Don’t have a friend in Paris to point you to all the best places? You do as a part of our Urbansider Club! Join for free for access to personalized recommendations, downloadable guides, and a monthly newsletter with the latest from Paris as well as our new top addresses and experiences. You’ll also be invited to our exclusive Urbansider events in Paris.
Encompassing the entire 14th arrondissement, from the Gare de Montparnasse on the east to Denfert-Rochereau on the west, up to Vavin on the north and down south to the city limits, this big district has a bit of everything.
Main metro stations in the Montparnasse neighborhood:
- Vavin (Line 4)
- Montparnasse (Lines 4, 6, 12, 13)
- Denfert-Rochereau (Lines 4, 6, RER B)
- Alésia (Line 4)
Life in the Neighborhood
“When we first settled in Paris, we moved into a small flat in the Montparnasse area, on a busy street known as ‘La Rue des Crêpes’ for the numerous little crêperies there. It was our first experience of Paris, and instead of the hostile, rushed, noisy life that we had been dreading — a common fear of Provincial people moving to the capital city — we found a vibrant, friendly neighborhood with an atmosphere and a spirit all of its own. We love to return to reminisce whenever we feel a bit nostalgic about the good ol’ days.
For those first years, the Edgar Quinet metro station was the center of our world. From there, we could see the Montparnasse tower standing like a giant 2001-A-Space-Odyssey-style black monolith at the end of the tree-lined boulevard. The café terraces near the metro station were perhaps the best place in Paris to admire a golden sunset during a summer evening apéro. Our favorite spot was and still is le Café de la Place with its Golden Twenties flair and warm, welcoming atmosphere.”