On my most recent trip to Paris I stayed in the Latin Quarter for the first time. Although I’d visited this neighborhood on every trip to Paris, this was the first time I’d chosen to stay on the Left Bank… and I’m so glad I did! The Latin Quarter in Paris has so many interesting things to do within its walkable streets, but you never have to walk more than a block or two to escape the crowds and feel like you’re in a truly local neighborhood.
Whether you’re a history buff wanting to check out tapestries and tombs, a foodie looking for authentic French cuisine, or someone who wants to be outside strolling along pretty promenades between lush gardens, the Latin Quarter is the perfect place to spend a day (or two!).
In this Paris travel guide I’ll walk you through the the best things to do in the Latin Quarter, some hotels that you might want to consider for your stay in the area, and a long list of local restaurants that are worth checking out.
Things to Do in the Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is a compact district on the Left Bank of Paris, and it’s easy to explore all of these attractions on foot. However, if you only have one day in the Latin Quarter you’ll have to pick and choose which of these sights are priorities, as you’d need at least two days if you wanted to spend meaningful time in all of the museums in the Latin Quarter.
Musée de Cluny
Musée du Cluny is the medieval history museum of Paris, and it is home to the famous tapestry series called The Lady and the Unicorn.
I didn’t visit Musée du Cluny until my fourth or fifth trip to Paris, because I thought I wouldn’t be interested. I was so wrong! This ended up being one of my favorite museums in the city. It is located inside a very unique building (consisting of Roman-era thermal baths, the mansion of the nearby Cluny Abbey and a beautiful courtyard) and houses an interesting collection that is manageable in size (unlike the Louvre). Of course, your visit culminates in the famous tapestries, which I found to be more impactful than the Mona Lisa.
Musée du Cluny is included in the Paris Museum Pass. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:30 am to 5:45 pm. I spent about an hour and a half inside at the end of the day and wished I’d gone earlier so I’d have more time. Many school groups come to see the tapestries, so this is one museum that actually often sees smaller crowds during the school holiday periods.
Jardin du Luxembourg
My hotel in the Latin Quarter, Hotel Korner Sorbonne, was just a six-minute walk from the entrance to the Jardin du Luxembourg, once of the most beautiful and historic parks in central Paris. These gardens were founded in the 1600s by Marie de Medici, and today they are one of the prettiest free places to visit in Paris.
Landmarks inside the park include the French Senate building (shown above), the Medicis Fountain, 5,000 square metres of flower beds, fruit tree orchards and the Medici Aqueduct where children come to sail their toy boats. Among the countless statues you’ll find a collection of 24 monuments to significant French women such as Anne of Austria, Anne of Brittany and Anne of France. 😉
Jardin des Plantes
I feel like everyone is always talking about the Luxembourg Garden but you rarely hear anyone mention the Jardin des Plantes. Covering 28 hectares, this garden includes museums exhibit spaces, greenhouses, gardens and a zoo. It’s free to enter the gardens themselves, but each attraction inside the gardens is ticketed separately. The gardens here are more natural and less manicured than at Jardin du Luxembourg, but they’re still totally beautiful.
(Note that this blog does not support keeping animals in captivity and cannot recommend visiting the zoo.)
The Museum of Natural History
Located inside the Jardin des Plantes, the Museum of Natural History in Paris consists of four separate buildings that are open to the public:
- The Grand Gallery of Evolution
- The Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology
- The Gallery of Botany
- The Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy (closed until late 2027)
Each gallery is ticketed separately, so contrary to what the official website says the best option is usually to buy individual tickets at the time of your visit (not online in advance). You will likely be able to show your first full-price ticket at subsequent galleries for reduced same-day admission.
Pantheon
Standing atop the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève on Place du Panthéon, Paris’ Pantheon is one of the most important buildings in the city. It was constructed as a church in honor of the city’s patron saint, but eventually evolved to become a secular mausoleum where the city’s most important figures could be laid to rest.
I visited the Pantheon with my Paris Museum Pass. With the pass, you don’t need to pre-reserve your entrance to this monument in the Latin Quarter.
In the center of the Pantheon you’ll find Foucault’s Pendulum, which was first exhibited in 1851 but only permanently installed here in 1995. The movement of the suspended ball made the earth’s rotation visible to those who were at first skeptical.
Downstairs, the Pantheon is the final resting place for some of the greatest figures in French history. Use the signs provided to find the tombs of famous people such as Marie Curie, Louis Braille, Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Rousseau and Josephine Baker. You won’t find Napoleon here, though – he’s buried in a larger-than-life sarcophagus under the dome of Les Invalides.
Arenes de Lutece
Before there was Paris there was Lutetia, an Ancient Roman settlement on the banks of the Seine. Today, the best-preserved remains of this settlement are here in the Latin Quarter, as Les Arenes de Lutece. The former Roman arena once welcomed 15,000 citizens to watch spectacles like gladiator rights, dramatic performances and public speeches.
