Paris vacation rentals

How to choose a Paris arrondissement

Paris is compact: from the 1st to the 11th, almost everything is a 25-minute walk or a short Métro ride away. Choose by the trip you want — the Marais and Saint-Germain for walking and cafés, the 5th for value, the 7th for the Eiffel Tower view, the 10th and 11th for a more local week.

Classic Haussmann apartments come with high ceilings, parquet floors, and long, narrow stairways. Many buildings have no lift, so check the floor number and lift status before booking if anyone in your group has heavy bags or limited mobility.

Things to do

• Louvre and Musée d'Orsay — book timed tickets in advance
• A morning market: Marché d'Aligre, Rue Mouffetard, or Bastille on Sunday
• Sainte-Chapelle's stained glass, then a walk on Île Saint-Louis
• Picnic on the Champ de Mars or along the Canal Saint-Martin
• Day trip to Versailles or Giverny by train
• Neighborhood dinner reservations, made a week or two ahead

Booking tips for Paris

Paris requires registered short-term rentals, and legitimate listings display a registration number. Entire-home stays in the primary-residence category are capped at 120 nights a year, so peak-season inventory moves fast.

• Look for the city registration number on the listing
• Confirm the floor and whether there is an ascenseur (lift)
• Ask about air conditioning for June–August stays — most flats have none
• Check the linen and cleaning fees, which are quoted separately
• Expect a taxe de séjour (tourist tax) per person, per night