Are you planning to visit Paris in the spring and wondering where are the best places to stay near top attractions and lesser-known gems while enjoying dazzling displays of beautiful spring flowers, the unforgettable flavor of fresh gariguette strawberries sold along the city's famous market streets, and savoring your favorite beverage at an outdoor cafe table?

Although rates at most Paris hotels begin to rise a bit from their winter lows during March and slowly increase during April and May, you'll still save around 20% to 30% or maybe even more compared with the peak summer rates. 

The one exception is the period around Easter weekend, when Parisians leave the city for a break but tout le monde from elsewhere in France and Europe arrives for a visit, driving up the rates and creating a "no vacancy" situation.  If you're going to be here during this period, your best strategy will to book as early as possible while you can still find lower.

My recommended hotels and apartments for spring visits focus on four popular Paris neighborhoods with beautiful parks and gardens plus iconic attractions, market streets, museums, and literary cafes.

They're also close to top attractions and things to do, and range from budget-friendly options to luxury splurges - all perfect for a first Paris visit or a return trip, for solo travelers, couples, and family or friend groups.

Here's what you'll find in the article:

Top photo: Cherry blossoms blooming near the Eiffel Tower in the spring, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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Paris's Le Marais:  Where to Stay near Spring Flowers, Secret Gardens, & Notre Dame Cathedral

Lilacs blooming in April in Jardin des Arts Albert Schweitzer in Paris's Marais neighborhood 
Lilacs blooming in April in Jardin des Arts Albert Schweitzer in Paris's Marais neighborhood 

The popular Marais neighborhood occupies much of Paris's 3rd and 4th districts on the city's Right Bank, including a swath along the Seine River.   

Although the Marais' many museums and art galleries, popular shopping destinations, and wonderful bistros and cafes make it a terrific place to stay for a Paris visit during any season, spring brings an extra bonus as the neighborhood's numerous small parks and public gardens, many of them "hidden gems" category, burst into bloom. 

If you choose a Marais hotel or apartment in the 4th arrondissement near the Seine River for your spring stay, you're also just a short 5-6 minute walk from Île de la Cité, home to Notre Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle.

Choose a place to stay in the 3rd arrondissement, known as the Upper or Haute Marais, and you'll find many top-notch small museums, art galeries, vintage stores, and boutiques showing fashions from emerging and lesser-known designers.

Here are some fun ways to get acquainted with the neighborhood:

Best Small, Hidden, & Secret Marais Gardens for Enjoying Spring Flowers

The Marais is home to well over a dozen hidden and little-known parks and public gardens.  Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Jardin Anne-Frank - On Rue Beaubourg near the Beaubourg metro station, look for the Impasse Berthaude alley.  Walk down the alley until you spot the garden with breath-taking cherry blossoms in late March/early April
  • Jardin des Arts Albert-Schweitzer - One of the newest Marais public gardens, with stunning lilacs in April; located near the Pont-Marie metro station
  • Square Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur Pauline-Roland - Spectacular when the roses start blooming in May.  From Rue Villehardouin, walk to the end of Rue de Hesse and you'll see it on the left
  • Place des Vosges - One of the most beautiful squares in Paris, dating back to 1605 and surrounded by elegant arcades lined with boutiques and bistros
Roses in Square Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur 
Masses of yellow roses blooming Square Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur in May

Top Museums & Other Cultural Attractions in the Marais

Staying in the Marais gives you easy access to the neighborhood's many fascinating museums, such as the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (Museum of Hunting and Nature), the Picasso Museum, and Musée Carnavalet (history of Paris) just to name a few.  

Photography fans should visit the Maison Européanne de la Photographie (5 Rue de Fourcy, 4th arr) and Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson (79 Rue des Archives, 3rd arr).

I try to catch every exhibition at Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, where designs by this renowned couturier are typically paired with those of another fashion icon; his atelier, untouched since the day he died, can be viewed through an oval window on an upper floor

Sadly, the Marais' most famous art museum, Centre Pompidou, remains closed for much-needed renovations until 2030.

Where to Shop in the Marais

The Marais neighborhood offers a dizzying assortment of international brands and designers, French retailers, indie boutiques, and vintage shops  - and all will be displaying their latest spring collections in their windows. 

