The Last Minute Travel Fact Center

Paris: The 2nd Arrondissement

You are nearly there - Paris, France’s crown jewel and capital city! You can’t wait to land. You’ve gotten your
href=”http://www.paris-web.com/france-flights-paris-countryside.php”> discount flight to Paris, France , now you are looking at some great looking offers on Paris hotels throughout Paris. What neighborhood you are staying in is always an important consideration for your hotel in Paris even if you are looking at hotels in Paris city centre.  Here’s a guide to Paris’s 2nd arrondissement so you can learn more about whether the Second arrondissement is where you want to be!

It is not likely that you’ll be spending much time in the 2nd as a tourist, but if you choose a hotel in this arrondissement , you’ll be in the pulsing heart of Paris’s finance center. Home to the Bourse (stock exchange) and the CAC 40 index of France’s top listed companies , the 2nd arrondissement is also widely noted for its prospering  fashion and journalism industries, as well as its general atmosphere of business.

What To Know About The Second Arrondissement :

Here’s The Pros :

You will hardly find tourists here, so that the people-watching will be strictly French : Parisian business people going out to lunch, stressed out traders hurrying to work, journalists meeting sources over drinks for the next big news break. Visitors will also be close to the lovely 19th “galleries,” a tradition when the Duke of Orleans decided to rent out his garden to shops in the late 18th . These “galleries,” like early shopping malls, have glass windows and tiled floors, are still in use now . Visit for a nostalgic and enchanting look at Paris’s 19th century past.

The Bad :

This isn’t an especially with-it part of Paris by any means, and while there are several places for lunch in the area , suitable for an expense account, nightlife is lacking. However, with the Marais in the fourth arrondissement only a short distance away, there isn’t much to be concerned about. Also, near the eastern end of the district, you may run into a few prostitutes looking to ply their trade, but don’t be too alarmed - it’s safe, if seedy, and nevertheless you’re likely to encounter far fewer than in similar sections like Rue St. Denis or the Pigalle area.

What To Visit:

If you’re a business type , pay a visit to the Bourse, or Stock Exchange, for a look at France’s economic heart. Or check out the Galleries - the Gallerie Vivienne is regarded the best-preserved, with authentic and stunning nineteenth-century decor, an amazing mosaic floor, and elegantly upscale stores . In contrast, the Passage Choiseul is more “authentic,” catering to business folks on their way to work, and selling magazines and newspapers and offering services like shoe-shining to frantically busy traders at the nearby Bourse.

Eating Places :

Cafe Etienne Marcel, on Rue Etienne Marcel, is a stylish Costes brothers place - less costly than most of their others - with a menu to match. Or have a drink at Harry’s New York Bar on Rue Danou, reputed to be the birthplace of the Bloody Mary, and a hangout of Hemmingway. While Harry’s not cheap by any means, it’s nevertheless a great hangout for those who want the elegance and decadence of Art Deco bohemian expatriate life. And, of course, a bloody Mary mixed to perfection.

Places To Shop:

Brentano’s, on Avenue de L’Opera has an excellent selection of English-language and art books. And, of course, the Galleries are filled with great shops . Wander in and out of a few of the delightful galleries, looking at the many wonderful shops on offer, and think about buying art and far more at all of them.