The 4th arrondissement, which includes much of Le Marais, Île Saint-Louis, and part of Île de la Cité, is one of the city’s most vibrant, historic, and centrally located neighborhoods.
From iconic landmarks like Notre-Dame to lively cafés and boutiques, there’s always something to explore. But living here isn’t without challenges. It’s a busy, noisy, and often pricey area.
This article explores the main attractions, benefits, and potential downsides of making the 4th arrondissement your home as a new arrival in Paris.
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About the 4th arrondissement of Paris
Where is the 4th arrondissement?
The 4th is one of four arrondissements that make up Paris Centre, nestled between the 1st, the 3rd, and the 12th. The borders of the 4th arrondissement are:
- Boulevard de Sebastopol to the west
- Rue des Francs Bourgeois to the north
- Place de la Bastille and Boulevard Bourdon to the east
- The right bank of the Seine to the south
- All of Île Saint Louis and two-thirds of Île de la Cité (to the east of Boulevard du Palais) are also included in the 4th
Fun fact: just outside Notre Dame on Île de la Cité sits Point Zero—the spot from which all other distances to Paris are measured.
Île de la Cité
What’s in Paris’ 4th arrondissement?
It’s hard to think of a Paris neighborhood with a richer mix of popular monuments, art and cultural attractions, nightlife, and food. Highlights include:
- The Notre Dame Cathedral, which reopened in December 2024 after five years of restoration.
- Place des Vosges, a beautiful and popular picnic spot.
- Rue des Rosiers, with the famous L’As du Fallafel and other kosher restaurants and epiceries.
- The Pompidou Center, Paris’ extraordinary modern art gallery and exhibition space.
- The BHV department store.
- Hôtel de Ville, the glorious town hall and the seat of the Mayor of Paris.
- Tour Saint-Jacques, the remaining tower from the 16th-century “Saint James of the Meat Market” church that was demolished during the revolution in 1797.
You’ll also find lots of small parks and picnic spots. The neighborhood is alive with foot traffic, particularly on Sundays when some parts of the city are quiet but this neighborhood remains open for business.
Why live in the 4th arrondissement?
The 4th is a highly desirable and fashionable arrondissement to live in, particularly for international arrivals and those with busy social lives. There are countless great reasons to live here, but here are a few of the best.
Cultural diversity
The 4th arrondissement is at the centre of Paris’ Jewish community. Rue des Rosiers is famous for its falafel restaurants, delis, and traditional kosher bakeries. It’s particularly busy on Sundays, because most of the street is closed on Friday evenings and Saturdays.
L’as du Fallafel - Crédit Chris Goldberg
Le Marais, which runs across the 3rd and the 4th, also has a thriving and welcoming LGBTQ+ community. The 4th has locations named after gays rights icons, including Harvey Milk Square, Place des Émeutes-de-Stonewall (Stonewall Riots Square), and mark Ashton Garden.
More broadly, it’s a highly international part of the city. You’ll see and meet people from all walks of life, from diverse backgrounds, and with fascinating stories to tell.
Arts and culture
The best-known cultural attraction in the 4th is the Pompidou Centre, filled with extraordinary modern art. It’s the first major example of an “inside-out” building, with all its structural and mechanical systems on the outside. On top of priceless works from Picasso, Dalí, Frida Kahlo, Chagall, Matisse, and many more, there’s also a wonderful view of the neighborhood from the roof.
Place des Vosges - Crédit Jeanne Menjoulet
In the Place des Vosges, the Maison de Victor Hugo gives visitors a glimpse inside France’s most famous writer’s life. And the entire 4th arrondissement is peppered with galleries, boutique shops, and artisan workshops.
Historical buildings
Lovers of beautiful historic buildings will be in heaven in the 4th. Parts of Paris City’s remarkable town hall, the Hôtel de Ville, have been in place since the 16th century. Today, the building is a glorious spectacle, with ornate façades and centuries-old statues. The Hôtel de Ville is occasionally open to public visitors, and well worth it if you have the opportunity.
But the arrondissement’s clear star attraction is Notre Dame cathedral—the most visited monument in France. Known for its high ceilings, stone gargoyles, and stunning rose window, Notre Dame is on every visitor’s list, practising Catholic or not. The cathedral was rebuilt, renovated, and reopened to the public in late 2024, five years after a catastrophic fire.
Notre Dame de Paris
Wonderful food
From chic bistros and patisseries to traditional crêperies and upscale dining, food options are abundant. Île Saint-Louis is particularly famous for its artisanal ice cream, Berthillon, which is now sold all over France.
Crédit Kathleen Tyler Conklin
As mentioned above, Rue des Rosiers is also a hugely popular destination for Mediterranean and kosher cuisine, and is full of hungry visitors throughout the week.
Culinary highlights also include Eataly, the large warehouse-style Italian epicerie and restaurant. And at the much higher end of the price scale L’Ambroiserie in Place des Vosges is a go-to for haute cuisine.
Easy expat experience
Moving to Paris can be challenging at first, particularly if you don’t speak fluent French and don’t know many people. If that’s you, the 4th may be one of the easier areas to land in. You’re surrounded by English speakers (among plenty of other languages), and getting help with the basics shouldn’t be too difficult.
Just don’t get too comfortable, or you’ll never move past the entry-level Paris phase.
Why not live in the 4th arrondissement?
Just as the 4th is an excellent place to live, this neighborhood does have its drawbacks for some.
The hustle and bustle
Like most of central Paris, the 4th arrondissement can be loud and busy at almost any time of the day and night. During the day, expect the streets to be full of shoppers and tourists. At night, expect partygoers to spill out of noisy bars and clubs.
This is exactly what some people love most about the 4th. But for many, there’s just too much activity to ever feel at peace.
Rent and property prices
Because of its incredible location, easy connections, and wide range of activities and attractions, the 4th is one of the most expensive arrondissements to purchase (and therefore rent) property in. In fact, it’s the third-most costly arrondissement to buy after the 6th and 7th, and is tied for the most expensive to rent in Paris.
All those tourists
Living in Paris necessitates some contact with tourists and the tourist economy. You can expect the areas around Notre Dame, Hôtel de Ville, and the Pompidou Centre to be busy all year round. This doesn’t have to be an issue—as noted this can actually make settling in a bit easier. And there are still good local bars, restaurants, and stores that aren’t aimed only at tourists.
But be prepared for selfie sticks, walking tours, and to be mistaken for an out-of-towner yourself.
Feel at home in the 4th arrondissement
Because the 4th is such a diverse, eclectic area, anyone can feel at home and comfortable here. It’s at once an easy base for new arrivals moving to Paris—with familiar stores and plenty of English spoken—and still full of classically Parisian restaurants, cafés, and boutiques.
There’s more than enough art and history for culture lovers, buzzing night spots for partiers, and quiet parks for ponderers.
To see what life could be like in this extraordinary neighborhood, take a look at apartments to rent in Paris’ 4th arrondissement.
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