Wondering where to start?  Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Rue de Rivoli - Home to the BHV Marais grand magasin department store, fun and affordable Hema from the Netherlands, and everything in between
  • Rue de Frances Bourgeois - Many French and international fashion brands
  • Rue de Vieille-du-Temple - Independent designer boutiques
  • Rue de Rosiers - Trendy boutiques, chocolatiers, and the best falafel shops in Paris
  • Rue des Coutures Saint-Gervais - Narrow pedestrian-only lane in the Upper Marais, home to up-and-coming designers, tiny boutiques, and a couple of galleries
  • Rue de Bretagne - This is where you'll find the oldest covered market in Paris, Marché des Enfants Rouges, filled with fresh produce, cheeses, flowers, fish, and meats, plus stalls serving North African couscous (usually the longest lines), sandwiches, and other cuisines
  • Village Saint-Paul - A maze-like space dating back to the Middle Ages where you'll find roughly 80 galleries, vintage and antique shops, and cafes surrounding hidden cobbled courtyards; a section of Phillippe-Auguste's 13th century wall surrounding the city is nearby; access the village through unobtrusive arched doorways on Rue Saint-Paul

Top Marais Hotels for Your Spring Visit to Paris

Guestroom in Hotel de Jobo in the Marais
Guestroom in Hotel 9Confidential in the Marais

Quick tip about staying in the Marais in the spring:  This charming and highly desireable neighbood doesn't have enough hotel rooms for the large numbers of visitors who want to stay here. 

From about mid-March through late October, getting reservations in the Marais - especially if you want to stay for more than 2 or 3 nights in a row - can get quite challenging.  So if you want to stay longer during your spring trip to Paris, do not wait to book!

  • Hotel 9Confidential - The pale golden tones and wonderful light in this 4-star hotel near the Seine River feel like spring
  • Hotel Caron le Marais - A serene 3-star hotel on a quiet street in a central Marais location
  • Hotel de JoBo - With jewel-like tones and a floral motif, this hotel's 24 guest rooms and suites make you feel like you're cocooning in a garden
  • Grand Hotel Malher - Family-run for 3 generations, this 3-star hotel offers 28 guestrooms (including some with balconies) and affordable rates
  • Hotel de la Bretonnerie - This charming 3-star hotel in a 17th century former mansion is in a wonderful location near the almost-hidden National Archives garden
  • Le Pavillon de la Reine - This elegant 5-star hotel across from Place des Vosges has its own private sculpture-filled garden where flowers bloom all spring

Find more hotels in the Marais

Gros Caillou in Paris 7: Stay near the Eiffel Tower, Cherry Blossoms, & A Famous Market Street

Christmas decorations and lights suspsended from the skylight dome in Galeries Lafayette
Cherry trees near the Eiffel Tower in April

Are you a first-time or return visitor to Paris with iconic destinations such as the Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles, Napoleon's Tomb and the Army Museum at Invalides, the Orsay Museum, authentic market streets, and a Seine River cruise on your "must-do" bucket list?

If so, you may want to consider staying in Gros Caillou, an upscale neighborhood in Paris's 7th arrondissement, which puts you within easy walking distance of all of these attractions - except for Versailles, located outside of the city, but you can easily hop on the RER C at the station by the river and reach the famous chateau in about half an hour.

Gros Caillou neighborhood
Gros Caillou neighborhood - click here to get an interactive version

Although you may not be familiar with the neighborhood's name (Gros Caillou means "big rock" in French), this is the upscale neighborhood made famous by travel writer Rick Steves, who raves about the Rue Cler market street, the neighborhood's affordable hotels, and the area's friendly vibe. 

Gros Caillou occupies a special corner of the 7th arrondissement bordering the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars on one side, the Army Museum and Napoleon's Tomb on the other, and across the Seine from Trocadero, where some of the city's most gorgeous cherry blossoms frame perfect Eiffel Tower views.  It's also near the Rodin Museum and its magnificent garden where roses bloom in flamboyant abundance in late April, May, and June.

Although the area right around the Eiffel Tower does attract a lot of tourists, the rest of the upscale neighborhood has a more relaxed, more authentic residential vibe.

More Reasons to Stay in Paris's Gros Caillou Neighborhood in the Spring

1. You're Close to Perfect Spring Views of the Eiffel Tower & Cherry Blossoms

If you want to see the Eiffel Tower surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms, just walk across Champs de Mars, the big park where the Tower is located, until you find the perfect spot.  

Lots of different cherry varieties grow in Paris.  They bloom at slightly different times during about a 6-week period in March and April, so you can almost always find cherry blossoms somewhere.

To find the gorgeous deep-pink double-flowered Kwanzan cherries shown in my photo above, walk across the Pont de l'Alma bridge to the opposite side of the Seine. This brings you to Trocadero Gardens, directly across from the Tower. 

