Paris/8th arrondissement

The four quartiers of the 8th arrondissement are as follows:

Quartier des Champs-Elysées

Extending all the way along the Champs-Elysées it encompasses the entire southern part of the arrondissement, including its part of the bank of the river Seine. This quartier is home to some of the most luxurious hotels and restaurants, as well as headquarters of luxury goods companies in its western part, and to the famous exhibition venues, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, as well as Place Concorde in the east.
Apart from Champs-Elysées, the main streets of the quartier include Cours Albet 1er/Cours la Reine along the river Seine, Avenue Montaigne (luxury boutiques), Avenue George V (luxury hotels and restaurants) and Avenue Marceau (marking the border with the 16th arrondissement). All four meet at Place de l'Alma, from where the famous Pont de l'Alma bridges the Seine. Three of those (sans Avenue Marceau) are also joined by the perpendicular Rue Francois 1er, which plays host to some more luxury addresses. Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, with a large circular Rond-point des Champs-Élysées-Marcel-Dassault in the middle, marks the division between the densely-built part of the quartier to the east and the Jardins de Champs-Elysées to the west.

Quartier de la Madeleine

Named after the L'eglise de la Madeleine temple in its western extremity, this quartier houses some of the most important offices of state of the French Republic, including the presidential Elysee Palace, many embassies and more luxury goods companies and stores along its famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore.

Quartier du Faubourg-de-Roule

It extends from the northern frontage of Champs-Elysées and encompasses the Avenue Friedland, the Avenue Hoche and the eastern frontage of Avenue Wagram.

Quartier de l'Europe

This densely-built quartier around the Gare Saint-Lazare replaced the erstwhile faubourg of Petite-Pologne ("small Poland") in the 19th century. The quartier was a centrally-planned development with streets extending from the Place de l'Europe bearing names of European cities such as rue de Vienne or rue de Saint-Pétersbourg

From airports

Le Bus Direct offer connections from both the Orly (line 1) and Charles de Gaulle (line 2) airports to Charles de Gaulle-Etoile.

By train

In the northeastern part of the 8th arrondissement you will find the , which is the second-busiest railway station in Paris, and in fact the whole Europe, by the number of passengers. That said, by the 21st century it is a solely domestic station serving as a terminus for Intercités from Normandy and Transiliens lines J and L, connecting Paris with its suburbs and municipalities of Ile-de-France west of the city.
The RER A, which traverses Paris over the northern (right) bank of the Seine and connects to its western and eastern suburbs, including La Defense, crosses the 8th arrondissement but has no stations within the district. You can use it to get to the 8th by getting off at Charles de Gaulle-Etoile at the western end of the 8th or Auber a tad east of the 8th.
To get to the 8th arrondissement from other major Paris railway stations you can make use of the following connections:

• From Gare Montparnasse, take M6, M12 or M13
• From Gare du Lyon, take the RER A, M1 or M14. The M14 also serves the nearby Gare du Bercy
• The Gare du Nord where the majority of international trains arrive, as well as the neighbouring Gare de l'Est, have no direct metro or RER connection to the 8th arrondissement. You may walk from either Gare to the Magenta RER station between them and take the RER E to its terminus at Haussmann - Saint-Lazare, which is connected by an underground passage to Gare Saint-Lazare. Otherwise, you have to either change between metro/RER lines or succumb to the posh atmosphere of the 8th and take a taxi.
• Gare d'Austerlitz does not have a good direct connection to the 8th at all. You may take the RER C and get off at any station on the left bank of the Seine facing the 8th and walk across one of the bridges.

By Métro

The majority of the Métro lines, with the exceptions of M4, M5, M7, M10 and M11, have stops within the 8th arrondissement.

