While the term “Latin Quarter” really only applies to its northern end, this entire arrondissement is full of culture, history, and represents the quintessence of what many consider the typical “Parisian” experience: sipping a glass of wine in a small "bistrot" (i.e. cafe) in the shade of Notre Dame, or browsing through craft shops and antique bookstores in the back streets.

The 5th is a large district which encompasses the Montagne Sainte-Genevieve, on which stands the Sorbonne and the Pantheon, the Rue Mouffetard – one of the last pure market streets left in Paris, the St-Severin quarter bordering the Seine river, the Institut du Monde Arabe (Institute of the Arab World), and the Jardin des Plantes, a large botanical garden.

The 5th is big: it is over 2.5 square kilometers in area, with almost 59,000 inhabitants, but besides the restaurants and boutiques clustered up against the river, most of the arrondissement seems deserted and quiet. Even the chaotic Rue Mouffetard becomes tranquil once the markets close up after noon, and there are few things more relaxing than a casual stroll through the botanical gardens (Jardin des Plantes) on a hot day. One of the best areas from which to get a full view of Notre Dame and the islands.