Walk up the slope, and you'll find many spots where the blossoms "frame" the Iron Lady.  Most years, the blooms reach their peak at about the same time as the Paris Marathon which is usualy held on the second Sunday in April (although very occasionally, when the Marathon falls on Easter Sunday, it moves to the week before or after).

Of course, you can visit the Eiffel Tower or Trocadero Gardens to view cherry blossoms wherever you stay in Paris, but choosing a nearby hotel means you can easily go every day if you want (and you should, during this most beautiful season).

2.  You Can Easily Hop on a Cruise & See Paris by Water

Did you know that many of Paris's most famous and iconic attractions cluster along the Seine River?  And one of the largest and highest-rated river cruise operators, Bateaux Parisiens, departs from Port de la Bourdonnais at the foot of the Eiffel Tower?  The other big one, Bateaux Mouches, docks almost directly across on the other side.

Whether you choose Bateaux Parisiens' 1-hour sightseeing cruise up and down the Seine, or indulge in their 4-course dinner cruise with live music, you'll have an unforgettable experience - plus the convenience of departing and returning so close to your hotel. 

Also, the hop-on, hop-off Batobus (my favorite way to spend a day on the Seine while exploring the neighborhoods along its route) has a stop next to the Bateaux Parisiens dock.

3.  You Can Explore (& Enjoy a Few Meals or Glasses of Wine) along the Rue Cler Street Market

Rue Cler market street in May
Rue Cler market street in May

Rue Cler, one of the best pedestrian-only market streets in Paris, is where locals shop for tasty gariguette strawberries, crisp radishes, and other harbingers of spring. 

Since many of Gros Caillou's affordable hotels are in this area, you can take daily strolls past the cheese shops, bakeries, rotisserie chicken place, specialty chocolate and macaron sellers, and mouth-watering delis.

The inviting outdoor café terraces give you the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and crossaint, a meal, or a glass of wine - I've enjoyed meals at all of them.  You'll also find numerous appealing casual cafes and bistros throughout Gros Caillou, including along nearby Rue Saint-Dominique. 

This is a neighborhood where you can eat and drink very well without flattening your wallet (although you should avoid the obviously touristy places close to the Eiffel Tower).

Where to Stay in Gros Caillou for Your Spring Visit to Paris

Christmas decorations and lights suspsended from the skylight dome in Galeries Lafayette
View of the Eiffel Tower from my 5th floor balcony at Hotel La Comtesse in May

The upscale Gros Caillou neighborhood between the Eiffel Tower and Invalides is home to many small boutique hotels, including some with wonderful Eiffel Tower views.  I've stayed in this neighborhood during several Paris trips and love its friendly vibe.

As a bonus, you'll find more moderately-priced budget-friendly hotels here compared with other nearby neighborhoods such as Saint-Germain, the Latin Quarter, and across the river, the 8th arrondissement.

Here's a small sample for all budgets:

  • Hotel La Comtesse - All 40 guest rooms in this 4-star hotel feature direct or side views of the Eiffel Tower and although rates soar in the summer, they're still reasonable in the spring; for a special treat, book a room with a balcony
  • Hotel du Cadran - 4-star hotel with 53 guestrooms just off of Rue Cler and about a 7-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower; rooms are small but nicely furnished with contemporary decor
  • Cler Hotel - This 3-star hotel overlooks the Rue Cler market street and is a favorite of Rick Steves (and a lot of other people) due to its winning combination of comfort, affordability, and charm
  • Grand Hotel Levesque - Another 3-star hotel on Rue Cler, with Eiffel Tower views from several top floor guestrooms
  • Hotel Eiffel Turenne - 3-star value hotel close to Rue Cler with air conditioning, a small elevator, and 34 attractive rooms; a couple have views of the top of the Eiffel Tower
  • Le Narcisse Blanc - This highly-rated 5-star hotel and spa features 37 elegant guestrooms, a swimming pool and jacuzzi, health club with gym, and superb service
  • Hotel Amelie - This charming budget-friendly 2-star hotel located on a quiet lane features 16 small guestrooms and very affordable rates.  No elevator or air conditioning, but since hot weather doesn't usually hit Paris until June, you should be fine with no a/c

Find more 7th arrondissement hotels & apartments

Where to Stay near the Royal Gardens in Paris's 1st District in the Spring

Roses blooming in Palais Royal Garden
Roses blooming in Palais Royal Garden

Staying in Paris's 1st Arrondissement during during the spring gives you easy access to two magnificent gardens near the Palais du Louvre (now occupied by the Louvre Museum and Decorative Arts Museum) where France's Royalty once strolled: Tuileries Garden and Palais Royal Garden.  

