The arrondissements of Paris are administrative districts organised in a spiral pattern. From the 1st arrondissement – the historical heart of Paris – the following arrondissements work their way out in numerical order like a snail shell shape. To help you understand what sites you should visit in each arrondissement, I came up with this practical guide. The 20 arrondissements of Paris won’t be a mystery for you anymore!
A few facts about the arrondissements of Paris
The City of Paris comprises twenty administrative districts. Parisians call them “arrondissements”.
This territorial division dates back to the French Revolution.
In 1795, the authorities decided to organise Paris into 12 arrondissements.
Then, in 1860, Paris incorporated part of its suburbs and created 8 new arrondissements.
The Paris’ snail!
The arrondissements of Paris are set in the form of an outward clockwise spiral starting from the centre of Paris (1st arrondissement).
The smallest arrondissement is the 2nd (0.992 km2) and the largest is the 12th (16.324 km2 including Bois de Vincennes).
The most populous arrondissement is the 15th with approximately 232,400 inhabitants.
Six arrondissements are found on the Left Bank (5th, 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th and 15th) and the remaining 14 on the Right Bank. The two central islands (Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis) are part of the 1st and 4th arrondissements.
The Western and central arrondissements (1st, 4th, 6h, 7th, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th and 17th) are the wealthiest and generally vote right. The Eastern arrondissements, which traditionally included a working-class population, vote left.
What to do in Paris?
Here’s a list of activities (tours, monuments, museums, cruises) that you can find on our partner’s GetYourGuide site:
Discover the 20 arrondissements of Paris
Click on the links below to reach the dedicated page for each arrondissement:
1st arrondissement
- Situation: Louvre – Les Halles, Right Bank and Ile de la Cité
- Postal Code: 75001
- Altitude: min. 29 m, max. 37 m
- Area: 1.830 km²
- Population: 17,400
- Population density: 9,500/km²
- Median household income: €38,830
- Landmarks and Monuments: Louvre Palace, Palais Royal, Forum des Halles, Conciergerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Place Dauphine, Place Vendôme, Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois Church, Saint-Roch church
- Museums and Art Galleries: Louvre Museum, Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Orangerie Museum
- Parks and Gardens: Tuileries, Jardin des Halles, Palais-Royal gardens
- Find out more on our page on the 1st arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 1st arrondissement
2nd arrondissement
- Situation: Bourse, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75002
- Altitude: min. 33 m, max. 46 m
- Area: 0.990 km²
- Population: 23,000
- Population density: 23,150/km²
- Median household income: €34,130
- Landmarks and Monuments: Bourse, Notre-Dame des Victoires basilica, covered passageways
- Find out more on our page on the 2nd arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 2nd arrondissement
3rd arrondissement
- Situation: Marais – north, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75003
- Altitude: min. 32 m, max. 41 m
- Area: 1.170 km²
- Population: 36,100
- Population density: 30,900/km²
- Median household income: €36,370
- Landmarks and Monuments: Square du Temple, Marais district (north), St Nicolas des Champs church
- Museums and Art Galleries: Archives Nationales, Carnavalet Museum, Picasso Museum, Musées des Arts et Métiers
- Parks and Gardens: Jardin Anne Frank, Square du Temple
- Find out more on our page on the 3rd arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 3rd arrondissement
4th arrondissement
- Situation: Marais – South, Right Bank, Ile de la Cité and Ile Saint-Louis
- Postal Code: 75004
- Altitude: min. 27 m, max. 38 m
- Area: 1.600 km²
- Population: 27,900
- Population density: 17,430/km²
- Median household income: €37,560
- Landmarks and Monuments: Marais (South), Place des Vosges, Notre-Dame cathedral, Paris City-Hall, Place de la Bastille, Hôtel de Sully, St Gervais-St Protais church, St Paul-St Louis church, St Jacques Tower, Square de l’Ile de France
- Museums and Art Galleries: Pompidou Centre
- Parks and Gardens: Jardin de l’Archevêché, Square de la Tour Saint-Jacques
- Find out more on our page on the 4th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 4th arrondissement
5th arrondissement
- Situation: Latin Quarter, Left Bank
- Postal Code: 75005
- Altitude: min. 27 m, max. 61 m
- Area: 2.541 km²
- Population: 60,000
- Population density: 24,000/km²
- Median household income: €38,780
- Landmarks and Monuments: Quartier Latin, Place Saint-Michel, Lutetia arena, Panthéon, Val de Grâce, Saint-Séverin church
- Museums and Art Galleries: Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, Middle-Ages museum at Hôtel de Cluny
- Parks and Gardens: Jardin des Plantes, Square René-Viviani
