Paris Arrondissements: Complete Guide to All 20 Districts of Paris

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements — administrative districts that spiral outward from the city centre like a snail shell, numbered from 1 to 20. Understanding this system is the key to navigating Paris like a local, choosing the right neighbourhood for your hotel, and making the most of everything the French capital has to offer. Each arrondissement has its own distinct character, its own history, its own monuments, and its own atmosphere — from the royal grandeur of the 1st to the bohemian energy of the 20th. This complete guide takes you through all 20 arrondissements of Paris, helping you discover the neighbourhood that is right for you

How the Paris Arrondissement System Works

The Snail Shell of Paris

The 20 arrondissements of Paris are arranged in a spiral pattern — often compared to a snail shell — that begins at the Louvre in the 1st arrondissement and spirals outward clockwise to finish in the 20th arrondissement in the northeast of the city. The system was created by Baron Haussmann during his great transformation of Paris under Napoleon III in the 1860s, replacing the earlier system of 12 arrondissements.

Each arrondissement has its own mayor, its own local government, and its own distinct identity — yet they are all united within the city of Paris, which has its own mayor responsible for the city as a whole. The current system has been in place since 1860, when Napoleon III annexed the suburban communes surrounding Paris to create the modern city.

How to Read a Paris Address

Understanding the arrondissement system makes reading Paris addresses straightforward. The arrondissement number is always included in the postal code — 75001 for the 1st arrondissement, 75002 for the 2nd, and so on up to 75020 for the 20th. Alternatively, addresses are often written with the arrondissement number followed by "er" (for the 1st — "premier") or "ème" for all others — 1er, 2ème, 3ème, and so on.

The 20 Arrondissements of Paris

1st Arrondissement — The Heart of Paris

The 1st arrondissement is the historic heart of Paris — the oldest, the most central, and the most densely packed with world-class monuments. It occupies the Right Bank of the Seine immediately opposite the Île de la Cité, and its boundaries contain an extraordinary concentration of history and culture.

Key attractions:

The Louvre — the world's largest art museum

Palais Royal — the beautiful 17th century royal palace with its gardens and arcades

Sainte-Chapelle — one of the supreme masterpieces of Gothic architecture

The Conciergerie — the former royal palace turned Revolutionary prison

Pont Neuf — the oldest bridge in Paris

Character: Royal, historic, tourist-heavy but magnificent. Home to some of the most expensive real estate in Paris.

2nd Arrondissement — The City of Commerce

The smallest arrondissement in Paris, the 2nd is the historic centre of Parisian commerce and finance. It was here that the Paris Bourse — the stock exchange — was established, and the neighbourhood retains a business-like character that contrasts with the more touristy areas to its west.

Key attractions:

Passage des Panoramas — the oldest covered passage in Paris

Galerie Vivienne — the most beautiful covered passage in Paris

Rue Montorgueil — the most atmospheric market street on the Right Bank

Character: Commercial, lively, increasingly fashionable with excellent restaurants and bars.

3rd Arrondissement — The Upper Marais

The 3rd arrondissement forms the northern part of the Marais — one of the most fashionable and historically rich neighbourhoods in Paris. Its medieval street pattern survives almost intact, making it one of the most atmospheric districts in the city.

Key attractions:

Musée Picasso — the world's finest collection of Picasso's work

Musée des Arts et Métiers — a fascinating museum of science and technology

Place de la République — the great square on the northern boundary

Character: Historic, artistic, fashionable — popular with the LGBTQ+ community and creative professionals.

4th Arrondissement — Notre-Dame and the Marais

The 4th arrondissement is one of the most visited in Paris — encompassing the Île de la Cité, the Île Saint-Louis, and the southern part of the Marais. It is home to Notre-Dame Cathedral and some of the finest medieval architecture in the city.

Key attractions:

Notre-Dame Cathedral — the most visited monument in Paris

Centre Pompidou — the revolutionary modern art museum

Place des Vosges — the most beautiful square in Paris

Île Saint-Louis — the most romantic island in Paris

Hôtel de Ville — the magnificent City Hall

Character: Historic, diverse, lively — one of the best arrondissements for walking and exploring.

5th Arrondissement — The Latin Quarter

The 5th arrondissement is the Latin Quarter — the most intellectually and historically rich neighbourhood in Paris, home to the Sorbonne University and eight centuries of student life. Its medieval streets, ancient churches, and celebrated cafés have inspired generations of writers, philosophers, and artists.

Key attractions:

The Panthéon — the great neoclassical mausoleum of France's greatest citizens

The Sorbonne — one of the oldest universities in the world

Musée de Cluny — the National Museum of the Middle Ages

Arènes de Lutèce — remarkably preserved Roman amphitheatre

Rue Mouffetard — the most atmospheric market street in Paris

Character: Intellectual, historic, student-oriented — one of the most characterful arrondissements in Paris.

