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A stay begins long before the keys are handed over. It begins when guests step off the plane or the train and look for their way with their luggage and an almost flat phone. In the 1st arrondissement, the good news is that nearly everything leads to the area. The less good news is that central Paris transport hubs are huge, and an old building does not open like a hotel room.
This guide covers what we explain to every guest before arrival, and what you can reuse in your listing.
From Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport
The RER B runs directly from the Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle terminals to Châtelet-Les Halles station, in the heart of the 1st arrondissement, with no change. It is the simplest route for guests staying between Les Halles, the Louvre and rue de Rivoli. At Châtelet-Les Halles, they come up through the Forum des Halles and the Canopée, then usually walk to their address.
The point to plan for: Châtelet-Les Halles is a vast underground hub with many exits. Telling guests which exit is closest to their flat saves them long minutes in the corridors. We put that information in the digital welcome book of every flat.
From Orly airport
Since its extension, metro line 14 serves Orly airport and crosses Paris to the 1st arrondissement, stopping at Châtelet and Pyramides. Guests staying near rue Saint-Honoré, the Palais-Royal or place Vendôme will get off at Pyramides; those staying near Les Halles or place du Châtelet, at Châtelet. The line is driverless and frequent, which makes it easy to recommend to a visitor discovering Paris.
From the main railway stations
The 1st arrondissement is just as well placed for guests arriving by train.
- Gare du Nord: the RER B and RER D go straight to Châtelet-Les Halles, and metro line 4 serves Châtelet and Les Halles.
- Gare de Lyon: the RER A reaches Châtelet-Les Halles, line 14 goes to Châtelet and Pyramides, and line 1 runs along rue de Rivoli with stops at Châtelet, Louvre-Rivoli, Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre and Tuileries.
- Gare Saint-Lazare: line 14 reaches Pyramides and then Châtelet in a few stops.
- Gare Montparnasse and Gare de l’Est: line 4 crosses Paris to Châtelet and Les Halles.
For each flat, we give the nearest station and the walk that follows, because the right station depends a lot on the exact address within the arrondissement.
By taxi or ride-hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing cars remain the favourite option for guests with heavy luggage, families and late arrivals. Two tips make arriving in the 1st smoother. First, give the exact address with the door number, since some streets in the area are pedestrianised or have restricted traffic, and drivers sometimes have to drop guests at the corner. Second, share the arrival time, so the welcome matches the real time rather than the flight schedule.
Getting into an old building: the step guests dread
Many flats in the 1st are in old buildings. For a foreign visitor, getting in can feel like a small obstacle course: a door code on the carriage entrance, sometimes a second code or an intercom, a courtyard to cross, one staircase to find among several, and not always a lift.
All of this is solved by precise instructions sent before arrival:
- the code for the street door and for the second door, if there is one;
- a photo of the facade and the door, to recognise the building at night;
- which staircase to take and which floor, with the flat’s door described or photographed;
- how to collect the keys: handed over in person, key box or smart lock.
This information is at the core of our check-in and check-out. When the welcome is in person, Laura and Hannah’s team meets guests on site; when it is self check-in, the instructions are tested on the ground before being sent.
The first minutes in the flat
Guests who have crossed the city with their suitcases need three things on arrival: light, wifi and a place to put their things down. The rest can wait until the next day. The flat must therefore be ready, aired, heated or cooled depending on the season, with the wifi password in plain sight. That is the job of cleaning between stays and the check that ends it.
The welcome book then takes over: building rules, waste sorting, nearby bakeries and pharmacies, and outing ideas for the following days, which we cover in our article on what to do in the 1st arrondissement.
Why it matters for your reviews
Guest reviews often talk about arrival. A complicated entrance, a code that does not work or a late welcome weigh on the rating, even when the flat is spotless. A simple arrival, on the other hand, sets the tone for the whole stay. That is why we treat arrival as a full part of our support for owners.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport to the 1st arrondissement?
The RER B runs directly from the Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle terminals to Châtelet-Les Halles station, in the heart of the 1st arrondissement, with no change.
How do you get from Orly airport to the 1st arrondissement?
Metro line 14 serves Orly airport and stops in the 1st arrondissement at Châtelet and Pyramides.
Can guests arrive late in the evening?
Yes. Depending on the flat, the welcome is in person or self check-in with a key box or smart lock, and access instructions are sent before arrival.
What should guests be told to get into an old building?
The door codes, a photo of the facade and entrance, the staircase and floor, and how to collect the keys. We gather all of it in the digital welcome book.
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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