Paris/7th arrondissement

By Métro/RER

• serves Bir-Hakeim (Eiffel Tower).
• serves stations Invalides (Les Invalides), Varenne (Les Invalides, Musee de Rodin), Ecole-Militaire (Eiffel Tower), Latour Maubourg (Hotel des Invalides).
• serves Sèvres-Babylone (Le Bon Marche).
• serves stations Assemblée Nationale, Solférino, Rue du Bac, Sèvres-Babylone.
• serves Invalides (Les Invalides).
• RER serves stations Invalides (Les Invalides), Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower), Musee D'Orsay (Musee D'Orsay).

By boat

• Batobus, the hop-on hop-off service serving tourist sites on the Seine has stops at Tour Eiffel and the Musée d'Orsay.

Landmarks

• La Tour Eiffel

  phone: +33 8 92 70 12 39
  A symbol of Paris and one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Built by Gustave Eiffel in 1887-1889, the tower was almost torn down in 1909 and only saved due to its use as a telegraphy antenna. Note that the queues can be very long. The tower has recently begun allowing online reservations at its website, allowing visitors the choice of a date and time frame. Bear in mind that if you miss the time on your ticket, it's useless. The north, west, and east pillars have elevators that go to the first and second floors; the south pillar has stairs that can be climbed to the second floor. To reach the top floor, an additional elevator ride is required, and the wait for this can be very long as well. Unfortunately, disabled visitors are not allowed beyond the second floor due to safety concerns. Taking the Métro as far as Ecole Militiare and then strolling up the Champ de Mars is a lovely way to arrive at the tower. Another phenomenal approach is to exit the Metro at Trocadero and see the Eiffel Tower from the other side of the Ecole Militaire.

• l'Assemblée Nationale

  phone: +33 1 40 63 60 00
  address: 33, quai d'Orsay
  Guided tours conducted all day, ID required. Formerly the Palais Bourbon, this building has housed the National Assembly, the French parliament's lower house, since 1827. Some interesting architecture and the library features the painting l'Histoire de la civilization by Delacroix. Visitors may be interested in attending assembly debates.

• Hôtel des Invalides

  address: 6, boul des Invalides
  Founded in 1671 by Louis XIV as a hospital for 6,000 wounded soldiers—this function explaining the name of the building—the golden-domed Hôtel des Invalides still functions as an infirmary and now also houses the Musée de l'Armée. The church attached, l'Eglise du Dôme, houses the tomb of Napoleon.

Museums and Galleries

• Musée de l'Armée

  address: 129, rue de Grenelle
  This museum is in the historic Invalides complex and presents the history of the French Army. It is co-located with Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb (entry to which is included in the ticket price). Most of the exhibitions are very old fashioned, and the coverage of the First World War is surprisingly limited. A highlight is the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, which displays painstakingly accurate models of French fortresses and includes its own shop.

• Musée d'Orsay

  phone: +33 1 06 91 09 45
  address: 1, rue de la Légion d'Honneur / rue de Lille
  Housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station (completed in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle, later saved from demolition and converted to its present use), the rambling, open-plan museum is home to the works of the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) - Impressionists, post-Impressionists, and the rest - that were formerly displayed in the l'Orangerie. This is perhaps the most spectacular collection of European impressionism in the world—breath-taking rooms full of Manet, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and many others. Impressionist represent the biggest draw, but there is much more to explore.

• Musée du quai Branly

  address: 37, quai Branly
  Opened in 2006, this is the newest and the most modern of Paris' great museums, housing an outstanding collection of tribal art, with a particular emphasis on France's former (and present) territories in Oceania and Africa. The museum is large and you can easily spend half a day browsing, especially if you pause to explore the multimedia presentations.

• Musée Rodin

  phone: +33 1 44 18 61 10
  address: 79, rue de Varenne
  A museum dedicated to the life and work of the great sculptor. The house contains an extensive collection, which is unusually well presented in a spacious building with big windows that are open in nice weather, which makes this museum double pleasant.

Other attractions

• Musée des Égouts de Paris

  phone: +33 1 53 68 27 81
  For an interesting take on Paris, check out the underground sewers of Paris. See swords found in the sewers over the years and get an appreciation for what it takes to keep Paris running.

• Vedettes de ParisDiscover Paris by river on a chic boat.

• Le Bon Marché

  phone: +33 1 00 09 00 93
  address: 24, rue de Sèvres
  One of the world's first department stores, the oldest and one of the largest in modern Paris.

• Magasin Sennelier

  phone: +33 1 42 60 72 15
  address: 3, quai Voltaire
  In 1887 Gustave Sennelier founded this house next to the Ecole des Beaux Arts.

• Rue Cler

  address: rue cler
  Market street 10 minutes from the Eiffel Tower. The market is at its best on Tu–Sa, 08:30–13:00 or 15:00–19:30; Su, 08:30–12:00; closed on M.

Expect high prices at cafés and restaurants.

Budget

• Chez Germaine

  phone: +33 1 42 73 28 34
  address: 30, rue Pierre Leroux
  It's all about home-cooking, like your grandma would do if she were French and trained in cooking.

• l'Oasis

  address: 162, rue de Grenelle
  An authentic take on Moroccan cuisine.

• Au Pied de Fouet

  phone: +33 1 47 05 12 27
  address: 45, rue de Babylone
  It's an appropriate name for a restaurant renowned for its unapologetically rude wait staff. Some people say that this is part of the charm of the place, perhaps that fits your definition of the word "charm" as well? Or perhaps not. One way or the other it's cheap and the food is good.

Mid-range

• Chez l'Ami Jean

  address: 27 Rue Malar
  A sensational little restaurant featuring food and wine from the Basque region.

• Le Clos des Gourmets

  phone: +33 1 45 51 75 61
  address: 16 avenue Rapp
  A great little restaurant, elegant without being stuffy, popular with foreign visitors and American diplomatic staff. French cuisine with a twist. Try the avocado millefeuille with orange sauce for dessert, a surprisingly good combination.

• Tribeca

  phone: +33 1 45 55 12 01
  address: 36, Rue Cler
  A very nice terrasse on the rue Cler (pedestrian area). The food is simple, but good and reasonably cheap.

Splurge

• 58 Tour Eiffel

  phone: +33 1 76 64 14 64
  address: Tour Eiffel 1st floor
  The restaurant in the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. One pays of course for the view, not so much for the food.

• Gâteaux Thoumieux

  phone: +33 1 47 05 49 75
  address: 58 rue Saint Dominique
  Chef patisser Ludovic Chaussard, who had previously worked with Alain Ducasse is designing the cakes.

• Le Petit Tibéro

  phone: +33 1 45 48 76 25
  address: 132 rue du Bac

• Le Voltaire

  phone: +33 1 42 61 17 49
  address: 27, quai Voltaire
  Le Voltaire has always been tres chic and with customers like Helene Rochas and the Rothschild family, you know you are dining with the right set. Peaceful wood paneling and lighting that flatters, it is an intimate and romantic setting, where newcomers feel that they belong to an exclusive club. Be sure to dine upon the tenderloin in pepper sauce.

• Le Cafe des Lettres

  phone: +33 1 42 22 52 17
  address: 53, rue de Verneuil
  The charming cobblestoned courtyard makes this an ideal place to sit down and linger over a glass of wine. Excellent cocktail list.

Budget

• Hotel de l'Alma

  address: 32 rue de l'Exposition
  5-10 min from the Eiffel Tower and a couple of minutes from Rue Cler. The amenities you expect from a 3 star hotel, but with 2 star rates.

• Hotel du Quai Voltaire

  address: 19, quai Voltaire
  View of the Seine and the Louvre. Single, double and triple rooms.

Mid-range

• Duquesne Eiffel Hôtel

  phone: +33 1 44 42 09 09
  address: 23, ave Duquesne

• Grand Hotel Leveque

  phone: +33 1 47 05 49 15
  address: 29, rue Cler
  Near the Eiffel Tower, on a charming pedestrianised market street. The rooms have recently been renovated, and some have a view of the Tower.

• Hôtel du Champ de Mars

  phone: +33 1 45 51 52 30
  address: 7, rue du Champ de Mars
  Great value for money in an affordable location.

• Hôtel Chomel

  phone: +33 1 45 48 55 52
  address: 15, rue Chomel
  Basic but clean 3 star hotel.

• Hôtel Lindbergh

  phone: +33 1 45 48 35 53
  address: 5, rue Chômel

• Hotel d'Orsay

  address: 93, rue de Lille
  Staying here is a convenient way to visit both the right and left banks.

• Hôtel Saint-Dominique

  phone: +33 1 47 05 51 44
  address: 62, rue Saint-Dominique
  Charming decor and attentive staff.

• Hôtel de la Tulipe

  phone: +33 1 45 51 67 21
  address: 33, rue Malar

• Timhôtel Best Western Tour Eiffel Invalides

  phone: +33 1 45 56 10 78
  address: 35, boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg

Splurge

• Hotel Le Bellechasse Saint-Germain

  phone: +33 1 45 50 22 31
  address: 8 rue de Bellechasse
  The Bellechasse converted into a delightful hotel, full of character, being altogether impressive and intimate, entirely dressed by Christian Lacroix. In the heart of the left bank, between the 7th aristocratic and the 6th artistic districts, this elegant private hotel is now a real jewel of "haute couture".

• Hôtel Saint-Dominique

  phone: +33 1 47 05 51 44
  address: 62, rue St Dominique

The Eiffel Tower is a well-known hotspot for pickpockets, to the extent that warnings are regularly read over the tannoy system on the observation platforms reminding tourists to keep a hold of their belongings. The bottom of the tower and the lifts also have many reports of such activity. You must never be complacent about the chances of having your items stolen, as thieves will usually operate in a manner that leaves the victim with no idea that they have lost their possessions until it is too late. Keep all valuables close and bags sealed, as in any tourist destination.