6th Arrondissement — Saint-Germain-des-Prés

The 6th arrondissement — Saint-Germain-des-Prés — is perhaps the most quintessentially Parisian of all the arrondissements. Home to the legendary literary cafés of the Boulevard Saint-Germain, the Luxembourg Gardens, and some of the finest art galleries and bookshops in the world, it combines intellectual prestige with elegant residential life.

Key attractions:

Luxembourg Gardens — the most beautiful park in Paris

Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots — the legendary literary cafés

Saint-Sulpice — the great neoclassical church of the Da Vinci Code

Odéon Theatre — one of the oldest theatres in Paris

Character: Elegant, intellectual, expensive — the spiritual home of French literary culture.

7th Arrondissement — The City of Monuments

The 7th arrondissement is the most monument-dense district in Paris — home to the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Rodin, and the Pont Alexandre III, all within easy walking distance of one another.

Key attractions:

The Eiffel Tower — the most iconic monument in the world

Les Invalides — Napoleon's tomb and the Army Museum

Musée d'Orsay — the world's finest Impressionist art collection

Pont Alexandre III — the most beautiful bridge in Paris

Musée Rodin — the sculptor's studio and gardens

Character: Prestigious, quiet, wealthy — one of the most desirable residential areas in Paris.

8th Arrondissement — The Grand Boulevards

The 8th arrondissement is the showcase arrondissement of Paris — home to the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, the Grand Palais, and the most prestigious addresses in the city. It is the arrondissement of luxury, power, and spectacle.

Key attractions:

Arc de Triomphe — Napoleon's triumphal arch at the top of the Champs-Élysées

Champs-Élysées — the world's most famous avenue

Grand Palais and Petit Palais — spectacular Belle Époque exhibition halls

Place de la Concorde — Paris's largest square

Character: Grand, prestigious, expensive — the arrondissement of luxury hotels, haute couture, and haute cuisine.

9th Arrondissement — Opera and Entertainment

The 9th arrondissement is the entertainment capital of Paris — home to the Opéra Garnier, the grands magasins (department stores), and the most concentrated area of theatres and concert halls in the city.

Key attractions:

Opéra Garnier — one of the most opulent buildings in the world

Galeries Lafayette — the most famous department store in Paris

Printemps — the second great department store of Paris

Pigalle — the entertainment district at the foot of Montmartre

Character: Commercial, lively, diverse — the arrondissement of shopping, theatre, and nightlife.

10th Arrondissement — Canal Saint-Martin

The 10th arrondissement has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years — from a working-class industrial district into one of the most fashionable neighbourhoods in Paris, centred on the romantic Canal Saint-Martin.

Key attractions:

Canal Saint-Martin — the most romantic canal in Paris

Gare du Nord — the busiest railway station in Europe

Gare de l'Est — the gateway to Germany and Eastern Europe

Character: Trendy, diverse, authentic — one of the most exciting arrondissements for bars, restaurants, and street life.

11th Arrondissement — Bastille and Oberkampf

The 11th arrondissement is the epicentre of Parisian nightlife and one of the most vibrant and youthful districts in the city. Centred on the Place de la Bastille and the Rue Oberkampf, it is where young Parisians come to eat, drink, and be entertained.

Key attractions:

Place de la Bastille — the site of the famous fortress stormed in 1789

Opéra Bastille — the modern opera house opened in 1989

Rue Oberkampf — the most lively bar and restaurant street in Paris

Character: Young, energetic, authentic — the best arrondissement for nightlife and affordable restaurants.

12th Arrondissement — Vincennes and the Promenade Plantée

The 12th arrondissement is one of the largest and most diverse in Paris — stretching from the Place de la Bastille in the west to the Bois de Vincennes in the east.

Key attractions:

Promenade Plantée — Paris's elevated garden walkway

Bois de Vincennes — the largest park in Paris

Château de Vincennes — the finest medieval castle in France

Marché d'Aligre — the most authentic market in Paris

Character: Diverse, residential, green — one of the most underrated arrondissements for quality of life.

13th Arrondissement — Chinatown and the Seine

The 13th arrondissement is the most diverse in Paris — home to the largest Asian quarter in Europe, the new riverside development along the Seine, and the remarkable urban landscape of the Olympiades.

Key attractions:

Chinatown Paris — the largest Asian quarter in Europe

Bibliothèque Nationale de France — the magnificent national library

Les Docks — Cité de la Mode — the trendy riverside cultural centre

Character: Diverse, authentic, rapidly changing — one of the most interesting arrondissements for food and culture.

14th Arrondissement — Montparnasse

The 14th arrondissement is the arrondissement of artists and intellectuals — home to Montparnasse, where Picasso, Modigliani, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald gathered in the cafés of the 1920s, and to the Catacombs, beneath whose streets lie the bones of six million Parisians.

Key attractions:

Catacombs of Paris — the world's most famous ossuary

Tour Montparnasse — the tallest skyscraper in Paris

Cimetière du Montparnasse — resting place of Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Baudelaire

Character: Artistic, intellectual, residential — the arrondissement of Parisian bohemian tradition.

