3rd Arrondissement of Paris: Best Hotels & Neighborhood Guide

👉 Jump to: Meet the 3rd Arrondissement | Best 3rd Arrondissement Hotels | Areas | Tips | FAQs

I’ve lived in Paris for over ten years, and I’m convinced the Marais (the 3rd and 4th arrondissements) is the best district to stay in. Quieter than the 4th, the 3rd is especially good for artistic experiences and bijou hotels. It offers the perfect combination of quiet luxury and cutting-edge culture. Meanwhile, it’s central and walkable, with great restaurants.

If you’re in a rush, my top suggested 3rd Arrondissement hotel is Pavillon de la Reine, a stunning luxury property in Archives. You could also check out the uniquely decorated rooms at Hotel du Petit Moulin or Hôtel de Roubaix if you are on a budget.

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Meet the 3rd Arrondissement: Paris’s Most Charming Neighborhood

❤️ Why We Love the 3rd: The 3rd arrondissement is filled with culture and art. Full of museums and galleries, you’ll find everything from Picasso to up-and-coming artists here. Cafés, bars, and pop-ups line the broader streets. 

Yet, the 3rd is one of the smallest and most charming arrondissements in Paris. Away from busier streets, you’ll discover a ton of surprises. These include small museums behind high walls, private mansions from centuries ago, and green garden squares.

Meanwhile, you’ll find cobblestones, hidden markets, and plenty of quiet accommodation. The 3rd is the perfect place to stay in Paris if you want to escape chain hotels and try one of Paris’s many boutique hotels. 

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Who This Neighborhood Is For: The 3rd arrondissement is for you if you’re looking for a Paris neighborhood with a mixture of the upscale and the cutting edge. For example, you’ll find Ladurée’s outrageously expensive macarons for sale here, but you’ll also find hole-in-the-wall cafés where students work. You can visit the Picasso Museum, but you can also see up-and-coming artists at neighborhood pop-ups. 

📍 Areas in the 3rd: The 3rd arrondissement is divided into four quarters, each with its own energy. From the northwest going clockwise, these are: 

• Arts-et-Métiers
• Enfants Rouges
• Sainte-Avoye
• Archives

🚲 Getting Around the 3rd: The 3rd is the perfect place to stay if you plan on walking a lot. It’s centrally located, and you can get to most places in central Paris on foot. Though it’s well-connected by the Métro, and has several bus routes, there can be issues with these. The Métro is at the edges of the neighborhood. Meanwhile, buses can be seriously slowed down by the narrow streets. 

In short, if a matcha latte, National Archives, and Paris Fashion Week are your style, so is the 3rd arrondissement!

Best 3rd Arrondissement Hotels

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – Pavillon de la Reine, Archives
• 📍 Best Location – Boudoir des Muses, Archives
• 💎 Best Luxury Hotel – Maison Proust, Hotel & Spa La Mer, Enfants Rouges 
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Best for Families – Sinner Paris, Sainte-Avoye
• 💻 Best for Business – Hôtel Jacques de Molay, Enfants Rouges
• 🔔 Best Boutique – Hotel du Petit Moulin, Archives
• 🚇 Best Near Métro – Solly Hôtel Paris, Arts-et-Métiers 
• 💆🏻‍♀️ Best Hotel with Spa – Hotel Les Bains Paris, Sainte-Avoye
• 🛏️ Best Budget – Hôtel de Roubaix, Arts-et-Métiers 

Not sure where to stay in the 3rd? It can be helpful to pick an area before picking a hotel. Here’s an overview of the quarters (areas) that make up Paris’s 3rd arrondissement.

Areas to Stay in the 3rd Arrondissement

Curious about these quartiers (neighborhoods)? Here’s an in-depth view of each to help you decide where to stay on your trip!

Arts-et-Métiers

👉 Best Area For Budget Travelers  | ✨ Best Arts-et-Métiers Hotels: Solly Hôtel Paris • Hôtel de Roubaix 

Arts-et-Métiers is the neighborhood to stay in when you want to be in the Marais without the price tag. In the northwest corner of the 3rd, this neighborhood offers cheap but hip hotels, restaurants, and cafés. There are also tons of cultural attractions, including the Musée des Arts et Métiers (Museum of Art and Industry).

A big benefit of staying in the Arts-et-Métiers quarter is its access to public transportation. You’ll be close to République, a huge transportation hub, to the east. You’re also not far from two main train stations, the Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est. If you plan on seeing lots in and out of Paris, this is the quarter for you!

The charming Hôtel de Roubaix, my favorite budget pick, is also in this area. With adorable décor and great amenities, the location and price tag make this a great choice.

Pros of Staying in the Arts-et-Métiers Neighborhood:

• Great transport links
• Lively, bustling nightlife
• Less expensive hotels 

Cons of Staying in the Arts-et-Métiers Neighborhood:

• Lots of large streets
• Not as much charm as other Marais districts
• Busy northern and western edges
• Little green space

Enfants Rouges

👉 Best Area For a Quiet Stay | ✨ Best Enfants Rouges Hotels: Maison Proust, Hotel & Spa La Mer • Hôtel Sookie & Coffee Shop  • Hôtel Jacques de Molay

The Enfants Rouges quarter, in the northeast of the 3rd, has everything I love about Paris. There’s a big shopping street, the Rue de Bretagne, with lots of amenities. This includes a covered market dating to the 17th century. North, you’ll find a pocket of small, winding streets. These are home to the charming architecture and squares that make the northern Marais famous. 

You can also find surprising quiet here. I lived in the area for two years and slept generally very soundly! 

