Every autumn, the world’s biggest chocolate event comes to Paris. The Salon du Chocolat 2026 runs from 28 October to 1 November at Porte de Versailles: tastings, chef demonstrations, a fashion show of chocolate dresses and stands from all over the world. Here is the practical information, and why the 13th arrondissement is a smart base for enjoying it.Key takeaways. Salon du Chocolat 2026: from 28 October to 1 November, Pavilion 5, Porte de Versailles (15th), 10 am-7 pm, opening night on 27 October. From the 13th, the T3a tram takes you straight there. Prices on the official ticketing site.Salon du Chocolat 2026: dates, venue and opening hours The show takes place from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, in Pavilion 5 of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, in the 15th arrondissement. Doors are open every day from 10 am to 7 pm. The evening before, on Tuesday 27 October, an opening night launches the edition from 7 pm to 10 pm. For prices and ticket bookings, it’s best to use the show’s official ticketing site, as prices may change from one edition to the next.What to expect The Salon du Chocolat is first and foremost a huge gourmet market: chocolatiers, pastry chefs and cocoa producers from many countries, with plenty to taste and buy. On top of that, there are chef demonstrations and masterclasses, workshops for children and adults, an area dedicated to the origins of cocoa, and the famous fashion show of dresses made from chocolate that closes each day. Allow plenty of time: on a busy weekend, it can get very crowded around the middle of the day.Getting there from the 13th Porte de Versailles is in the 15th, but it’s easy to reach from the 13th. The T3a tram runs along the south of Paris and stops right at Porte de Versailles, avoiding complicated changes. You can stay somewhere quiet in the 13th, reach the show with a single, simple journey, then head back to drop off your purchases without crossing the whole of Paris.B55, your gourmet base in the 13th After a day of tastings, a restful base makes all the difference. A wine-themed hotel, B55 offers quiet rooms, an indoor pool and spa to recover, and a wine bar to round off the evening, chocolate and wine pairing included. All in the 13th, well connected to Porte de Versailles by tram.Your Salon du Chocolat weekend A quiet base in the 13th, with a pool, spa and wine bar, a single tram ride from Porte de Versailles. The All Saints’ weekend books up fast. Book my gourmet stayThe Salon du Chocolat 2026 runs from 28 October to 1 November, and the All Saints’ weekend fills hotels quickly. Book your stay at B55 early to combine a gourmet show with a peaceful neighbourhood.

Every autumn, Paris becomes the world capital of contemporary art for a few days. From 23 to 25 October 2026, Art Basel Paris takes over the Grand Palais for its fifth edition, and the whole city follows suit. Here is what you need to know about the fair, and why the 13th arrondissement is a smart base for enjoying it without breaking the bank.Key takeaways. Art Basel Paris 2026: public days from 23 to 25 October, 11 am-7 pm, at the Grand Palais. Day ticket €47 (free for under-12s), free programme around the Grand Palais. Book early for art week.Art Basel Paris 2026: dates, venue and what’s new The fair opens to the public from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, from 11 am to 7 pm, under the restored glass roof of the Grand Palais. The 21st and 22nd of October are reserved for professionals and collectors. For this fifth edition, the first under the direction of Karim Crippa, more than two hundred galleries from some forty countries are expected. As for tickets, expect to pay €47 for a day ticket, €30 at the reduced rate, with free entry for under-12s. A permanent pass gives access to all three days. Good news for tighter budgets: a free public programme takes place around the Grand Palais, with monumental sculptures on Place Clemenceau and in Square Jean-Perrin. The same week, several satellite fairs complete the picture, from Asia Now to Design Miami Paris.Where to stay during Art Basel: why choose the 13th It’s the rule for Paris’s big events: during art week, hotels in the centre and the west fill up fast and prices climb. Booking early and choosing a slightly off-centre neighbourhood makes all the difference. The 13th ticks those boxes. Quieter and more affordable than the immediate surroundings of the Grand Palais, it remains well connected to the rest of the city: from nearby Denfert-Rochereau station, you can easily reach the Champs-Élysées and the Grand Palais. You enjoy the fair by day, and a real, lively neighbourhood in the evening, away from the tourist crowds.The 13th, an art district in its own right Staying in the 13th for Art Basel has another advantage: the arrondissement has its own art scene, and a significant one. Along Boulevard Vincent-Auriol and the surrounding streets, the street art trail known as “Boulevard Paris 13” features monumental murals by international artists, in the open air and free to view. The Itinerrance gallery, which launched the project, is its anchor point. Close by, the Bibliothèque nationale de France and its exhibitions, Chinatown and the Butte-aux-Cailles round off a walk that naturally extends a day at the fair. Enough to turn a simple trip into a real art weekend.B55, your base for art week For these three days, a comfortable, restful base is a must. A wine-themed hotel, B55 offers quiet rooms, an indoor pool and spa to recover after hours of walking the aisles of the Grand Palais, and a wine bar to round off the evening on site. All in the 13th, a few minutes from transport links to the fair.Your base in the 13th for Art Basel Quiet rooms, pool, spa and wine bar, a few minutes from transport to the Grand Palais. Art week books up fast. Book my Art Basel stayArt Basel Paris 2026 runs from 23 to 25 October, and art week books up fast. To enjoy it without rushing or blowing your budget, settle in the 13th: book your stay at B55 before the area is fully booked.

