The 1st arrondissement: historic, central, regal
From the Louvre to the Palais Royal, from the Tuileries Gardens to the Rue Saint-Honoré, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Place Vendôme, Paris’ 1st arrondissement is like an open air museum. Yes, royalty once ruled (and later languished) here and you can still feel the velvet echoes of power in the air. But if you’re wondering whether anyone actually lives in this royal stage set, the answer is: barely. With just around 18,000 residents (out of more than 2 million Parisians) and only one lycée (high school), the 1st is the least populated of all arrondissements. Fun fact: back in 1861, it had five times the people it does now.
Tiny but full of culture
The ‘premier’, as it’s called by locals, stretches from the Rue Etienne Marcel to the north, the Boulevard Sebastopol to the east, the right bank of the Seine to the south and the edge of the Tuileries to the west, but also includes the west side of Ile de la Cité, and with that the most expensive street in the city. Property on Quai des Orfèvres costs an average of 23k per square meter.
Steer clear of tourist traps
As for dinner? Unless you’re craving overpriced steak-frites with a side of selfie sticks, best to wander east for a more local vibe. But don’t worry, staying here means you’re steps away from all the ‘cool’ arrondissements. The 1st may be touristy (and loud and crowded), but it’s also timeless, and for such a small area it holds a great deal of cultural and historical sites.
Want to go beyond the viral places?
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