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15 Best Things to Do Near the Champs-Élysées in Paris
Updated by Jordan on 8/12/2019 and Farah on 10/02/2022
The Champs Elysées is probably the most famous avenue in Paris. It is located in the middle of West-Paris and as such, there are many things to do near the Champs Elysees.
1. Visit the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais Museums
Photo COurtesy of le Grand Palais – Sourced from their website
The Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, the “Big Palace” and “Small Palace”, are two museums located just next to the Champs Elysées (more information about exhibitions). You should visit them – it’s one of the best things to do near Champs Elysées. They were both built in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. The Grand Palais houses temporary exhibitions as well as a science museum, the “Palais de la Découverte”. The Petit Palais, which is just across the street, features paintings, drawings and artifacts.
Both museums are also worth seeing for their beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture (learn more about Parisian architecture)! If you happen to visit Paris in winter time, the Grand Palais is transformed into a giant ice skating rink. You can ice skate under the giant dome and enjoy festive music and lights too.
And at the Petit Palais, you can also enjoy their café. Sophisticated French dining in a classic Parisian spot. Oh, and they have craft cocktails, too! Hard to resist after a long day of sightseeing.
practical information:
le grand palais – 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris
LE PETITE PALAIS – Avenue Winston-Churchill 75008 Paris
metro station: champs-elysées clemenceau
opening hours: GRAND PALAIS – TEMPORARILY CLOSED. le petit palais -10AM-6PM; CLOSED MONDAYS
2. Don’t miss the Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde – Photo sourced from Wikimedia Commons
The Concorde is a very important square in Paris, you will find it at the end of the Champs Elysées. Among the things to do near Champs Elysées, you should definitely not miss it. It was where King Louis XVI was executed during the French revolution.
As you arrive at the square, you will see the National Assembly on your right, with a colonnade. On your left stands the Hôtel Crillon, one of the most luxurious hotels in Paris. At the end of the avenue on your right, you can see another colonnade: it is the façade of the Madeleine Church.
practical information:
place de la concorde 75001 paris
metro station: concorde
3. Check out the Luxor Obelisk
Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Located at the end of the Champs-Élysées on the east in the middle of the Concorde square. It is believed to be the oldest monument in Paris! The obelisk is flanked by two ornate fountains – made famous by their cameo in the hit film The Devil Wears Prada! A striking monument that is quite tall, it does stand out from the rest of the area. The obelisk is 22.83 metres in height and is flanked by two beautiful fountains designed by Jacques Ignace Hittorff.
The obelisk is adorned with hieroglyphs and has a gold-leaf top. The obelisk is over 22 metres tall, weighs in at around 250 tons. Aside from the gold top, near the base you can see some gold as well. It is actually one of pair of two obelisks that was positioned outside the Luxor temple in Thebes that is now known as Luxor. It was built during the reign of Ramses II. It was gifted to Paris by the Ruler of Ottoman Egypt and it arrived in France in 1833 after a perilous sea journey. And it was on 25 October of that year that the obelisk was raised in the square, watched on by King Louis-Philippe I and curious Parisians.
practical information:
Pl. de la Concorde, 75008 Paris, France
metro station: concorde
4. Climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe
Photo by Les Anderson on Unsplash
Located at the other end of the avenue, the Arc de Triomphe is another Parisian landmark that stands on the list of things to do near Champs Elysées. It was commissioned by the French Emperor Napoleon but only finished long after his reign (read more about the Paris of Napoleon).
It commemorates French military victories and French soldiers who died in battle. Under the arc is buried the “unknown soldier“, in memory of all dead soldiers. I recommend climbing to the top of the Arc de Triomphe: the view over Paris, over Champs Elysées, the Tuileries and over the Louvre, is really worth it! If you want to avoid the queue, you can choose to purchase skip the line tickets (more information there with Tickets).
practical information:
arc de triomphe – place charles de gaulle 75008
metro station: charles de gaulle etoile
opening hours: open daily 10AM-10.30PM
tickets: 13€ regular admission, free for E.U. residents under 18
5. Go to Invalides
By Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
The Invalides is another of the things to do near Champs Elysées. This is where the French Emperor Napoleon is buried. The building also includes a church, a war museum (read more about Paris during World War II), and a military hospital, the latter not being open to the public.
