Paris is a city famous around the world for, amongst other things, it’s history, elegance, class and style, and, on those grounds, it attracts millions each year who want to stay there and experience first hand its many charms. Where to stay in Paris is a tough question to answer because there are so many fabulous places there to choose from.

The best choice is probably to start thinking over what district you might wish to be in. Paris holds twenty districts to pick from, and so to prevent this from being a burden, you ought to section off your options into the two most popular regions: the left and right banks. From there, look for districts that match your ideal inn or hotel.

By “left or right bank,” we mean the two sides of the Seine river, which divides the city in two halves. The Seine flows to the west, so “the left bank” usually refers to the southern portion of the city, and “the right bank” to the northern half.

These directions will be handy when deciding where to stay when visiting Paris. While the two banks make up a essential whole, they differ from each other in significant ways.

The left bank is for you if you like fashion, art, or the Bohemian lifestyle. It is the epitome of Parisian popular culture and offers many varied and interesting shops, buildings, historical sites, and funky architecture and people. There are plenty of interesting hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts, there at some of the more reasonable prices in Paris.

The right bank is where you will find the sophistication and refinement one thinks of when Paris is mentioned. It also happens to be the business section of the city, in which you will discover the L’Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees. Many people consider the left bank to be more metropolitan, with beautiful architecture ranging from classical to post-modern.