In this same vein of quiet luxury, Enfants Rouge is home to a top luxury hotel, the Maison Proust, Hotel & Spa La Mer. Its period decor, attentive staff, and luxe amenities go perfectly with the neighborhood vibes.

Pros of Staying in the Enfants Rouges Neighborhood:

• Lots of amenities
• Quiet, charming side streets
• Unique boutiques and services 

Cons of Staying in Enfants Rouges Neighborhood:

• Public transport links can be far
• Driving is hard on smaller streets

Sainte-Avoye

👉 Best Area For Restaurants  | ✨ Best Sainte-Avoye Hotels: Sinner Paris • Hotel Les Bains Paris • Hôtel Jules & Jim

Feeling hungry? The Sainte-Avoye neighborhood is for you! You’ll find everything from Italian to burgers to Asian fusion in this bustling quarter. And you won’t lose out on any attractions, either. Staying here situates you perfectly. You’ll find bars, museums (including the nearby Centre Pompidou), and transportation.

The area’s Hôtel Jules & Jim captures what I love about this quarter. Not only is it home to a great bar, but it is also LGBTQ+ friendly. You’ll find two courtyards in the old building, but clean and modern rooms on the inside. 

Pros of Staying in the Sainte-Avoye Neighborhood:

• Great restaurants in the area
• Excellent cafés and coffee shops
• Fun small museums

Cons of Staying in the Sainte-Avoye Neighborhood:

• Fewer top hotels than in other areas
• Busy Western edge

Les Archives

👉 Best Area For Museums | ✨ Best Archives Hotels: Pavillon de la Reine • Boudoir des Muses •  Hotel du Petit Moulin

As an art history nerd, I moved to the Archives neighborhood in 2018 and haven’t looked back. There are tons of great museums in the district, which is in the southeast of the 3rd. This includes my favorite Paris museum, the Musée Carnavalet, showing the history of Paris. 

If you’re looking for more specific museums in the area, you’ll also find the Picasso Museum and the Museum of Hunting and Nature.

There are also great restaurants, green spaces, and surprises in the quarter. The hotel Pavillon de la Reine is one of them. Not only is this my top recommended place to stay in Paris, but it shows the Archives quarter’s traits perfectly. It’s secluded behind a private courtyard. Its terrace offers sculptures and the sun. And you’d never know it was there unless you looked!

Pros of Staying in the Archives Neighborhood:

• Many museums and attractions
• Close to amenities and shops
• Lots of hidden green spaces 

Cons of Staying in Archives Neighborhood:

• Popular with visitors
• Streets are small and hard to drive

Tips & Things to Know about the 3rd Arrondissement

#1 – Familiarize Yourself with Public Transportation

Anyone traveling to the 3rd should look up public transportation before booking a hotel. Even if you love walking, there may still be days of bad weather or sore muscles. The 3rd has so many charms, but great transport links aren’t always one of them. Look at your hotel on a map to check its public transport! You can also review my guide to getting around Paris for more info.

#2 – Select Attractions Before Your Hotel

If you’re planning on staying mostly in your quarter, look up your desired Paris attractions first. The 3rd is fairly walkable. However, it gets quite wide in the southern parts. This includes the Archives and Sainte-Avoye areas. If mobility is an issue, think of attractions, then hotels.

#3 – Check Opening Hours Carefully

The 3rd arrondissement is full of charming local businesses. However, these businesses don’t always follow the same schedule as chain shops. Many aren’t open on Mondays but will be open on Sundays. Others are closed on random afternoons. Check hours online before making plans!

#4 – Increase Your Budget

The 3rd arrondissement is full of great neighborhoods. However, only one of them is notably reasonable: Arts-et-Métiers. In the others, you’ll pay more for lodging. You’ll also pay more for food, even at bakeries and for take-out. Consider adding 10% to your budget if you’re staying here. 

If you still want to be generally mindful of your wallet, though, see my guide to visiting Paris on a budget for more tips to help you save around the city. 

#5 – Reserve, Reserve, Reserve!

The top attractions in the 3rd arrondissement book up fast. For the Sophie Calle exhibition at the Picasso Museum in 2023, tickets started selling out almost right away. You should reserve restaurants and, yes, museum exhibitions in advance.

📚 Related Reading: 4th Arrondissement, Best Hotels & Neighborhood Guide

FAQs

Is the 3rd arrondissement safe for tourists?

The 3rd arrondissement is generally safe. However, Paris safety often comes down to keeping an eye on your belongings and taking basic precautions in public areas. Be careful with your belongings.

Where should I stay in the 3rd arrondissement?

The best place to stay in the 3rd arrondissement is Enfants Rouges. You’ll get access to major transport hubs, attractions, and amenities. At the same time, you’ll get some peace. 

Is the 3rd arrondissement good to stay in?

The 3rd arrondissement is great to stay in if you’re looking for Parisian charm. It’s slightly more expensive than the outer districts but good for culture.

What is the 3rd arrondissement known for?

The 3rd arrondissement is known for its galleries, museums, restaurants, historic Jewish community, and LGTBQ+ friendly environment.

Is the 3rd arrondissement expensive?

Compared to the other districts of Paris, the 3rd arrondissement is fairly expensive. You can save money by staying in an area like Arts-et-Métiers and selecting restaurants carefully.

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Thanks for reading! You’ll find plenty of activities in and out of the Marais and are sure to have a wonderful visit. If you want to dive deeper, I wrote another article on why I think the Marais is the ideal neighborhood for visitors. Give it a read!

Want to keep planning your Paris trip? I have plenty more Paris guides to help you out.