• M1, which crosses the northern (right) bank of the Seine from east to west, terminating at La Defense, has 5 stops within the 8th along Champs-Elysees
• M2, which follows the borders between the inner and outer districts of the right bank of Seine, does so for the northwestern district of the 8th, with no less than 7 stations along it
• M3, another east-west line on the northern bank, has three stops at the northwestern end of the 8th arrondissement, including the one at Saint-Lazare
• M6, which runs through the southern bank of the Seine, terminates at Charles de Gaulle-Etoile.
• M8 stops at Concorde and Madeleine
• M9, yet another east-west line on the northern bank, has 5 stops in the 8th
• M12, which runs from the north to the south of Paris, has stops along the western border of the 8th arrondissement, including Concorde
• M13, another north-south line, has four stops in the eastern part of the 8th
• M14 has its terminus at Saint-Lazare and also stops at Madeleine before continuing to the east and southeast of Paris

Landmarks

• Avenue des Champs-ElyséesFor many visitors one of the must-see places in Paris is the Avenue des Champs-Elysées which was first created in 1667 by Louis XIV's gardener, Andre Le Nôtre, in order to improve the view from the Tuileries garden. This elegant and broad avenue was extended towards the end of the 18th century, now running from the place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. It is noted today as one of the most prestigious shopping boulevards of Paris.

• Place de la ConcordeThe largest square in Paris with fantastic vistas in every direction. It was in this square (then called la Place de la Revolution) that the French King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and many others were guillotined during the Terror. The large Egyptian obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde was brought from the Temple of Luxor.

• l'Arc de Triomphe

  phone: +33 1 01 11 01 03
  address: Place de l'Étoile, Place Charles de Gaulle
  This iconic triumphal arch forms the focus of the main east-west road axis of Paris, running between the Louvre and the Grande Arche de la Défense in the west. The monument was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 as a tribute to his victories as Emperor of France - it was finally completed in 1836, long after his death. 50 m (150 ft) high and 45 m wide, the Arc de Triomphe is decorated with battle scenes and martial sculptures that includes La Marseillaise by Rude. More recently, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed beneath the arch in 1920, where an eternal flame burns in tribute to the French dead of both World Wars. The arch is surrounded by a large roundabout, aptly known as l'Etoile - 'the star' - with 12 thoroughfares leading off from it. Visitors can purchase a ticket to climb to the top of the arch, from where magnificent views spread out over western Paris. Admission to a small museum devoted to the history and meaning of the monument is included. The central island and the arch are accessed by an underground passage. Do not attempt to negotiate by foot the busy multi-lane road that rings the Arc de Triomphe, which many Parisian drivers seem to consider their own personal speedway.

• Église de la Madeleine

  address: place de la Madeleine
  One of the best-known and most beautiful churches in Paris, in the guise of a Corinthian order classical temple. Construction started in 1764, although the church was not finally consecrated until 1845. The Madeleine has a lavish interior of marble and gold.

• Élysée Palace

  address: 55, Rue du Faubourg, Saint-Honoré
  The official residence of the President of France since 1848. Dating to the early 18th century, it contains the office of the President and the meeting place of the Council of Ministers. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, the name Élysée deriving from Elysian Fields, the place of the blessed dead in Greek mythology. Not open to the public, except occasionally during the annual National Heritage Days (usually a weekend in mid-September). Important foreign visitors are hosted at the nearby Hôtel de Marigny, a palatial residence.

• Pont Alexandre IIIThe bridge is widely regarded as the most ornate, extravagant bridge in the city. It is classified as a French Monument historique.

Museums and galleries

• Le Grand PalaisBuilt in 1900 for the universal exposition, the Grand Palais was an engineering feat and a milestone of design, marking the transition between historicism and modern architecture. It remain impressive today due to its unique, exquisite style and sheer volume of its main nave. The Grand Palais, managed by the state-owned institution Rnm who also manage the Musee de Luxembourg, is used both for temporary exhibitions of historic and contemporary art collections (both beaux arts and applied) and unique events, such as catwalk shows during the Paris Fashion Week, Bonhams car auctions and prestigious galas.

• Musée du Petit Palais

  address: Avenue Winston Churchill
  The Petit Palais was built as a complement to the Grand Palais for the 1900 universal exhibition, and afterwards became the prime exhibition venue for the City of Paris' vast collection of artworks spanning centuries from ancient history to around 1914. (Later material is at the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris in the 16th). There is a permanent exhibition of selected artworks of artifacts, complemented by temporary exhibitions of historic artworks. The Petit Palais also features an on-site cafe/restaurant, as well as a book and gift shop.

