Excellence Luxury Villas · Île de la Cité
Luxury Apartments on and around Île de la Cité
Apartments and townhouses where Paris began, with Notre-Dame at one end of the island and the Pont Neuf at the other
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The island in the Seine where Paris was born
Long before there was a Paris, there was this boat-shaped island in the Seine. The Parisii settled here, the Romans built Lutetia around it, and the kings of France ruled from its palace for centuries. Today it sits within the Banks of the Seine World Heritage Site, and a bronze plaque outside Notre-Dame marks point zéro, from which distances in France are still measured.
Our collection runs to 60+ homes on the island itself and in the old streets just across its bridges, on both banks. Most are apartments, from one-bedroom pieds-à-terre near Saint-Michel to family apartments of three and four bedrooms, with a handful of townhouses for larger parties.
Here is how the island works, where to stay around it and when to come.
Île de la Cité at a glance
- Apartments
- 60+ on and around the island, with up to 5 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,200 to £6,800 a week, from around £2,700
- Highlights
- Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, Place Dauphine and the Pont Neuf
- Best time
- April to June and September to October, when the quays are at their best
- Getting there
- Eurostar to Gare du Nord, then Métro line 4 direct to Cité; RER B from Charles de Gaulle
Browse all 60+ properties in Île de la Cité
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Chateau Parvis Paris: Elegant 5-Bedroom Townhouse in Historic Paris – Ile de la Cite5 bedrooms
Chateau Lutetia Paris: Luxury 5-Bedroom Townhouse for Family Stays – Ile de la Cite5 bedrooms
Villa Aurore Parvis Notre-Dame Ile de la Cite: Luxury 4-Bedroom Family Apartment with Courtyard – Ile de la Cite4 bedrooms
Villa Safran Saint-Michel Ile de la Cite: Elegant 2-Bedroom Apartment with Historic Charm – Ile de la Cite2 bedroomsWhere to stay in Île de la Cité
The island itself for Notre-Dame and the Seine on every side, the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain across the Left Bank bridges, and Le Marais and Île Saint-Louis a short stroll east.
A cathedral restored, and the Romans underneath
Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024, five and a half years after the fire, and the cleaned stone now looks almost new. Entry is free. Since September 2025 you can climb the towers again too: 424 steps up to the gargoyles, with one of the best views over the river.
Beneath the square in front, the Crypte Archéologique shows Roman walls and the foundations of the medieval streets that once crowded around the cathedral. Behind it, Square Jean XXIII is the place to look at the flying buttresses with a little less company. The east end of the island is where the cathedral crowds gather, so for a quiet morning, go early.
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Stained glass, a royal prison and the oldest bridge
Sainte-Chapelle was consecrated in 1248, built by Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns. On a bright day the upper chapel is almost entirely coloured glass, and the evening concerts held there are worth booking. Next door is the Conciergerie, the old royal palace that became a Revolutionary prison, where Marie Antoinette was held in 1793.
Further west, Place Dauphine is a leafy triangle of cafés laid out under Henri IV. Then comes the Pont Neuf, finished in 1607 and now the oldest standing bridge in Paris. Steps below it lead down to Square du Vert-Galant, a willow-shaded point at the tip of the island and the city's best place for a picnic at dusk.
Browse apartments near the Louvre
The Left Bank, the Marais and the smaller island
Many of our homes sit just over the water, which is often the cleverer choice. On the Left Bank, the lanes around Saint-Séverin and Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, one of the oldest churches in Paris, lead to Shakespeare and Company and the market on Place Maubert. Saint-Germain is a short walk west along the quays.
Cross the Pont d'Arcole and you are in reach of the Marais and the Pompidou Centre. Cross the footbridge behind Notre-Dame and you are on Île Saint-Louis, which is quieter and more residential, with a queue for Berthillon ice cream on most summer afternoons.
Browse apartments in the Latin Quarter
Where to eat, and when to come
The island has a café or two worth knowing, but most of the cafés by the cathedral serve whoever is passing. The better tables are a few minutes away over the bridges: bistros in the Latin Quarter, wine bars in the Marais, and the brasseries of Saint-Germain.
Spring and early autumn are the best seasons, with soft light on the stone and room to walk the quays. Summer brings Paris Plages to the riverbanks and the Fête de la Musique on 21 June, along with the biggest crowds. Winter is cold, but Notre-Dame at Christmas is quite something. Our concierge can book restaurant tables, private guides and Seine cruises.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Île de la Cité
Villa Crepuscule Conciergerie Ile de la Cite: Elegant 2-Bedroom Apartment with Family-Friendly Features – Ile de la Cite2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £7,364 a week
Villa Zenith Pont-Neuf Ile de la Cite: Elegant 2-Bedroom Luxury House in Central Paris – Ile de la Cite2 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £7,301 a week
Villa Crepuscule Sainte-Chapelle Ile de la Cite: Elegant 3-Bedroom Apartment with Seine Views – Ile de la Cite3 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £7,091 a week
Chateau Notre-Dame Paris: Elegant 2-Bedroom Townhouse with Air-Con – Ile de la Cite2 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,846 a week
Chateau Pont Neuf: Elegant 2-Bedroom Apartment with Eiffel Tower Views – Paris2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £6,832 a week
Villa Crepuscule Vert-Galant Ile de la Cite: Elegant 2-Bedroom Townhouse with Air-Con – Ile de la Cite2 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,755 a week
Villa Safran Saint-Andre Ile de la Cite: Luxury 2-Bedroom Apartment with Elegant Interiors – Ile de la Cite2 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,748 a week
Villa Nacre Pont-au-Change Ile de la Cite: Elegant 3-Bedroom Apartment for Families – Ile de la Cite Paris3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,412 a weekWhy book your apartment in Île de la Cité with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
The island is small but very mixed: a home on a quiet quai and one on a street full of cathedral crowds can be two minutes apart, and we know which is which. With 60+ properties in Île de la Cité, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Restaurant reservations, private guides for Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, tickets for evening concerts, Seine cruises, babysitters and transfers from Gare du Nord and the airports. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to stay on Île de la Cité or just across the bridges?
The island puts Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle on your doorstep, but much of it is taken up by the cathedral, the law courts and the police headquarters, and it is busy by day. The streets just across the bridges, around Saint-Michel, Saint-Séverin and Maubert, have more restaurants and shops while still being a short walk from the island.
When is the best time to visit Île de la Cité?
April to June and September to October are best, with mild weather and fewer people. July and August are the busiest months. Mornings are the quietest time of day around Notre-Dame.
Do I need to book to visit Notre-Dame?
Entry to the cathedral is free, and you can usually just turn up, but reserving a free timed slot on the official website helps you skip the longest queues. Climbing the towers needs a paid ticket, which should be booked online in advance.
Can you arrange a private chef at a apartment in Île de la Cité?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Île de la Cité cost?
Across our 60+ properties in Île de la Cité, weekly rates typically range from £3,200 to £6,800, with the most affordable from around £2,700 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Île de la Cité from London?
The Eurostar from St Pancras reaches Paris Gare du Nord in around two and a quarter hours, and Métro line 4 runs directly from there to Cité station on the island. From Charles de Gaulle airport, the RER B goes straight to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. Our concierge can arrange private transfers instead.
Are there apartments in Île de la Cité for large groups?
Yes. Our Île de la Cité collection includes properties with up to 5 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your apartment in Île de la Cité
60+ apartments and townhouses by the Seine in the heart of Paris, with our concierge on hand