A local’s guide to visiting the 1st arrondissement of Paris, from the Jardin du Palais Royal to the free museum at 59 Rivoli and the Quais de Seine!
I really love the 1st arrondissement of Paris, you’re in one of the richest zones of the city, with famous landmarks like the Rue de Rivoli and spots that are a bit more hidden like the Colonnes de Buren.
Today, that’s where I’m taking you, to discover secret museums, places featured in Emily in Paris, and magnificent photo spots.
This is the first article about the arrondissements of Paris that I’m writing, and I’m so excited about it, because we’re starting with the historical heart, very sophisticated, royal even, of Paris.
1st Arrondissement of Paris: The Best Places to Visit
Whether it’s 59 Rivoli and its colorful and hidden corners or even the Art Nouveau metro entrances, you’ll find plenty to do around there.
Of course, you can also choose to get lost in the beautiful streets and passages that run alongside famous streets like the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and gardens like the one at the Palais Royal!
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: 59 Rivoli
59 Rivoli was originally an illegal artist squat, and it transformed into a legal art collective, a free museum in the heart of the Rue de Rivoli.
Across six floors, you find yourself in a magnificent street art spot, with small artist studios where people are working, creating, and selling.
The spiral staircase is one of my favorite parts, with its walls covered in murals that are incredibly lively and mesmerizing.
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Pont Neuf, Quais de Seine and the Bouquinistes
The Pont Neuf is one of the most beautiful bridges in Paris – it is also the oldest, connecting the Ile de la Cite with the Left Bank.
Along the Quais de Seine, you find the bouquinistes with their famous green stalls, where you can buy posters, secondhand or old books, postcards, and even paintings; plenty of beautiful things to bring back home!
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Colonnes de Buren
The Colonnes de Buren are located in the courtyard of the Palais Royal, and it is a public art installation made of black and white striped marble columns of all different sizes.
There are 260 of them; this accumulation clashes with the 17th-century architectural background, which makes it a very interesting photo spot for architecture lovers as well as influencers.
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré and Rue Saint-Honoré
I have known Rue Saint-Honoré for a long time, but it was only recently that I walked through Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré for the first time.
I actually wanted to go to the Marché Saint-Honoré, which is architecturally magnificent, but it was under renovation.
Regardless, you find yourself with these two aesthetic streets in the heart of shopping in Paris, whether it is couture brands, avant-garde, or luxurious perfume shops like Granado (there’s another wonderful boutique in Saint Germain des Prés).
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Jardin du Palais Royal
The Jardin du Palais Royal is one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris.
It’s elegant and mostly visited by locals; it feels like an enclave with its endless columns dating back to the 17th century, which makes for an incredible photo spot.
While it’s even more beautiful in the spring or autumn (spring in Paris is really something!), discovering the Jardin du Palais Royal – with its sculptures, its arcades, the Colonnes de Buren, and the 2nd arrondissement right nearby – is a great experience.
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Art Nouveau Metro Stations and Buildings
You’ll find many wonderful Art Nouveau spots in Paris, and some of them are the beautiful metro entrances designed by Hector Guimard.
You can stop by Palais Royal Musée du Louvre or Châtelet to see some of them, and go closer to Sentier (2nd arrondissement) and Réaumur-Sébastopol (between the 2nd and 3rd) to see other metro entrances.
And if you want to stay near Rue de Rivoli, don’t hesitate to stop by the La Samaritaine department store; it’s a historic spot with wonderful decor from the top floor down to the incredible ceiling.
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Louvre Museum and Its Courtyards
If you’re visiting Paris on a budget and don’t necessarily want to pay to enter the Louvre, you’ll still find stunning courtyards all around it.
In the Cour Napoléon, you’ll find the Louvre pyramids, which are perfect for photos, especially at sunset.
The Cour Carrée is more of a secret, more quiet; you’ll find just as many magnificent sculptures there on a neoclassical facade that represents a masterpiece of 17th-century French architecture.
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Parisian Cafes
There are plenty of typically Parisian cafes around Palais Royal Musée du Louvre, Châtelet, Rue de Rivoli, and the Comédie Française.
For example, you have Café du Louvre on Avenue de l’Opéra, which is perfect for people-watching on one of the most beautiful streets in Paris, or Café Auguste on Rue de Rivoli with its beautiful floral storefront.
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Rue de Rivoli
On Rue de Rivoli, you’ll find yourself surrounded by many shops, from the top of Place de la Concorde all the way until Rue de Rivoli becomes Rue Saint-Antoine toward Saint-Paul.
You are on one of the most famous streets in Paris.
There, you’ll find shops like Pull&Bear, Histoire d’Or, Galignani – a beautiful bookstore – or even Maison Ghibli and plenty of gorgeous mascarons and caryatids above the doors.
Closer to Place de la Concorde, if you arrive early, you can take beautiful architectural photos of the Rue de Rivoli arcades – and buy a few souvenirs of Paris like a beret or a little Eiffel Tower in the many souvenir shops!
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Place de Valois
Place de Valois is located just a few seconds on foot from the Palais Royal Musée du Louvre station, and it’s one of the most secret courtyards in Paris.
Actually, it’s not that secret anymore since it is notably the location for the fictional marketing agency in Emily in Paris.
You are very close to the Colonnes de Buren, as well as the 2nd arrondissement with the Passage des Deux Pavillons, Galerie Colbert, and Galerie Vivienne nearby.
Things to Do in the 1st Arrondissement: Saint Germain l’Auxerrois Church
Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois is located close to the Louvre, a magnificent Parisian church that blends Renaissance styles, but also Romanesque and Gothic.
The porch and the 15th-century rose window are among the most beautiful things to see in Paris, and you’ll also find inside the magnificent 18th-century “Churchwarden’s Pew” (Banc d’œuvre), carved by François-Antoine Vassé, which was reserved for the royal family.
1st Arrondissement of Paris: The Best Places to Visit
There are other things to see in the 1st arrondissement of Paris that are just as interesting, but that I didn’t have time to see all of, and they include:
- La Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection
- Le buste de Molière, a literary location in Châtelet
- St. Eustache Church at Les Halles
- Galerie Véro-Dodat
- La Conciergerie
- Place Vendôme
If you’re into nature and secret spots, you may want to visit the hidden villages of Paris too, as well as its colorful alleys.
If you’re more into history, you’ll love to discover the covered passages of the city, and its Belle Époque cafes and restaurants with Art Nouveau decor!