- Find out more on our page on the 5th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 5th arrondissement
6th arrondissement
- Situation: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Left Bank
- Postal Code: 75006
- Altitude: min. 29 m, max. 57 m
- Area: 2.150 km²
- Population: 43,900
- Population density: 20,410/km²
- Median household income: €46,770
- Landmarks and Monuments: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Institut de France, Luxembourg Palace, Hôtel des Monnaies, St Sulpice church
- Parks and Gardens: Jardin du Luxembourg
- Find out more on our page on the 6th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 6th arrondissement
7th arrondissement
- Situation: Eiffel Tower – Invalides, Left Bank
- Postal Code: 75007
- Altitude: min. 27 m, max. 40 m
- Area: 4.090 km²
- Population: 57,800
- Population density: 14,130/km²
- Median household income: €50,080
- Landmarks and Monuments: Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Palais Bourbon, Faubourg Saint-Germain, St Clotilde basilica
- Museums and Art Galleries: Orsay Museum, Rodin Museum, Musée du Quai Branly
- Parks and Gardens: Champ de Mars, Esplanade des Invalides
- Find out more on our page on the 7th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 7th arrondissement
8th arrondissement
- Situation: Champs-Elysées, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75008
- Altitude: min. 29 m, max. 59 m
- Area: 3.880 km²
- Population: 40,600
- Population density: 10,460/km²
- Median household income: €51,970
- Landmarks and Monuments: Champs-Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Pont Alexandre III, La Madeleine church, St Augustin church, Gare Saint-Lazare
- Museums and Art Galleries: Fine Arts Museum at Petit-Palais, Musée Jacquemart-André
- Parks and Gardens: Jardin des Champs-Elysées, Parc Monceau
- Find out more on our page on the 8th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 8th arrondissement
9th arrondissement
- Situation: Opéra Garnier – Grands Boulevards, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75009
- Altitude: min. 33 m, max. 69 m
- Area: 1.180 km²
- Population: 59,400
- Population density: 27,250/km²
- Median household income: €38,000
- Landmarks and Monuments: Opera Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Printemps Department Store, Ste Trinité church, Pigalle, Covered passageways
- Museums and Art Galleries: Musée Grévin, Musée de la Vie Romantique
- Find out more on our page on the 9th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 9th arrondissement
10th arrondissement
- Situation: Canal Saint-Martin, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75010
- Altitude: min. 33 m, max. 60 m
- Area: 2.890 km²
- Population: 94,000
- Population density: 32,530/km²
- Median household income: €31,810
- Landmarks and Monuments: Canal Saint-Martin, Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Saint-Vincent de Paul church, St Laurent church
- Parks and Gardens: Square Villemin
- Find out more on our page on the 10th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 10th arrondissement
11th arrondissement
- Situation: Faubourg Saint-Antoine – Oberkampf, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75011
- Altitude: min. 33 m, max. 59 m
- Area: 3.670 km²
- Population: 154,650
- Population density: 42,140/km²
- Median household income: €31,620
- Landmarks and Monuments: Place de la République, Cirque d’Hiver, St Ambroise church, St Marguerite church, Place de la Nation
- Parks and Gardens: Square de la Roquette, Square Maurice Gardette
- Find out more on our page on the 11th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 11th arrondissement
12th arrondissement
- Situation: Bercy – Bois de Vincennes, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75012
- Altitude: min. 27 m, max. 72 m
- Area: 6.380 km²
- Population: 144,720
- Population density: 22,700/km²
- Median household income: €35,120
- Landmarks and Monuments: Opera Bastille, Gare de Lyon, Bercy, Place de la Nation, Place Daumesnil, St Esprit church, Notre-Dame de la Nativité church
- Museums and Art Galleries: Musée de l’Histoire de l’Immigration
- Parks and Gardens: Coulée Verte René Dumont, Bercy Park, Bois de Vincennes, Parc Floral
- Find out more on our page on the 12th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 12th arrondissement
13th arrondissement
- Situation: Tolbiac – Gobelins – Paris Rive Gauche, Left Bank
- Postal Code: 75013
- Altitude: min. 27 m, max. 64 m
- Area: 7.150 km²
- Population: 183,260
- Population population: 25,630/km²
- Median household income: €31,560
- Landmarks and Monuments: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Gobelins Manufacture, Butte aux Cailles, Place d’Italie, Chinese district, Gare d’Austerlitz
- Parks and Gardens: Square René Le Gall, Parc de Choisy, Jardins des Grands Moulins
- Find out more on our page on the 13th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 13th arrondissement
14th arrondissement
- Situation: Montparnasse, Left Bank
- Postal Code: 75014
- Altitude: min. 45 m, max. 81 m
- Area: 5.640 km²
- Population: 140,300
