Is Montparnasse a good place to stay in Paris?

Montparnasse is a good base if you want the Left Bank at a lower price, with excellent transport and plenty of places to eat. Montparnasse–Bienvenüe station has several Métro lines, Gare Montparnasse has trains to the west of France, and the Luxembourg Gardens and Saint-Germain are a walk away. It suits budget travellers, business visitors and families who want a practical base.

The area mixes old and new. The Boulevard du Montparnasse still has the grand cafés and brasseries where artists and writers gathered, like La Coupole and Le Dôme, while rue du Montparnasse is lined with Breton crêperies near the station. Rue de la Gaîté has small theatres, rue Daguerre is a lively market street, and the Montparnasse Cemetery is a calm green space in the middle of it all.

The downside is that the area around the station and the tower isn't pretty. The Tour Montparnasse and the station complex are big and modern, the main boulevards are busy with traffic, and it lacks the old-world charm of the Marais or Saint-Germain. Most of the classic sights need a Métro ride.

What makes Montparnasse worth considering is how much it gives you for the price. You can eat galettes and drink cider on rue du Montparnasse, have dinner at a historic brasserie, walk to the Luxembourg Gardens and still get across Paris quickly, all from a hotel that costs less than one in Saint-Germain.