Making the decision to move to Paris is not one you'll make lightly but there is a lot more to consider than just packing your bags and booking your flight. Before you even start packing, you will need to secure a place to live. While you can find short-term accommodation almost anywhere in Paris, you need to know that any short-term accommodations won't come cheap. Other than finding the right type of housing, if you're planning cheap city breaks to Paris, you also need to choose the best suburb to live in to maximize your savings and experience.
Choosing the right suburb may be a challenge as the city seems to change from one area to the next. Some neighborhoods are quite busy and noisy, while others may be somewhat quiet and dull. Other areas are full of tourists so if you don't fancy the notion of being asked for directions all the time, you may want to stay out of these areas. If you’re working in Paris, some suburbs may also be more suitable than other. To get you started, here are some of Paris' best suburbs.
For busy young professionals, Levallois-Perret is a great place to live. It's home to many large companies, including vehicle manufacturers as well as other multinational companies. It's densely populated but close to the center of Paris and right along the banks of the Seine. As an extra point of interest, Levallois-Perret is also famous for being the original home of the Statue of Liberty and Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower.
What’s even better about Levallois-Perret is the dining experience. Foodies can enjoy a variety of international cuisine including classic French, Italian, Japanese and more. Best of all, you can dine in or eat in one of the al fresco locations. You can even stay home and order delicious food delivered to your door.
If you love history, Meudon is the place for you. This charming suburb of Paris is famous for its historic monuments. It's situated in the southwestern area of Paris and is only 10 minutes away from the center via the RER (the tramway). What people really love about Meudon is that is full of trees which is almost like bringing the country into the city. If you really want to immerse yourself in French culture, this is the suburb to do it in.
For those wanting to work in finance, there is no better suburb in Paris than one that is considered to be the financial hub of Paris and Bourse is the financial district of Paris. It's a great place for business professionals and while it may not be popular with tourists, it's still a busy suburb, especially during peak hours when people are commuting to work or home again. What also attracts financiers to this suburb is the fact that apartments are reasonably priced and some of the top floor ones offer stunning views of the city.
Once upon a time, Bastille was famously, or infamously, known for its prison. It used to be known as the Bastille Saint-Antoine but today it is a suburb of Paris and while the old fortress is no longer there, the Place de la Bastille stands where the old prison used to be. Bastille is a suburb that offers a little bit of everything and is perfect for those who prefer a livelier area to live in.
There is no way to list the best suburbs in Paris without mentioning Versailles. Home to the Palace of Versailles, it is also the place of many stunning mansions and other gorgeous buildings. It is also full of beautiful gardens and it attracts millions of tourists every year for the culture, festivals and more. Versailles is a popular place to live as it's close enough to the city but has the feel of a small country town.
One of the magical aspects of Paris is that there it offers something for everyone. There is so much more to Paris than just the center and all it takes is a little bit of online research to find the neighborhood for you. While you're researching the best suburb to live in, you can also use the filters in a top-notch online platform to also find your perfect apartment. Choose filters to choose your neighborhood, the type of apartment and your budget and in no time at all, you'll be calling Paris home.
