Le Marais

The best way to explore Le Marais is on foot; a walking tour or bike tour will take in the highlights, from the main square of Place des Vosges to the Pletzl, or the Jewish Quarter, of Rue des Rosiers. Alternatively, visit as part of a Paris tour that also neighborhoods such as Montmartre, the Latin Quarter, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

• Wear comfy shoes—the district is full of cobblestone lanes and steps.

• Free Wi-Fi hotspots are located around Le Marais.

• Many shops and restaurants in Le Marais are open on Sundays, but it’s worth checking ahead.

Le Marais is located in Paris’ 3rd and 4th arrondissements on the Right Bank of the Seine River. Situated just across from the Ile de la Cité, the neighborhood is also a short walk from Notre Dame Cathedral. The closest Metro stations are Hôtel de Ville (Lines 1 and 11), Chemin Vert (Line 8), and Saint-Paul (Line 1).

Le Marais is a lively place any day of the week, but many museums are closed on Mondays. The quietest time for shopping and sightseeing is on weekday mornings (many shops don’t open until 9am or 10am, so don’t arrive too early), but the neighborhood is most atmospheric at night, when the bars and restaurants are filled.

While art lovers come to Le Marais to admire bold street art and visit the Picasso Museum, other points of interest include the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, the Musée Cognacq-Jay, and the Le Centre Pompidou in the neighboring Beaubourg district. Also worth a visit is the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (hunting museum), the Musée Carnavalet (city history museum), the Maison de Victor Hugo, and the Musée des Arts and Métiers.