Today it’s free to enter Les Arenes de Lutece. During my visit to Paris in 2025 I wasn’t able to get a good photo, as the historic Roman stone benches were covered with temporary seating to accommodate an outdoor summer film festival. I tried my luck again in 2026 and was fortunate to be able to see the arena in a more authentic state. Pop by during your visit to the Latin Quarter to see what’s happening here during your stay.
Shakespeare & Company
Confession: I’ve never actually gone inside Shakespeare and Company, the famous Parisian bookstore in the Latin Quarter.
If you brave the queue and agree to follow the new no-photography rule, you’ll be greeted with towering narrow bookcases, antiques and collectibles, an upstairs reading room and even some hidden sleeping quarters where aspiring writers like Allen Ginsberg and Anais Nin lived while exchanging a few hours of work for a place to sleep while they were writing.
Tours of the Latin Quarter
If you would prefer to explore the Latin Quarter with a professional local guide, you might want to look at booking one of these Latin Quarter tours:
- Paris Old Town & Latin Quarter Walking Tour – This walking tour of the Latin Quarter and next-door Saint Germain des Pres has excellent ratings from travelers who have joined the local guide to visit historical sites, famous cafes and the Sorbonne.
- Latin Quarter Tour with Tastings – This two-hour tour focuses on the heart of the Latin Quarter and includes three tasting stops.
- Notre Dame & The Latin Quarter with TEN Tastings – Speaking of tastings, this tour starts in Le Marais, crosses the Seine (via Notre Dame) and ends in the Latin Quarter. En route you’ll taste ten different foods, making it the perfect overview of both Paris and French cuisine!
- Walking, Wine and Cheese in the Latin Quarter – You’ll join a French sommelier for a visit to one of the Latin Quarter markets, then head to a local restaurant to sample a variety of wines and cheeses.
- Express Latin Quarter Tour – If you only have half a day, this ninety-minute walking tour of the Latin Quarter has great reviews.
- The Latin Quarter and Le Marais by Bicycle – If it’s too early in the morning for wine and cheese, consider this guided bicycle tour that starts in the Latin Quarter, takes in many of the highlights, and then crosses the river to Le Marais.
Eglise Saint-Severin
Every time I walk past Shakespeare and Company bookstore I make a detour around the corner to the Church of Saint Severin. I’m always amazed that so many people will queue to enter Notre Dame, which is right across the river from here, and yet this medieval church is almost always empty each time I come inside.
The interior of the Saint-Séverin church is designed in the High Gothic style, creating a dark and moody atmosphere. Still, though, light shines in through the fourteenth-century stained glass windows (and a few more modern window additions, including some donated by the Garnier family of Palais Garnier renown).
Musée de la Préfecture de Police de Paris
One of the semi-secret free things to do in Paris, the Musée de la Préfecture de Police in the Latin Quarter is a small museum tucked away inside the neighborhood’s police station. It’s usually only open during normal weekday business hours (to accommodate school groups) but there is often one Saturday opening each month. An English audioguide is available.
Inside the Musée de la Préfecture de Police there are exhibits about infamous French crimes, criminals, scams and police busts. There’s also information about how police solve crimes and catch the bad guys. I’m not sure if the 2025 Louvre heist has made it into the museum yet, but I’m guessing no. 🙊
Marché Monge
On Sunday, Wednesday and Friday morings, Place Monge in the Latin Quarter hosts an open-air street market. If wandering through a French market is on your to-do list for your Paris trip, you can swing by and join the locals who are shopping for everything from fruits, vegetables and cheese to flowers, clothing and housewares.
Grande Mosquée de Paris
For an admission fee of €5, modestly-dressed tourists (there are headscarves to borrow for free) can visit The Grand Mosque of Paris in the Latin Quarter. I’ve heard conflicting reports about whether visitors can currently enter only the gardens (shown above) or also the prayer room, so you may want to ask about current policies before purchasing an admission ticket.
There is also a tea room and a hammam (women only) attached to the Grand Mosque of Paris. Prices start at €30 to enter the hammam, or €50 to enter and have a short exfoliation. Other skincare treatments and massages are also available. To learn more about what to expect inside the hammam, you might want to read my guide to visiting a Turkish bath.
Institut du Monde Arabe
Located between the Seine riverfront and the Pierre and Marie Curie University in the Latin Quarter, the Arab World Institute is a multipurpose museum and cultural space that was built in the 1980s to celebrate and share Arab culture. Inside the building there is a museum, library, restaurant, theater and offices.
The museum part of the building is spread over three floors and includes both permanent and temporary exhibits. The museum sees fewer visitors in a year than the Louvre does in a week, so if you’re interested in Arab culture, history and beliefs, and want an escape from the crowds, this is an excellent stop.
