The 1st arrondissement is small, yet you could spend a week there without seeing the same thing twice. Royal palaces, gardens designed for kings, covered galleries, the tip of the Île de la Cité: everything is on foot, a few minutes from one address to the next. Here is the selection Laura and Hannah’s team shares with guests staying in the area.
The Louvre, without wearing yourself out
The Louvre museum occupies the former palace of the kings of France. It is better taken in pieces than all at once: one wing in the morning, another the next day. Booking a time slot ahead avoids the queues at the pyramid, and the entrance through the Carrousel gallery is often calmer. Even without going in, the cour Napoléon at dawn and the cour Carrée in the evening are worth the walk.
The Tuileries and their two museums
Between the Louvre and place de la Concorde lies the Tuileries garden, with its chestnut-lined paths, its ponds and the green chairs where people settle in the sun. At its western end, two museums face each other.
- The Musée de l’Orangerie, where Claude Monet’s great Water Lilies unfold in two oval rooms bathed in natural light
- The Jeu de Paume, devoted to photography and the image, with exhibitions that change through the year
On the rue de Rivoli side, the Musée des Arts décoratifs, housed in a wing of the Louvre palace, shows furniture, fashion, jewellery and objects from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The Palais-Royal, a quiet interlude
A few steps from the bustle of rue de Rivoli, the Palais-Royal garden is one of the most peaceful places in central Paris. Its rows of clipped lime trees are lined with arcades full of old shops, designers and cafés. In the main courtyard, Daniel Buren’s black-and-white striped columns delight children and adults alike. Right next door, on place Colette, the Comédie-Française performs classic and contemporary plays.
A little further east, the galerie Véro-Dodat, a nineteenth-century covered passage, has kept its woodwork, chequered floor and original shopfronts.
The tip of the Île de la Cité
The western part of the Île de la Cité belongs to the 1st arrondissement. It holds two Gothic gems.
- The Sainte-Chapelle, whose upper chapel is made almost entirely of stained glass: best visited on a bright day
- The Conciergerie, a former royal palace turned prison during the Revolution, where Marie-Antoinette was held
Afterwards, place Dauphine offers a shady stop under its chestnut trees, away from the noise. The Pont-Neuf, which despite its name is the oldest bridge still standing in Paris, leads to the square du Vert-Galant, a green point at water level. It is the perfect spot to watch the sun set over the Seine, or to board a boat trip.
Les Halles and Saint-Eustache
The Les Halles area has changed face with the Canopée, the large glass roof covering the forum, and the Nelson-Mandela garden, where children have plenty to play with. Next to it, the church of Saint-Eustache impresses with its size and regularly hosts organ concerts. Opposite, the Bourse de Commerce, a rotunda restored by the architect Tadao Ando, shows the Pinault contemporary art collection.
By the Seine, the Samaritaine has reopened after its renovation: people come as much for the glass roof and the Art Nouveau decor as for the shopping. For shows, the Théâtre du Châtelet programmes musicals, concerts and dance.
Vendôme, Saint-Honoré and Saint-Roch
Place Vendôme, with its column and classical façades, brings together jewellers and grand hotels. Rue Saint-Honoré extends the walk with designer boutiques, concept stores and tea rooms. On the way, the church of Saint-Roch surprises with the richness of its chapels and the calm inside. Near the Louvre, the church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, with its Gothic porch and its carillon, recalls the former parish of the kings.
Our tips to enjoy the area
- Walk: almost everything is within reach on foot, and distances are short
- Book the big museums ahead, especially at weekends and during holidays
- Keep the gardens for the warm hours, and the churches for rainy days
- Cross the Pont des Arts to reach the Left Bank in a few steps
These ideas are part of the digital welcome book our guests receive, along with the welcome on site prepared by the team. Do you own a flat in the area, near the Louvre and the Palais-Royal, Les Halles and Châtelet or Vendôme and Saint-Honoré? Discover our support for owners.
Frequently asked questions
Can you explore the 1st arrondissement on foot?
Yes. It is a small arrondissement: you go from the Louvre to the Palais-Royal, Les Halles or place Dauphine in a few minutes’ walk.
What to do in the 1st arrondissement when it rains?
The Louvre, Orangerie and Arts décoratifs museums, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Bourse de Commerce, the Samaritaine or the galerie Véro-Dodat let you enjoy the area under cover.
Where to watch the sunset in the 1st arrondissement?
At the square du Vert-Galant, on the tip of the Île de la Cité, or from the Pont des Arts.
Is the Palais-Royal garden open to the public?
Yes, the garden and its arcades are freely accessible, as is the main courtyard with the Buren columns.
Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
