Any visit to Paris is incomplete without an afternoon of strolling along the mile-long Champs-Elysees. The name means “Elysian fields.” A park-like atmosphere with lush greenery marks part of this famous avenue, which was created in 1670. This verdant portion is the Tuileries Gardens. The street stretches from Place de la Concorde to Arc de Triomphe. You can enjoy it by day and then return by night for a different perspective, as the lights are abundant as are evening dining options. If you don’t mind the 284 steps, the view of Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe is amazing.
Plan on making lots of stops along the way, as Champs-Elysees is home to luxury shops including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Dior and Cartier. The Disney Store, Nike, Virgin Music and Gap also have a presence here. Nearby one can find other familiar names in high-end style such as Gaultier and Hermes. The shops are expensive, but remember that window shopping is free. For actual buying, visitors can find the same luxury merchandise for a lower price by shopping on lesser-known Paris boulevards.
Shopping and dining are not the only thing you will find. The avenue is also home to numerous museums and galleries, ranging from the Museum of Modern Art to the Dapper Museum, which focuses on African art. Less known, but well worth visiting are the Maritime Museum, featuring nautical sculptures and artifacts as well as the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts, founded by industrialist Emile Guimet. Children visiting Paris will likely enjoy the numerous workshops developed with them in mind at the Paris Aquarium, which is also an animation studio.
Walking, shopping, and art viewing all take energy. Not to worry. The Champs-Elysees includes numerous rest and refuel stops, whether one’s taste runs to elegant dining or casual cafe nibbling. Fouquet’s is one of the most well-known restaurants on the Champs Elysees, however many argue that it is not as good as it used to be. Laduree which is only a block away is also very popular – incredible cakes and macaroons. Much to our surprise there is even a McDonald’s with outdoor cafe chairs. One of the more uniquely placed restaurants is Atelier Renault, which is right in the automaker’s showroom! It serves authentic French cuisine. A quick bite and people watching can be had at any of the avenue’s famous outdoor cafes. Of course it’s a prime location, so don’t expect to find an inexpensive meal.
The monuments at either end of the avenue of course warrant their own attention. The Arch of Triumph (Arc de Triomphe) was commissioned by Napoleon and was based on a triumph arch in ancient Rome. Place de la Concorde, meanwhile, stretches 20 acres and is Paris’ largest square. Statues representing various cities grace each corner.
As you can see by the photo the area is quite busy, but with the many trees, flowers, benches and overall ambience as you walk the Champs-Elysees, somehow the traffic seems to disappear.
Arc de Triomphe, Triumphal Arch, Paris, France located at one end of the Champs-Elysees