Autumn is exhibition season in Paris, and the 13th arrondissement is no exception. Between the national library, the Manufacture des Gobelins and its open-air street art museum, the area offers enough for several cultural outings without going far. Here is an overview of where to look, to be completed with the current programme.Key takeaways. This autumn near the 13th: exhibitions at the BnF François-Mitterrand, the Galerie des Gobelins and the Boulevard Paris 13 street art (free). The Fondation Cartier, meanwhile, has moved to the Palais-Royal (1st arrondissement). Check the programmes before you go.The BnF François-Mitterrand, the area’s major venue Set on the banks of the Seine, the Bibliothèque nationale de France spreads its four towers and esplanade across the 13th. Beyond its reading rooms, it puts on exhibitions every season drawn from its collections, from rare books to photography. It’s the most obvious cultural starting point in the area: check what’s on via the BnF website before you go, as the programme changes throughout the year.The Galerie des Gobelins, the art of weaving A few stops away, the Galerie des Gobelins, part of the Mobilier National, hosts rotating exhibitions combining historic pieces and contemporary creations, in a place steeped in more than three centuries of history. You can combine an exhibition visit with, on certain days, a guided tour of the tapestry workshops that are still in operation. Here too, check the current programme before planning your visit.Street art, the permanent open-air exhibition You don’t need a ticket for the biggest gallery in the 13th: it’s out on the street. Along Boulevard Vincent-Auriol and the surrounding streets, the “Boulevard Paris 13” trail features monumental murals by international artists, free to view all year round. An ideal walk between two exhibitions, best enjoyed in the soft autumn light.And the Fondation Cartier, now at the Palais-Royal Worth knowing if you were looking for it in the area: the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain has left the south of Paris and moved to Place du Palais-Royal, in the 1st arrondissement. It remains a major exhibition venue, but it is no longer a 13th arrondissement address. From the area, it’s just a few minutes away by metro, so you can extend a cultural day into the city centre.B55, your cultural base in the 13th Going from one exhibition to the next calls for a well-located base. B55 is in the heart of the 13th, within easy reach of the BnF, the Gobelins and the street art trail, and well connected to the rest of Paris for museums further afield. A wine-themed hotel, it offers quiet rooms, an indoor pool, a spa and a wine bar to unwind between visits.Cultural 13th at your own pace Within reach of the BnF, the Gobelins and the street art, with a pool, spa and wine bar for breaks between exhibitions. Book a cultural stayAutumn flies by and exhibitions change: pick your dates and book your stay at B55 to explore the cultural side of the 13th at your own pace.