The top floor of the Arab World Institute building houses a free rooftop terrace with views of Notre Dame. It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and you can get there simply by walking inside the building and taking the glass elevators upstairs.
Former Artists’ Residences
Throughout history the Latin Quarter has attracted many great intellectuals and artists, drawn by its rich educational and philosophical landscape. The buildings where these noteworthy figures lived can still be seen from outside, though you generally can’t go inside (as they’re still private residences today).
- Ernest Hemingway’s Apartment – Hemingway had a short stay at 74 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine with his first wife. One can only imagine what he would think of the crowds who now flock to the adjacent Place de la Contrescarpe to relive their Emily in Paris dreams.
- George Orwell’s Boarding House – The author rented a room in a boarding house at 6 Rue du Pot de Fer. He wrote about his time living in Parisian squalor in Down and Out in Paris and London.
- James Joyce’s Apartment – James Joyce wrote Ulysees at 71 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, which is now a private, gated laneway. A plaque commemorates his time in the Latin Quarter, and immediately next to it is a second plaque also noting that French poet Valery Larbaud also lived here.
- Paul Verlaine’s Apartment – Fans of French poetry will want to walk past 39 Rue des Descartes, where Verlaine was living at the time of his death.
- Oscar Wilde’s Last Residence – Oscar Wilde was living in what is today L’Hotel when he passed away in his hotel room in 1900. Yes, you can book the Oscar Wilde Suite today (but you’ll generally need to book several months in advance – if it’s not showing as a room option then it’s already reserved).
- Picasso’s Studio – Pablo Picasso had a studio on the top floor of 7 Rue Grands Augustins for nearly twenty years, and this is where he painted his masterpiece Guernica.
- Salvador Dali’s Sundial – On the outside of the building at 27-29 rue Saint-Jacques you can see a sundial designed by the Spanish artist Salvador Dali, who often visited Picasso in his studio.
Hotels in the Latin Quarter
I most recently stayed in the Latin Quarter in the summer of 2026, at the end of a one-month trip around France. It was my first time staying in the neighborhood (but not my first time visiting) and I have to admit that I might now be a convert from the Rive Droite to the Rive Gauche!
The Latin Quarter has a good variety of hotels, including several with affordable single rooms for budget travelers like me, a new aparthotel for people wanting a kitchenette without the risk of your Airbnb host cancelling, and some upscale luxury hotels for travelers splurging on their Paris vacation:
- Hotel Korner Sorbonne – I stayed at this affordable hotel in the Latin Quarter because they had good-value single rooms and were within easy walking distance of the direct RER train to Charles de Gaulle aiport. This property was formerly known as Hotel Diana, which was one of the city’s most highly recommended hotels for travelers on a budget (it was a favourite of Rick Steves and Lonely Planet). I have a full review here.
- Hotel Atmospheres – For something slightly more upscale, Hotel Atmospheres is a top choice in the Latin Quarter. This small hotel has design-focused rooms, a sauna, hydromassage therapy and a highly-rated breakfast buffet.
- Le Jardin de Verre by Locke – As the municipal government cracks down on Airbnbs in Paris, aparthotels are filling the gap. This recently-opened property (shown above) is located inside a former Baroque mansion and features rooms and one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes.
- Hotel La Lanterne Paris – I’m a sucker for a hotel with a cool spa, and the stone-vaulted heated swimming pool and hammam here deliver. I also love that guests can return to the hotel in the afternoon for a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage in the hotel bar. To me, it’s little touches like those that make a hotel worth returning to.
- Maison Colbert – Part of the Melia Collection of hotels, Maison Colbert is one of the few luxury hotels in the Latin Quarter. Located inside a 16th-century building that once housed Simone de Beauvoir, the hotel features spacious rooms (some with views of Notre Dame, which is right across the river) and serves an award-winning afternoon tea from Thursday to Sunday.
- Familia Hotel – Travelers on a tight budget should look into Familia Hotel, one of the top two-star options in Paris. Rooms here feature traditional details and designs, and the location is perfect for strolling along the Seine.
Restaurants in the Latin Quarter
According to the Michelin Guide, there are more than 500 restaurants in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Whether you’re looking for classic French fare, haute cuisine, international flavors or vegetarian options, you’ll never have to walk far to find a suitable eatery!
Rue Mouffetard
This isn’t a restaurant, but rather a street known for being a culinary hotspot with many different restaurants and cafes. It runs from Place de la Contrescarpe in the north to Square Saint-Médard in the south, and it is estimated that there are about one hundred restaurants either right on Rue Mouffetard or directly off it. A few popular restaurants include:
- Le Verre a Pied – A cozy bistro with a daily menu written on the chalkboard (including a vegetarian plat du jour)
- Tournbride – A typical French bistro where you can sample dishes like duck confit, onion soup and escargot.
