Ahh, Paris! It is the dream of many (yourself included) not to merely visit this highly romanticized city, but to call it home, if only for a little while. To walk the banks of the Seine, and pick up a baguette at the boulangerie on the way back to your temporary place of residence.
Then you’re snapped back to reality as your manager awakens you from your daydream, inquiring on the status of the TPS report that was due yesterday. Afterward, you despair that one of your greatest desires seems to only be a tangible reality for the super rich.
Allow us to drop a truth bomb on you: it isn’t. With the power of the internet and the sharing economy on your side these days, living in a legendary city like Paris has never been more attainable for the common person.
All you need to do is save your money, get some time off work (or leave it behind and join the freelancing revolution that sweeping the world these days), and then book your ticket for the City of Lights.
The only matter at that point is where to base yourself. On this matter, if you find yourself looking for the ideal holiday house and apartments in Paris, you’ll find them in the following best neighborhoods to stay in as a traveler in Paris.
1) The Marais (3rd and 4th Arrondissements)
Those looking to be in the centre of the action in Paris after dark will want to call The Maris their home. Stretching across the 3rd and 4th Arrondissements near the Latin Quarter, this lively hood will put you near where many native Parisians let their hair down after a tough work week in this hectic metropolis.
If you wish to mix with your fellow foreigners, the aforementioned Latin Quarter plays host to many vaunted restaurants and bars, but you’ll likely be too busy discovering The Marais’ many uber hip and trendy shops and eateries to care.
2) St-Germain-des-Prés (6th Arrondissement)
Sitting close to the Latin Quarter, St-Germain-des-Pres is also a great place for those looking for easy access to attractions by day and nightlife after the sun sets. Yet, this place has a vibe that sets it apart from its heavily trafficked contemporary, with its boutiques, galleries and sidewalks overflowing with artistic brilliance of all kinds.
Those looking to get into the cafe culture here will find plenty of establishments to sit at and people watch, while those seeking to walk the grounds of Paris most beautiful green space will have easy access to the Luxembourg Gardens from anywhere in this neighborhood.
3) Montmartre (18th Arrondissement)
Looking for a spot outside the centre, where the tourist hordes are largely absent. Looking for a view of Paris that will make you swoon every time you happen upon it? If so, hit the cobblestone streets in search of a place in Montmartre, a magnificent area situated on an elevated bluff north of the downtown core. It is well connected by transit, allowing you to head downtown any time you wish, but you’ll spend plenty of time exploring the side lanes of a place that Picasso and Renoir once had their humble abodes.
