Best Neighborhoods for American Expats in Paris
16th Arrondissement (Passy, Auteuil)
Traditionally the most American-friendly area. Near the American School of Paris (Saint-Cloud), international schools, embassies. Quiet, family-friendly, expensive. Best for families.
8th Arrondissement (Champs-Élysées)
Business hub. Home to many US multinationals, AmCham France, luxury brands, and the US Embassy area. Less residential but great for networking proximity.
6th & 7th Arrondissements (Saint-Germain)
Historic American literary neighborhood — Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein. Elegant, central, walkable. Popular with academics, writers, and young professionals.
10th & 11th (Canal Saint-Martin, Oberkampf)
The startup and creative hub. Station F nearby in 13th. Younger crowd, vibrant café culture, international tech community. More affordable than western Paris.
Suburbs: Neuilly, Saint-Cloud, Versailles
Larger homes, better schools, calmer lifestyle. Popular with American families who commute. Near the American School of Paris (Saint-Cloud). The "suburbs" in the American sense.
La Défense
Paris's business district. Many Americans work here for US multinationals. Less of a residential choice, but easy RER/Metro access to all Paris neighborhoods.
American & International Communities in Paris
AmCham France — American Chamber of Commerce
The premier Franco-American business network. Monthly events, forums, working groups. The most important professional network for Americans in business in France.
WICE — Paris International Community
Founded 1979. Cultural events, language exchanges, social mixers, and networking for the international community in Paris. Very American-friendly.
Americans in Paris Network
Expat community platform with events, forums, and resources specifically for Americans living in Paris.
Democrats Abroad — France Chapter
Active political community, social events, and absentee voting support for Americans in France
AARO — Association of Americans Resident Overseas
Advocacy organization for the rights and interests of Americans living abroad
American Life in Paris: Practical Guide
American Grocery Items
La Grande Épicerie (Le Bon Marché), Thanksgiving (rue Charles-Dickens 16th), Real McCoy, Galeries Lafayette Gourmet. For peanut butter, maple syrup, Thanksgiving supplies and other essentials.
US TV & Media
US Netflix works with a VPN. Hulu and HBO Max now work without VPN in France. Sling TV International for live US news. Most American movies and shows arrive in France within days of US release.
English-Speaking Doctors
American Hospital of Paris (Neuilly), Hôpital Franco-Britannique (Levallois), Centre Médical Europe (9th). US Embassy list of English-speaking doctors at fr.usembassy.gov.
US Mail & Packages
Use a US mail forwarding service (USMailExchange, MyUS, PostScan Mail) to maintain a US address for banks, government correspondence, and US online shopping. US retailers often don't ship to France.
American Holidays in Paris
Thanksgiving: celebrated at numerous Paris restaurants and American homes. 4th of July: AmCham events, US Embassy garden party, American Cathedral celebration. Halloween: increasingly celebrated in Paris.
Facebook Groups & Online Communities
"Americans in Paris" Facebook group (30,000+ members), "Expats in Paris," "American Moms in Paris," "Paris Expats" — invaluable for local advice, recommendations, and community connections.
Latest Paris Expat News
Full Weekly Digest →Schools in Paris
American and international schools