Whether you know it as the 'City of Light' or the 'City of Love', Paris has captured hearts and imaginations all over the world for its timeless beauty, style and elegance.

At the very centre of this historic city lies the Champs-Élysées, a vibrant high street packed with luxury shopping and bustling restaurants, whose pavements teem with tourists wandering the iconic stretch between the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde.

Read on as we reveal the ultimate guide for where to stay, dine and shop on and around the Champs-Élysées...

The only 5-star hotel situated on the Champs-Élysées itself, the Marriott offers luxury and comfort paired with an unbeatable location. A true piece of Parisian history, the hotel’s façade and ground floor were initially home to the flagship Louis Vuitton store in the early 20th century, and later to the atelier of fashion designer Jenny Sacerdote.

Rooms include spacious, family-friendly doubles, glamourous two-storey suites, and street-view options with Juliet balconies overlooking both the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. In the morning, enjoy a magnificent breakfast buffet, which, in the warmer months, sprawls across two terraces.

In 2025, the Marriott Champs-Élysées launched its very own afternoon tea service at its in-house restaurant, named Jenny in honour of the fashion designer who once owned the space.

The afternoon tea service features a light but exquisitely crafted selection of savoury and sweet bites, as well as a savarin cake (a classic French ring-shaped dessert) in place of the traditional English scones. Seated beneath the spectacular glass dome that tops the atrium at the centre of the hotel, you can enjoy a peaceful moment away from the bustle of the shopping high street outside.

Just a short stroll from the Champs-Élysées lies the Palais Galliera, more formally known as Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris – the city's official fashion museum.

The Palais regularly hosts special exhibitions, and also houses an impressive collection of French fashion and costume design from the 18th century up to the present day. Since Paris is renowned as the beating heart of the world’s fashion scene, the Palais Galliera is a must-visit for fashion fans.

One of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Arc de Triomphe sits at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The Arc was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate French military victories, and features an assortment of exquisite reliefs depicting historic and allegorical battles.

Below the arch, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, placed there after World War I, is marked by an eternal flame, and serves as a sombre but peaceful place for visitors to pay their respects. Inside the Arc, visitors can climb to the top of the monument for a breathtaking view of the city below.

A spectacular Neoclassical Louis XV-style mansion, Hôtel de la Marine on Place de la Concorde was originally constructed between 1757 and 1774 as the home of the royal Garde-Meuble, the official furnisher for royal properties.

In the wake of the French Revolution, the building was reassigned to serve as the Ministry of the Navy, a role it maintained until 2015. Today, however, the mansion’s rooms have been restored to their 18th century splendour and the building has been reinvented as a house museum, offering visitors a chance to step back in time.

Situated conveniently in the courtyard just outside Hôtel de la Marine, this hidden gem is a feast for the palate in more ways than one. The spectacular Riviera-inspired cuisine offers menus for brunch, lunch and dinner, while the highly curated interiors provide a luxurious, modern setting that's more akin to an elegant private home than a restaurant. Think vaulted, ribbed ceiling, dramatic statement light fixtures and plenty of greenery.

We can recommend the Niçoise salad, the roasted bone marrow with crispy focaccia, followed by black cod, shiso, vegetable infusion and baby potatoes. Save room for soft chocolate crêpe cake with raspberry cream.

While it's almost impossible to be fully explored in one short trip, the Louvre is one of the most spectacular museums in Paris, and indeed in the world, attracting up to nine million visitors every year.

Home to some of the globe’s most famous antiquities and works of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, the Louvre showcases plenty of exhibits to fill your time with. Many visitors like to choose a particular gallery or wing each time they visit, experiencing the Louvre bit by bit over the years. The Louvre is around a 10-minute metro ride away from the Champs-Élysées.

No trip to Paris is complete without a stroll through the beautiful Tuileries Garden. Situated conveniently between the Louvre and the Champs-Élysées, near Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries is a peaceful place to decompress in the fresh air after a long museum visit or a busy shopping day.

Throughout the park, you’ll find several gorgeous fountains, as well as various vendors selling snacks and beverages – a crêpe and a coffee while wandering here make the perfect midday pick-me-up.

Founded in 1951, Le Crazy Horse provides an intimate evening of exceptional cabaret entertainment, as burlesque artists from around the world dazzle with their skills. The plush red-velvet theatre offers old-fashioned cabaret seating, where guests can order drinks to their private tables – that is, if the bottle of Champagne provided on arrival is insufficient.

A charismatic emcee and vocalist presides over the entertainment, which includes a variety of solo performances and group numbers. The cabaret on Avenue George V, around a 10-minute walk from the Champs-Élysées. 

If shopping is on your wish-list when visiting the Champs-Élysées, then the famous Galeries Lafayette should certainly feature highly. Part of the upmarket department store chain whose flagship resides in the 9th Arrondissement, the Champs-Élysées branch is home to some 650 brands spread across four floors.

The store itself is housed in an Art Deco landmark, masterfully restored by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. With 70,000 square feet (6,503sqm) of retail space, the Galeries Lafayette takes the philosophy of ‘shop til you drop’ to a whole new level.

Home to some of the world’s most famous fashion houses, Avenue Montaigne is a veritable who’s who of luxury brand names, from Chanel and Dior to Yves Saint Laurent. If you’re in the mood for a decadent souvenir, this street, which runs parallel to the Champs-Élysées, is your one-stop shopping destination for stores that epitomise Parisian haute couture.

Even if you’re not looking to buy, the street makes for an excellent window-shopping stroll, and includes a few landmarks as well, including the Plaza Athénée and the grand Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. 

Just a short stroll off the Champs-Élysées, Beefbar Paris is a steak-lover’s paradise. Begin with a sharing assortment of street-food style starters, then move on to the impressive variety of beef offerings, from sizzling sirloins to tender filet mignon.

The enormous menu also includes extensive options for fish, pasta and poultry, not to mention some spectacular desserts worthy of any patisserie window. For dramatic ambiance, request seating in the central dining area, an Art Deco-inspired mock greenhouse with a striking red ceiling.

For travellers arriving by train from the UK, Paris is easily accessible by Eurostar, which arrives into Gare du Nord station. From here, it’s just a quick drive or metro journey to the Champs-Élysées.

Alternatively, Paris can also be reached by Charles de Gaulle Airport for those travelling by plane. The airport is located in Roissy-en-France, 14 miles (23km) northeast of Paris's city centre.

Alexandra Upton visited in November 2025 and was a guest of Paris Marriott Champs-Élysées.

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