Paris city center is bursting with amazing sights and sounds - your trip to one of the world’s most beautiful cities will be truly memorable. The French capital is made up of 20 arrondissements (districts), but we’re going to focus on the first seven as they make up the true city center and offer a wide variety of things to see and do.
The arrondissements were created by Emperor Napoleon III in 1860, with the 1st arrondissement situated in the historic center of the city. The rest of the arrondissements curl around and outwards like a spiral – each one with its own distinct ‘flavor’ and attractions.
Read on for our guide to the best things to see and do in the city of love and light.
Arrondissement 1 is elegant and regal
At the center of what was originally the seat of royal power, you’ll find elegance and grandeur. It’s home to the Palais Royal and the world-famous Louvre, the largest art museum in the world. Be sure to visit the beautiful Tuileries Gardens and check out the rather upmarket Vendôme Square. The Pont Neuf bridge is also located in this arrondissement. Although the name means ‘new bridge’, it’s actually the oldest bridge in Paris.
Arrondissement 2 for commerce and business
Travel to arrondissement 2 and you’ll be in the business district, otherwise known as Bourse. The Palais de la Bourse was once the stock exchange and is the area’s most notable landmark. Other buildings to see are the National Library and the Opera Comique. Check out the Grands Boulevard neighborhood for its old-world regal style and covered shopping arcades.
Arrondissement 3 for arts, crafts and Picasso
You’ll find the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers (National Museum of Arts and Crafts) along with the Picasso Museum in Arrondissement 3. The district is also known as Temple as there was once a medieval fortress built by the Templar Knights amongst the bustling commercial and quiet residential streets. Be sure to check out the Marais neighborhood that spills over into the 4th arrondissement.
Arrondissement 4 for Renaissance and shopping
Arrondissement 4 is popular with tourists, as it not only includes part of the Marais district but also the Île de la Cité, which includes Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the city’s most popular attractions. You’ll also find Centre Pompidou in this district, which is amongst the oldest in the city center of Paris. Le Marais is one of the most visually interesting quarters of Paris.
This area was once a swamp and that is what Le Marais means. It has evolved from a working-class neighborhood to an affluent and upmarket area, popular for eating, drinking, and strolling. Despite an overhaul of the city’s layout by Napoleon and Baron Georges Eugene Haussmann in the mid-19th century, it has retained the narrow streets of the Renaissance and Medieval eras. You can still see dramatic residences, boutiques, and galleries that escaped modernization.
Examples of Haussmann’s great works include the Champs-Élysées and Montparnasse, as well as the city’s modern water and sewage system. After a visit to Notre Dame, head across the Seine to browse the art stalls and the booksellers' treasures. Marais is also where a Jewish community has lived on and off since the 13th century and features a moving monument to the 200,000 French people killed in concentration camps during WW2.
Arrondissement 5 for the Latin Quarter
Enjoy the outstanding neoclassic architecture of the Panthéon as well as the botanical gardens, known locally as the Jardin des Plantes. You’ll also find the Sorbonne University here, attended by the intellectual crème de la crème. The Panthéon is now a mausoleum housing the remains of the most distinguished French citizens, such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and Louis Braille.
Arrondissement 6 for old-world style
The 6th arrondissement was the stomping ground of writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. The area has now been transformed into a hotspot for antique furniture and designer boutiques. You’ll also come across leafy residential streets, outstanding architecture, and fabulous restaurants.
Arrondissement 7 for prestige
This district of the city of Paris is home to the sensational steel structure of the Eiffel Tower and the Orsay Museum. Boats leave from here for lunch and dinner cruises on the Seine – an opportunity to see the fantastic buildings from the water without traffic being in the way. The Hotel des Invalides is not a hotel at all, but the resting place of Napoleon I and the army museum, as well as a former military complex. If you’re a fan of shopping and gourmet food, be sure to stop by the Bon Marche Department Store and Gourmet Market.
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