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.