Paris is a city divided into several arrondissements. while there were initially twelve of them, there are now twenty. Each of them has its specificities and its points of interest. This is my ranking of Paris’ arrondissements from a tourist point of view.
20. The 17th arrondissement
Batignolles-Monceau arrondissement
The 17th arrondissement is nice and calm but not that tourist-oriented. It is not the ideal place for someone who wants to discover Paris for the first time.
The fact that it is far from the center makes it hard to get around, even though there are many public stops.
Advantage:
- Tranquility
Drawbacks:
- Location
- Lack of tourist attractions
19. The 15th arrondissement
Vaugirard arrondissement
The 15th arrondissement is rather quiet. as it is located on the outskirts of the city, tourists are rare in this area. Its location makes it hard to discover the city.
There are still some less known museums that could interest those who already know Paris very well.
Advantage:
- Tranquility
Drawbacks:
- Location
- Lack of tourist attractions
18. The 2nd arrondissement
La Bourse arrondissement
Even though the 2nd arrondissement offers many nice walks under its pretty covered pathways, it is not the most attractive place to come in case of a first visit to the capital.
There is no popular landmark here. However, there are many public means of transport in this arrondissement and they allow you to get to the most visited landmarks quickly and easily.
Advantages:
- Public transports
- Tranquility (few tourists)
Drawbacks:
- Expensive to live in
- Lack of tourist attractions
17. The 10th arrondissement
L’Entrepôt arrondissement
The 10th arrondissement is a nice district to stroll in but there is no touristic landmark. It is well located to get around the city and well served by public transports.
Advantages:
- Location
- Public transports
Drawback:
- Lack of tourist attractions
16. The 20th arrondissement
Ménilmontant arrondissement
The 20th arrondissement is far from the city center but it is still well served by public transports. It is calm and affordable but not very tourist-oriented.
The only noteworthy tourist attraction is the Père Lachaise cemetery, even though it is not among the most famous ones.
Advantages:
- Tranquility
- Low living cost
Drawback:
- Lack of tourist attractions
15. The 11th arrondissement
Popincourt arrondissement
The 11th arrondissement is not very tourist-oriented but has some interesting places. It became a bit more popular thanks to the Atelier des Lumières, an art center.
Even though it is getting famous, it is still not among the top things you should do in Paris if you come here for the first time.
The metro serves the arrondissement well and it is affordable to live in.
Advantages:
- Low living cost
- Public transports
Drawback:
- Lack of tourist attractions
14. The 13th arrondissement
Gobelins arrondissement
The 13th arrondissement is cosmopolitan and has a Chinatown making it very lively during Lunar New Year.
Even though it is not very tourist-oriented, you can still visit the City of Fashion and Design and the François Mitterand library.
The 13th arrondissement is close to touristic arrondissements and is well served by public transports.
Advantage:
- Location
Drawback:
- Lack of tourist attractions
13. The 3rd arrondissement
Temple arrondissement
The 3rd arrondissement is not tourist-oriented but there are still a few museums interesting to visit when you have already done the famous ones. This arrondissement is perfect for contemporary art enthusiasts since there are many art galleries.
Advantages:
- Less known museums
- Art galleries
Drawback:
- Very few tourist attractions
12. The 9th arrondissement
Buttes-Chaumont arrondissement
The 19th arrondissement is not that tourist-oriented, but you can still come and visit the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the biggest science museum in Europe suitable for all.
However, if you are coming to Paris for the first time, we recommend that you do something else. This arrondissement has a nice park to stroll in called the Buttes-Chaumont.
Advantages:
- Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie museum
- Buttes-Chaumont park
Drawback:
- Its location
11. The 16th arrondissement
Passy arrondissement
The 16th arrondissement is a rather quiet one, so it is not for you if you are a party person. There are quite a few tourist attractions like the famous Trocadéro Gardens.
It is pretty busy and offers a splendid view of the Eiffel tower. There is also the Musée de l’Homme, an anthropology museum, and for fashion enthusiasts, there is also Yves Saint-Laurent museum.
Advantages:
- Trocadéro gardens
- Musée de l’Homme
- Yves Saint-Laurent Museum
Drawbacks:
- Busy and noisy
- High living cost
10. The 14th arrondissement
L’Observatoire arrondissement
The 14th arrondissement is not that tourist-oriented, but there are still places to go to like the famous Montparnasse district or theatres like the Bobino theatre.
It is also in this arrondissement that you can visit the catacombs.
