If you’re planning to move to or spend significant time in Paris, you’ve likely come across the terms left bank and right bank. They’re a helpful signifier of roughly where in the city you are or need to get to.
But how important is this distinction? And do you really need to have a firm preference for the left or the right?
This article explores the meaning of the terms Rive Gauche and Rive Droite, which attractions and arrondissements fall within each, and how you might choose where to live or stay in Paris.
Left bank vs right bank: what’s the difference?
It’s common for tourists and locals to divide Paris into left and right banks, using the Seine as a natural separator for the city. And that’s obviously the answer to the question posed above: the Seine splits the city in two—a natural divide.
But this isn’t a formal or legal distinction. Paris is actually made up of 20 arrondissements—smaller cities with their own mayors and town halls. There is no mayor of the left bank, for example.
The most obvious time the left/right divide becomes relevant is when you need to cross from one to the other. For some locals, the idea of getting to the other bank for dinner or a party seems like a tall order.
But today there are 37 bridges crossing the river, with plenty of options for pedestrians, bicycles, and cars. Plenty of public transport options also make the crossing, including several Metro lines and bus routes.
So while some Parisians have a mental block about getting from right to left bank, in reality it’s often easy and quick to get across.
Right Bank (Rive Droite)
The right bank comprises all of Paris’ neighborhoods north of the river Seine. This includes the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th arrondissements.
The right bank is significantly larger than the left and covers around two-thirds of the city's surface area. It also includes many of the most frequented cultural venues, shopping centers, and key train stations.
Landmarks and attractions
- The Louvre museum and Les Tuileries Gardens
- The Arc de Triomphe
- The Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Concorde intersection
- The Bastille neighborhood and key sites in the French revolution
- Both opera houses (Palais Garnier and Bastille)
- Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge, and the Sacré Coeur Basilica
- Galeries Lafayette department store
The Louvre museum
Popular neighborhoods on the right bank
- Pigalle (9th). This trendy, lively area is home to great cafés, bars, shops, and small galleries. You’ll find all of this (and more) on the beautiful Rue des Martyrs, but there are plenty of good reasons to stray onto the surrounding streets as well. And of course, most visits lead to a photo in front of the red windmill at the Moulin Rouge.
- Montmartre (18th). Above the Moulin Rouge you’ll find the former homes of Dali, Picasso, Monet, van Gogh, and Renoir. The steep, cobbled streets of Montmartre take you through a Parisian dream world until you reach the steps of the Sacré Coeur, with its epic views out across the city below. (Discover Paris’ 18th arrondissement.)
- Bastille (11th). Another very lively neighborhood, you’ll find bars and clubs in the evenings, and farmers markets and brunches on the weekend. Other than the Bastille roundabout itself, there aren’t many famous sites. You come to experience the vibe and visit some of the excellent restaurants and speakeasy bars.
- Le Marais (3rd/4th). Le Marais encompasses the city's Jewish and LGBTQ+ districts, the iconic Place des Vosges, the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), and the popular BHV department store. It’s a special blend of history and innovation, balancing tradition with forward-thinking trends. Plus some great shopping and incredible food.
- Canal Saint-Martin (10th). This is one of the most popular after-work and weekend hangouts for Rive Droite Parisians. The Canal is lined with parks and benches to sit and watch the water, and you’re never more than a short walk from an exceptional boulangerie or fromagerie. It’s the ideal neighborhood for an urban picnic, and you’ll see hundreds of people doing just that every evening.
- Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (19th/20th). A beautifully landscaped park in Paris’ north-east arrondissements, Buttes-Chaumont is a favorite for dog walking, jogging, and more picnics. The surrounding streets are rapidly becoming trendy, with the triangular stretch between Belleville, Jourdain, and the park home to chic (but affordable) wine bars, bistros, and specialty coffee shops.
Sacré cœur
Left Bank (Rive Gauche)
The left (south) bank contains the 5th, 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, and 15th arrondissements. These neighborhoods are home to both university students and some of the city’s wealthiest tenants, and the main attractions here involve whiling away the time in cafés and wine bars.
