Arrondissements

Paris is divided into neighbourhoods or districts called “arrondissements”. This areas are arranged in a clockwise spiral starting at the centre of the city.

1st Arrondissement 

Well known sites are located here: the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, Forum des Halles, Saint Chappelle, and the Conciergerie.

2nd Arrondissement

The Paris Bourse (stock exchange) is here as well as well as the great market street, Rue Montorgueil.  There are lots of restaurants and shopping, such as on Rue Sebastopol and

3rd Arrondissement

The Marais is in this area as well as the Picasso Museum and Carnavalet Museum.

4th Arrondissement

In this area is the Hotel de Ville, the shops along the Rue de Rivoli, Notre Dame Cathedral, Place des Vosges in the Marais, and Pompidou Centre.

5th Arrondissement

Here we are in the Latin Quarter which has the Boulevard St.-Michel which intersects Boulevard St.-Germain, and the Pantheon.

You are in the heart of the Sorbonne.

6th Arrondissement

A beautiful spot to sit and people-watch is in Luxembourg Gardens. In this area is Saint Sulpice Church.

7th Arrondissement

Some major sites are in this area: the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides (where Napoleon’s tomb is), Musee d’Orsay, Musee Rodin, and the Ecole Militaire.

8th Arrondissement

From the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe is the picturesque Champs d’Eylsee. You will pass the Petit Palace and Grand Palace as well as famous stores such as Louis Vuitton.

9th Arrondissement

In this area we have les Grandes Boulevards which house the stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps; and nearby, the Opera Garnier (think: Phantom of the Opera).

10th Arrondissement

Two major train stations are situated here: Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord. Just north east of the two stations is a quaint little area called “La Villette” which has the Quai de la Loire and the Canal Saint-Martin.

11th Arrondissement

Place de la Bastille and Place de la Republique are located in this area as well as the Edith Piaf museum.  There are lots of cafes, restaurants and shops.

12th Arrondissement

The Opera de la Bastille and Chateau de Vincennes are located in the 12th.

13th Arrondissement

Chinatown is in this area. I was there during the week and it was fairly barren. Likely weekends are better

14th Arrondissement

La Tour Montparnasse has great views of Paris from the top of the tower. It also has many shopping chains such as Galeries Lafayette. In this busy neighbourhood there are a lot of shops and restaurants.

15th Arrondissement

It has part of the Montparnasse district and houses the Palais des Sports.

16th Arrondissement

The Trocadero Metro is located here as well as excellent views of the Eiffel Tower from the Palais de Chaillot.

17th Arrondissement

A busy area with the Palais des Congres.

18th Arrondisement

Check out Sacre-Coeur and Place du Tertre but watch out for all the people peddling mini-Eiffel towers. Walk around the Montmartre area, up and down the winding streets.

19th Arrondisement

The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is located in this district.

20th Arrondisement

The graves of Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Chopin, and many other famous people reside in the Cimetiere de Pere-Lachaise.