Grands Boulevards, Opéra, Madeleine, Saint-Lazare. (8ème, 1er, 9ème arr.)
On the Northern bank of the Seine River (also called "Rive droite"), The Grands Boulevards connect The Place de la Bastille at the Place de la Madeleine through the places of République and Opéra.
The area of Opéra-Grands Boulevards, quite touristic, is very animated the day with its Grands Magasins (Galeries Lafayette and Printemps which are Department stores), restaurants, theaters, many head offices, well established law firms and banks. The night, after enjoying a music or ballet show at the Opéra Garnier or a play in one of the many theatre of the neighborhood, buzzing bars and electro clubs will welcome you until dawn.
The architecture is ostentatious, mix of Art Nouveau Palace, Greek columns and beautiful Haussmann buildings embodying the time of their construction by Baron Haussmann in the 19th century and sheltering mainly family apartments.
By passing through the superb Place de l’Opéra, you will arrive to Saint-Lazare train station which makes travelling within Paris and its West region very easy (on your way to Normandy!)
Closer to the Seine river, Place de la Madeleine and its surroundings simply evoke LUXURY. Prestigious brands and shops ("Haute Couture", High end Prêt à Porter, finest jewelry) in Faubourg-Saint-Honoré street and Place Vendôme, Palaces as Ritz or Le Bristol, luxury apartments and Michelin star restaurants will satisfy sophisticated and demanding customers.
Concorde - Rivoli - Jardin des Tuileries - Les Halles (8ème,1er et 2ème arr.)
Rue de Rivoli, very commercial and touristy, crosses the heart of Paris, on the Southern bank of the Seine River, along the famous museum of The Louvre and the Jardin des Tuileries to the Place de la Concorde. Very apreciated by fashion’s professionals or amateurs, you will discover opulent-looking buildings whose apartments, with an amazing view on Jardin des Tuileries, are extremely desired.
Not far from this area, you will find the Jardin du Palais-Royal, the Rue Sainte-Anne and its many Japanese restaurants, the Vivienne gallery, rue Montorgueil and rue Tiquetonne, well-known for their bars and trendy shops. Notre-Dame-de-Paris and Saint-Germain-des-Près are within walking distance, crossing the Seine.
In the heart of Paris, Les Halles is one of the busiest neighborhood of Paris, lively and mostly pedestrian. The Forum des Halles, once the largest market place in Paris, is nowadays an enormous shopping centre that has been recently renovated.
The architecture is a mix between old and new buildings that offers a lot of charm to this area, where you will always find something to do (multiplex cinema, library, swimming-pool, bars, shops and clubs...) and enjoy both day and night!
Le Marais, Enfants Rouges (3ème et 4ème arr.)
Located in the heart of Paris, between the 3rd and 4th districts, on the northern bank of the Seine river, the Marais is a historic aera that spreads to Saint-Paul to Arts-et-Métiers and from Hôtel de Ville to Bastille.
The Gay community (LGBT) is established since a long time. In this area, you will find many bars, restaurants, shops and trendy clubs that attracts many students and more recently, the young working class.
The Centre Pompidou, unusal and iconic architecture of the XXth century, is a famous modern art museum which hosts many permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Not far from here, around the Hôtel de Ville, many small museums like the Picasso Museum are installed in old mansions.
The northern part of the 3rd district is less touristy and more Parisian. It is nevertheless here that you’ll find excellent food shops, great restaurants, art galleries and designer shops.
Close to the Rue de Bretagne, the Enfants Rouges market is the oldest market in Paris where you will find fresh and organic products from French producers. Very friendly, you can have a lunch or a Sunday brunch there in some popular restaurants or caterers established in the market.
The buildings of this area are the oldest buildings in Paris , often classified, and the apartments are very charming with old wooden floors, tiles and exposed beams. This area is truly the soul of Paris of yesteryear.
The district of République, famous for its historic Place de la Republique, which was redesigned in 2012, is vibrant, very lively and extends to the Place de la Bastille.
This area is friendly, cosmopolitan, and with its many bars, traditional restaurants and trendy places like Canal Saint-Martin, does attract many people. Also to be noted, the Carreau du Temple, recently renovated, is the new artistic and sports centre of this area.
Real estate in general is much more accessible. Indeed, the rent prices are more reasonable than in the center of Paris.
A little further North, the Belleville area remains quite popular. The famous Belleville market spans on a large portion of the Boulevard de Belleville, from Belleville to Ménilmontant underground stations. Its cosmopolitan and cozy atmosphere makes it one of the most popular markets in Paris.
The Buttes-Chaumont area, historically very popular, is getting much "bohemian bourgeois". Around the large park of Buttes-Chaumont, a beautiful green land, young couples buy their first apartment and young workers/students find cheaper rents.
Buildings are in the old style and their standing usually modest. Many street artists took over the walls of the area to showcase their talent. This friendly neighborhood is perfect if you are looking for a reasonably priced apartment.
Bastille, Nation (12ème arr.), Saint-Mandé
The Bastille district is one of the most festive and lively neighborhoods of Paris where all social classes are represented. We find there many bars and bistrots at reasonable prices, restaurants with talented youg chefs, many clubs and mostly the famous Opéra Bastille with its amazing classics concerts and shows.
The architecture is a mix of old buildings and spacious apartments, loft or duplex style, and modern buildings.
Around La Place de la Bastille, the environment is spacious and the tree-filled large avenues offer unobstructed views.
The Boulevard Voltaire, recent architecture, is a very dynamic and young area (bars, pubs, restaurants and fast-foods) and will lead you to the Place de la Nation. In this residential area, housing are essentially old and in Haussmann style buildings.
A little further, you can walk and shop at the Bercy village which is large open air mall that looks like a charming village.
At the border of Paris, close to the Bois de Vincennes, Saint-Mandé is an ideal city for families and young couples that are looking for green neighborhood, good schools and shops offering high standard quality.