4 Rules for Choosing the Best Location for a Short Term Paris Apartment Rental
Rule #1: Book a central Paris apartment Base your apartment rental search within the first 8 districts of Paris, plus the North 16th and South 17th (around Etoile).
It's hard to go wrong in these most central and sought-after parts of Paris.
These areas are good for short-term apartment stays because they are safe, even late at night.
All typically offer beautiful architecture, a lively street atmosphere, many cafe terraces, good restaurants and shops, plus major monuments and sights within immediate walking distance of your apartment rental.
Rule #2: Left and right banks are both good in Paris Within these great central districts of Paris, the Seine marks a cleavage between the left and right banks.
The left bank (5th, 6th, 7th) tends to be more residential, arty and left-wing socialist (despite the 6th being the most expensive Paris district, leading to the ironic expression "la gauche caviar").
The right bank (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 16th, 17th) tends to be more commercial and right-wing conservative.
Within this basic cleavage in Paris, there are nonetheless big nuances from district to district.
Both are good for apartment rentals, so unless you happen to already have a preference I wouldn't worry too much about choosing between left and right banks when it comes to short-term rentals.
Rule #3: Downsize rather than leave the centre of Paris If your apartment rental budget won't stretch to the most central Paris locations, then a possible alternative is to book an apartment in less central location of Paris.
You'll have no trouble finding such apartments in the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th.
The downside is that these more outer Paris locations, while safe and objectively good value for money, are not as attractive or desirable as central Paris locations.
They don't really don't offer "that quintessential Paris experience".
What's more, you'll have to use public transport quite a lot to come and go from your rental, as you won't have everything within immediate walking distance of your apartment.
Instead of moving outwards, those on a tight budget might consider booking a studio, choosing low season dates or shortening their stay, if possible.
Rule #4: Avoid "Les Halles" (but DO stay near Les Halles) The rule that central Paris locations are best does have one exception: "Les Halles".
This small precinct in the 1st district sometimes draws some unsavory types from outside Paris, due to the Les Halles RER (suburban network train) station.
That said, all the areas surrounding Les Halles are fabulous, so don't throw the baby out with the bath water!
It's hard to go wrong in these most central and sought-after parts of Paris.
These areas are good for short-term apartment stays because they are safe, even late at night.
All typically offer beautiful architecture, a lively street atmosphere, many cafe terraces, good restaurants and shops, plus major monuments and sights within immediate walking distance of your apartment rental.
Rule #2: Left and right banks are both good in Paris Within these great central districts of Paris, the Seine marks a cleavage between the left and right banks.
The left bank (5th, 6th, 7th) tends to be more residential, arty and left-wing socialist (despite the 6th being the most expensive Paris district, leading to the ironic expression "la gauche caviar").
The right bank (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 16th, 17th) tends to be more commercial and right-wing conservative.
Within this basic cleavage in Paris, there are nonetheless big nuances from district to district.
Both are good for apartment rentals, so unless you happen to already have a preference I wouldn't worry too much about choosing between left and right banks when it comes to short-term rentals.
Rule #3: Downsize rather than leave the centre of Paris If your apartment rental budget won't stretch to the most central Paris locations, then a possible alternative is to book an apartment in less central location of Paris.
You'll have no trouble finding such apartments in the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th.
The downside is that these more outer Paris locations, while safe and objectively good value for money, are not as attractive or desirable as central Paris locations.
They don't really don't offer "that quintessential Paris experience".
What's more, you'll have to use public transport quite a lot to come and go from your rental, as you won't have everything within immediate walking distance of your apartment.
Instead of moving outwards, those on a tight budget might consider booking a studio, choosing low season dates or shortening their stay, if possible.
Rule #4: Avoid "Les Halles" (but DO stay near Les Halles) The rule that central Paris locations are best does have one exception: "Les Halles".
This small precinct in the 1st district sometimes draws some unsavory types from outside Paris, due to the Les Halles RER (suburban network train) station.
That said, all the areas surrounding Les Halles are fabulous, so don't throw the baby out with the bath water!
