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Where to stay in Paris

Paris is compact, and most first-time visitors should stay on or near the river. Go to the Marais or Saint-Germain for character, the Latin Quarter for value, or Montmartre for views and lower prices.

Paris

Find your area, then your hotel

Tap one of our picks, or any area, to see its hotels on the map, what it costs, where we'd book and how long it takes to get around.

In short: our pick for each kind of trip. Tap one to see why.

Le Marais, Paris
Should you stay in

Le Marais?

Old mansions, galleries & falafel

What a night costs

Budget
$150
Mid-range
$280
Luxury
$645

5th cheapest of 6 areas, about $45 a night less than Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Where we'd book

The verdict

Medieval lanes, 17th-century mansions and some of the city's best shopping and eating, a short walk from Notre-Dame and the Louvre.

  • Stay here if
  • First-time visitors who want central and characterful
  • Food lovers and shoppers
  • Couples
  • Look elsewhere if
  • You want lots of space for the money
  • You want quiet streets on weekend nights
  • You're on a tight budget

Is it safe?

Around the city averageStreet crime is about the Paris average.

Source: SSMSI / Ministère de l'Intérieur

Minutes to the sights

  • Centre Pompidou16 minwalk
  • Louvre18 min
  • Notre-Dame20 minwalk
  • Arc de Triomphe28 min
  • Musée d'Orsay29 min
  • Sacré-Cœur34 min

Stations and airports

10 min to Châtelet. Saint-Paul, Hôtel de Ville, Rambuteau and Arts et Métiers (Métro lines 1, 3, 11).

  • From Charles de Gaulletram, train B, metro 163 min
Read the full Le Marais guide →

Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Sep 2026 · How we rate areas · Minutes planned with the Transitous (MOTIS on published GTFS timetables and OpenStreetMap) for a weekday, including walking and waiting · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more

Paris questions

What is the best area to stay in Paris for first-timers?

Le Marais puts the big sights within easy reach and is 10 minutes from Châtelet. Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés are good alternatives.

Which area of Paris has the cheapest hotels?

Canal Saint-Martin and Montmartre, with budget hotels from around $105 and mid-range around $175–$185 a night.

Where should families stay in Paris?

Latin Quarter has the best mix of parks, calm streets and sights for kids. Saint-Germain-des-Prés are good alternatives.

Where is the best nightlife in Paris?

Canal Saint-Martin has the most bars, restaurants and late nights. Le Marais and Montmartre are good alternatives.

Is it worth staying outside central Paris?

It can save around $140 a night on a mid-range room compared with Saint-Germain-des-Prés, but adds travel time. Montmartre is 20 minutes from Châtelet.