What is the best area to live in Paris?
Among the 20 districts of Paris, the 16th is the most requested arrondissement by business clients and embassies calling upon Paris Rental for their search for a furnished apartment.
What makes the 16th arrondissement a preferred location for international clients moving to Paris for professional reasons? One of the main criteria is space. The district is sought after for its spacious furnished apartments, elegant buildings and parks.
For those who like to leave Paris during the weekend, its easy access to the ring road, known as the périphérique, is another important advantage.
In addition, the 16th arrondissement has more than 90 diplomatic representations. It is therefore a particularly convenient place for embassy staff and employees of government institutions to live in Paris.
This article presents seven of the most popular Paris arrondissements among expatriates looking for long-term furnished accommodation. Through each district’s atmosphere, monuments, parks, transportation and shops, you will discover where international tenants enjoy living.
Best Location to Rent an Apartment in Paris: Chic and Classy, the 16th Arrondissement
The 16th arrondissement of Paris is known for its elegant residential atmosphere, spacious apartments, prestigious buildings and green spaces. It is especially popular with families, corporate tenants and members of the diplomatic community.
Green Spaces and Parks
The 16th arrondissement is one of the greenest areas of the French capital. For nature lovers, people who enjoy jogging after work or anyone looking for peaceful places to walk, it is an excellent choice.
The Bois de Boulogne is an expansive natural area where visitors can walk, exercise and escape the density of central Paris. The gardens of Passy, Bagatelle and the Pré-Catelan also provide beautiful surroundings filled with plants and flowers.
Sports facilities such as the Roland-Garros stadium and the Parc des Princes are additional advantages. Furnished apartments located near these landmarks are often highly sought after.
Monuments and Museums
The 16th arrondissement has an exceptional concentration of museums and cultural institutions. These include the Musée Baccarat, Musée Clemenceau, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, Palais de Tokyo, Musée de l’Homme, Musée de la Contrefaçon, Musée du Vin, Palais Galliera, Musée Guimet and Musée Marmottan Monet.
The arrondissement is also home to the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine, Fondation Le Corbusier, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Maison de Balzac and several other cultural attractions. Choosing a furnished apartment in this area means living surrounded by art, architecture and history.
Transportation
The 16th arrondissement is served by several Paris Métro lines, including lines 1, 2, 6, 9 and 10, as well as RER lines A and C.
Numerous bus routes also serve the area and connect it with central Paris and the surrounding suburbs.
Markets, Grocery Stores and Shops
Several outdoor markets and shopping areas provide residents with a wide range of food and everyday services. Popular shopping destinations include the Village de Passy, Chaillot, Auteuil and the Victor Hugo neighborhood.
Best Location to Rent an Apartment in Paris: Lively and Family-Friendly, the 15th Arrondissement
The 15th arrondissement of Paris is particularly popular with professional expatriates and families rather than short-term tourists. Long-term rents for spacious furnished apartments can be more accessible here than in some of the more central districts.
Green Spaces and Parks
Parc André-Citroën stretches near the Seine, while Parc Georges-Brassens offers a peaceful place to walk, sit and read in the heart of the arrondissement.
Aquaboulevard is another major attraction, offering sports and leisure facilities for people of all ages.
Monuments and Cultural Attractions
The Montparnasse Tower is one of the best-known landmarks in the area and offers panoramic views of Paris.
Other attractions include the Mirabeau Bridge, the Bir-Hakeim Bridge and the Musée Bourdelle, which combines remarkable sculptures with a peaceful garden.
Transportation
The 15th arrondissement benefits from an extensive public transportation network, including several Métro lines, RER C and numerous bus routes.
Markets, Grocery Stores and Shops
The arrondissement has several outdoor markets, including Convention, Grenelle, Saint-Charles, Lecourbe, Lefebvre and Georges-Brassens.
For busy professionals and families, living near these markets makes daily shopping and organizing last-minute dinners much easier.
Best Location to Rent an Apartment in Paris: The Expatriate Dream, the 7th Arrondissement
The 7th arrondissement of Paris is one of the city’s most prestigious and recognizable districts. The Eiffel Tower dominates the landscape and lights up the neighborhood every evening.
For many international tenants, renting a furnished apartment in this location is a dream.
Green Spaces and Parks
The Champ-de-Mars is a large public park that remains accessible throughout the day. Its lawns are popular with Parisians, expatriates and visitors from around the world.
The park offers an exceptional view of the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro esplanade across the Seine. In the opposite direction, the perspective opens toward the École Militaire, an impressive building constructed during the reign of Louis XV.
Monuments and Museums
The Eiffel Tower is the arrondissement’s most famous landmark. The Hôtel des Invalides is another major attraction, with its paved courtyard, Army Museum and Napoleon’s tomb beneath the golden dome.
The Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin and Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac are also among the district’s essential cultural destinations.
Transportation
The 7th arrondissement is served by Métro lines 8, 10, 12 and 13, RER C and several bus routes.
Markets, Grocery Stores and Shops
Residents can shop at several outdoor markets, including Saxe-Breteuil and markets around Grenelle.
Rue du Bac and Le Bon Marché offer an excellent selection of gourmet food, fashion and household goods.
Best Location to Rent an Apartment in Paris: Authentic and Historic, the 5th Arrondissement
The 5th arrondissement of Paris is one of the city’s oldest districts and includes much of the famous Latin Quarter.
