The 10 Most Charming Paris Neighbourhoods

The City of Light is an enchanting metropolis featuring on many a bucket list, thanks to its incomparable museums, cultural scene and gastronomy. It’s also an invigorating, ever-changing and diverse mélange of smaller villages – each with their own distinct character and attributes. Want to discover posh parts of Paris like the glitzy Champs-Élysées, the grungy nightlife of Pigalle or the hipster energy of Belleville? Scratch below the surface and you’ll soon find a hood and a tribe to call your own.

Finding your way around Paris is easy. Geographically, the city is bisected by the River Seine, forming the Right Bank (Rive Droite) north of the river, and the smaller Left Bank (Rive Gauche) to the south. The charming Île de la Cité is an island in the river, home to Notre-Dame Cathedral, and from here the city’s numbered arrondissements (districts) spiral outwards in what locals refer to as the “Parisian snail”.

The last two digits of a Paris postcode denote the arrondissement – for example, the Eiffel Tower is in the 7th arrondissement and its postcode is 75007. Once you understand that, you’ll know roughly where every Parisian neighbourhood lies. To help you along a little further, arrondissements 1–4, 8–12 and 14–20 are on the Right Bank, 5–7 and 13–15 are found on the Left Bank.

There’s an excellent métro system offering well-priced day passes to visitors, but half the joy of a Parisian jaunt is that you can easily explore on foot – it’s compact enough to be eminently walkable, no matter which area you're in.

Bastille has history, for it was here that a notorious prison was destroyed in 1789 during the French Revolution. Today it’s one of Paris’s coolest boroughs, fanning out eastwards from pedestrianised Place de la Bastille. It’s the neighbourhood to find funky fashion boutiques by day, and cooler-than-cool cocktail bars, speakeasies, restaurants and clubs after dark.

What to see: Start in Place de la Bastille at the monumental landmark July Column, topped by the gilded figure of the Spirit of Freedom. Pop into the swooping, swirling Frank Gehry-designed Cinémathèque Française to see props and costumes from the world of film, and take a few selfies among the brightly coloured cottages along Rue Crémieux. Make a cultural night of it with a performance at Opéra Bastille, or stay up late in streets teeming with live music.

Top tip: Grab a street-food feast along rue de Charonne, leading north into another Parisian village: Charonne, home of the oh-so-hip hotel Mama Shelter Paris East.

Cusp of the 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements. Métro lines 1, 5 and 8 to Bastille.

Regarded as the new Montmartre – both sprawl over the top of a hill and have spectacular views over the city after all – Belleville is boho with a gritty edge, a neighbourhood full of artists, political refugees and the second-largest Chinatown in Paris. Its narrow, winding alleys are lined with stores selling preloved clothes and second-hand vinyl, side by side with cafés serving Turkish burek pastries or Asian noodles. Panoramic Parc de Belleville is a popular spot for lazing on sunny days with tasty treats from Marché Belleville.

What to see: More an area for wandering than sightseeing, Belleville is nevertheless home to the Musée Edith Piaf, full to the brim with the diminutive chanteuse’s china collection, fan mail, giant cuddly toys and mannequins adorned with her black dresses. She’s buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, about 15 minutes’ walk away.

Top tip: You’ll find the area’s best street art in Place Fréhel, including the masterpiece “Il faut se méfier des mots” (“Beware of words”) by Benjamin Vautier, aka Ben.

75020. Métro lines 2 and 11 to Belleville, or line 11 to Pyrénées.

Set around the canal that connects the River Seine with waterways in the north of Paris, Canal Saint-Martin is lively, cool and 'bobo' – a peculiarly Gallic portmanteau word translating roughly as 'gentrified'. Once an industrial hub, today it’s one of the trendiest quartiers in the city, where chestnut trees arch gracefully over the canal and its wrought-iron bridges, and narrow streets abound with international restaurants, artisan bakeries and delis, all competing for attention with sleek boutiques and out-there design emporiums.