The avenue in front of the building, that goes across the Alexandre III bridge up to the Champs Elysées, is one of my favorite spots in Paris: on one side you can see the Alexandre III bridge, the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais. On the other side, you can see the Invalides with its golden dome and its cannons.
After visiting the impressive Army museum and spotting Napoleon’s gilded dome, why not head for a picnic in the field nearby. Esplanade des Invalides has a view overlooking the Invalides, the river and even the Eiffel Tower in some places; making it a popular place to picnic, or just chill out in Paris.
practical information:
LES invalides – 129 rue de grenelle 75007 paris
metro station: invalides
opening hours: april to october open daily 10AM-6PM
november to march open daily 10AM//5PM
tickets: 14€ full price, free for E.U. residents under 18
6. Do some (window) shopping on Avenue Montaigne
Photo by Celette on Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for more expensive boutiques and high end products, the Montaigne Avenue is a good place to consider. It is less crowded than the Champs Elysées and will give you a good glimpse of the chic ambiance of the Right Bank in Paris. Avenue Montaigne is still a popular shopping street in Paris, and has all of the most famous designer brands. The window displays are known for being extravagant, especially during the Christmas season. So even if you’re just looking, visiting this famous Avenue can be a real treat.
If you are looking for shopping advice in Paris, read our guide. And if you don’t want to miss any information about the Right Bank landmarks, you can join our free (tip-only) and daily walking tour. Learn more here!
practical information:
Av. Montaigne 75008 Paris, France
metro station: george V
7. Stroll across the Seine via Pont Alexandre III
If you’re looking for the most beautiful and ornate bridge in Paris, head to the Pont Alexandre III, just a quick hop from the Champs-Elysées. This bridge is one of Paris’ newest, constructed in 1900. It is most recognizable for its tall gold-topped statues flanking either side, and the ornate gold detail work throughout.
This bridge connects the Left and Right banks at Invalides, which is another great thing to do near the Champs-Elysées. You will have an excellent view of Paris from the bridge, but the real gem is discovering the bridge itself.
practical information:
Pont Alexandre III, 75008 Paris, France
metro station: invalides
8. Have Lunch or Dinner at the Pavillon Elysée
Photo Courtesy of Pavillon Eleysée – Sourced from their website
The Pavillon Elysée is located at 10, avenue des Champs Elysées. Being in the lower half of the avenue, the Venetian style buildings is surrounded by trees and a small garden, which can be great while eating in the veranda.
There are so many things to do near Champs Elysées that you might get a little tired. So the Pavillon Elysée is a good place to take a break with a good meal. You’ll find traditional French fare in an upscale setting. There are several different options, or formules including an excellent tea time. The desserts there are also particularly good!
practical information:
pavillon elysée – 10 avenue des champs-elysées 75008 paris
metro station: champs-elysées clemenceau
opening hours: open daily 8AM-midnight
10. Take a Stroll in the Jardin des Champs-Élysées
Jardin des Champs-Élysées, Paris. Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
The beautiful 17th century gardens Jardin des Champs-Élysées were landscaped by André Le Notre in 1667. In a tranquil setting, you will discover gorgeous fountains, splendid theatres, palaces and statues. Some of these historical buildings have now been converted to upscale restuarants such as the Pavillon Elysée, mentioned above.
The gardens are situated between the roundabout of the Champs-Elysees-Marcel-Dassault and the Avenue Franklin D Roosevelt to the west and the Place de la Concorde to the east and the Seine to the south. It includes within its boundaries the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais too. The gardens can be considered one of the first parks in the city and has beautiful fountains in it, such as the Fountaine des Ambassadeurs and Fountaine du Cirque.