Its history, universities, markets and lively streets make it particularly attractive to tenants looking for an authentic Parisian environment.
Gardens and Parks
The Jardin des Plantes covers approximately 24 hectares and is one of the arrondissement’s most important green spaces.
Other gardens and squares include the Jardin Tino-Rossi, which features an open-air sculpture museum, Square Théodore-Monod, Jardin Carré, Square Paul-Langevin and Square René-Viviani.
Monuments and Museums
Located in the Jardin des Plantes, the National Museum of Natural History is a major attraction with its extensive collections.
The Grande Mosquée de Paris, Arènes de Lutèce, Sorbonne, Panthéon and Val-de-Grâce also attract both Parisians and international visitors.
Transportation
The 5th arrondissement is served by several Métro lines, including lines 4, 5, 7 and 10, as well as RER B and C and numerous bus routes.
Markets, Grocery Stores and Shops
Popular open-air markets include Marché Monge, Marché Maubert and the shops and stalls of Rue Mouffetard.
Rue Soufflot and the surrounding streets also provide residents with cafés, bookstores, food shops and everyday services.
Best Location to Rent an Apartment in Paris: Literary and Elegant, the 6th Arrondissement
The 6th arrondissement of Paris is one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods. It has long attracted writers, intellectuals and artists.
Its renowned cafés include Café de Flore, Le Procope, Les Deux Magots, Brasserie Lipp and La Palette. Renting a furnished apartment in this neighborhood means living at the heart of Parisian literary and artistic history.
Green Spaces and Parks
The Jardin du Luxembourg is one of Paris’s most beautiful and popular parks. Its lawns, fountains, tree-lined paths and iconic garden chairs provide a peaceful setting in the center of the city.
The arrondissement also contains several smaller landscaped squares that offer residents quiet places to rest.
Monuments and Museums
The Hôtel Lutetia is an architectural landmark with a rich history. Other notable sites include the École des Beaux-Arts, Pont Neuf, Pont Saint-Michel, Pont des Arts, the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Fontaine Saint-Michel.
The Musée de la Monnaie de Paris, Musée du Luxembourg, Musée Eugène-Delacroix and Musée Zadkine add to the district’s exceptional cultural appeal.
Transportation
The 6th arrondissement is served by Métro lines 4, 10 and 12, RER B and C and numerous bus routes.
Markets, Grocery Stores and Shops
Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Rue de Buci offer a wide selection of grocery stores, food shops, cafés, boutiques and services throughout the week.
For tenants seeking a central and refined location, a furnished rental in this area is an exceptional choice.
Best Location to Rent an Apartment in Paris: An Exceptional Setting, the 4th Arrondissement
The 4th arrondissement of Paris is one of the city’s most distinctive and fashionable districts.
Île Saint-Louis, Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame and the Marais give the area an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Paris. Renting a furnished apartment here offers a unique experience.
Monuments and Cultural Attractions
Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the arrondissement’s essential landmarks. Other major attractions include the Centre Pompidou, Place des Vosges, Maison de Victor Hugo and Tour Saint-Jacques.
Transportation
The 4th arrondissement is served by several Métro lines, including lines 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 14, as well as numerous bus routes.
Markets, Grocery Stores and Shops
The Marché Baudoyer is one of the arrondissement’s main food markets, while the Marché aux Fleurs on Île de la Cité is known for its plants and flowers.
The streets of the Marais are filled with creative boutiques, food shops, galleries, restaurants and independent businesses. Living here means finding something interesting almost every time you step outside.
Best Location to Rent an Apartment in Paris: Corporate Dynamism in the 8th Arrondissement
The 8th arrondissement of Paris is one of the capital’s most important business districts.
Major companies, law firms, medical specialists, luxury brands and international organizations are based in the area. It is therefore an ideal location for corporate housing and company lease rentals.
Green Spaces and Parks
Parc Monceau is an elegant landscaped park surrounded by prestigious townhouses and residential buildings.
Several smaller squares also bring greenery to this busy business district.
Monuments and Museums
The Arc de Triomphe, Madeleine Church, Place de la Concorde, Élysée Palace, Grand Palais and Théâtre Marigny all contribute to the prestige of the 8th arrondissement.
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées remains one of the world’s most famous avenues.
The Musée Jacquemart-André, Musée Nissim de Camondo and Petit Palais are also remarkable cultural destinations that can be visited again and again.
Transportation
The 8th arrondissement is exceptionally well connected by Métro lines 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14, as well as RER A and numerous bus routes.
Markets, Grocery Stores and Shops
Walking along Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, exploring the gourmet shops around Place de la Madeleine and strolling on the Champs-Élysées provide access to luxury boutiques, fine food and many everyday services.
How Expatriates Choose the Best Paris Arrondissement
The seven arrondissements presented in this article reflect the preferences commonly expressed by international business tenants looking for long-term furnished accommodation in Paris.
Corporate expatriates appreciate Parisian Haussmann buildings, spacious apartments with character and convenient access to public transportation for commuting to work.
Even when renting for an extended period, international tenants often prefer neighborhoods that combine practical advantages with monuments, parks, markets, restaurants and attractive shops.
Finding the best location for a furnished rental in Paris ultimately depends on your workplace, family needs, lifestyle and preferred atmosphere.
Editor: Siyi CHEN
