Paris Arrondissements - all about an arrondissement in Paris

An arrondissement in Paris is no more than a subdivision of Paris, an actual neighbourhood but with its very own municipality.
There are a total of 20 arrondissements in Paris, named according to their number and located in a clockwise spiral direction - like an escargot (snail)! Thus, the very central arrondissement is the first, in French called 1ère, and each one follows suit gaining in number in an orderly succession, going around and around - hence the word arrondissement.
An arrondissement is easy to determine if one has the full address in Paris complete with postal code: as all postal codes start with 75 and are then followed by 3 digits, the last two digits always refer to the arrondissement. In this manner, an address in Paris 75001 means the place of reference is in the very central Paris neighbourhood of the 1ère Arrondissement, and so on.
Other French cities subdivided in this manner, with arrondissements, are Lyon and Marseille. The arrondissements only pertain to the actual city limits, as the suburbs, called banlieu are not included. Of all the Capital’s suburbs, which are generally more peaceful and quiet than the city, the most sought after are the ones to the West of Paris: Neuilly, Boulogne, Saint Cloud, Levallois.

To select the ideal Paris neighbourhood to stay in simply see our full selection of furnished and serviced apartments or accommodation in Paris, check our Paris map for a broad view of Paris, or chose the Paris arrondissement which best suits your taste according to differences, characteristics and famous sites:

• 1er arrondissement
  The very centre of Paris and the first (numerical) of the Paris neighbourhoods. This is the least populated of the neighbourhoods but also the smallest in land area. Located primarily on the Right Bank of the River Seine, plenty of businesses and administrations are found here, but it is also a must-see for tourists: the Louvre, Les Halles, the Tuileries Gardens and the Palais Royal are all found here.
• 2ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this neighbourhood, together with the 8ème and 9ème, is an important business district housing a high concentration of business and financial activities, with numerous bank headquarters around the former Paris Bourse (Stock Exchange). Other key areas of interest in this neighbourhood: the Bibliothèque Nationale, the Paris Opéra and the Opéra Comique concert hall are here.
• 3ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this arrondissement includes the northern and more peaceful part of the district called Le Marais, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Paris, while the southern part of the Marais is found in the 4ème. One also finds an eclectic blend of some of the oldest noble houses still standing in Paris, side by side with the upcoming Chinatown area.
• 4ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this area hosts the heart of the more lively part of the Marais, known today for being the gay district as well as for its extensive choice of trendy bars, shops, and restaurants. Among the musts for visitors here: the old Paris City Hall (dating back to the Renaissance), the famous Place de Vosges (of the same era), the Pompidou Centre (ultra modern in style), the Ile de la Cité, with Notre-Dame de Paris and the Ile St. Louis (the oldest parts of Paris).
• 5ème arrondissement
  Located on the Left Bank, this arrondissement’s claim to fame, among others, is its Latin Quarter, the famous Village made of small winding streets - one of the oldest areas of Paris dating back to ancient times when Latin was spoken - and now housing famous universities, colleges and high schools. The rue Mouffetard is a primary artery where shops, international restaurants and student bars and cafés are found.
• 6ème arrondissement
  Located on the Left Bank, this arrondissement has now become a chic neighbourhood, and is home to the area of Saint-Germain-des-Prést, where one can admire the 6th century Abbey. Also in this area: upscale boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, as well as the lovely Luxembourg Gardens, where the French Senate is found.
• 7ème arrondissement
  Located on the Left Bank, this arrondissement is an important destination for certain businessmen and politicians, as it is home to many French institutions, among which the French National Assembly and various ministries. Of no lesser importance for the visiting tourists, highlights of this rich neighbourhood are the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay and the Hôtel des Invalides, where one can admire Napoleon’s impressive burial site.
• 8ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this arrondissement houses a very diverse and upscale neighbourhood. Primarily a business area around the Opéra, along with the 2ème and 9ème arr., it is also a trendy leisure destination with areas such as the Champs-Elysées (known for its boutiques), the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. The French Presidential residence, the Elysée, is also found here.
• 9ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this is a mixture of residential and business area (along with the 2ème and 8ème arr.), around the Opéra. Among key attractions here one finds the Boulevard Haussmann with its famous department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, and the notorious red light district, Pigalle, with the famous Moulin Rouge.
• 10ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this arrondissement, with its multi-cultural atmosphere, houses two of the busiest railway stations in Europe, and among the major ones of Paris the Gare de l'Est and the Gare du Nord.
• 11ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this is one of the most densely populated arrondissements in Paris, as well as being a fun and diverse area. The residential areas are to the east and to the west, this latter offering large markets and parks around the Place de la Bastille and Place de la République area, while the more lively area is found around rue Faubourg St Antoine, where one finds trendy bars, restaurants and cafés as well as boutiques and galleries.
• 12ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this is primarily a residential where one also finds the French Ministry of Finances. Other attractions in this neighbourhood are Opéra Bastille, second largest opera house in Paris, and the lovely park Bois de Vincennes.
• 13ème arrondissement
  Located on the Left Bank, this arrondissement is primarily a residential area and home to many Paris high-rise apartment buildings, as well as housing Paris’s main Chinatown. Among the attractions in this area one has the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
• 14ème arrondissement
  Located on the Left Bank, this arrondissement is best known for the lively Boulevard Montparnasse in its Montparnasse district, originally home to many artists, as well as for the Cité Universitaire de Paris.
• 15ème arrondissement
  Located on the Left Bank, this is one of the most densely populated arrondissements in Paris, offering part of the Montparnasse district (together with the 6ème end the 14ème) and part of the wealthier environment found in the bordering 7ème.
• 16ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this arrondissement is primarily residential and considered an excellent neighbourhood for the wealthier, albeit not as élite as the 7ème. Many embassies are found in this area. Among key areas of interest in this arrondissement one finds Avenue Foch, Bois de Boulogne and Trocadéro.
• 17ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this arrondissement is very diverse, with its working-class area by Place de Clichy and a very upper-class area by Avenue des Ternes. Among key areas of interest in this arrondissement one finds the large exhibition centre Palais des Congrès and the famous skyscraper hotel Concorde Lafayette..
• 18ème arrondissement
  Located on the Left bank, this arrondissement is famous for its Sacré Coeur basilica, found on the hill in its Montmartre district, as well as for the notorious Moulin Rouge. Also in this arrondissement one finds the African and North African districts, well-known for its market marché Barbès.
• 19ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this arrondissement is primarily a residential area, housing two large public parks, the Parc des Buttes Chaumont and the Parc de la Villette, this latter being where one finds one of the most reputable music schools in Paris, the Paris Conservatory (Conservatoire de Paris).
• 20ème arrondissement
  Located on the Right Bank, this arrondissement offers a multi-cultural environment in its districts of Ménilmontant and Belleville, this latter being the home to the second largest Chinatown in Paris. Among its key attractions is the world famous Père-Lachaise cemetery, burial ground to the likes of composers such as Chopin and Rossini, writers such as Oscar Wilde and Marcel Proust, painters such as Pissarro and Jacques-Louis David, and the more modern celebrity rock singers Jim Morrison.

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