Boasting some of the city’s most magnificent parks, museums, shops, and bars, the 1st Arrondissement occupies the right bank of the River Seine and extends onto the western section of the Île de la Cité. The best way to get around is on foot, as Paris cabs don't have access to much of the car-free eastern end of the arrondissement. The area is well-served by metro trains, which are fast and frequent.
Home to the Mona Lisa – the world’s most famous painting – the Louvre is one of the finest art museums in the world, and it is visitors need at least two full days to see its many treasures. A diverse underground shopping precinct, Le Carrousel du Louvre, adjoins the museum.
The Palais-Royal and its stunning gardens are opposite the north wing of the Louvre. In the north-west corner of the gardens is the Théâtre du Palais Royal. On the south-west corner sits the magnificent Comédie Française: the world’s longest established national theatre.
West of the Louvre is the Jardin des Tuileries: a central open space with semi-formal gardens, cafés, stalls, and very often, a ferris wheel. North of this is Place Vendôme: a rectangular square famous for its fashionable boutiques and deluxe hotels such as The Hôtel Ritz Paris and the Park Hyatt Vendôme.
Some of the most opulent hotels in the world are located in the 1st arrondissement – celebrities often bed down at Le Meurice – but there are some mid-range options. The area has a surprisingly wide range of dining options, from fine dining to street stalls.
