

Top Attractions in the 1st Arrondissementĭiscover: The Louvre Museum, home to the Mona Lisa and many other treasured works of art. Why visit: Famous attractions, spectacular gardens, and excellent cafés, restaurants, and boutiques pack the 1st arrondissement with must-see "bucket list" sights for first-time as well as returning Paris visitors. 1st Arrondissement: Louvre Museum, Sainte-Chapelle, Les Halles Perfect spring day in Paris's 1st Arrondissement - Soaking up sun in the Jardin des Tuileries, with views of the Louvre in the background Now, let's take a look at the landmarks and attractions that make each arrondissement special to help you choose where to stay and what to see and do during your visit. If you take a taxi or private transport to or from Charles de Gaulle Airport, you'll most likely experience it first-hand - for better or worse. One final thing you should know is that an almost-constantly congested multi-lane highway, the Périphérique (Parisians normally call it " la Périph"), circles the outer districts (but not the parks) - look closely at the map, and you can see it just inside the city limits. The large green areas at each side of Paris (think of them as the snail's head and tail) represent two enormous tree-filled parks ( bois), sometimes called the "lungs" of the city. Île Saint-Louis belongs to the 4th district, and is a quiet residential area with 17th century homes, a main street lined with boutiques and bistros, and a few small upscale hotels. It is also where you'll find some of the city's most famous attractions. This is where the area's first settlers, a Celtic tribe called the Parisii, made their home over 2,300 years ago. Île de la Cité, the historic heart of the city includes parts of the 1st and 4th arrondissements. In the middle of the Seine are two small islands, Île de la Citéand Île Saint-Louis.

The blue line of the Seine River divides the city into the Right Bank (above the river) and the Left Bank below it. Zoom in to get a closer view of Paris streets and neighborhoods, or zoom out to see more of France.
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Our interactive Paris map shows the 20 arrondissements with attractions and landmarks, the city's two great forests, the Seine River, and top attractions plus a few key destinations outside of the city such as Versailles, Disneyland Paris, La Vallée Village discount shopping center, the La Défense business district, and the three closest international airports. Paris Arrondissement Map: Understanding the City's Layout When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost for you. Paris Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication. Top photo: Paris arrondissement map, (c) Paris Discovery Guide If you're looking for details about a specific topic or district, use these Quick Links to find it fast: We've packed lots of useful information into this article, but it's long. Our Paris Arrondissement Guide below includes an interactive arrondissement map, highlights about top destinations, activities, major events, tours, and hotels in each district, the best arrondissement to stay in based on what you want to see and do, and tips for using the district numbers to help you plan your trip to Paris. Whether you're planning your first visit or a return trip to the City of Light, knowing which Paris neighborhoods have the attractions, activities, and events you want to experience will help you make the most of your time, decide where to book a hotel room or reserve an apartment, and discover more nearby to do and see.

They are mostly residential and aside from the picturesque Montmartre neighborhood and a few popular attractions such as Atelier des Lumières in the 12th and Père Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th, you usually won't see many tourists. Most were former villages annexed by Paris in the 1800s, and you'll still find plenty of their original charm. Those with lower numbers form the center of the city and contain most of the top historic attractions and not surprisingly, many tourists.Īs you can see when you look at our Paris arrondissements map below, districts with higher numbers spiral out clockwise from the center (much like the shell of a snail, or escargot). Although Paris is a compact city, it contains 20 arrondissements numbered 1 through 20 within its borders.Īlthough technically the first four districts became a single admistrative district called "Paris Centre several years ago, for practical purposes, most Parisians ignore that when giving directions or describing locations.Įach of the 20 Paris districts has its own unique identity and personality, popular attractions, special events, and other interesting things to do and see. What are Paris arrondissements? Arrondissements are administrative districts.
