The Saint Germain des Prés area is one of the most beautiful areas of Paris and is a must visit during your trip to the capital. Located in the city’s 6th arrondissement, between Saint-Michel and the Hôtel des Invalides, it’s one of the city’s most exclusive districts. Full of history, beautiful buildings, great restaurants and cool cafés, it’s well worth a trip over.
I lived in the area for 3 years (on Rue Mazarine) and I know it particularly well. My guide will tell you more about the history of the area, must visit cafés and give you tips on the best eating spots to check out.
Quick Reference Guide
☕ Must visit cafés to immerse yourself in Parisian café culture
🥐 Best places to eat in Saint Germain des Prés
📷 What to see and streets to discover in the area
🛏 Where to stay in Saint Germain des Prés
One of the Most Beautiful Areas of Paris
The area of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a stunning, historical district and one of the city’s wealthiest areas. It’s surprisingly small, wedged in between the quartier de la monnaie and the quartier de Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin. It’s typically Parisian with the majority of the buildings either being Hausmannian or dating back to the 1700s.
The area dates back to the Middle Ages where the first Abbey was constructed in the 6th century. The name is derived from the fact that the abbey was surrounded by fields (dés Pres) as it was way outside the original city limits. As the city expanded, the village was eventually absorbed by Paris.
Nowadays the area is well know for its cafés, restaurants and shopping. It’s home to the famous École des Beaux Arts where many a famous artist has studied. It’s even well worth a visit just to walk around and explore the small side streets and stunning buildings.
Streets to Discover and Things to Do & See
Saint Germain des Prés is filled with plenty of amazing historical streets to discover. It’s an area where you’ll want to roam the streets, take in the beautiful architecture and stop off at a café to watch the world go by.
Behind the Eglise de Saint Germain des Prés, you’ll find Rue de Furstemberg. It’s a quaint little square where you’ll frequently find opera singers and musicians playing on the place. On this old square there’s also the Eugène Delacroix Museum which despite being very small is definitely worth a visit.
Tip: Like many museums in Paris, they frequently sell out on the day so I’d recommend buying a Paris Museum Pass which allows free entry to the museum and many more.
Walk a bit further towards the river and you’ll stumble upon the rue de Seine where you’ll discover a vast amount of incredible art galleries. You’ll find galleries selling ancient antiques, African masks, mid-century furniture and contemporary art.
Running parallel to the rue de Seine is rue Mazarine (where I lived!) and where you’ll find the Institute of France and a small park where you’ll find cherry blossom during the spring.
Slightly further up lies the popular rue de Buci where you can grab a drink and a bite to eat. This is one of the best spots in the Saint Germain des Prés area (in my opinion!) to watch the world go by and feel like a true Parisian.
Tip: If you want to discover the area and its foodie side then I’d recommend going on this fantastic foodie walking tour. It’s a great way to discover the hidden gems in the area in one go!
Church of Saint Germain des Prés
The famous church (or église in French) of Saint Germain is one of the oldest churches in Paris. The church is all what is left of the original Abbey which was founded in the 6th century. The majority of the Abbey was destroyed during and after the French Revolution despite some efforts of restoration in later years.
The church is free to enter and is worth a quick visit to see the incredible Nave and stained glass.
Must Visit Cafés
The area is host to some very historical cafés that you should definitely check our during your trip.
On the Boulevard Saint Germain and just opposite the famous church you’ll find Les Deux Magots. It’s perhaps one of the city’s most famous cafés, having opened in 1895 it was frequented by many well known literary figures and artists. Pablo Picasso, Jean-Paul Sartre, André Malraux and Ernest Hemingway were all frequent visitors. The café has a great view across to the church but note that it’s very expensive.
Just next door you’ll find another very famous literary café, the Café de Flore. The café was again very popular with French celebrities, politicians, artists and film stars. It’s got a beautiful terrace to enjoy and prices are similar to that of Les Deux Magots.
Further into the heart of Saint Germain, on the rue de Seine, you’ll find La Palette. Another historical café, it was frequented by Cézanne and Picasso. It was also known to have welcomed Jim Morrison and Ernest Hemingway and later on, Harrison Ford and Julia Roberts. I’ve spent many a night at La Palette and I’d definitely recommend to check it out – especially on warm evening!
If you’re looking for wine and cocktails bars, check out my guide to the best bars in Saint Germain.
The Best Restaurants in Saint Germain des Prés
There’s plenty of great restaurants in the area suiting all budgets. In this section I’ll share my recommendations for dining out in Saint Germain.
If you like steak then you’ll have to visit the legendary Le Relais de l’Entrecôte on rue Saint-Benoît, right next to the church. They serve only one thing: ribeye (actually it’s only the tender ‘eye’ of the cut) cooked to your liking served with a mountain of fries and their special steak sauce. They have a huge dessert menu and it’s always amazing. Note that you can’t reserve so prepare to queue!
Just next door to Le Relais de l’Entrecôte you’ll find a gem of a Japanese restaurant, Yen. They serve higher end Japanese food and even make their own soba noodles in house. It’s exceptional and won’t break the bank.
Opposite Les Deux Magots you’ll find a 1 Michelin star restaurant, Armani Ristorante. Located in the original Armani boutique, it’s no longer a fashion store – here you’ll very well cooked Italian food. Not the cheapest at €150 for a 5 course tasting menu but worth it for a special meal!
Looking for more recommendations? Check out my guide to the best restaurants in the 6th arrondissement.
FAQ: Saint Germain des Prés
Where to Stay in Saint Germain des Prés
Honestly Saint Germain des Prés is a fantastic place to stay for a trip to Paris (I lived there for 3 years) and I’d definitely recommend the area as a base. Here’s a few great hotels in the area:
Hôtel de Buci: A fantastic 4* hotel literally on the road and a few minutes walk from Saint Germain des Prés.
Villa-des-Prés: An exceptional 5* hotel that’s just opened (it was still being built when I lived there 3 years ago).
Hôtel Le Regent: If you’re looking for cheaper options (which admittedly is difficult to find in the 6th arrondissement) then this 3* hotel is great. Located just next to Rue de Buci on the Rue Dauphine.
How to Get There
You can get to Saint Germain des Prés by metro on line 4. The metro stop is right next to the church in the heart of the district. You can walk there from the Louvre which will take you around 20 minutes.
How to get from Saint Germain des Prés to the Eiffel Tower
It’s simple to get from Saint Germain des Prés to the Eiffel Tower! You need to get on the Metro Line 10 at Mabillon to La Motte – Picquet Grenelle. Once out of the metro, you’ll need to walk about 10 minutes to get to the bottom of the Tour Eiffel Garden. You can then walk directly down to the tour. It’ll take around 30 minutes in total.
