2nd Arrondissement

The Basics

The 2nd arrondissement is the kind of place to go not to check out museums but to soak up the local culture. There are plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants in this mixed residential-commercial district, though note that some businesses in the northern part of the neighborhood known as the Sentier are strictly for wholesale buyers. The area is also home to the historic site of the Paris securities market, formerly known as the Paris Bourse.

The 2nd arrondissement features on some food-themed city tours and is easy to explore independently.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The 2nd arrondissement is one of the best areas for shopping on the Right Bank.

• Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, as the 2nd arrondissement is best-explored on foot.

• Wheelchair users and travelers with strollers should note that this area, while mostly accessible, has a large number of cobblestones.

How to Get There

The 2nd arrondissement is situated on Paris's Right Bank, due north of the 1st arrondissement and south of the 9th arrondissement, where the Opera Garnier, Printemps, and Galeries Lafayette are situated. The Marais neighborhood is to its east, while the 8th arrondissement, home to the Champs-Elysées and Place de la Concorde, is to its west. Metro stations in the neighborhood include Sentier, Étienne Marcel, Réaumur-Sébastopol, Strasbourg–Saint Denis, Grands Boulevards, Bourse, and Quatre-Septembre.

When to Get There

The 2nd arrondissement is a year-round destination. It's most interesting later in the afternoon and in the evening, particularly if you want to sit at a café and people watch. Parts of the area are best avoided late at night, however, particularly the Rue Saint-Denis, unless you'd like to watch a peep show or acquaint yourself with the world's oldest profession.

La Rue Montorgueil

The liveliest part of the 2nd arrondissement is the Rue Montorgueil, particularly the stretch between Rue Réaumur and Rue Étienne Marcel. On this pedestrian-only part of the street, you’ll find all sorts of shops, cafés, bakeries, and restaurants. Don't miss the famous L'Escargot Montorgueil—a great place for first-timers to sample snails—or Stohrer, the oldest pastry shop in Paris, open since 1730.

Ways to explore

The district is Paris’ smallest arrondissement, and you can explore it easily on foot. Highlights include the food market at rue Montorgueil, the historic patisserie Stohrer, the Passage des Panoramas with its cozy bistros and wine bars, and the mosaic-floored Galerie Vivienne, lined with chic boutiques and cafés.

If you want to learn some of the history behind the streets or simply find the most interesting sites to visit, there are plenty of tours with local guides around the 2nd Arrondissement. Look for Paris walking tours or food tours of rue Montorgueil.

Accessibility

There are cobbled streets in this district, but not all areas are challenging for visitors with reduced mobility. Rue Montorgueil is pedestrianized and flat, and Galerie Vivienne is wheelchair accessible.

Age limits

None, although families with young kids might prefer to stay in an arrondissement with more parks and child-focused attractions

What to pack

Flat shoes for walking, cash or cards to shop, large bag to carry market purchases

What to wear

Whatever you like

Not allowed

While cars aren’t banned, per se, driving is not a good idea in this district, where many streets are pedestrianized.

Amenities

Pharmacies, public restrooms (sanisettes), shops, supermarkets, market, metro stations

Address

This compact district is north of the Seine River, an area known as the Right Bank. The 2nd Arrondissement is served by metro lines and buses, and it’s easy to walk around.

Driving

Driving through the 2nd Arrondissement is not ideal. The district falls within Paris’ Limited Traffic Zone (LTZ), which restricts motor vehicles. It features a mix of pedestrianized and one-way streets and has limited parking.

Public transportation

Travel to the metro stations of Bourse, Étienne Marcel, Grands Boulevards, Réaumur - Sébastopol, Sentier, or Quatre Septembre. Several buses service the neighborhood, including the popular #29 and #39 routes, which pass through both the 1st and 2nd arrondissements.

Best times to visit

Arrive around breakfast time on a market day, though there’s not a bad time to visit. Avoid the morning and afternoon rush hours if you can.

Best days to visit

Come on a Thursday or Sunday to catch the food market at rue Montorgueil (Marché de Montorgueil) in action.

Best months to visit

Most central Paris areas are busiest between June and August. If you’re flexible with dates, consider visiting the city between September and May instead.