Local Luxury: Your Guide to Living in Paris, France

The capital and largest city in France, Paris is situated on the river Seine, at the heart of the Île-de-France region in the north. With very few high-rise buildings, the quartiers making up the center of the city resemble a group of villages.

Discover our guide to living in Paris and explore our exclusive listings in the city’s high-end luxury real estate market.

What is the Architecture in Paris? 

Many are familiar with the elegant, sweeping architecture that dates to the redesign of much of Paris in the 19th century. However, single-occupant dwellings contribute to more than half the total number of households in central Paris. 

As a result, communal spaces such as parks, cafés, and restaurants provide living, dining, and garden space for many Parisians. Most Parisians shop at a series of small neighborhood shops, each with its own specialty—an important ritual of daily life.  

Narrow backstreets meander to the heart of the city, filled with the aroma of Parisian staples such as baguettes and coffee wafting from corner cafés. 

Neighborhoods

Popular neighborhoods (called arrondisments) in Paris include the 16th arrondisment and Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondisment), along with suburbs like Saint Cloud and Saint Germain-en-Laye northwest of Paris proper.

La Défense is the major economic hub of Paris, which is also positioned just outside of the city limits on the west side. And in recent years, the upbeat, creative neighborhood of Le Marais (4th arrondisment) has become a desirable choice.

What to Do and See in Paris? 

This is a city with more familiar landmarks than any other in the world.  

It goes without saying that the dual spires of Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower spring into view unexpectedly as residents and travelers navigate a street corner.  

There is no better way to appreciate a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city’s winding streets from above than from the Eiffel Tower, preferably at nightfall. 

Museums 

Paris museums are widely held to be among the best, encompassing wide-ranging genres.  

The traditional Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world, exhibiting art and decorative objects dating from prehistory to the 19th Century in the grand surroundings of the former Palais du Louvre.  

The Musée d’Orsay, housed in a former railway station, the Gare d’Orsay, exhibits Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works in a stunning environment.  

For fans of modern art and architecture, the Centre Georges Pompidou showcases modern art in a post-modern steel structure designed by the architectural team of Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano, and Gianfranco Franchini. 

Dining

Parisians are known as enthusiastic gourmands, and the city’s restaurants are world-renowned for their unparalleled quality and variety.  

Paris is famous for the combination of entertainment and gastronomy that be found at the traditional cabaret supper clubs, the best-known of which is Le Lapin Agile, dating back almost 150 years and where locals and visitors still go today to dine and sing together. 

Bookshops 

With street names such as square Charles Dickens, avenue Marcel Proust, and rue Balzac, literature is at the heart of Paris and is important to its residents.  

The city is filled with quirky and atmospheric bookshops such as Shakespeare and Co., which run literary events throughout the year. The bouqiniste stalls lining the banks of the Seine sell secondhand and rare books, magazines, and postcards, and browsing and bartering for these items is a part of Parisian life.  

Literature lovers can tip their hats to Oscar Wilde and other departed writers at the city’s famous cemeteries. Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is among the most fascinating, with maps directing visitors to Wilde’s lipstick-covered tomb and those of other legendary Paris residents, such as Édith Piaf and Jim Morrison. 

Shopping

Of course, Paris is synonymous with fashion. The city is the birthplace of the enduring Chanel brand, and it is often cited as the fashion capital of the world.

Avenue Montaigne is also home to several established fashion houses, most notably such famous and established luxury brands as Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta. 

Notable Listings

Pure Parisian elegance, Paris 16th District  

Oozing with period elegance, this refined apartment is located on the top floor of a fine turn-of-the-century building in the capital’s 16th District. It boasts over 370 square meters of living space with features including high ceilings with exquisite moldings, fireplaces, a rotunda reception room, a dining room opening to a continuous balcony, and views of the Eiffel Tower. 

A truly exceptional apartment, Paris 7th District  

This spectacular apartment is on the piano nobile of a superb private mansion, just a stone’s throw from the Rodin Museum. The apartment has been meticulously renovated throughout and offers a prime location in the capital’s desirable 7th District. 

Penthouse apartment, Paris 8th District 

Located on the sixth and seventh floors of a luxurious property, this magnificent penthouse apartment benefits from the exceptional services provided by the adjacent 5 Palace Hotel. It offers breathtaking, spacious indoor and outdoor living spaces that have been renovated by a renowned interior decorator. 

 A magnificent 300 sqm apartment, Paris 1st District  

With 300 square meters of living space on three floors, this remarkable apartment has been entirely remodeled in the ornate style of the 18th century. Superb features including paneling, marble, wrought iron and Versailles-style parquet flooring complement the latest in contemporary comfort.

Ready to Make Your Move?

Paris is a global center for history, art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture, offering something for everyone. Find more luxury listings here.