- Population density: 24,880/km²
- Median household income: €34,550
- Landmarks and Monuments: Montparnasse, Place Denfert-Rochereau, Paris catacombs, Place de Catalogne, Paris Observatory, St Pierre de Montrouge church, Notre-Dame du Travail church, Cité Universitaire
- Parks and Gardens: Parc Montsouris, Montparnasse cemetery,
- Find out more on our page on the 14th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 14th arrondissement
15th arrondissement
- Situation: Vaugirard – Grenelle, Left Bank
- Postal Code: 75015
- Altitude: min. 28 m, max. 67 m
- Area: 8.480 km²
- Population: 237,100
- Population density: 27,960/km²
- Median household income: €37,840
- Landmarks and Monuments: Montparnasse Tower, Ile aux cygnes, Rue du Commerce, St Jean Baptiste de Grenelle church, Front de Seine (Beaugrenelle)
- Museums and Art Galleries: Bourdelle museum
- Parks and Gardens: Parc André Citroën, Square Saint-Lambert, Parc Georges Brassens, Jardin Atlantique
- Find out more on our page on the 15th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 15th arrondissement
16th arrondissement
- Situation: Passy – Auteuil, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75016
- Altitude: min. 27 m, max. 67 m
- Area: 7.910 km²
- Population: 170,000
- Population density: 21,500/km²
- Median household income: €48,750
- Landmarks and Monuments: Trocadéro, St Pierre de Chaillot, Place Victor Hugo, Passy, Auteuil, Maison de Radio-France,
- Museums and Art Galleries: Contemporary Art Museum (Palais de Tokyo), Galliera museum, Baccarat museum, Marmottan museum, Guimet museum, Wine museum
- Parks and Gardens: Trocadéro Gardens, Jardin du Ranelagh, Bois de Boulogne, Passy cemetery,
- Find out more on our page on the 16th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 16th arrondissement
17th arrondissement
- Situation: Batignolles – Monceau, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75017
- Altitude: min. 29 m, max. 63 m
- Area: 5.670 km²
- Population: 168,700
- Population density: 30,000/km²
- Median household income: €37,000
- Landmarks and Monuments: Cité des Fleurs, church of Sainte-Marie des Batignolles, church of Saint-Michel des Batignolles
- Museums and Art Galleries: Musée National Jean-Jacques Henner
- Parks and Gardens: Square des Batignolles, Parc Clichy-Batignolles – Martin Luther King
- Find out more on our page on the 17th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 17th arrondissement
18th arrondissement
- Situation: Montmartre, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75018
- Altitude: min. 39 m, max. 129 m
- Area: 6.010 km²
- Population: 203,100
- Population density: 33,800/km²
- Median household income: €27,600
- Landmarks and Monuments: Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur basilica, Place des Abbesses
- Museums and Art Galleries: Montmartre Museum
- Parks and Gardens: Montmartre cemetery, Square Louise Michel, Parc de la Turlure, Square Léon Serpollet, St Vincent cemetery, Jardin d’Eole
- Find out more on our page on the 18th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 18th arrondissement
19th arrondissement
- Situation: La Villette – Buttes-Chaumont, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75019
- Altitude: min. 41 m, max. 122 m
- Area: 6.790 km²
- Population: 160,100
- Population density: 27,400/km²
- Median household income: €28,400
- Landmarks and Monuments: La Villette, Bassin de la Villette and Canal de l’Ourcq
- Museums and Art Galleries: Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie
- Parks and Gardens: Parc de la Villette, Buttes-Chaumont, Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge
- Find out more on our page on the 19th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 19th arrondissement
20th arrondissement
- Situation: Belleville – Ménilmontant, Right Bank
- Postal Code: 75020
- Altitude: min. 50 m, max. 127 m
- Area: 5.980 km²
- Population: 198,000
- Population density: 33,100/km²
- Median household income: €28,970
- Landmarks and Monuments: Belleville, Ménilmontant, Charonne, Notre-Dame de la Croix de Ménilmontant church, St Germain de Charonne church
- Parks and Gardens: Père Lachaise cemetery, Parc de Belleville
- Find out more on our page on the 20th arrondissement
- Places to stay in the 20th arrondissement
What is/are your favourite arrondissement(s) in Paris? Let us know below in the comment box!
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Romantic Paris!
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There are many romantic places to explore in Paris. If you’re not familiar with the French capital, here are some photos to inspire you!
The 8th. Upper crust, classy and clean. The Madeleine! Great area.
This is a fabulous compilation of information, maps, and photos! Merci beaucoup!
My pleasure! 🙂
I think you have the landmarks, museums, and parks for the 17th arrondissement wrong on your summary page. They seem to be copied from the 5th arrondissement. Thought you would like to know.
Thank you so much Steven for the info. I’ve just modified the article and fixed the issue!