It has become increasingly popular over the years, especially for visitors who want to discover a new aspect of Paris.
Advantages:
- Catacombs
- The Fondation Cartier, a contemporary art museum
- Theatres
Drawbacks:
- Location
- Few tourist attractions
9. The 12th arrondissement
Reuilly arrondissement
Even though it is not yet part of the most popular arrondissements, the 12th arrondissement has some points of interest for tourists.
The Bois de Vincennes covers most of the arrondissement, but you can also find the Palais de la Porte Dorée, an exhibit hall housing the Musée de l’Immigration and a tropical aquarium.
For those who would like to spend some time calmly, the Bercy park and Bercy village welcome you.
Advantages:
- Bercy village
- Bois de Vincennes
- Palais de la Porte Dorée
- Cinémathèque française, a non-profit film organisation
Drawback:
- Location
8. The 18th arrondissement
Buttes-Montmartre arrondissement
In the 18th arrondissement, you will find the Sacré-Coeur basilica, one of the most visited landmarks in Paris and the place du Tertre which will give you an amazing view of the capital. You can either take the stairs or take the funicular to get to the basilica.
Advantages:
- Sacré-Coeur
- Lovely arrondissement
- The views
Drawbacks:
- Busy
- No access for people with reduced mobility
7. The 6th arrondissement
Luxembourg arrondissement
The 6th arrondissement is located in the heart of Paris. It is rather tourist-oriented with multiple famous cafés like the Deux-Magots and the café de Flore.
The district is nice to stroll in but it is quite expensive.
Advantages:
- Boulevard Saint-Germain
- Palais du Luxembourg and its gardens
- Location
Drawback:
- High cost of living
6. The 5th arrondissement
Panthéon arrondissement
You will find the Pantheon and the Latin quarter in the 5th arrondissement. It is one of the most busy places, filled with tourists. You can also find the Grand Mosque of Paris and the Institut du Monde Arabe for those who want to discover other cultures.
Advantages:
- Latin Quarter
- Pantheon
- Grand Mosque
- Institut du Monde Arabe
- Museums
Drawback:
- Busy
5. The 9th arrondissement
L’Opéra arrondissement
The 9th arrondissement has the Opéra Garnier and the galeries Lafayette in it. It is well served by public transports and you can easily get around other touristic arrondissements from there. You can find there the popular Mogador theatre.
Advantages:
- Opéra Garnier
- Galeries Lafayette
- Mogador theatre
- Grévin museum
Drawback:
- rather calm
4. The 4th arrondissement
L’Hôtel-Ville arrondissement
The 4th arrondissement is one of the most touristic arrondissements of Paris, mainly because of the Notre-Dame cathedral.
It is one of the most visited landmarks of the city. You will also find the Île de la Cité, the Île de Saint-Louis and the Centre Pompidou for contemporary art fans.
Advantages:
- Île de la Cité
- Île Saint-Louis
- Notre-Dame cathedral
- Centre Pompidou
- Lively
Drawback:
- Very busy
3. The 8th arrondissement
L’Elysée arrondissement
The 8th arrondissement is the one with the Champs-Elysées which is known as the most beautiful avenue of the world; tourists love this luxurious district.
You can also find the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde in this arrondissement.
Advantages:
- Champs-Elysées
- Arc de Triomphe
- Place de la Concorde
- Alexandre III bridge
Drawbacks:
- High cost of living
- Very busy
2. The 7th arrondissement
Palais-Bourbon arrondissement
The 7th arrondissement is a key one since it has the Eiffel Tower. It is impossible to come to Paris without seeing the Iron Lady of France. It is the very symbol of the city, recognizable by all.
There are also interesting museums like the Quai Branly museum or the Orsay museum.
Advantages:
- Eiffel tower
- Quai Branly museum
- Orsay museum
- Museums in general
- The lively banks of the Seine
Drawbacks:
- High cost of living
- Extremely busy
1. Le 1st arrondissement
Louvre Arrondissement
The 1st arrondissement is probably the most interesting one for tourists.
There is the Louvre museum, the most visited museum in France. This arrondissement has luxurious areas like the Place Vendôme and the Palais-Royal quarter.
For people on a budget and fashion enthusiasts, you will find the Forum des Halles.
The arrondissement is at the heart of the city and is very well served by public transports.
Advantages:
- Location
- Louvre museum
- Rivoli street
- Place Vendôme
- Forum des Halles
Drawbacks:
- High living cost
- Very busy
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