It was the site of the Paris International Exposition of 1855 and an important part of the Paris Universal Exposition of 1900, for which the Grand Palais and Petit Palaces were created. The area is spread over an area of around a huge area of 13 hectares. It’s a fantastic place to sit and relax in the shade of the trees. It is a great alternative to Tuileries gardens as it’s less crowded!
practical information
10 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France
metro station: champs-elysées clemenceau or concorde
11. Catch a Play or Show at a Théâtre
Theatre Marigny, Paris. Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Not far from the Champs-Elysées are two amazing performing arts and a comedy show venues: the Théâtre Marigny, the Théâtre du Rond-Point and the Comédie & Studio des Champs-Elysées. All three are housed in beautiful buildings with great stages and comfortable seating. The Théâtre du Rond-Point even has a great restaurant inside. Check out their websites for the programmings and ticket information, depending on the show.
practical information:
Théâtre Marigny: Carré Marigny, 75008 Paris, France
Théâtre du Rond-Point: 2Bis Av. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 75008 Paris, France
Comédie & Studio des Champs-Elysées.: 15 Av. Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France
metro station: Comédie & Studio des Champs-Elysées or the franklin d. Roosevelt
12. Try some Traditional French Macarons at Ladurée
Photo by Andreas Dress on Unsplash
Another French delight is waiting to be discovered on the Champs-Elysées. If you haven’t tried macarons yet, you’re in for a real treat at Maison Ladurée. The pastry and tea house has been making their famous light and airy cookies for nearly two hundred years.
There’s a flavor for everyone at Ladurée, from traditional strawberry, chocolate and pistachio to more out of the box offerings like cotton candy or sour cherry. My suggestion is to stop in and enjoy a cup of tea on their heated terrace – this is the perfect way to refuel amidst a day of sightseeing.
practical information:
75 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France
metro station: george V
opening hours: open daily 8AM-9PM
13. Experience a Parisian Night Out
Photo Courtesy of Raspoutine nightclub – Uploaded by them
One of the best things to do near the Champs-Elysées is to experience a night out in Paris. Many popular Parisian nightclubs are located within walking distance of the famous avenue. In fact, the majority of Parisian clubs are in this neighborhood! Whether you’re looking for glamour or all-out adventure, there’s a nightclub near the Champs-Elysées for you. So dress to impress and get ready to dance the night away in Paris.
For the most luxurious Parisian nightclubs, have a look at this article.
14. Explore the Parc Monceau
Photo sourced from Parisinfo.com
The stunning Parc Monceau is an expansive park located just a ten-minute walk from the Champs-Elysées. If you’re looking for a little escape from the hustle and bustle, this is an excellent place to explore. The park is filled with green spaces and waterfalls and trees line the entire perimeter.
There’s plenty for families to do here too – a covered play set will be a favorite for older kids, and youngsters can enjoy pony rides, a merry -go-round and live events like puppet shows. Then there’s a couple snack shacks in the park which serve up crêpes, ice cream and waffles – perfect for the whole family.
practical information:
parc monceau – 38 boulevard des courcelles 750008
metro station: monceau or courcelles
opening hours: open daily 7AM//5PM
15. Try some Local Food Joints
If you want to experience some upscale French restaurants and food, there are plenty of great places in this area such as the L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Étoile, a Michelin star restaurant or the Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenée. Get ready to spend the big bucks and make reservations beforehand.
But, you should try some local street food such as crepes, galettes, cheese, baguettes and snacks. Of course, Paris is a cosmopolitan city and has tons of foods options from around the world. You can try tasty dim sums at Mum Dim Sum, located a few minutes away from Parc Monceau, mentioned above. Alternatively, you can head to the riverbanks of the Seine to enjoy some simple steak and fries at Bistrot Alexandre III. Not far from the Pont de la Concorde bridge, try some Breton crepes & savory galettes, or fast food such as waffles with draft beer at Food Breizh, a simple kiosk at the Seine. Futher away, at Mozza & Co, you can enjoy a nice evening of wine, cheese or assortment of sandwiches.
You now know some of the things to do near Champs Elysées. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that it has been useful! Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information about anything! See you soon in Paris!
