Belleville neighbourhood
Belleville neighbourhood
3.5
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The area
Neighborhood: Belleville / Père Lachaise
At the eastern edge of Paris lies Belleville / Père Lachaise, an understated wonderland of local treasures. Alongside the world-famous cemetery, family-owned delicatessens and cafés nestle between local stores and establishments. The richness of the population here has created a little Chinatown of Asian restaurants, and the area comes to life at night by a funky underground scene. Façades change from one street to another as one passes from white walled provincial homes to tall blocks and reconverted homes. The whole area is an inspirational mix of people from all corners of the world frequented by artists, students, immigrants, and Parisian families. Once home to supporters of the Paris commune, its rebellious nature is now offset by its rural charms.
How to get there
- Pyrénées • 4 min walk
- Couronnes • 6 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
10,000 within 3 miles
Attractions
4,205 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
77 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
33
Average
15
Poor
10
Terrible
2
angelcat2017
Greater London, UK245 contributions
Apr 2022
Went to Belleville to look at Street Art as it appears to be covered by a lot of walking tours. The main graffiti street is Rue Denoyez, but we were disappointed when we visited as many of the large murals had been painted over and it was mainly tagged. Did walk up to the Parc de Belleville which has a concrete arena where teenagers hang out and some of the street art in this area was "better" but not as good as London and other city tours. Great view over Paris from top of Belleville Park, we felt safe when we visited but would not recommend visiting on your own. Lots of mosaics in the Belvédère de Belleville platform which were good. We combined a visit to Belleville with walk through the backstreets (local food stores, cafes, supermarkets) to the Canal St Martin
Written April 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA16,858 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
I do recommend exploring this area, which has been working class, is in the midst of some change, lots of immigrants, but also some of the new gentry seaking affordable housing. On a steep hillside, so it is work to explore. Some big parks.
Written March 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FlyyBlkGrl
Wolverhampton, UK187 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
I rented an apartment in Belleville with no other experience of the area other than what I had read here on Trip Advisor.
In all honesty, I think Belleville is where Parisians go home to.
It's a relatively quiet neighbourhood, served by two Metro stations (Colonel Fabien on line 2 and Belleville on lines 2 and 11), and is said to be Paris' second Chinatown.
There are plenty of bars, brasseries and restaurants, patisseries and supermarkets - it's pretty much a home from home sort of area where I knew that at a certain hour I could quickly run to the shops and get something (there's a Lidl along Boulevard de la Villette).
Some reviewers have mentioned that they didn't feel safe in Belleville, but I didn't experience that during my stay here, although I totally understand that the small crowds of people (hawkers) outside Belleville station and countless streetwalkers (they're fairly harmless and tend not to approach you) can be off-putting and somewhat intimidating.
With Belleville situated towards the outskirts of Paris, I found a distinct lack of Parisians who spoke English, but this forced the opportunity for me to actually use what little GCSE French I could remember, and to be honest I didn't fare too badly!
If you want to experience Paris with real Parisians going about their daily doings, then Belleville is a good place to do that. Check out the local market (on a Saturday) where fresh produce and clothing are on sale at very reasonable prices.
It's not touristy in the slightest, and it was nice to get back there after a day of being jostled and haggled with.
In all honesty, I think Belleville is where Parisians go home to.
It's a relatively quiet neighbourhood, served by two Metro stations (Colonel Fabien on line 2 and Belleville on lines 2 and 11), and is said to be Paris' second Chinatown.
There are plenty of bars, brasseries and restaurants, patisseries and supermarkets - it's pretty much a home from home sort of area where I knew that at a certain hour I could quickly run to the shops and get something (there's a Lidl along Boulevard de la Villette).
Some reviewers have mentioned that they didn't feel safe in Belleville, but I didn't experience that during my stay here, although I totally understand that the small crowds of people (hawkers) outside Belleville station and countless streetwalkers (they're fairly harmless and tend not to approach you) can be off-putting and somewhat intimidating.
With Belleville situated towards the outskirts of Paris, I found a distinct lack of Parisians who spoke English, but this forced the opportunity for me to actually use what little GCSE French I could remember, and to be honest I didn't fare too badly!
If you want to experience Paris with real Parisians going about their daily doings, then Belleville is a good place to do that. Check out the local market (on a Saturday) where fresh produce and clothing are on sale at very reasonable prices.
It's not touristy in the slightest, and it was nice to get back there after a day of being jostled and haggled with.
Written August 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
quetzal feathers
London, UK66 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
We came to this area after reading the reviews it was trendy with street art. Definitely not the case, dodgy people as soon as you leave the station, you need to be very streetwise, which is not a nice feeling when you’re on holidays. It felt dirty, street art we found was all damaged with awful graffitis and tags but most of all, felt unsafe and dangerous. It’s not the place you want to be if you’re a couple or specially a single woman. And avoid parc de Belleville if you like to live. Felt so unsafe we actually left 5 minutes later, park filled with lots of groups of dodgy men , covering strategic places and exits , we were actually scared of leaving the park. Not a nice experience , we were looking forward to come here . We are from London, so there’s nothing really that scares me much, we are used to many things but weren’t expecting this at all. Awful . Avoid!
