If you're looking for a Paris neighborhood that has it all, look no further than the 12th arrondissement. This vibrant district has plenty of trendy shops and restaurants. Whether you're looking for a place to stay or just want to explore, I've got everything you need to know about Paris's 12th arrondissement!
Place de la Bastille and Opera Bastille are important spots to see in this arrondissement. Opera Bastille was built to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution. Bastille also served as an essential part of French history. It commemorates where the French prison once stood before being stormed by revolutionaries in 1789.
History buffs would also probably love to visit Lafayette's tomb, which is located in this arrondissement as well. Today, the site is maintained by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The 12th has a very cool hotel called Hotel Paradiso that is cinema-themed including a mural you can only from inside the rooms. Every room is decorated for a different movie and has a great rooftop area as well.
One of my favorite spots is Le Train Bleu inside the Gare de Lyon train station. A gorgeous bar and restaurant, it is decorated with luxurious gold ceilings and chandeliers. The restaurant has been open since 1901 and is renowned for being the choice of celebrities and the upper class for dining and scenery in the World War II era.
It is a bit on the expensive side but you can actually enjoy breakfast here. The restaurant signs are misleading, listing only lunch and dinner menus, but they do petit dejeuner as well! Mr. Misadventures and I had a delightful cafe and croissant while ogling the decor!
In keeping with the train theme, Le Viaduc des Artes is a train line that has been converted into workshops for artists and craftspeople. Tourists can visit to see what the local artists are working on. Additionally, many will recognize the beautiful arches that make up the tunnels as a photo-worthy piece of Paris just down the street from the Bastille.
It's within the La Coulee Verte, a beautiful Paris staple. The Coulee Verte is built on another old train railway and serves as a beautiful, elevated park destination. It is 2.9 miles or 4.7 km long. And it isn't too far from the famous (or infamous depending on who you speak with) Rue Cremieux featured on Instagram feeds around the world for its multi-colored homes.
The largest park in the city, Bois de Vincennes (translated to Wood Vincennes), is also located in the 12th arrondissement. This park has over 2,450 acres (or nearly 1,000 hectares). It is three times the size of Central Park in New York City. Tourists can go on a boat ride, watch a horse race, ride the Saint-Mandé carrousel (Paris carousel info here) or bask in this large garden's beautiful flowers and lake.
If sightseeing isn't your only priority, the open-air Marché d'Aligre is a must-see for food lovers. Food blogger David Lebovitz has extensively written about this farmer's market and it is a wonderful area to explore.
Le douzième is the largest and one of the greenest neighborhoods in Paris. Aside from the area located near Bastille, with its bustling bars and hip restaurants, it is a fairly quiet district. If you don't mind a short metro ride to get to the main attractions and want to experience how the Parisian middle class lives, it is a great choice to stay.
How about you? Do you have any 12th arrondissement additions? Have you been to this area of Paris? Did you find this post helpful for a future trip?
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