15th Arrondissement — The Largest Arrondissement

The 15th is the largest arrondissement in Paris by population — a vast, predominantly residential district that is largely unknown to tourists but deeply beloved by the Parisians who live there.

Key attractions:

Parc André Citroën — one of Paris's most innovative modern parks

Institut Pasteur — the world-famous medical research institute

Gare Montparnasse — the gateway to western France and Spain

Character: Residential, authentic, family-oriented — the real Paris that tourists rarely see.

16th Arrondissement — The Bourgeois West

The 16th arrondissement is the most bourgeois and conservative in Paris — a vast, leafy residential district of elegant Haussmannian buildings and private mansions that stretches from the Trocadéro to the Bois de Boulogne.

Key attractions:

Trocadéro — the best viewpoint for the Eiffel Tower

Bois de Boulogne — the largest park in Paris

Musée Marmottan Monet — the world's finest Monet collection

Palais de Chaillot — the great neoclassical palace overlooking the Seine

Character: Wealthy, quiet, conservative — the arrondissement of old money and discreet elegance.

17th Arrondissement — Between Two Worlds

The 17th arrondissement is a district of contrasts — its western section is wealthy and elegant, while its eastern section around the Batignolles is bohemian and increasingly fashionable.

Key attractions:

Square des Batignolles — a charming hidden English garden

Palais des Congrès — Paris's main convention centre

Marché des Batignolles — an excellent organic market

Character: Diverse, residential, increasingly trendy in the east.

18th Arrondissement — Montmartre

The 18th arrondissement is perhaps the most romantic and most visited neighbourhood in Paris after the city centre — home to Montmartre, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Place du Tertre, and the Moulin Rouge.

Key attractions:

Sacré-Cœur Basilica — the gleaming white basilica at the top of Montmartre hill

Moulin Rouge — the world's most famous cabaret

Place du Tertre — the artists' square of Montmartre

Musée de Montmartre — the history of the most artistic neighbourhood in Paris

Character: Romantic, artistic, touristy at the top but authentically Parisian lower down.

19th Arrondissement — Villette and the Canals

The 19th arrondissement is one of the most underrated in Paris — a vast, diverse district that contains some of the most innovative cultural spaces in the city, centred on the remarkable Parc de la Villette.

Key attractions:

Parc de la Villette — the largest park in Paris within the périphérique

Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie — the largest science museum in Europe

Philharmonie de Paris — the spectacular new concert hall designed by Jean Nouvel

Bassin de la Villette — the largest artificial lake in Paris

Character: Diverse, cultural, youthful — one of the most dynamic arrondissements in Paris.

20th Arrondissement — Belleville and Père Lachaise

The 20th arrondissement is the most diverse and most authentically working-class arrondissement in Paris — a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, and communities centred on the hilltop neighbourhood of Belleville and the world-famous Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Key attractions:

Père Lachaise Cemetery — the most visited cemetery in the world

Belleville — the most multicultural neighbourhood in Paris

Parc de Belleville — offering spectacular views over the city

Character: Diverse, authentic, creative — the arrondissement where the real Paris lives.

Which Arrondissement is Best for Tourists?

Best Arrondissements to Stay In

Budget Best Arrondissement

Why. Luxury

7th or 8th. Most prestigious, central

Mid-range. 4th or 6th

Central, characterful

Budget. 10th or 11th

Lively, affordable, authentic. Families

5th or 15th. Safe, spacious, good value

Best Arrondissements for Food

Cuisine. Best Arrondissement

French bistro. 6th or 11th

Asian food. 13th

Street food. 10th or 18th

Luxury dining. 8th

Market shopping. 5th (Mouffetard)

Practical Tips for Navigating Paris by Arrondissement

The lower the number, the more central — the 1st to 8th arrondissements contain most of the major tourist attractions

Odd numbers on the Left Bank, even on the Right — not entirely true but a useful rough guide

The Metro connects everything — no arrondissement is more than 20 minutes from another by Metro

Each arrondissement has its own market — one of the best ways to experience local life

Walk between arrondissements — Paris is compact and walking between adjacent arrondissements is always rewarding

Frequently Asked Questions about Paris Arrondissements

How many arrondissements does Paris have?

Paris has 20 arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20, arranged in a spiral pattern outward from the city centre.

What is the best arrondissement in Paris?

There is no single "best" arrondissement — each has its own character and appeal. For tourists, the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th arrondissements offer the best combination of central location, historic character, and access to major monuments.

What is the most expensive arrondissement in Paris?

The most expensive arrondissements are the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 16th, where property prices are among the highest in Europe.

Which arrondissement is Montmartre in?

Montmartre is in the 18th arrondissement of Paris.

Which arrondissement is the Eiffel Tower in?

The Eiffel Tower is in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.

Which arrondissement is Notre-Dame in?

Notre-Dame Cathedral is in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, on the Île de la Cité.

Which arrondissement is the Louvre in?

The Louvre Museum is in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.