Le premier, as the 1st District is sometimes called, occupies a prime central location on the Right Bank next to the Seine River, plus half of Île de la Cité, the small Seine River island that's home to Notre Dame Cathedral and other Medieval masterpieces, and is packed with wonderful hotels. 

However, my recommendation is focus the area near the Louvre close to these two flower-filled gardens simply because being able to walk to them in less than 5 minutes for a leisurely stroll is one of the top pleasures of Paris in the spring.

This neighborhood is also close to top cultural attractions including Palais Garnier (the Paris Opera House), numerous shopping destinations including a couple of historic covered passages, and more outdoor cafes than you'd have time to visit even if you stay for a year.

Find out more about the 1st arrondissement

Why You'll Enjoy Staying near the Royal Gardens

Magnolias and spring bulbs blooming in Palais Royal Garden in late March
Magnolias and spring bulbs blooming in Palais Royal Garden in late March

With the arrival of warm weather, masses of blooms fill Jardin du Palais Royal and Jardin des Tuileries, the two spectacular gardens near the Louvre Museum, once a royal palace.

In both gardens, you'll find something in bloom almost year-round, with the earliest cherry blossoms appearing in both parks in February, quickly followed by magnolias from late February in Palais Royal Garden through (most years) late March.

Giant ferris wheel at Tuileries Christmas Market across from Paris's 1st arrondissement
Cherry tree blooming in Tuileries Garden in April in Paris's 1st arrondissement

Tuileries Garden boasts an especially large number of cherry trees, including a number of old late-blooming Kwanzans with branches so heavy from flowers that boards prop them up to prevent breakage.

After daffodils, tulips, and other spring bulbs put on an early-spring show, late-spring flowers such as foxgloves and roses take over. 

Tuileries Garden in May, with the Louvre in the background
Tuileries Garden in May, with the Louvre in the background

By May, roses make spectacular displays in both gardens, with the first flush of blooms lasting through June. 

In Palais Royal Garden, which is enclosed on all sides by arcaded 17th century buildings and seems to stay a few degrees warmer than the rest of Paris, the roses continue to bloom almost non-stop through December - but

Sunset at Jardin Palais Royal in early May
Sunset at Jardin Palais Royal in early May

Top Attractions near the Royal Gardens

Staying in near Tuileries Garden and Palais Royal Garden in the 1st arrondissement gives you easy access to all of the top cultural and other attractions in this neighborhood. 

Since spring always brings a certain number of rainy and sometimes even cold days, these indoor destinations provide the perfect refuge when you want to stay dry and warm.:

  • The Louvre Museum is practically next to both gardens.  In additon to the Mona Lisa, there's so much else to see here:  Egyptian mummies, Napoleon III's ornate apartments from when he lived here, wonderful Greek and Roman statues such as Venus de Milo, the Crown Jewels
  • Specialty museums:  The Orangerie (Monet's huge water lily paintings), Orsay Museum (across the river from Tuileries Garden), Musée des Arts Decoratifs (fashion, intererior design, jewelry, and so much more!), the Pinault Collection (contemporary art)
  • Covered Passages - Galerie Vero Dodat, Galerie Vivienne, and Passage du Choiseul, plus specialty boutiques in the Palais Royal Garden Arcades
  • Palais Garnier, the famous Paris opera house
  • Sainte-Chapelle on nearby Île de la Cité, where you can see spectacular stained glass from the Middle Ages
  • Fantastic shopping streets:  Rue Saint-Honoré (Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Guerlain, Saint Laurent, and numerous other designers boutiques), Rue de l'Opéra (fashion, home decor, fancy chocolate makers, Place des Victoires (upscale clothing boutique), Carrousel du Louvre (underground shopping mall with French brands such as Fragonard, Maje, L'Occitane, Caudalie, and Pylones), and slightly farther away, La Samaritaine luxury department store
  • Numerous bistros, cafes, and restaurants, plus the city's best Asian restaurants along Rue Sainte-Anne and nearby streets

