Hotels
Best hotels in Paris: 10 places to stay, from palace hotels to the Marais
A view of the Eiffel Tower, a bar beneath a canopy of plants and an ivy-clad house by Place des Vosges. These are the hotels in Paris we would choose, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
There are cities where a hotel is just a place to sleep. Paris is not one of them. Here the hotel can be the reason for the trip: breakfast on a balcony with the Eiffel Tower in the morning light, a drink in a bar that feels like a secret, or a room overlooking zinc rooftops as the pigeons settle in for the night.
Choosing a neighbourhood matters as much as choosing a hotel. Saint-Germain is literary and elegant, the Marais charming and lively, the area around the Champs-Élysées grand, while Pigalle and the Grands Boulevards are where the city is youngest and most restless. We have gathered ten hotels in Paris, from the palaces by the Seine to small design hotels with character.
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You choose your own dates and room on the hotel page.
Where to stay in Paris
Start with the kind of trip you want. If you plan to walk a lot, stay central, on the Right Bank near the Louvre or the Left Bank in Saint-Germain. For nightlife and new restaurants, Pigalle and the area around the Grands Boulevards are the place. Read our Paris travel guide too.
Palace hotels and views: around the Champs-Élysées and Trocadéro
Literary and elegant: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Charm and small streets: the Marais and Place des Vosges
Young and lively: Pigalle, the Grands Boulevards and the 10th arrondissement
The palace hotels: the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées and the Tuileries
Shangri-La Paris: the Eiffel Tower from your balcony
Shangri-La Paris occupies a former princely palace in the 16th arrondissement, just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. From the best rooms you can see the tower from your bed, and in the evening it sparkles on the hour.
There are two restaurants and a spa, and guests praise the helpful staff. A classic choice for a romantic trip or a big occasion.
Book your stay: See rooms at Shangri-La Paris
Hôtel Plaza Athénée
The dining room beneath the chandeliers, one of the most iconic rooms in the city.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée: red awnings on Avenue Montaigne
The Plaza Athénée stands on Avenue Montaigne, the street of the great fashion houses, and the red awnings on its facade are one of the best-known sights in Paris. The Champs-Élysées is a few minutes away.
There are five restaurants, a spa and a fitness centre, and in summer the courtyard is draped in ivy and red parasols.
Book your stay: See rooms at the Plaza Athénée
Le Meurice
Views over the Paris rooftops, with the Tuileries just below.
Le Meurice: opposite the Tuileries
Le Meurice is on the Rue de Rivoli, opposite the Tuileries Garden and a few minutes from the Louvre. It has been a gathering place for artists and writers for generations, and the interiors are full of gilt, mirrors and marble.
There are two restaurants and a spa, and from here you can walk to most of the city’s great museums.
Book your stay: See rooms at Le Meurice
Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
The red awning at the entrance, on a quiet street near the Arc de Triomphe.
Le Royal Monceau Raffles: art and four restaurants
Le Royal Monceau is on a quiet street a few minutes from the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. It is known for art, design and a more contemporary style than the classic palaces.
There are four restaurants and a spa, making it a good choice if you want a grand hotel without the stiffness.
Book your stay: See rooms at Le Royal Monceau
The Left Bank: Saint-Germain
Mandarin Oriental Lutetia
A balcony over the Left Bank rooftops, with the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
Mandarin Oriental Lutetia: the Left Bank palace
The Lutetia is the great palace hotel of the Left Bank, an Art Nouveau landmark on Boulevard Raspail in Saint-Germain. The Luxembourg Gardens are a few minutes away, and the cafés and bookshops nearby make it easy to linger.
There are two restaurants and two bars. From the upper floors you look out across the rooftops towards the Eiffel Tower.
Book your stay: See rooms at Mandarin Oriental Lutetia
Hotel Montalembert
The rooms look out onto classic Parisian facades.
Hotel Montalembert: small and elegant near the Musée d’Orsay
Hotel Montalembert is on a side street in Saint-Germain, a few minutes from the Musée d’Orsay. It is a smaller hotel with a spa and a restaurant, and guests are particularly happy with the staff.
