and I loved it.

Also, my friends in Paris told me that Au Pied de Cochon is an excellent brasserie where you can try traditional French dishes.

Here are some of the best-rated hotels in Chatelet:

Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne: elegant decor, Lous Philippe style, solid wood furniture and 24h reception desk.

Snob Hotel: 24h reception desk, luggage storage, elevator, air conditioning

Central Duplex with Panoramic Views over Paris: apartment featuring one bedroom, one bathroom, one fully equipped kitchen, and a washing machine. Perfect for self-catering fans.

pied de cochon paris bistro

Place de la Bastille – Canal Saint-Martin

Place de la Bastille is another central neighborhood worth considering for a short stay.

The Seine and the Canal Saint-Martin are only a short walk away.

Also, Place de la Bastille is the starting point of Promenade Plantee, also known as La Coulee Verte Rene-Dumont, one of the best pedestrian areas in Paris, a linear park stretching alongside a former viaduct.

Here are a few hotels in this area:

Oh la la ! Hotel Bar Paris Bastille: 3-star hotel with breakfast but without elevator; a very good value for money, though.

Opera Apartment: 2 bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, modern, clean and very close to Place de la Bastille

Hotel Pavillon Bastille: located just opposite the Bastille Opera House, this hotel offers a very good breakfast and an excellent value for money.

opera bastille paris building

canal st martin paris

Canal Saint Martin

Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Académie Hôtel Saint Germain – 3-star hotel located on the Left Bank, near the Louvre, right around Cafe de Flore; standard rooms are small, but the building has character and the beds are comfortable – Click here to see the rooms and book your dates.

Hôtel De Fleurie – 3-star hotel set in a beautiful 18th century building, close to Odéon Metro Station – Click here to see the rooms and to pick your dates.

Hôtel Le Regent Paris – Elegant hotel, set in an 18th century building, with 24-hour front desk service – Click here to check it out.

When choosing a hotel in Saint Germain des Prés, you’ll be close to all major landmarks in Paris such as Notre Dame de Paris, Musee d’Orsay, Jardin du Luxembourg, and Tour Eiffel.

paris streets

Best Hotels with Tour Eiffel Views

For hotels with Tour Eiffel views you’ll want to search the following neighborhoods: Gros Caillou, Chaillot, Champs-Elysees, Invalides, and Grenelle.

Avenue Kleber is one of the streets with Eiffel Tower views, so it’s worth checking out.

Keep in mind that not all hotel rooms have Eiffel Tower views. You must specify this when you book, in order to make sure you’re going to get exactly the desired room.

Also, such hotels usually belong into the luxury category, with room rates averaging thousands of Euros per night.

I’m not the kind of traveler that would splurge on hotels. I’d rather spend my money on experiences.

I’m putting up this list for you who may want to celebrate special life moments this way.

The Peninsula Paris

Located on Avenue Kleber, The Penisula is a 5-star hotel, well-known for its fine dining options and exquisite services. Click here to check the room rates.

Hotel Raphael

Apparently, this hotel doesn’t have any availability on Booking for the next year or so. Check it out to see for yourself.

Pullman Paris Eiffel Tower Hotel

This is a 4-star hotel with room rates around 400 Euro. It has a very nice terrace with a restaurant where you can have your breakfast with a view.

Hotel Gustave

Located in the 15th Arrondissement, Hotel Gustave features a decor in the Belle Epoque style. It is a 4-star hotel with Tour Eiffel views from some rooms.

Click here to check out the rooms and the prices.

Hotel Le Meurice

Le Meurice is a 5-star hotel palace with a 2-star Michelin restaurant.

Click here to see the rooms and the prices.

I haven’t been a guest of any of the above hotels.

The only one I know and recommend is The Peninsula Paris, where I had the pleasure to attend a wedding. The hotel looks impeccable. The food is fabulous.

If I were to describe this hotel in two words, those would be exquisite and expensive.

paris streets eiffel view

Violeta Matei