Where to Stay in Paris in Spring near the Royal Gardens

Lobby at Hotel Moliere in Paris's 1st district
Lobby at Hotel Moliere in Paris's 1st district
  • Hotel Mansart - 4-star hotel located at the corner of Place Vendôme/Rue de la Paix, and close to Palais Garnier, Place de la Madeleine, and even Galleries Lafayette
  • Hotel Royal Saint Honoré Paris Louvre - 4-star hotel with an excellent location on Rue Saint-Honoré near Place Vendôme and Tuileries Garden; also close to the Louvre and Palais Royal Garden
  • Hotel Regina Louvre - Classic 5-star hotel close to the Louvre, Palais Royal Garden, Rue Saint Honoré; book a guestroom overlooking Tuileries Garden
  • Hotel du Louvre (Hyatt) - This 5-star hotel is across the street from the Louvre, about a 1-minute walk from Palais Royal Garden, and less than five minutes from Tuileries Garden
  • Hotel Montpensier - This budget-friendly 2-star hotel offers en suite bathrooms, wifi, air conditioning, a tiny elevator, and a superb location close to the Palais Royal Garden, the Louvre, and Tuileries Garden
  • Hotel Molière - Wonderful 4-star hotel close to Palais Royal Garden, Tuileries Garden, the Louvre, Palais Garnier Opera House in the 9th, Rue Saint-Honoré, and Asian bistros along Rue Sainte-Anne
  • La Clef Louvre - This luxury apart'hotel offers lovely suites and apartments with all of the services of a 5-star hotel just steps from the Louvre Museum, Palais Royal Garden, and Tuileries Garden
  • Hotel Britannique - Charming 3-star hotel a block from the Seine River, and less than a 5-minute walk to the Louvre Museum and Palais Royal Garden, to Ile de la Cité where you can visit Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame Cathedral, and perhaps about two minutes more to get to Tuileries Garden

Find more hotels in Paris's 1st arrondissement

Find more to see & do in Paris's 1st arrondissement

Saint-Germain-des-Prés: Where to Stay in Paris in the Spring near Luxembourg Garden & Literary Cafés

Rue Saint-Andre-des-Arts in Paris's Saint-Germain neighborhood in February
Spring flowers blooming in Luxembourg Garden 

Although you could reasonably assert that Paris's Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood in the 6th arrondissement on the Left Bank is an ideal place to stay at any time of the year, it is especially perfect for a spring visit.

Take advantage of the warm weather by strolling along the banks of the Seine River, sipping your favorite beverage at a sidewalk table in front of famous literary cafes such as Les Deux Magots and Cafe de Flore, and exploring Luxembourg Garden, perhaps the most beautiful park in the city, where you'll find an abundance of spring flowers and the famous early 17th century Medici Fountain.

Les Deux Magots in late May
Les Deux Magots in late May

Perhaps most important, since you'll most likely be visiting other parts of Paris as well, Saint Germain's central location gives you easy access to other top Left Bank destinations such as the Latin Quarter and the 7th arrondissement (home to the Eiffel Tower and the Orsay Museum, known for its collection of superb Impressionist art).

You're also close to popular Right Bank destinations across the Seine River including the 1st arrondissement (home to the Louvre Museum) and the trendy Marais neighborhood, and Ile de la Cité, the tiny island in the Seine where you'll find Notre Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle, known for its magnificent stained glass.

Where to Stay in Paris in the Spring in Saint Germain

  • Hotel Saint André des Arts - Chic 4-star hotel across the street Cour de Commerce Saint-André, a partly-covered historical passage lined with wonderful bistros and unique boutiques
  • Hotel Madison - Lovely 4-star boutique hotel in a conveniently central location on the lively Boulevard Saint Germain
  • Hotel Sainte-Beuve - Enjoy a tranquil location about 3 minutes on foot from Luxembourg Garden
  • Hotel Bel Ami - 5-star boutique hotel with gorgeous decor, a spa and fitness center, and an onsite café; views of Église Saint Germain des Prés from some guest rooms
  • Hotel Le Relais Saint Germain - This small 4-star boutique hotel is the creation of Chef Yves Camdeborde, famous for introducing elevated bistro fare which he called "bistronomy" to Paris - his famous wine bar is next door
  • Relais Christine - 5-star luxury boutique hotel featuring French country decor, a spa, and a private garden
  • Hotel Clémont - Charming budget-friendly 2-star boutique hotel with air conditioning and an elevator, and serves a fantastic breakfast; terrific value near the Saint Germain Market and Saint Sulpice Church, but reserve early as it's quite popular
  • Hotel de Buci - Charming 24-room boutique hotel on the Rue Buci market street features furnishings with a romantic très-Parisian vibe
  • Hotel Artus - Located on the lively Rue de Buci market street, this 4-star hotel features 25 guestrooms and two suites, art-inspired mid-century modern decor, and bright cheery colors
  • "The Swan & Phoenix" - Vintage charm mixes with modern comfort in this Saint-Germain 2-bedroom apartment with state-of-the-art kitchen
  • Hotel de Seine - Popular 3-star boutique hotel in an excellent location near the Seine River

Find more Saint-Germain hotels & apartments


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