• Palais de la decouverte

  address: Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt
  Located in a magnificent the western wing of the Grand Palais, this museum forms a part of science-themed education-oriented universcience establishment together with the La Cite des Sciences in La Villette. In the Palais, you will find two large floors with rooms dedicated to different branches of science, including physics, chemistry, mathematics and life-sciences, as well as a planetarium.

• Jerome de Noirmont

  phone: +33 1 42 89 89 00
  address: 38, av Matignon
  This museum represents some key contemporary and emerging artists such as Jean Pierre Raynaud, Eva and Adele, and Jeff Koons.

• Musée Cernuschi

  phone: +33 1 45 63 50 75
  address: 7, av Vélasquez

• Musée Jacquemart-AndréPrivate collection of French, Italian, Dutch masterpieces in a typical XIXth century mansion.

Parks and greenery

• Parc MonceauOne of Paris's best kept secrets, painted by Monet numerous times. It is a very elegant centre of green in the middle of cosmopolitan Paris. Make sure you check out the statues, entrance rotunda and the surrounding mansions. Thanks to Haussmann himself this precious slice of parkland was reserved for the enjoyment and leisure of the people of Paris. It is unusual in France due to its casual, informal "English" style planning, and is a contrast to other Parisian parks such as the classically laid out and formal Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries. Randomly placed throughout the park are scaled-down architectural replicas including an Egyptian pyramid, Dutch windmill, and a Chinese fort. Free Wi-Fi in the park.

• Lido de Paris

  phone: +33 1 40 76 56 10
  address: 116 bis av des Champs-Elysées
  The most famous cabaret celebrates spectacle revues. Children ages 4 and older are welcome. Casual elegant dress code. Coat and tie appreciated. Shorts, Bermuda shorts, athletic clothing and tennis shoes are not allowed.

Champs-Élyseés

• Carre MarignyThe open-air market for trading postage stamps and other similar collectibles

• C42

  address: Avenue de Champs-Elysees 42
  C42 is the flasghip Citroen store occupying an entire building, designed by Manuelle Gautrand and completed in 2007, being the first new building in the Avenue in some 30 years. The unmistakable facade is inspired by Citroen's chevron logo, and the building has no less than seven storeys exhibiting Citroen's past, present and future, including iconic classics, the concept cars and winning sportscars from its many decades of history, and of course the current lineup. The interior is just as spectacular and unique as the exterior and well worth a visit.

• Atelier Renault

  address: Avenue des Champs-Elysees 51-53
  Renault has opened its Champs-Elysees showroom at this location in 1910. The highlight of its current form, launched in 2011, is the cafe/restaurant/bar in the "floating" mezzanine, where you can enjoy some good drinks and food as well as a nice view over the Champs Elysees and the Renault cars from the past and present exhibited below.

• Guerlain

  address: No. 68

• Avenue Peugeot

  address: Avenue des Champs-Elysées 136
  While not as spectacular from the outside as it's sister brand Citroen's building, the Avenue Peugeot is also worth a visit if you are a car fan, as it always has a temporary exhibition of some of Peugeot's concept or competition cars the brand is famous for. You can obviously also explore the regular range of Peugeot cars and purchase one, as well as an extensive range of Peugeot merchandise from the on-site "boutique Peugeot", including the Peugeot condiment grinders the company makes for much longer than it does build cars.

• Louis Vuitton Building

  address: Avenue de Champs-Elysees 101
  An unmistakable piece of modernist architecture at the corner of Avenue George V, the Louis Vuitton Building was erected in 1913 and in the 21st century continues to serve as the flagship for the luxury brand, housing the largest Louis Vuitton boutique in the world.

Avenue Montaigne

• Christian Dior

  address: Avenue Montaigne 26-30

• Louis Vuitton

  address: Avenue Montaigne 22

• Valentino

  address: Avenue Montaigne 17-19

• Chanel

  address: Avenue Montaigne 51

• Montaigne Market

  address: Aveue Montaigne 18

Rue Francois 1er

• Zadig & Voltaire

  address: Rue Francois 1er 18-22

Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore

• Hermes flagship store

  address: Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore 24
  Hermes has been occupying those premises since 1880, contributing to the street's long-lasting reputation as the hub for luxury apparel and accessories.

