Paris is very much a city of neighborhoods. Lacking – or free from – the skyscrapers which define the skyline of so many of its contemporaries, Paris is still a horizontal city clearly defined by its many distinct and charming neighborhoods. There are, of course, certain aspects which are city-wide; you’ll never be far from an outdoor market, a local park or a public swimming pool wherever you choose to live. Other factors which will influence your housing decision include schools, transportation access, choice and variety of local shops, opportunities for entertainment, noise level and, naturally, price. It is quite surprising to some visitors how different the neighborhoods of Paris are, considering that the city is actually rather small. Yet if you prefer to live in a quiet, green area with little noise or a trendy canal-side neighborhood with unlimited bars or restaurants at your doorstep, you will be spoiled for choice. Neighborhoods are often very well blended, as well, so there is no ‘family’ arrondissement, for example. Instead, French and international families are spread throughout the city as are young couples, students, the elderly and middle-aged professionals. This rich mix of people lends a wonderful village-like quality to most areas and you may be surprised just how soon you fit into, and feel very protective of, ‘your’ neighborhood.
Skip to content
Top Tips
01 | Once you have found a good bakery in your neighborhood, visit regularly. They are institutions and offer interesting information about the local area. |
02 | The ‘3 plans par arrondissement’ is by far the best local map, and so compact that it takes up little space in a bag. |
03 | The seemingly constant flood of locksmith service advertisements in your mailbox may seem annoying, but slip one under your doormat, you may need it! |
04 | Learn the language, you will find that there are large swathes of Parisian life that you will miss completely if you don’t speak the language. |
Useful links
- http://france.angloinfo.com
Website for everyday life in Paris, in English. - http://www.ratp.com
Official site of RATP for metro, RER and bus navigation to Paris area. - http://paris.fr.craigslist.org
Free online noticeboard (in French and English) for apartments, furniture, jobs, pets, tickets, etc. - http://www.bparis.com
Bonjour Paris. Guide to Paris and France from the top insiders in Paris.
Interesting fact
The Eiffel Tower has over 1652 steps to the top. It was built using 2.5 million rivets, 15,000 iron parts and was painted with over 40 tones of paint. |