Staying near the Champs-Élysées: A Guide to Avenue Marceau

What staying here is like

The streets around Avenue Marceau are lined with Haussmann-era buildings, offices and hotels. They are busy with people working nearby during the day and grow noticeably quieter in the evening, away from the Champs-Élysées.

Practical benefits

• The Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées and the Seine are all within walking distance.
• Three metro stations nearby, with direct trains to the Louvre, the Opéra district and other central sights.
• Wide avenues that are pleasant to walk, especially down towards the river.
• From the upper floors, including Petit Marceau’s, the Eiffel Tower appears above the rooftops.

Honest considerations

• The Champs-Élysées is one of the busiest avenues in Paris. Expect crowds at weekends and during the holidays, and street closures for big occasions such as the 14 July parade or New Year’s Eve.
• Cafés and restaurants on the major avenues tend to be expensive; the side streets usually offer more everyday options.
• It is partly a business district: some shops close at weekends, and some close for part of August.
• Many older metro stations have stairs and no lift. If you are traveling with heavy luggage or reduced mobility, check accessibility before you go.

Nearby sights

The Arc de Triomphe

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 and completed in 1836, the Arc de Triomphe stands at the center of Place Charles-de-Gaulle, where twelve avenues meet. Beneath it lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, whose flame is rekindled every evening. Don’t try to cross the roundabout: use the underground passage from the top of the Champs-Élysées. A ticket gives access to the rooftop terrace and its view down the avenues; check the official website for opening times.

The Champs-Élysées

The avenue runs for about 1.9 km between Place Charles-de-Gaulle and Place de la Concorde. Its upper half is lined with flagship stores, cinemas and cafés; lower down, towards Concorde, it opens onto gardens near the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais. Nearby Avenue Montaigne and Avenue George V are known for fashion houses and grand hotels.

The Seine and Place de l’Alma

At the bottom of Avenue Marceau, Place de l’Alma opens onto the Seine. The Pont de l’Alma offers a clear view of the Eiffel Tower, and the Zouave statue on its pier has long served Parisians as an informal gauge of the river’s floods. River cruises leave from the bank beside the bridge. On the square stands the Flame of Liberty, a full-size replica of the flame of the Statue of Liberty.

Museums close by

Along Avenue du Président-Wilson are the Palais Galliera, the City of Paris fashion museum, and the Palais de Tokyo, which houses a contemporary art center and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. Further on, the Trocadéro gardens face the Eiffel Tower across the river.

Arc de Triomphe (Centre des monuments nationaux)

Getting around

Three stations serve the area:

• George V (Métro line 1), on the Champs-Élysées. Line 1 crosses Paris from west to east, with direct trains to Concorde, the Louvre (Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre), Hôtel de Ville, Bastille and Gare de Lyon, and to La Défense in the other direction.
• Alma-Marceau (Métro line 9), at the bottom of Avenue Marceau, for the Trocadéro and the department stores around Havre-Caumartin.
• Charles de Gaulle–Étoile, at the Arc de Triomphe: Métro lines 1, 2 and 6 and RER A, which runs to Auber (near the Opéra), Châtelet–Les Halles, Gare de Lyon and, on one of its branches, Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy for Disneyland Paris.

Across the Pont de l’Alma, the Pont de l’Alma station on RER C is useful for the Musée d’Orsay and Versailles.

From the airports

From Charles de Gaulle airport, take RER B to Châtelet–Les Halles and change for RER A to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile. From Orly, Métro line 14 runs to Gare de Lyon and Châtelet, where you can change for line 1. Taxis are available at both airports.

Tickets are sold at station machines and in the RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités apps. Routes, works and fares change regularly, so check the official journey planners before you travel.

RATPÎle-de-France Mobilités

A neighborhood walk

A relaxed loop from Avenue Marceau that links the area’s main sights. It is easy to shorten or reverse, and pleasant in the early morning or towards sunset.

1. Walk up Avenue Marceau to Place Charles-de-Gaulle and take the underground passage at the top of the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe.
2. Head down the Champs-Élysées as far as Avenue George V.
3. Turn right onto Avenue George V and follow it past the American Cathedral in Paris down to Place de l’Alma.
4. Step onto the Pont de l’Alma for the view of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower, then come back past the Flame of Liberty.
5. Follow Avenue du Président-Wilson past the Palais de Tokyo and the Palais Galliera. Carry on to the Trocadéro if you want a wider view of the Eiffel Tower.
6. Return to Avenue Marceau, passing the Église Saint-Pierre-de-Chaillot.

Cafés, bakeries and everyday shopping

Cafés line the major avenues, but the side streets between the Champs-Élysées and the Seine tend to be calmer and better value. A coffee and a croissant at the counter of a neighborhood café or bakery is a good way to start the day.

For groceries, there are supermarkets and convenience stores within walking distance. The open-air Marché Président-Wilson sets up on Avenue du Président-Wilson on certain mornings each week; the City of Paris website lists its current days.

Many independent bakeries and shops close one or two days a week, and some close for a few weeks in summer. Pharmacies are marked with a green cross. Ask us for our current favorite addresses when you stay.

City of Paris

Staying at Petit Marceau

Petit Marceau is a 16 m² studio on the seventh floor of a building on Avenue Marceau, with an elevator and a view of the Eiffel Tower over the rooftops. It has a double sofa bed for up to two guests, a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, a washer-dryer, a workspace and high-speed Wi-Fi.

As independent hosts, we review every request personally and reply by email within 24 hours. You can book directly with us on our website.

Petit Marceau is a studio on Avenue Marceau with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

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Frequently asked questions