Recommended apartments in the 12th arrondissement of Paris (southeast of Bastille and Gare de Lyon)

This is not an apartment decorated like a shop. It is a shop. At 12 Rue Parrot, a neighborhood grocery store has been renovated into a duplex suite, and the shelves, old scales, and product packaging remain on the walls. Inside, there is a separate bedroom that has been closed off, a bathroom, separate toilets, and a living room with a large sofa bed that serves as a second room, as well as a kitchenette with an oven and fridge. Gare de Lyon is a two-minute walk away, Opéra Bastille is 600 meters away, and the Cote Vert, the old railway line turned elevated green avenue, starts around the corner. The Aligarh Market, one of my favorite markets , is nearby. Note that there is no reception, and that arrivals after 10 p.m. require prior arrangement. I recommend it to a couple who want a night to remember, and not to look for another generic apartment.

An aparthotel from the chain's budget line, offering studios and larger apartments, all with a full kitchenette that allows you to cook and save on dinners out. The standard here is functional and not luxurious, and that's exactly the point: you're paying for space and a kitchen, not a lobby. The Reuilly-Diderot station is nearby, where lines 1 and 8 meet, meaning you can get to Bastille, the Marais, and the Louvre on one line and without changing. Note that the 12th arrondissement is a residential district in nature: quiet and convenient for families, but the major attractions are not within walking distance and you'll need the metro at almost every exit. I've summarized what there is here on the 12th arrondissement attractions page . I recommend it for a family looking for value and not a flashy location.

One-bedroom apartment with a sofa bed on Madagascar Street, a quiet, neighborhood street in the eastern 12th arrondissement, not far from Gare de Lyon. The very high score, 8.7 out of 51 reviews, gives real confidence. The living room includes a sofa bed that increases the occupancy to four, a reasonable solution for a small family who doesn't compromise on the city center. The area around Madagascar Street is quiet and little known to tourists, with local townspeople and not just tourist-oriented businesses. It's worth knowing that the distance to the main attractions is longer than apartments located in the heart of the 12th arrondissement itself.

Apartment on Rue Claude Decan, a quiet and little-known section within walking distance of Bercy and the Arab markets. The score of 8.3 out of 40 reviews maintains a good standard. Managed by the Bluestay chain, which operates several dozen similar apartments in Paris and adheres to a uniform procedure. The area is less well-known to tourists than the 12th arrondissement, with a more ordinary neighborhood character. It is worth knowing that the distance from the tourist center is significant, and it is worth planning a slightly longer travel time.

A two-room apartment from the same group from which I also recommended in the 10th arrondissement, and the same guideline: buildings with character, a fully equipped kitchen including a dishwasher and oven, a washing machine, and an ecological standard given for meeting consumption and sustainability criteria. The owners live in the neighborhood and share real recommendations, not lists from the Internet. The distance from Place de la Bastille is about six hundred meters, that is, a few steps from the Marais to the north and the Gare de Lyon to the east, and it is a particularly convenient junction for those who combine Paris with trips outside the city. Note that there is no reception desk and the entrance is independent by code, and that the hosts charge a deposit in advance. I recommend it for two couples or a family who plans to cook and not eat out every evening.