Much of the left bank is quieter, cleaner, and grander than the northern Rive Droite neighborhoods. It’s less of a central business district, perhaps less ethnically diverse, and feels more traditional. It’s also beautiful, with an effortlessly classic Paris charm.
Landmarks and attractions
- Musée D’Orsay
- The Eiffel Tower
- The Luxembourg Gardens
- Shakespeare & Company book store
- The Catacombs of Paris
- Le Bon Marché department store
- Musée Rodin
- The Pantheon and the Sorbonne
Popular neighborhoods on the left bank
- Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter (5th). The Latin Quarter—especially in Saint Germain-des-Prés—is a common home base for tourists. Much like Montmartre, this area’s charming cobblestone streets and cozy café terraces perfectly capture the quintessential Parisian vibe.
- The 7th arrondissement. The 7th is the wealthiest and perhaps chicest neighborhood in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower and Champs de Mars to the west, and the Musée D’Orsay and Bon Marché department store to the east. There are also plenty of foreign embassies and several international organizations.
This area is what most associate the term “left bank” with.
Champs de Mars
- Chinatown (13th). Not officially named “Chinatown,” of course, the area around Place d’Italie is home to some of the city’s best Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Laos food and grocery stores. It’s absolutely worth a visit on the weekend, and takes on a unique ambiance during Lunar New Year.
Left Bank vs Right Bank: Where should you live?
As we wrote in our guide to the best neighborhoods to live in Paris, where you choose to live and spend time likely depends on a few key factors:
- Do you want the archetypal (perhaps cliché) Paris lifestyle?
- Do you have a young family?
- Are you a party starter who craves energy and atmosphere? Or do you prefer peaceful strolls and grand, open parks?
- Where will you be working, and how much commuting can you tolerate?
None of these fully answer the question. Paris is a major city where you can find all-night parties in the quietest suburbs, and pockets of tranquility in the busiest tourist areas. But if you really want to choose between left and right bank, here’s what we suggest.
For the postcard Paris lifestyle: Left bank
The 5th, 6th, and 7th arrondissements all deliver that “Emily in Paris” feeling (she lives in the 5th in the show). And if those neighborhoods are too pricey, the 14th and 15th bring much of the same picture book feeling—with quaint corner fromageries and wine caves—slightly more on-budget.
For a more diverse Paris experience: Right bank
The downside of the cliché Paris life is you may miss out on the wide variety of experiences a modern major city has to offer. If you want to live among a wider mix of cultures, backgrounds, and points of view, Rive Droite is probably a better fit. In particular, areas around Parc de La Villette, Belleville, Goutte d’Or, Gare du Nord, and Batignolles look and feel much more international than you’ll find in much of the rest of the city.
For young families: Left bank
There are schools, playgrounds, and excellent amenities for children in every arrondissement. There’s no wrong place to raise a child in Paris. But the best Paris neighborhoods for families are probably on the left bank. Again, the 14th and 15th arrondissements may suit best as they’re further from tourist sites, with quiet streets and a little less of the busy city pace.
Alternatively, the 16th and 17th (Rive Droite) are also full of families and generally quiet. The 16th is more luxurious, while the 17th is quickly becoming home to young families and has great parks and child-friendly cafés.
For an active social scene: Right bank
Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter on the Rive Gauche have plenty to offer, but those who want activity and energy will prefer Le Marais, Pigalle, and the Bastille/Oberkampf areas. These all feature great bars, lots of concerts and live performances, street art, singing, dancing, and partying.
There’s far more to them than that, of course. But if you want the hustle and bustle, the music, and the nightlife, you’re best off here.
Moulin Rouge
Find the right bank for you
Truthfully, the choice between Rive Driote and Rive Gauche is probably overstated. Both have a wide variety of cultural sites, opportunities, and access to everything the city offers.
In the end, your choice will likely come down to a mix of price and convenience: somewhere affordable and close enough to work or school. If you have multiple options that fit those criteria, then perhaps the tips above can be the tie-breaker.
And the best part is, you don’t really have to choose. Yes, you’ll live on either bank if you live in the city. But Paris isn’t very large, and you can easily visit and explore new parts of the city whenever you fancy.
So settle in and get to know your neighborhood of choice. There’s always more to learn and love about living in Paris than you’d ever expect.
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