What to see: Stroll along canalside Quai de Valmy and Quai de Jemmapes to watch anglers casting for their daily catch, residents playing pétanque and couples picnicking on charcuterie from Marché Couvert Saint-Martin. See the locks ebb and flow as barges pass through, or join a boat cruise to float up to Parc de la Villette – hop off there to catch a 4D film at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie.

Top tip: If you fancy a swim, there are three al fresco pools at Le Bassin de la Villette, open between June and September.

75010. Métro lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11 to République, or lines 2, 5 and 7 to Jaurès.

You can’t leave Paris without meandering down the city’s most iconic boulevard. The elegant, tree-shaded Avenue des Champs-Élysées and its prestigious side streets are central to one of the poshest neighbourhoods of Paris: the chic 8th arrondissement. Backed by mighty Haussmann mansions, they are the home of luxury brands including Hermès, Gucci, Chanel, Bulgari and Louis Vuitton, sitting side by side with refined restaurants, pavement cafés and the flagship Galeries Lafayette department store.

What to see: The Champs-Élysées links the fountain-and-obelisk-filled Place de la Concorde with the Place de l’Etoile, where 12 grand boulevards collide. In the centre of this hectic roundabout stands the colossal Arc de Triomphe; climb to the rooftop observation platform for views to the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre.

Top tip: Catch the best of international musical theatre at Lido 2 Paris.

75008. Métro line 1 to George V, lines 1 and 13 to Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau, or lines 1 and 9 to Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A colourful melting pot of cultures where many a French film star has made their home, the narrow cobbled streets of trendy Le Marais are awash with kosher bakeries, falafel cafés, craft-cocktail bars and LGBTQ2+ nightlife, interspersed with cool boutiques and quirky art galleries. As one of Paris’s liveliest gay neighbourhoods, much of the late-night clubbing scene is found around rue du Temple and rue des Archives.

What to see: Le Marais is liberally stuffed with attractions. Among its many museums, you might like to prioritise the exceptional Musée Carnavalet (an inspiring romp through Parisian history), the Musée National Picasso-Paris in the stunning 17th-century Hôtel Salé, and eye-catching images at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. Underneath the soaring glass roof of the Carreau du Temple, you’ll find a dynamic roster of fashion and design events, art fairs, jazz festivals and restaurants.

Top tip: Source picnic goodies at the covered Marché des Enfants Rouges, and head for lovely Place des Vosges; if you’re after solitude, try the peaceful Jardin Anne-Frank instead.

3rd and 4th arrondissements. Métro line 1 to Rambuteau or Pont Marie, or lines 1 and 11 to Hôtel de Ville.

With a vibe once described as “naughty but nice”, laid-back South Pigalle has morphed from scandalous, risqué home of brothels and neon-lit sex shows to one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Paris. Now affectionally dubbed 'SoPi', it’s a place to gather at trendy watering holes and wacky art galleries. Gritty it may be, but it’s also heaven for gourmet shoppers: in steep rue des Martyrs you’ll unearth nearly 200 high-end food stores ranging from chutney makers to specialist cheesemongers and craft beer brewers.

What to see: Visit the cute, oft-overlooked Musée de la Vie Romantique,or tour the allegorical paintings and sketches of 19th-century Symbolist artist Gustave Moreau at his namesake museum.

Top tip: Anyone with a sweet tooth will adore the creations of star baker Sébastien Gaudard in his exquisite eponymous shop at 22 rue des Martyrs.

75009. Métro lines 2 and 12 to Pigalle.

Glamour, elegance and grandeur are the watchwords in this upscale neighbourhood at the heart of the sophisticated 7th arrondissement. As well as being home to monied locals, the area is a lively visitor hub with many prestigious hotels, where museums and world-famous Parisian icons come fast on the heels of major department stores, pucker coffeeshops and upmarket bistros.

