Where to stay

Book a hotel in stylish Grands Boulevards not only for its reputation in the fashion world, but for its wide variety of restaurants. Find crisp, generously sized pizzas, traditional Mexican cuisine, fluffy boulangerie croissants and juicy burgers. The Champs-Élysées is a top choice for haute cuisine, including many big name, Michelin-starred restaurants. Choices for more affordable dining are within a minute or two walk from hotels along this famous avenue. Montmartre is famed for its buzzing bistros and irresistible crêpe vendors. Reserving a room here gives you access to Paris' top sightseeing attractions as well as a multicultural lineup of dining options, from Italian to Aussie-French to Venezuelan. The 11th Arrondissement is an ideal place to stay for foodies who want to eat alongside the local crowd. While Michelin-starred restaurants do exist here, there are also up-and-coming, more casual eateries with lower prices. Reserve accommodations in Bastille for its romantic Parisian ambience and wide range of ethnic restaurants along its winding alleys. Stay in Canal Saint-Martin and dine alongside fashion models in craft coffee shops. From your hotel in the Quartier Latin, pop in to a different cafe each morning before starting a day of sightseeing. Students flock here for the global cuisine, lively nightlife and secondhand bookstores, giving the neighborhood a university-town feel.

To be close to the ultimate in stylish, high-end Paris shopping, stay in the Champs-Élysées neighborhood between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde. Exorbitantly priced as the boutiques may be, they're a must-see, even if just for window shopping. For a mix of haute couture and interesting art galleries, reserve a room in Saint-Germain-des Prés. This central location is also a convenient starting point for city exploration. Marais, in the 4th Arrondissement, offers shopping of all styles and budgets. Choose a hotel here and browse the boutiques of local designers, the renowned Galeries Lafayette and the Parisian favorite, Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville. Nearby, the 3rd Arrondissement is the place to stay for new designers as well as established French brands, and unique jewelry and accessories.

Choose a hotel in the 1st Arrondissement or 7th Arrondissement to be closest to Paris' major sightseeing attractions. Within the 1st, landmarks include the Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Place Vendôme and the Palais Royale. From here, it's an easy walk to the Champs-Élysées; while Saint-Germain-des Prés is just across the river. Accommodations in the 1st are also close to the Chatelet metro station, one of the transit system's largest hubs, making it easy to get just about anywhere. Reserve a room in the 7th Arrondissement, especially if this is your first visit to Paris, for convenience to the Eiffel Tower, the Seine, the Musée d'Orsay, the market street of rue Cler and excellent dining.

Stay in the former red light district of South Pigalle (or "So-Pi") and live like a local along quiet, leafy streets lined with cafes and boutiques. Hotels here are close to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. Walk along the rue des Martyrs for the best bakeries and chocolateries. The Quartier Latin is a great choice for Parisian flavor in a central location. with students and local residents at the neighborhood's many restaurants and wine bars and stroll along the rue Mouffetard market street. Reserve a stay in romantic Marais, or "Old Paris," for some of the city's trendiest restaurants, shops, bars and nightlife. There's plenty of history here, too, with the Jewish Quarter and historic Place des Vosges. The Louvre and Tuileries Garden are also nearby. For iconic Left Bank living, stay in Saint-Germain-des Prés, a favorite of visitors and locals alike for its big-name fashions, high-end restaurants, jazz clubs, galleries and aristocratic Jardin du Luxembourg. For old-world charm and a hilltop view of Paris, stay in Montmartre to enjoy the vistas from the enchanting cafes and ivy-clad art galleries of rue Lamarck and rue des Abbesses.