Visiting the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain in Paris
We think the Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter represent the best of Paris; the cafe terraces, narrow streets plus the general vibe of enjoying a slower pace.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés (the 6 arrondissement) and neighboring Latin Quarter (the 5th arrondissement) have enough attractions to keep you busy for a day or make a great base for your Paris hotel. After visiting the area on previous trips we decided to stay here on our most recent trip. We felt staying on the left bank of the Seine River had more of a neighborhood feel than across the river.
The beautiful and free Jardin du Luxembourg.
What to see in Saint-Germain and the Latin Quarter
Since Saint-Germain and the Latin Quarter are adjacent arrondissements we’ll treat them as one for the purposes of what to see and do.
For reference, Saint-Germain is more of the area across the river from the Louvre while the Latin Quarter is the area generally across from Notre Dame Cathedral. (see map)
Exterior of the Panthéon.
The Panthéon
In 1744 King Louis XV was seriously ill and prayed to Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris.
When he recovered the king promised the monks at the Saint Genevieve abbey that he would rebuild their ancient church. The ambitious project was completed in 1790 and was the highest point in Paris until the Eiffel Tower was built.
Among the highlights of a visit today are Foucault's Pendulum which swings from the dome, the crypt which is home to the final resting places of many famous French figures, frescoes by the famous French artist, Eugène Delacroix, and the view from the tower.
You can buy tickets for a self-guided tour, a self-guided tour with a visit to the tower for the view of Paris, or a guided tour on the Panthéon’s website.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Located between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, are the Luxembourg Gardens.
You can access the 62 acres of gardens, from several entrances: Place Edmond Rostand, Place André Honnorat, Rue Guynemer, or Rue de Vaugirard.
Visitors can wander the paths and admire the many statues. Certainly, the most impressive structure is the Palais du Luxembourg, which is the home of the French Senate.
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Hotels - Booking.com. Lots of search options and information. Link
Activities - Viator. We love food tours and historical guides from Viator. Link
Airfare - FareDrop. Custom notifications of airfare sales. Link
Phone connection - Airalo. E-Sim for your phone, it’s easy and available for every country. Link
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The remains of a first-century Roman theater.
Arenes de Lutece
While many of Paris’ treasures are obvious and out in the open - The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, etc… some are much smaller and hidden.
Arenes de Lutece is the ruins of a first-century Roman theater that could once seat 15,000 people.
The entrance is almost hidden between two storefronts. You could walk by and not even notice it but please don’t, it’s certainly worth a few moments to be transported so far back in history.
Jardin des Plantes
The garden was created in 1626 by King Louis XIII as a royal medicinal herb garden. Today it covers over 75 acres.
Not only is Jardin des Plantes the main botanical garden in France but it is also the home to the National Museum of Natural History and the second-oldest public zoo in the world still in operation.
There are also a number of large greenhouses that display plants from throughout the world.
The gardens are free but the museum requires a ticket that can be purchased here.
Inside the Grand Mosque of Paris.
Grand Mosque of Paris
On our last trip to Paris, we were looking for something a little different and found the wonderful Grand Mosque of Paris. It's located just a short walk from Jardin des Plantes.
The Mosque has a fascinating history and its members helped hide many Jews during the Nazi occupation of France.
The mosque’s buildings surround a peaceful garden.
We wrote a full blog post about the Mosque here: Visiting the Grand Mosque of Paris
Walking Rue Mouffetard toward the Panthéon.
Rue Mouffetard
Rue Mouffetard is one of the oldest and most picturesque streets of Paris. The street is closed to traffic so it’s easy to walk the narrow lane.
This street was an inspiration for Victor Hugo when he wrote Les Miserables. Today the street is still a tiny bit rough around the edges so Victor would certainly recognize the vibe.
We had lunch at a small family-operated Greek restaurant and watched the interesting characters walk by.
It’s close to the Pantheon and worth a visit, how often can you walk along a 2,000-year-old street?
Rue de Buci
Rue de Buci and the surrounding streets capture the essence of Saint-Germain. Small streets loaded with restaurants, bars, and shops.
On this trip to Paris, we did our best not to overload the schedule and took time to bask in the flavor of Paris. The area around Rue de Buci is perfect for sitting and relaxing.
Shakespeare and Company
People wait in line outside Shakespeare and Company.
Ok, I left this until last on the list because I was almost just going to ignore it. Unfortunately, every guide mentions the Shakespeare and Company bookstore so I thought I should give my two cents.
My personal take is that it has a mildly interesting history but is in no way worth standing in a long line. It’s very centrally located so we took a walk by on our most recent trip and yup, there was a very long line.
Your goal should be avoiding lines in Paris (early entry tickets, etc…) but if you have to wait in line please make sure it’s to visit a global icon like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre not for a quick visit to an overcrowded bookstore.
Ok, I feel better now :-)
Leave time to find your own favorites
On our first trip to Paris, we stumbled across a patisserie called A. Lacroix Pâtissier. It’s located directly across the Seine from the Notre Dame Cathedral. We sat inside their huge front window looking out at the cathedral.
We loved the food and the view and have now stopped by on three different trips. Our son even stopped by on a solo trip to Paris. It’s so much fun to have “our place in Paris”.
There are many famous cafes in the left bank and many of them are great but don’t forget to find your own special place too.
Where to stay in the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés
If you are coming from Charles de Gaulle Airport the RER train will leave you off at Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, no need to switch trains.
The best thing about this stop is you come out and there is Notre Dame, welcome to Paris.
On our most recent trip to France, we splurged on fantastic hotels in Marseille and Eze so we needed to reign in the budget for our Paris accommodations.
On a side note - we never used to splurge on hotels but on rare occasions, we now think it’s absolutely worth it. Read our blog posts on Eze and you’ll see what I mean.
In Saint-Germain we stayed at Hôtel de Fleurie and in the Latin Quarter, we stayed at Hôtel du Collège de France. Both are solid mid-level hotels with great reviews. For our last night in Paris, we reserved a room with a balcony and will remember it for many years to come.
Here are some other well-reviewed hotels:
Relais Hotel Du Vieux Paris
Part of the upscale Relais chain but with reasonable prices.
7-minute walk to Notre Dame.
Right near everything but located on a side street so it’s quieter.
More information and booking details are here.
Hotel Dame des Arts
It's a bit of a splurge hotel but with lots of benefits including a view of the Eiffel Tower from their rooftop bar.
Variety of rooms available, including connecting rooms.
More information and booking details are here.
View of the Eiffel Tower from Hotel Dame des Arts’ rooftop bar. Photo courtesy of Expedia.
Some well-reviewed Paris tours:
Other France travel blog posts:
