Street · Paris
Champs-ÉlyséesAvenue des Champs-Élysées
Walk it once, downhill from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, for the view and the scale; shop and eat elsewhere, because most of what lines the avenue is flagship chains and overpriced terraces.
Map to the start
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Length
1.9 km1.2 mi
approximate
Walk end to end
32 min
without stops
Traffic
Open to traffic
Best time
Morning before 11:00 for a clear walk, or after dark when the avenue and the Arc are litMorning before 11:00 AM for a clear walk, or after dark when the avenue and the Arc are lit
At a glance
- Area
- 8th arrondissement
- Length
- 1.9 km1.2 mi
- Start
- Top end at the Arc de Triomphe (Place Charles-de-Gaulle)
- End
- Bottom end at Place de la Concorde
- Traffic
- Open to traffic
- Currency
- EUR
Decide
What the street is for, and when to be there
At a glance
Paris's grand ceremonial avenue: a wide, tree-lined boulevard running from the Arc de Triomphe down to Place de la Concorde, lined with flagship stores, car showrooms, cinemas and big café terraces.
Getting there
Metro Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (lines 1, 2, 6 and RER A) at the top, Concorde (lines 1, 8, 12) at the bottom. Line 1 also stops at George V and Franklin D. Roosevelt along the way, so you can hop on and off.
Traffic and walking hours
Open to traffic. Eight lanes of traffic run most of the time. The monthly car-free Sunday that began in 2016 has not run regularly in recent years (check). The avenue closes for events: the Bastille Day parade on July 14, the Tour de France finish in late July and New Year's Eve (check dates).
Hours change for events and holidays: check locally.
Morning, afternoon, night
Best time: Morning before 11:00 for a clear walk, or after dark when the avenue and the Arc are lit
05:00–11:005:00 AM–11:00 AM local time
Wide, quiet pavements, street cleaners and joggers; most shops open around 10:00. The best time to photograph the Arc without crowds.
Best time: Morning before 11:00 for a clear walk, or after dark when the avenue and the Arc are lit
See & do
The stops in walking order, then where to shop and what to eat
Walk this street
↓ about 7 min · 540 m0.3 mi
↓ about 12 min · 920 m0.6 mi
↓ about 13 min · 950 m0.6 mi
Minutes are walking time at an easy 5 km/h3 mph with a margin for crowds; add time for shops. The GPX opens in Organic Maps, OsmAnd or Google My Maps.
Where to shop and what it costs
- Brand flagship storesBig-name fashion, sportswear and cosmetics flagships, often with lines at the door on weekends€30–500 (≈ US$35–600) / itemPrice check →
- LaduréeLong-standing tea room and patisserie best known for macarons, at no. 75Line for take-out moves faster than the tea room€3–45 (≈ US$4–55) / boxPrice check →
- Luxury perfume and leather housesPerfume, bags and small leather goods in the upper half near the Arc€80–2,000 (≈ US$95–2,500) / itemPrice check →
- Car showroomsFree-entry brand showrooms with concept cars and cafésFree / visitPrice check →
Typical buys
- Coffee on a terraceTerrace prices are well above a neighborhood café€4–8 (≈ US$5–10) / cupPrice check →
- Macarons from a patisserie counter€2.5–4 (≈ US$3–5) / piecePrice check →
- Brasserie main course€25–45 (≈ US$30–55) / platePrice check →
- Arc de Triomphe rooftop ticketFree for under-18s and many EU residents under 26 (check)€16–22 (≈ US$19–30) / adultPrice check →
Ranges, not quotes: prices move with season and exchange rates; the equivalent in your currency is approximate. Checked Sep 2026.
Eat on or near it
- Side streets rather than the avenueWalk one block north or south (rue de Ponthieu, rue Marbeuf) for better-value bistros than the terraces on the avenue.
- Patisserie stopBuy macarons or pastries to take away and eat them in the gardens at the Concorde end.
Sights on the street
- Arc de TriompheReach it only through the underground passage from the north side of the avenue; never cross the roundabout on foot.
- Grand Palais and Petit PalaisJust south of the Rond-Point, a 3-minute detour; the Petit Palais permanent collection is free.
- Louvre MuseumContinue east from Concorde through the Tuileries Garden, about 20 minutes on foot.
Practical
Getting a ride there, what goes wrong, and access
Show the driver
Show the driver
Pouvez-vous me déposer en haut des Champs-Élysées, près de l'Arc de Triomphe, s'il vous plaît ?
Could you drop me at the top of the Champs-Élysées, near the Arc de Triomphe, please?
Drivers stop on the avenue itself, not on the roundabout; you then use the underground passage to reach the Arc.
Safety, traffic and scams
Pickpockets in crowds and on metro line 1 medium
Crossing to the Arc de Triomphe on foot high
Crowds after football matches and celebrations low
Scams and traps
- Clipboard petition: someone asks you to sign for a charity, then demands a donation while an accomplice checks your pockets. Say no and keep walking.
- Gold ring trick: a stranger 'finds' a gold ring at your feet and offers it to you, then asks for money. It is brass; walk away.
- Unlicensed souvenir and selfie-stick sellers near the Arc: fine to ignore; never hand over your phone for a photo to someone who approaches you.
Accessibility
- Very wide, flat, smooth pavements; the walk is gently downhill from the Arc to Concorde.
- Metro stations here have many stairs; Charles de Gaulle–Étoile RER A platforms are the more practical step-free option (check).
- The Arc de Triomphe rooftop has a small elevator for visitors with reduced mobility, but final steps remain (check).
Photo tips
- Stand on the central traffic island at the Rond-Point pedestrian crossings for a straight view up to the Arc.
- From the Arc rooftop at dusk you get the full length of the avenue lit in a line toward Concorde.
A line of history
The avenue grew from a 17th-century extension of the Tuileries garden axis laid out by André Le Nôtre, and became a fashionable promenade in the 19th century after the Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836.
Combine with
- Tuileries Garden and the LouvreContinue east from Concorde through the garden for a traffic-free finish.
- Avenue MontaigneCouture houses and quieter luxury shopping, south of the Rond-Point.
More streets in Paris: Rue Cler · Rue Mouffetard
Questions people ask
Which direction should I walk?
Top to bottom: start at the Arc de Triomphe and walk downhill toward Concorde, then continue into the Tuileries if you have energy.
Is it worth shopping here?
Only for flagship stores and window shopping. The same chains cost the same elsewhere, and cafés on the avenue charge a premium for the address.
How long does the walk take?
About 30 minutes without stops; allow 1.5–2 hours with the Arc rooftop and a coffee.
Deep dive
Sources; hours, rules and prices change, so check before you go