What to see: Your first stop has to be the spiky metal monolith that is the Eiffel Tower for peerless views over Paris. At its foot lies the Champ de Mars, one of the city’s most extensive green lungs, stretching from the riverside Trocadéro Esplanade to the stately École Militaire, with its vast neoclassical façade – beautiful to look at but not open for visits. Close by are two wonderful museums well-worth visiting: the Rodin celebrates the work of France’s most famous sculptor, while the Quai Branly pays homage to world cultures.

Top tip: Art nouveau fans will love the flowing, flowery design of the elaborate mansion at 29 avenue Rapp, built by architect Jules Lavirotte in 1901.

75007. Métro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim, or line 8 to École Militaire.

Boisterous and buzzy, the Latin Quarter owes its name to the presence of the Sorbonne, France’s oldest university – when it was founded in the 13th century, professors and students alike were required to speak Latin in its environs. Today students mingle with tourists in the narrow cobbled streets of this district, known for its multicultural dining scene as well as gorgeous, medieval rue Mouffetard, with a daily food market and impromptu dance sessions on Sunday afternoons.

What to see: Make a beeline for the magnificent Panthéon, a neoclassical 18th-century mausoleum topped with a towering dome. A mixed bag of luminaries including philosopher Voltaire, author Victor Hugo and music-hall entertainer Josephine Baker are interred in the crypt. You can admire the magical Lady and the Unicorn tapestry at Musée de Cluny–Musée National du Moyen Âge, and then take time out among the plane trees in the centuries-old Jardin des Plantes, or perhaps stroll the Moorish-inspired gardens at the Grand Mosque.

Top tip: Stop off in prettily planted Square René Viviani for a sneak preview across the River Seine to the historic Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

75005. Métro line 10 to Maubert–Mutualité.

Originally an avant-garde community of artists and writers, Montparnasse is a carefree, effervescent and still slightly subversive quarter with a certain retro charm. There’s a treasure trove of antique bargains to be had at the weekend’s Marché aux Puces de Vanves, and all manner of global cuisines – from Créole to Japanese – to cruise on the main thoroughfare of boulevard du Montparnasse.

What to see: Take a dive underground to the labyrinthine Paris Catacombs, built in the late 1700s when the city’s cemeteries ran out of space. This strangely fascinating subterranean charnel house is believed to hold the bones and skulls of nearly 6 million people. If that doesn’t appeal, zoom up 56 storeys to the top of Montparnasse Tower for vistas over the Paris skyline, check out contemporary art at the Fondation Cartier, with a gleaming glass façade designed by Jean Nouvel, or pose for photos by the equestrian Fontaine de l’Observatoire.

Top tip: Held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the Marché Edgar Quinet is a gourmet paradise piled high with seasonal fruit and veg, charcuterie and quality cheeses.

75014. Métro lines 4, 6, 12 and 13 to Montparnasse-Bienvenue.

Once a bohemian den of political debate and the hangout of literary figures such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is now a serene and flawlessly chic district with a distinctly timeless vibe. Here you’ll find some of Paris’s time-honoured cafés and food shops, so get set to browse for jewel-coloured macarons at Ladurée and cocoa-dusted truffles from Debauve & Gallais.

What to see: Marvel at the action-packed Eugène Delacroix frescoes at the Chapel of the Holy Angels in twin-spired St Sulpice Church – and if that whets your appetite for more of his work, peruse his mesmerising portraits and sketches at Musée Delacroix. Enjoy a moment of downtime amid the lush lawns and apple orchards of the Jardin du Luxembourg, or attend a contemporary play under the wildly frescoed ceiling – painted by Surrealist André Masson – at the Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe. 

Top tip: Sitting almost side by side on boulevard Saint-Germain, Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are the places to be seen sipping an apéritif in the early evening.

75006. Métro line to Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

So over to you – take to the streets and hidden quarters of this glorious city and see where your adventures lead…