Those looking for a place to live in Paris for more than just a few days or weeks have many exciting options. From the most economical to the most lavish, and everything in between, you'll find a place to call your own for as long as you need.
Decisions, decisions. If you're looking for a long term apartment rental Paris, there are multiple things to consider.
Certainly you'll have a list of things you want, and a list of things you need. It may be important to distinguish between the two, as certain things may be essential, and other factors may be negotiable. A better location for you may mean many things. Whereas someone coming to stay in Paris purely for vacation may wish to live as close to the Seine, for example, as possible, it may be that your ideal location is near to where you'll be working or studying.
For those studying, say, in the Latin Quarter, staying near this pricey and charming area may mean more money needs to go to rent simply due to the location, and so other options (natural light, or the most quiet building), may take a back seat. Of course, even for these students, there are areas a little outside of the neighborhood where rents are considerably less, and that may enable you to spend more on square meters, or other amenities.
If you've come to Paris to work, an ideal location would tend to be closest to the place of employment. There are many available Paris apartments in virtually every part of town.
Fortunately for all concerned, Paris has an extensive metro and bus system, and much of it is easily traversable, so in all but a few cases, one needn't look in the exact same neighborhood where one plans to be attending classes or working.
Paris has many neighborhoods to consider, from the peaceful and residential to the glamorous, hip, bohemian, and just plain quirky.
Glamorous areas include the Saint Germain neighborhood in the 6th (Left Bank), the posh 16th on the Right Bank, across from the Eiffel Tower, and the 8th on the Right Bank near the Champs Elysées.
Residential areas include the more upscale 15th and 14th on the Left Bank, and the more medium-income 10th and 11th on the Right Bank, among others.
For nightlife, the 11th has two club scenes, but the hub of Parisian nightlife (and day-life) remains the Marais neighborhood, which spans the 3rd and 4th districts on the Right Bank.
The Latin Quarter on the Left Bank (5th district) is the home of more schools in Paris than any other area. As a result, rents here tend to be more expensive, due also to the Latin Quarter's proximity to the Seine and the Notre Dame. Still, it remains a very desirable area in which to live. One can literally stroll from here across the Seine and into the fun Marais neighborhood.
Bohemian areas could encompass apartments in several areas. The most prominent of these would be the Montmartre in the 18th, once home to many of the 20th centuries most esteemed artistic figured, from Van Gogh to Lautrec.
The Montparnasse, its sister neighborhood to the south, is like a more peaceful residential version of the Marais, centered in the 14th, but also including some of the 15th and lower 6th.
But there are many neighborhoods to choose from. Much of them have elements of the artistic, the residential and commercial, blended together. Whether you're looking for a long- or even short term Paris rental, what you choose will depend on your budget, taste and specific needs.