A few minutes from Place d’Italie, a discreet institution keeps alive a craft that is more than three centuries old: the Manufacture des Gobelins, where tapestries are still woven by hand for the French state. Here is what you can see there, and why it is one of the most unusual visits in the 13th arrondissement.Key takeaways. 42 avenue des Gobelins, 75013. Gallery open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am-6 pm (closed Mondays), free on the last Sunday of the month. Workshop tours on Saturdays at 3 pm, around €12. Metro line 7, Les Gobelins.What is the Manufacture des Gobelins? Located at 42 avenue des Gobelins, the Manufacture is the historic heart of the Mobilier National, the former royal furniture repository founded in 1663 by Louis XIV and his minister Colbert. Its mission hasn’t changed: making and maintaining the furniture and tapestries of the Republic’s official palaces, from the Élysée to the ministries. Tapestry weaving, which dates back to the 15th century on this site, is still practised here, using techniques handed down from workshop to workshop.What can you see there? Two experiences complement each other. The Galerie des Gobelins hosts rotating exhibitions drawn from the Mobilier National’s collections, where historic pieces sit alongside contemporary creations. The guided workshop tours take you behind the scenes: you can watch the weavers at work, on looms some of which have not changed for generations. Practical information: the Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday during exhibitions, from 11 am to 6 pm, and closed on Mondays. Admission is free on the last Sunday of the month. Workshop tours take place on Saturdays at 3 pm, for around €12 (reduced rate €8). It is best to check the programme and book ahead, as places are limited.Getting there The Manufacture is just a few minutes away: metro line 7, Les Gobelins station, or buses 47 and 83, Banquier stop. From the Place d’Italie area, it’s also a short walk, which you can extend towards the Butte-aux-Cailles or the street art trail on Boulevard Vincent-Auriol.B55, a short walk from the Manufacture Staying in the 13th means having this heritage within walking distance. A wine-themed hotel, B55 offers quiet rooms, an indoor pool, a spa and a wine bar, a few minutes from the Gobelins and well connected to the rest of Paris. An ideal base for combining a cultural visit with a relaxing stay.The heritage of the 13th within walking distance Quiet rooms, pool, spa and wine bar, a few minutes from the Manufacture des Gobelins. Book a stay in the 13thThe Manufacture des Gobelins is one of those places you would never suspect just walking past. Take the time for an exhibition or a workshop tour, then settle in nearby: book your stay at B55 and discover the 13th through its hidden treasures.

In autumn, Parc Montsouris turns gold and copper, and the 13th becomes one of the loveliest corners of Paris for a peaceful stroll. Here is when to come, where to look, and how to combine Montsouris with the area’s other green spots.Key takeaways. The best colours at Montsouris generally run from mid-October to mid-November. Come late in the day on a weekday for the light and the quiet, and carry on to the Cité Florale and the Butte-aux-Cailles. The park is less than a 10-minute walk from B55.When the colours are at their best The most beautiful shades generally appear from mid-October to mid-November, depending on that year’s weather. Pick a sunny late afternoon: the low autumn light sets the foliage ablaze and stretches the shadows across the lawns. In the morning, mist over the lake creates a completely different, softer atmosphere. On weekdays, the park is much quieter than at weekends.Parc Montsouris, the 13th’s landscaped gem Laid out in the 19th century, during the Second Empire, by the engineer Alphand, Montsouris is an English-style landscaped park: winding paths, vast lawns, tall trees of many species and a lake that attracts birds and walkers alike. This variety of trees explains the richness of its autumn colours, from bright yellow to deep red. You can settle by the water, climb the sloping lawns or let the children run around: it’s a park made for wandering.Extending your walk in the neighbourhood Montsouris is just the beginning. A few streets away, the Cité Florale is lined with little lanes of houses and small gardens that take on lovely colours in autumn. The more secluded Square René-Le-Gall offers another quiet patch of greenery. And heading up towards the Butte-aux-Cailles, you go from cobblestones to café terraces for a warm break at the end of your walk. Enough for a whole half-day without leaving the 13th.B55, less than ten minutes from the park To enjoy the colours without wasting time on transport, nothing beats a hotel close by. B55 is less than a ten-minute walk from Parc Montsouris: step outside, walk, and you’re there. When you get back, an indoor pool and spa are waiting to warm you up, along with a wine bar to round off the evening. A wine-themed hotel, it makes an ideal base for an autumn weekend in the 13th.An autumn weekend in the 13th Less than a 10-minute walk from Parc Montsouris, with an indoor pool, spa and wine bar for when you return. Book an autumn stayAutumn only lasts a few weeks: now is the time to make the most of it. Book a stay at B55 and go and admire the colours of Parc Montsouris at your own pace, just a short walk from your room.

“Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!” Every third Thursday in November, the slogan appears in shop windows and glasses are raised all over France. In 2026, it falls on Thursday 19 November. In the 13th arrondissement, between the bars of the Butte-aux-Cailles and a wine-themed hotel, the neighbourhood has everything it needs to celebrate in style.Key takeaways. Beaujolais Nouveau 2026: on sale from Thursday 19 November. To raise a glass in the 13th, head for the bars of the Butte-aux-Cailles, and a wine-themed hotel with a wine bar to carry on the evening on site.Beaujolais Nouveau 2026: when is it? The rule never changes: Beaujolais Nouveau goes on sale on the third Thursday in November, which is 19 November in 2026. This early-release wine, made from the year’s harvest, is meant to be drunk young, fresh and without fuss. It’s less about fine wine than a convivial ritual: friends raise a glass on release day, often late into the evening, to celebrate the new harvest.Butte-aux-Cailles, the place to be that evening To soak up the atmosphere, head to the Butte-aux-Cailles. This hilltop village in the 13th, with its cobblestones, terraces and neighbourhood bars, is one of the liveliest spots in the south of Paris in the evening. It’s the natural place to toast the Beaujolais Nouveau in a friendly, relaxed bar atmosphere, with no need to book. Keep an eye on the chalkboards outside the area’s wine bars: many of them mark the occasion that night.At B55, the wine is already at home No need to go far to raise a glass: at B55, wine is part of the furniture. A wine-themed hotel, it has a wine bar with a self-service wine dispenser, so you can taste by the glass without committing to a whole bottle. On Beaujolais Nouveau night, it’s the perfect place to start, or end, the evening without taking the metro, before heading up to a quiet room.A wine weekend in the 13th Beaujolais Nouveau falls on a Thursday: the ideal excuse for a long weekend in the 13th. Between Thursday evening, a stroll around the Butte-aux-Cailles, the street art trail and dinner in Chinatown, the programme fills up fast. And to recover, B55’s indoor pool and spa are there for you. A wine-themed hotel, quiet rooms, a wine bar: everything you need for a wine lover’s getaway without leaving the arrondissement.The hotel with wine in its DNA Wine bar by the glass, quiet rooms, pool and spa, in the heart of the 13th. Beaujolais night without watching the clock for the last metro. Book a wine weekendOn 19 November 2026, the Beaujolais Nouveau will arrive, and the 13th will be ready to welcome it. To enjoy it to the full without watching the clock for the last metro, book your stay at B55, the hotel with wine already in its DNA.Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Please drink responsibly.

Chaque septembre, la Cité internationale universitaire de Paris retrouve ses milliers d’étudiants venus du monde entier. Emménagement, premiers jours de cours, visite des parents : la rentrée demande souvent une solution d’hébergement à proximité. Voici l’essentiel pour la vivre sereinement, et où se loger tout près dans le 13e.À retenir. La Cité Universitaire est desservie par le RER B et le tram T3a, au sud de Paris, tout près du 13e. Pour l’emménagement, une visite ou un logement d’appoint, le 13e offre une base calme et bien reliée. Réservez tôt : septembre est chargé.La Cité Universitaire, un campus pas comme les autresAu sud de Paris, la Cité internationale universitaire déroule son grand parc et sa quarantaine de maisons et pavillons, chacune rattachée à un pays ou à une école. On y croise un brassage international unique à Paris, des espaces verts ouverts et une ambiance de campus rare dans la capitale. C’est aussi un repère pratique : la station de RER B et le tram T3a desservent directement le site, ce qui relie le quartier au reste de la ville en quelques minutes.Rentrée : les moments où un hébergement proche aide vraimentLa rentrée universitaire concentre plusieurs situations où dormir à côté change tout. À l’emménagement, les parents qui accompagnent leur enfant ont besoin d’une chambre proche pour une ou deux nuits. Avant la remise des clés d’un logement étudiant, un hébergement d’appoint évite de courir d’un bout à l’autre de Paris. Et pour les familles venues de loin ou de l’étranger, un point de chute stable rend ces journées chargées beaucoup plus simples.Le 13e, le bon quartier pour rester à proximitéCollé au secteur de la Cité Universitaire, le 13e est l’arrondissement logique pour se loger sans s’éloigner. Il reste bien relié par le RER B, le tram et le métro, tout en offrant un cadre plus calme et plus abordable que le centre de Paris. On y trouve de quoi vivre au quotidien : commerces, restaurants du quartier chinois, parc Montsouris pour souffler, et un vrai sentiment de quartier plutôt que de zone de passage.Le B55, votre base pour la rentrée et au-delàPour ces séjours, le confort et la souplesse comptent. L’hôtel B55 propose des chambres au calme, dont des chambres familiales jusqu’à quatre personnes pratiques pour les parents, une piscine intérieure et un spa pour décompresser, et des formules adaptées aux séjours plus longs. Le tout dans le 13e, à proximité de la Cité Universitaire et bien desservi.À deux pas de la Cité UniversitaireChambres familiales, piscine et spa, séjours courts ou prolongés, dans le 13e et bien relié par le RER B et le tram.Découvrir les chambres du B55Que vous accompagniez votre enfant pour son installation ou que vous cherchiez un logement d’appoint le temps de la rentrée, mieux vaut réserver tôt : septembre est une période chargée. Découvrez les chambres du B55 et réservez votre séjour près de la Cité Universitaire.