Urban Bivouac, Tolbiac district

The city of Paris is divided into 20 districts or arrondissements. The arrangement of these districts is circular, starting from the center of the city and expanding outward. At the heart of the city is the Île de la Cité, where the Notre-Dame Cathedral is located, in the 1st arrondissement.

As you may have guessed, the districts in the center of the city are more compact (from the 1st to the 12th), and starting from the 12th arrondissement, you will find yourself moving away from the historic center.

The three-star hotel Urban Bivouac is located in the 13th arrondissement of the capital, in the southeast of Paris. Its ideal location in the Tolbiac district allows you to easily reach any point in Paris within minutes via metro lines 6, 7, or 14, or buses 27, 62, and 64, all conveniently close to the hotel.

By staying at Urban Bivouac in the 13th arrondissement, you can enjoy all of Paris's tourist and commercial attractions while experiencing a pleasant neighborhood where you can feel the authentic Parisian way of life.

The Tolbiac Olympiades district

The Rue de Tolbiac first appeared in the 19th century. This street traverses the entire 13th arrondissement from east to west, stretching from the left bank of the Seine to the 14th arrondissement, passing through all the emblematic neighborhoods of the 13th, starting with Olympiades. As part of the Paris Rive Gauche project, the portion of the street along the Seine to Avenue de France has been renamed Rue Neuve-Tolbiac.

The Olympiades district is one of the capital's iconic areas. And for good reason—it is the largest Asian district in Europe. Between Avenue de Choisy, Avenue d'Ivry, and the périphérique lies Paris’s Chinatown. Neon-lit restaurants stand next to supermarkets selling all sorts of exotic products. The highlight of the community is the Chinese New Year parade with its dragons, traditional costumes, lanterns, and lion dances set to vibrant music.

The neighborhood: the left bank of the Seine

By staying at the Boutique Hotel Urban Bivouac, you can easily explore Paris during the day or evening, as we’ve mentioned. But you can also discover the 13th arrondissement and the adjacent neighborhoods. Close to the Latin Quarter, Rue Mouffetard, Place de la Contrescarpe, the Butte-aux-Cailles, the amphitheater of the Arènes de Lutèce, the entirely rehabilitated former industrial district of Les Gobelins, the Panthéon, or the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève. It’s an ideal starting point in the 13th arrondissement to discover Paris.

Parisians love this lively neighborhood. Couples and curious minds alike come here to explore its markets, bookstores, or visit the splendid nearby gardens like the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Jardin des Plantes.

The neighborhood: Bercy, across the Seine

As you can see, Urban Bivouac Hotel is located very close to the Seine, near the BNF (Bibliothèque nationale de France), where you can take a peaceful evening stroll and experience the City of Light.

Just opposite, on the other bank and less than 2 kilometers from the hotel, lies the 12th arrondissement and Bercy. Highlights include the immense AccorHotels Arena, the SNCF train station, Bercy Village, Cour Saint-Emilion, the Musée des Arts Forains, the Cinémathèque Française, the Ministry of Economy, and the grand Parc de Bercy.

The Bercy neighborhood is easily and quickly accessible by foot, bike, scooter, or within just 2 minutes on metro line 14.