• Lanvin flagship storeJeanne Lanvin moved her maison de couture to premises facing Hermes in 1889, where it remained to this day.

Budget

Mid-range

• Chez Francis

  address: 7, place de l'Alma
  View of the Eiffel Tower.

• Diep

  phone: +33 1 45 63 52 76
  address: 55, rue Pierre-Charron
  Thai, Chinese, and Indonesian. Vegetarian friendly.

• Kokohana

  phone: +33 8 26 10 01 99
  address: 1, rue Jean Mermoz
  Two chefs battle against each other in a spectacular performance of chopping, slicing, sauteing everything from scallops to foie gras. The food is average, but the presentation is well worth it.

• Qasim

  phone: +33 1 45 62 19 73
  address: 22, rue du Colisée
  Pakistani and Indian dishes.

• Villa Spicy

  phone: +33 1 56 59 62 59
  address: 8, av Franklin Roosevelt
  Warm and peaceful close to the Champs-Élysées serving an organic detox menu.

Splurge

• Hanawa

  phone: +33 1 56 62 70 70
  address: 26, rue Bayard
  Great sushi in a nice atmosphere, extensive menu.

• Ladurée

  phone: +33 1 40 75 08 75
  address: 75, avenue des Champs-Elysées
  Famous for their macaroon cookies, which come in over 15 different flavours. Expensive, but an experience. There is a tea room, a bar, and a restaurant. You can also order baked goods to go, in fancy boxes and bags.

• Buddha Bar

  phone: +33 1 53 05 90 00
  address: 8, rue Boissy d' Anglais
  Famous in electronic lounge music circles for having commissioned a series of lounge and down tempo records which you can get at most larger record shops in France, as well as abroad. Although you can also get them at the bar it's probably not the best way, since they charge €45 per CD. The drinks are not so over-priced, and definitely worth it for the hip, sophisticated, and chill atmosphere.

Thanks to its relatively large size and the fact that the most popular attractions are either contained within its borders or in the neighbouring districts, the 8th arrondissement boast a large number of hotels even by Parisian standards. That said, you would be hard-pressed to find really inexpensive accommodation here - most are luxury hotels. For less expensive accommodation, you may want to check out your options in the neighbouring districts.

Mid-range

• Hotel Ceramic Elysees

  phone: +33 1 42 27 20 30
  address: 34, av de Wagram

• Holiday Inn Paris Elysees

  phone: +33 1 43 12 87 87
  address: 24, rue de Miromesnil
  Contemporary 4-star hotel near Champs Elysees and rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

• Hotel Le Lavoisier

  phone: +33 1 53 30 06 06
  address: 21, rue Lavoisier
  Brands itself as a boutique hotel, with unique décor combining classical and contemporary in a Haussmann-style building on the street of the same name. 25 double rooms with old-style furniture, air conditioning, satellite television, a telephone socket, Wi-Fi, and baths with both tub and shower.

• Mercure Paris Opera Garnier

  address: Rue de L'Isly 4
  A conservatively-styled Mercure with no particularly unique characteristics.

• Mercure Paris Royal Madeleine

  address: Rue de l'Arcade 29
  Decorated in brown and beige, this Mercure tries to make the most out of a historic immeuble, with all the necessary compromises - some bedrooms are smaller than their en-suite bathrooms!

• Mercure Paris Haussmann St Augustin

  address: Rue Roquepine 20
  Another typical Parisian Mercure, farther to the east than the other two.

Splurge

• Champs Elysées Plaza

  phone: +33 1 53 53 20 20
  address: 35, rue de Berri
  Unusually large rooms and suites. Elegant and sophisticated, with high tech equipment and comfort, they offer a unique mix of contemporary chic décor with ceiling moldings, marble fireplaces, and large windows looking at two beautiful and quiet streets.

