Looking For Hotel Accommodation In Paris France: Does Paris’s Second Arrondissement Suit You?
Paris’ Second Arrondissement
You’re nearly there – Paris, the fabulous city of lights! You can hardly wait to get there. You’ve gotten your cheap airfare to Paris, France , now you’re trying to decide between some great looking deals on Paris hotels in the Second arrondissement. What arrondissement you are staying in is always an important consideration for cheap or expensive hotels in Paris even if you are looking at hotels in Paris city centre. Here’s a guide to Paris’s 2nd arrondissement so you can learn more about whether this neighborhood in Paris is where you want to be!
It is not likely that you will spend much time in the Second as a tourist, but if you choose accommodation in this arrondissement , you will be in the heart of Paris’s financial center. Home to Paris’s Bourse (stock exchange) and the CAC 40 index of France’s top listed companies , the 2nd arrondissement is also widely known for its thriving fashion and journalism industries, as well as its general atmosphere of business.
What To Expect :
What Is Good About The Second Arrondissement :
You’ll hardly find any tourists here, meaning that the people-watching will be authentic: Parisian businessmen going to lunch, harried traders hurrying to work, journalists meeting sources over drinks for the next big news break. Travelers who stay here will also be close to the sublime nineteenth century “galleries,” a tradition when the Duke of Orleans decided to rent out his garden to shops in the late 18th . These “galleries,” along the lines of early shopping malls, have glass windows and tiled floors, are still in use today. Visit for a nostalgic and charming look at Paris’s nineteenth-century past.
What’s Not Great :
This isn’t an especially trendy part of town by any means, and while there are lots of places for lunch in the area , suitable for an expense account, nightlife just isn’t here . However, with the Marais in the fourth arrondissement only a few minutes away, there isn’t much to worry about. Also, near the eastern end of the district, you may run into a few prostitutes looking to ply their trade, but don’t worry – it’s safe, if seedy, and nevertheless you’re likely to encounter far fewer than in comparable sections like Rue St. Denis or the Pigalle area.
What To Visit:
If you’re a business type , pay a visit to the Bourse, or Stock Exchange, for a look at Paris’s economic heart. Or check out the Galleries – the Gallerie Vivienne is regarded the best-preserved, with authentic and gorgeous 19th decor, a magnificent mosaic floor, and elegantly high end shops. In contrast, the Passage Choiseul is more “authentic,” catering to business men and women on their way to work, and selling magazines and newspapers and offering services like shoe-shining to busy traders at the nearby Bourse.
Places To Eat:
Cafe Etienne Marcel, on Rue Etienne Marcel, is a trendy Costes brothers joint – less costly than most of their others – with a menu to match. Or have a drink at Harry’s New York Bar on Rue Danou, allegedly the birthplace of the Bloody Mary, and a hangout of Hemmingway. While Harry’s isn’t cheap by any means, it’s nevertheless a great hangout for those who want the elegance and decadence of Art Deco bohemian expatriate life. And, of course, a bloody Mary mixed to perfection.
Shopping Spots :
Brentano’s, on Avenue de L’Opera has an outstanding assortment of English-language and art books. And, of course, the Galleries are filled with great shops . Stroll in and out of a few of the delightful galleries, looking at the many wonderful shops on offer, and take a look at buying boutique clothes and far more at all of them.
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