You are in the heart of classic Paris here, with booksellers along the Seine and some of the city’s best bakeries around the corner. See our guide to 5 unmissable bakeries in Paris.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Montalembert
The Marais and Place des Vosges
Pavillon de la Reine
The ivy-clad house sits right beside Place des Vosges.
Pavillon de la Reine: a hidden house on Place des Vosges
Place des Vosges is one of the loveliest squares in Paris, and Pavillon de la Reine is tucked into a courtyard right beside it, behind an ivy-covered facade. The Marais, with its vintage shops, falafel and galleries, is all around you.
There is a spa, and guests praise the staff. It is one of the most romantic places to stay in the city.
Book your stay: See rooms at Pavillon de la Reine
Pigalle, the Grands Boulevards and the 10th arrondissement
Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
The bar beneath a canopy of greenery.
Hôtel des Grands Boulevards: a rooftop and design rooms
Hôtel des Grands Boulevards sits on the boulevard by the Grand Rex, an area given new life by restaurants and bars. There is a restaurant and a bar, and the rooftop is one of the best places in the neighbourhood on a summer evening.
The rooms are bright and stylish, and the location makes it easy to walk to both the Opéra and the Marais.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
Le Pigalle
The lounge with lamps, books and vinyl.
Le Pigalle: music and nightlife in SoPi
Le Pigalle is in the middle of what locals call SoPi, south of Pigalle, with wine bars, cocktail bars and small restaurants on every street. The Palais Garnier opera house is a few minutes away.
There is a restaurant and a bar, and many rooms have a record player and a stack of records. Guests praise the helpful staff.
Book your stay: See rooms at Le Pigalle
Hôtel Providence
The intimate bar on the ground floor.
Hôtel Providence: a small hotel with a big bar
Hôtel Providence is in the 10th arrondissement, near République and the Canal Saint-Martin, where many of the city’s most exciting restaurants have opened in recent years.
There is a restaurant and a bar, and the rooms have patterned wallpaper and a warm, intimate style. A good choice if you want to stay where Parisians themselves go out.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hôtel Providence
When is the best time to visit Paris?
Paris is lovely all year. Spring brings blooming parks and long evenings outdoors, autumn golden light and new restaurant openings, and in December the city glows with Christmas lights and dressed department stores. Summer is warm and busy, and many locals leave town in August.
When should you book a hotel in Paris?
Book early if you are travelling during big trade fairs, fashion weeks or around Christmas and New Year. Outside those times you can often find good rooms at shorter notice, especially in January and November.
Choose your neighbourhood first, then your hotel
Book restaurant tables at the same time as your room
Check whether breakfast is included, as it often is not at the palace hotels
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Paris
Where should you stay in Paris for the first time?
On a first visit it is best to stay central, either on the Right Bank near the Louvre and the Tuileries or on the Left Bank in Saint-Germain. You can then walk to most of the sights. The Marais is another good choice, with charming streets, shops and restaurants.
Which hotels in Paris have a view of the Eiffel Tower?
Shangri-La Paris sits just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower and has rooms with tower views. You can also see the tower from the upper floors of Mandarin Oriental Lutetia and from some rooms at the Plaza Athénée. Ask for a view when you book.
What is the most romantic hotel in Paris?
Pavillon de la Reine by Place des Vosges is one of the most romantic places to stay, hidden behind an ivy-clad facade. Shangri-La Paris with its Eiffel Tower views and Le Meurice by the Tuileries are classic choices for a romantic weekend.
How many nights do you need in Paris?
Three to four nights gives you time for the big museums, a couple of neighbourhoods and some long dinners. If you only have a long weekend, stay central and pick a few highlights. Paris rewards those who take it slowly.
Is breakfast included at hotels in Paris?
At many Paris hotels, especially the palace hotels, breakfast is not included in the room rate. Check when you book. It is often just as enjoyable to have breakfast at a café in the neighbourhood.