• Four Seasons Hotel George V

  phone: +33 1 49 52 70 00
  address: 31, av George V
  Steps from the Champs-Elysées, with private terraces that command all Paris.

• Hôtel Astor Saint Honoré

  phone: +33 1 53 05 05 05
  address: 11, rue d'Astorg
  4-star hotel on a quiet street.

• Hôtel Balzac

  phone: +33 1 44 35 18 00
  address: 6, rue de Balzac
  This elegantly furnished luxury boutique hotel exudes opulence from its fine classic interior to the personalised butler service.

• Hôtel Champs-Elysées Friedland

  phone: +33 1 45 63 64 65
  address: 177, rue du Faubourg St Honoré

• Hôtel de Crillon

  phone: +33 1 44 71 15 01
  address: 10, place de la Concorde (north side)
  The legendary hotel overlooking Place de la Concorde has been the epitome of Parisian luxury for centuries.

• Hotel Pershing Hall

  phone: +33 1 58 36 58 00
  address: 49, rue Pierre Charron 75008 Paris
  Charming five-star boutique hotel with a secluded patio and lush vertical garden.

• Hotel Plaza Elysees

  phone: +33 1 45 63 93 83
  address: 177, boul Haussmann
  Near the Champs Elysées and Faubourg Saint-Honoré, very close to the Arc-de-Triomphe.

• Hotel San Régis

  phone: +33 1 44 95 16 16
  address: 12, rue Jean Goujon, Champs-Élysées
  Five-star boutique hotel with 44 individually decorated rooms and suites.

• Hotel Sofitel Le Faubourg-Paris

  phone: +33 1 44 94 14 14
  address: 15, rue Boissy d'Anglas
  154 rooms and 20 suites spread over two buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.

• Hyatt Paris Madeleine

  phone: +33 1 5527 1234
  address: 24, boul Malesherbes
  Close to the shopping centres on Boulevard Haussmann-Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. 86 hotel rooms and suites, High-speed Wi-Fi available. Views of Boulevard Malesherbe. Business services available.

• Hôtel Plaza Athénée

  phone: +33 1 53 67 66 65
  address: Avenue Montaigne 25
  The legendary hotel in Avenue Montaigne, home-away-from-home to numerous celebrities, in the ownership (Sultanate of Brunei)

• Prince de Galles

  phone: +33 1 53 23 77 77
  address: 33 Avenue George V
  Named after Edward VIII, the erstwhile Prince of Wales and son of George V, this art-deco hotel opened in 1928 and amassed a veritable potpourri of celebrities in its guest book, ranging from Winston Churchill to Elvis Presley. More recently, it underwent thorough renovation and reopened in 2013 as a part of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

• Intercontinental Paris Avenue Marceau

  address: Avenue Marceau 64
  The "other" Intercontinental in Paris contrasts with the lavish historic Grand by having a more subtle, postmodern decor. The location in a converted historic building provides for spatial limitations clear in all areas of the hotel, but with only 57 rooms the property has almost a boutique feel to it.

• Marriott Champs-Elysees

  address: Avenue de Champs-Elysees 70
  Behind the fin de siecle facade on the Champs-Elysees hides a much larger, late 20th-century building housing almost 200 rooms decorated in a subdued, for a Marriott property, way.

• Radisson Blu

  address: Avenue Marceau 78 Bis
  Compared to the many opulent and extravagant hotels in the 8th arrondissement, the Radisson does not come across as spectacular, but can provide good value with the balconies of its front-side rooms offering views of the Arc de Triomphe.

• Hotel de Vigny

  phone: +33 1 42 99 80 80
  address: 9/11 rue Balzac
  Boutique hotel near Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elyséess.

• Continue east beyond the Place Concorde to the 1st arrondissement to see the historic core of Paris, including the Louvre, and more luxury boutiques...
• ...or northeast beyond the Madeleine to the 9th, for the famous department stores and the Opera Garnier
• Cross any of the four bridges on the Seine to find yourself in the 7th arrondissement, home to Les Invalides, Musee d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower
• The Etoile is where the 8th meets two other, much more quiet and residential arrondissements, the 16th and 17th