On the map of Paris, the city is divided by the river into two parts. On the right bank the main sights, expensive boutiques and foreign embassies are concentrated. On the left bank, a map of Paris in Russian shows numerous cozy cafes and university neighborhoods.
There are 20 districts in the city, and tourists are most attracted to District 1 (luxury, the Louvre, the Tuileries, the most fashionable hotels on the Paris map), District 4 (the historic center, the oldest quarter of the Marais, Notre Dame de Paris), District 5 (the Sorbonne and the Latin Quarter), District 7 (the Eiffel Tower), and District 8 (the Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe). For shopping go to arrondissement 9 (Galeries Lafayette and a hundred or so other boutiques), and for entertainment go to arrondissement 18 (Montmartre).
The best areas to stay are in the center of Paris: arrondissements 1, 2, 4, 5. There are plenty of hotels in different price segments and close proximity to attractions, but you won't find budget accommodation here.
Middle-range Paris neighborhoods include the quiet and peaceful arrondissement 12 (avoid hotels on the border of arrondissements 12 and 20), and arrondissements 13, 15, and 17 (the only downside is the lack of attractions, which are accessible by metro or bus).
Which Paris neighborhood should you stay in to maximize your Parisian experience? We recommend choosing one of the hotels located in the first nine arrondissements - not the most economical option, but the most positive impressions of the city!
Districts 10 ("train station" area, many immigrants and pickpocket thieves, but there are cheap student hostels), 11 (youth district with constant parties, avoid hotels near Couronne and Belleville stations) and 20 (the center of "Arab" Paris, very cheap but unsafe to live here).
It's not a good idea to settle in the Montmartre area and around the Bastille (yes, the neighborhoods are touristy, but there are too many bars and red-light streets).