- Les Baux de Paris – They put a French flair on traditional tapas from around the Mediterranean
- Mouffetard Saigon – One of the city’s most beloved Vietnamese restaurants
- Gelati d’Alberto – Skip the chain down the street (you know the one – its “lovely” name starts with “A”) and come to this independently-owned gelateria instead
LouLou
When you’ve had enough croissants and baguettes for breakfast and just want something a little more filling, LouLou delivers an Australian-style brunch experience with pretty tables overlooking Boulevard Saint-Germain. I had the avocado toast and will definitely be going back for their açai bowl next time.
Other Brunch Restaurants in the Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is jam-packed with student-friendly brunch spots that are open for breakfast, lunch and brunch all week:
- Brunch aux Olives – The sweet breakfast dishes are the draw here, with options like dark chocolate pancakes and waffles with chantilly cream
- Jozi Brunch Pantheon – This coffee-forward brunch spot has sweet and savory options, like avocado toast and granola with fresh fruit
- Kozy – You’ll be able to skip lunch if you start your day with Kozy’s eggs benedict, breakfast burrito or fig and pistachio toast (!)
- Treize au Jardin – This “tea garden” just beside the Jardin du Luxembourg serves up dishes from the American South, like tomato pie and fried chicken with biscuits
- Breakfast in America – Speaking of American food, at this Parisian restaurant chain you’ll find North American classics like scrambled egg, home fries and sausages.
Le Grenier de Notre Dame
From what I’ve been told, this is the original vegetarian restaurant in Paris. They offer a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes, including a two-course prix-fixe lunch menu for €19, and a three-course prix-fixe lunch or dinner menu with a beverage for €29. You can see my appetizer from the three-course dinner in the photo at the top of this section.
Other Popular Latin Quarter Restaurants:
While I was planning my stay in the Latin Quarter these were the restaurants that kept popping up in my research:
- Verse Toujours – I had a lovely lunch at this bistro packed with locals near the Censier – Daubenton metro station. Even if you don’t have time for a full meal, stop by for a glass of wine.
- Le Buisson Ardent – A popular restaurant for traditional French cuisine like onion soup, goat cheese salad, and a croque monsieur. If you’re with kids, they also have lighter meals including a range of savory crepes.
- Kathmandu – a Nepalese “bistronomique” restaurant in the Latin Quarter. The phrase bistronomique refers to a restaurant that is casual in atmosphere, like a bistro, with an interest in innovative gastronomy. You can order à la carte or come in the evening for one of their dinner menus (including a vegetarian option) that allows you to sample many different Nepali dishes.
- Maison Perchée – Another solid option for typical French dishes. Sit on the terrace in a classic striped chair to enjoy dishes like savory tarte tatin, steak frites and crème brûlée
- Alliance – The only restaurant in the Latin Quarter with two Michelin stars, I’ve been told by other vegetarians that with advance notice they can accommodate both vegans and vegetarians.
La Table des Bernardins
Possibly the most beautiful coffee shop in Paris, La Table des Bernadins is located inside Le Collège des Bernardins. The building itself was constructed in the Middle Ages as a training center for Cistercian monks, but since its renovation in 2009 it has served as more of a biblical cultural center. The cafe is situated inside a room with towering vaulted ceilings and is best visited for coffee and a pastry in the morning as there are better lunch options nearby.
Note: My personal recommendation is to avoid restaurants on Rue de la Huchette and the streets directly off it. It has been nicknamed “Bacteria Alley” (seriously, you can Google it!) and I believe the nickname has some validity, because after dining on this street on a work trip a number of my colleagues became sick. As a vegetarian who didn’t eat any meat with dinner I was one of the few who felt well enough for sightseeing the next day.
Is the Latin Quarter worth visiting?
Yes, in my opinion it is worth spending at least a few hours in the Latin Quarter in Paris! The Musée de Cluny is an absolute highlight of any trip to Paris, and while you’re nearby it’s worth checking out the beautiful gardens, vibrant culinary scene, and diverse attractions.
I also think that the Latin Quarter is a great place to stay in Paris. Here, you’re walking distance from the Seine riverfront and Notre Dame cathedral, and the rest of the city’s famous landmarks are an easy bus or metro ride away. There’s also a direct RER train to Charles de Gaulle Airport, making it one of the easiest neighborhoods to arrive in or depart from.
I recommend these related Paris travel guides to read before your trip!
🏰 The Best Day Trip from Paris to the Loire Valley Castles
🌹 How to Blend a Custom Perfume at a Historic Parisian Perfume House
🎨 Montmartre in One Day – The Perfect Itinerary
🍷 The Best Wine and Cheese Tastings in Paris, France
🖼️ How to Get the Most Value from a Paris Museum Pass
⭐ Solo Traveling in Paris – My Top Tips and Tales
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