Guide to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris

The 6th arrondissement is easy to reach from the center, near the Louvre, in under 15 minutes by foot. The line 4 métro also runs right to the namesake station and neighboring stops like Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Placide, and Odéon. The line 10 runs to Mabillon, or the 12 takes you right to Rue du Bac. You can purchase métro tickets (€2.10, or around $2, for one way with connections within 90 minutes) at the stations, and these tickets are the same you’d use for the buses. Several buses also stop at Saint Germain-Odéon, including the 96.

Brushing up against the Latin Quarter and the landmark-heavy 7th arrondissement (home to the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, and Musée Rodin), the neighborhood unfolds around the former abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and along the namesake Boulevard Saint-Germain, the well-heeled main drag. Saint-Germain-des-Prés’ handful of landmarks includes the twin tower-topped Église Saint-Sulpice, which made an appearance in Da Vinci Code, and the Neo-Classical Odéon Théâtre de l’Europe, the oldest theater-monument in Europe still featuring performances in its original site.

The real draw in the neighborhood is to walk the same streets and gardens as the city’s most famous flâneurs once did. The shaded cobbled streets winding along the river make it easy to get lost – in a good way – as you keep strolling past antique shops and ornate brasseries to hidden squares and gardens until you reach the bouquinistes (booksellers) displaying their collages of old posters and antiquarian books at stands along the Seine.

The neighborhood is sprinkled with a well-balanced mix of designer shops, mid-range French labels, independent boutiques, and the grand dame department store Le Bon Marché. Along and around the Boulevard Saint-Germain, you’ll find everything from an over-the-top Louis Vuitton and the Ralph Lauren Parisian flagship, home to the sleek restaurant Ralph’s with its blue-and-white pillows and sophisticated leather banquettes, plus French brands like Isabel Marant and A.P.C. Near Café de Flore, luxe bookstore Assouline is one to add to the list even if you’re just browsing at the ceiling-high shelves of coffee table books.

The covered Marché Saint-Germain’s gorgeous stone arcades open to shops like Apple, Nespresso, Uniqlo, and Marks & Spencer, plus one of the neighborhood’s go-to restaurants, Yves Camdeborde’s L’Avant Comptoir du Marché. You’ll also find classic market vendors like florists and fishmongers and stands of fruits and vegetables. Keep walking toward Rue de Sèvres and you’ll come to Le Bon Marché, the original grand magasin of Paris that now extends across two buildings. A highlight and great spot to snag gourmet goodies is the ground floor of La Grande Épicerie.

In this classic quartier, you’ll find a mix of historic brasseries and bistros, celeb chef-helmed restaurants, market-style fare, and wine bars with small plates. Start at one of the trio of historic brasseries and cafés – Café de Flore, Brasserie Lipp, or Les Deux Magots – before exploring some of the more local haunts like family-run Au Sauvignon and Freddy’s, a wine bar with shareable plates popular with the after-work crowd. Take a seat in a booth or at the cocktail bar of Cyril Lignac’s beautifully designed Le Bar des Prés, which is located behind the main drag, or head to Augustin Marchand d’Vins for natural wine and tapas. Splurge on Champagne and elevated cocktails at the Belle Époque Bar Joséphine nestled inside legendary Hotel Lutetia – the only Palace-rated hotel on the Right Bank – or head to the landmark La Rhumerie, a rum bar dating back to the 1930s, for rum-based cocktails and punches.

Accommodations in this area veer more on the boutique side, taking over old hôtels particuliers, or mansions, and many are hidden along side streets. Options range from budget-friendly three- and four-star spots that are charming and airy—and place you right in the heart of the neighborhood’s star attractions—to luxurious, five-star hotels like Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain & Spa and Relais & Château property Relais Christine, which features a Guerlain Spa.

Since the area is within walking distance of major attractions and on the pedestrian-friendly side, it’s great for all types of travelers—solo, families with small kids, couples, and even backpackers. Some of the classic cafés and brasseries can be on the pricey side, but since the area also caters to students, you’ll find happy hour deals and specials for those on a budget. The Luxembourg Gardens are a popular excursion for families since there is plenty to keep kids entertained, and unlike other bar-heavy neighborhoods, this one gets quiet earlier in the evening. As long as you’re not in the Latin Quarter, you shouldn’t have to worry about noise keeping you awake at night. And given its boho background, the neighborhood is on the clean—and safe—side. Streets are never too packed except on the weekends, but you won’t have to push through throngs of crowds like in the Marais or near the Eiffel Tower.