Many travel guides will tell you where a certain hotel or restaurant is located in your district . What is a district? It is a district and administrative unit of Paris. Each has its own appearance and its own administration. There was a time when many of them were their own little towns until they became Paris.
Above is a map of Paris to help you visualize the location of those districts.
As you can see, Paris is divided into 20 of them. They start on the right bank of the Seine and spiral around the central core of Paris.
«Better» Arrondissements to stay in
If this is your first vacation in Paris, you probably want to be near the Seine, where there is a higher concentration of things tourists come to Paris to see and do. Experienced travelers suggest the 4th, 5th or 6th districts.
The quarter is known for its wealth of historical attractions and includes the neighborhoods of “Beaubourg”, the Marais and the Ile St-Louis.
The 5th arrondissement consists of the historic heart of the Latin Quarter, with attractions such as the “Pantheon, the Sorbonne University and the botanical gardens known as Jardin des Plantes”, according to Courtney Traub’s excellent guide: What to see in Paris by the District (District)
The sixth includes the neighborhoods called Luxembourg and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. St. Germaine is a highly recommended place to look for a hotel in Paris.
Paris-based writer David Downie calls these districts “the magic circle” from which tourists rarely stray. He encourages you to try his three favorite ethnic neighborhoods.
Getting around Paris
Paris has excellent public transport, including buses, taxis, and light rail. There are six train stations in Paris, which you will find on our Paris Train Stations Map. The map shows the stations and the district they occupy.
To travel within the city of Paris, you’ll want to peruse the Complete Paris Transport Guide.
To save on public transport, you may want to check out the Navigo pass or the transport pass designed for tourists: Paris Visite Pass.
You can also see Paris via those hop-on hop-off tour buses or take a Seine River cruise. See Top Paris Tours from Viator for information on transportation and day trips from Paris.
Day trips from Paris
- Versailles makes an interesting day trip that you can take by public transport from Paris.
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny, especially in the spring, make for an excellent excursion to the French countryside in the Normandy region.
- If you are traveling with children, there is also always an excursion to Disneyland Paris to consider.
Paris Travel Resources
- Paris Travel Guide – Learn about Paris discount passes, food, accommodation, day trips and more.
- Paris Travel – A whole site dedicated to Paris
- Paris Weather and Climate for Travelers
Maps of Paris and France
- Interactive map of the Paris district
- France cities map
- Map of French regions
Public holidays
In France, the months of July and August are traditionally when the French take their holidays. Therefore, the less touristy places will be quite quiet and the coastal resorts will be crowded.
Holidays in France
January 1 New Years Day
Easter monday
May 1 Labor Day
May 8, 1945 Victory Day Victory Day
Ascension
Pentecost Monday (variable from May to June)
July 14 Bastille Day
August 15 Asuncion
1 of
November All Saints Day November 11 Remembrance Day
December 25 Christmas Day