Written February 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tracey k
Redmond, WA635 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
I have visited Paris 4 times over the years, and this time I decided to stay in and explore Belleville. The neighborhood provided all that I was looking for: a real living neighborhood, ethnic diversity, and things to do. As a single, middle aged, american woman, I had no problems and never felt unsafe. I explored Buttes du Chaumont (plenty of joggers, dogwalkers, and 3 Chinese exercise/dancd groups), Belleville Park for view, street art rue denoyez, and pop up street market on Belleville ave. In short, if you are interested in a less touristed area, Belleville worth a visit
Written July 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LKM
New York City, NY240 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
This partly immigrant neighborhood bustles with energy and features many ethnic restaurants. There is an extensive and popular market on certain days..food is fresh and cheaper than in more trendy arrondissements. The Triplettes de Belleville bistro had great tapas and a front row seat on the lively boulevard.
Written April 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ilGrec0
Thessaloniki Region, Greece671 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
A strange coincidence was the reason to stay in Belleville this time. Trying to learn french through podcasts the e-teacher said that Belleville is really beautiful and definitely worth visiting, since it is her favorite neighborhood in Paris. We booked a Hotel within Belleville and as we arrived, we naturally had high expectations. Our Hotel was just in the north-eastern part of Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise (in the southern part of Belleville) and the surrounding area was really nice and very lively, especially at night-time. However, as we moved to the north and entered the heart of Belleville, we were rather dissapointed. The park of Belleville was nothing special, the shops without any "character", the streets busy and ugly looking. Overall, it was a disaster, at least for our taste. Maybe, it would be (or is) the next "big" think in Paris, but the only reason to re-visit Belleville is for the lovely Hotel we stayed in.
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seelenwahnsinn
Farroupilha, RS31 contributions
Jun 2013 • Solo
After visiting the Parc de Belleville, which is a great place, I decided to walk from there to Park des Buttes Chaumont, but as I went down the park and got in the first street, I immediately regretted my decision. The streets are dirty and tagged, and the people I've found along the way were not looking very friendly at all. This was the only place in the whole Paris I've felt unsafe and actually feared being mugged. I would recommend avoiding the area, or visiting with a big group.
Written July 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samir S
Bristol, UK301 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
I booked an AirBNB studio in Belleville (near Jourdain metro stop) and really enjoyed my time here. There is a bus (26) which brings you directly into the area from the Gare du Nord and it's a half hour walk to busy Republique. The streets have plenty of character and there are lots of neighborhood restaurants and small grocery shops which are open late and on Sundays. I disagree that it feels unsafe - I never once felt threatened. It seems that all races and nationalities live happily together here and there is a really interesting history to this part of Paris. The Parc de Belleville has lovely views over Paris and from there you can easily walk to Pere Lachaise cemetery. Unlike many other parts of Paris, you get the sense that real Parisians live and work here and you will not hear English spoken much.
Written March 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lizzardooo
277 contributions
May 2019 • Family
Stumbled on this area because I attended a “cupping” tasting at Belleville Coffee (highly recommend the cupping tour). Across the street was a delicious Ethiopian restaurant called Restaurant Itegue Taitu (highly recommend) where we ate a delicious lunch. Everyone who walked by us said hello and it made us feel welcome in the neighborhood. We strolled through this cool & vibrant neighborhood and found murals, parks and canals. It was our last day in Paris and it was the perfect place to spend our last day.
Written June 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TourEiffelTrois
Connecticut18 contributions
I was wondering if someone could help me sort out the Belleville neighborhood. I'm a woman traveling alone. I'll be taking classes during the day, but want a neighborhood to come home to. The Air B&B ads mention Buttes-Chaumont, Belleville, Memilmontant, etc and they sometimes use these terms to make their place more appealing.so I will have to look at these listings street by street. I am not looking for uber-hip (Memilmontant?) or overly-peaceful. Rather, I want a safe neighborhood with character (typical French architecture, not hi-rises), a place with local cafes where I can hang out. Is that Belleville? And what streets form the boundaries? Is there a metro smack in the middle that I can use as a starting point? Is Butte Chaumont too far a hike? I appreciate all of your advice! Many thanks.
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Claim your listingBelleville neighbourhood - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Belleville neighbourhood
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Belleville neighbourhood:
- Belleville Street Art Tour with an Artist (From $42.21)
- Paris Street Art Walking Tour (From $84.43)
- Food tour Belleville Off the Beaten Path 10:30 am (From $99.98)
- Private Street Art 2-Hour Guided Tour in Paris (From $67.76)
- Off-The-Beaten-Track Private Walking Tour (From $238.84)
- Hotels near Belleville neighbourhood:
- (0.16 mi) Hotel Scarlett
- (0.13 mi) The Loft Boutique Hostel & Hotel
- (0.20 mi) Hôtel de la Mare
- (0.16 mi) Hotel Des Pyrenees
- (0.30 mi) The People - Paris Belleville
- Restaurants near Belleville neighbourhood:
- (0.03 mi) Moncoeur Belleville
- (0.05 mi) Le Vieux Belleville
- (0.04 mi) Les Bols d’Antoine
- (0.15 mi) L'Artisan Libanais
- (0.09 mi) Floréal Bellevile
- Attractions near Belleville neighbourhood:
- (0.02 mi) Belvédère De Belleville
- (0.10 mi) Parc de Belleville
- (0.12 mi) Fresque Kamlaurene
- (0.15 mi) Fresque Bulles
- (0.16 mi) Fresque Cristata Park02