Paris in 1 Day DIY Walking Tour

[These are very thorough walking directions – you shouldn’t be getting lost in Paris when following this guide. However, I definitely recommend that you follow the Google Streetview route of the entire Paris DIY Walking Tour first, from the comfort of your own home before you head to Paris, as this will allow you to better visualise the entire route before you arrive].

START – Arc de Triomphe (dir: Avenue Kléber) [MAP]:

With your back to the Arc de Triomphe, start walking down the LEFT hand side pavement of Avenue Kléber towards Place du Trocadéro. This is a long straight start to the walk, and you will cross numerous sidestreets along the way (all are detailed next);

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue de Presbourg [MAP]:

Light-controlled crossing with dropped kerbs. After crossing Rue de Presbourg, continue straight ahead along Avenue Kléber;

Pedestrian Crossing – Avenue des Portugais [MAP]:

This crossing is NOT light-controlled, but has dropped kerbs. After crossing Avenue des Portugais, again continue straight ahead along Avenue Kléber;

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue de Belloy [MAP]:

After crossing the light-controlled Rue de Belloy and the non-light-controlled Rue de l’Amiral Hamelin (but both crossings have dropped kerbs), in quick succession, again, continue straight ahead along Avenue Kléber;

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue Galilée [MAP]:

This crossing is NOT light-controlled, but has dropped kerbs. After crossing Rue Galilée, again continue straight ahead along Avenue Kléber;

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue Boissière [MAP]:

Light-controlled crossing with dropped kerbs. After crossing Rue Boissière, again continue straight ahead along Avenue Kléber;

Pedestrian Crossing –Rue de Longchamp [MAP]:

After crossing both of the light-controlled Rue de Longchamp and Rue de Magdebourg (both crossings have dropped kerbs), in quick succession again, continue straight ahead along Avenue Kléber;

Place du Trocadéro [MAP]:

Your ultimate destination here, is the square between the two main buildings of the Palais de Chaillot, housing the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine (the building on the left), and the Musée national de la Marine de Paris (the building on the right), on the opposite side of the Place du Trocadéro [MAP].

To get there, turn LEFT, and cross both lanes of President Wilson Avenue. Both crossings are light-controlled, with dropped kerbs;

Palais de Chaillot [MAP]:

At first glance, there appears to be no step-free access to the square between the two main buildings of the Palais de Chaillot. However, continue to the building on your right (as you face the Eiffel Tower), and you will find a wheelchair accessible ramp which leads up onto the platform [MAP];

Step-Free Detour (All Downhill):

There are steps leading down from the Esplanade du Trocadéro when heading directly to the Eiffel Tower. And the only way to bypass these steps – is to return to the ramp you used previously, turn RIGHT, and head along this side (right side) of President Wilson Avenue [MAP]; turn RIGHT into Avenue Albert-de-Mun [MAP]; follow the pavement as the road turns right-ish; enter the Jardins du Trocadéro (just before the road becomes Avenue des Nations Unies), as the pavement becomes narrow after this point [MAP]; take the path on your LEFT (the path closest to the road); and follow the path all the way down to the exit of the park at Le Kiosque des Fontaines (there is a pretty steep ramp here which runs down the centre of the steps [MAP]);

Pedestrian Crossing – Avenue des Nations Unies [MAP]:

A series of light-controlled pedestrian crossings take you across Avenue des Nations Unies, until you reach the Pont d’Iena;

Pont d’Iena [MAP]:

This approach to the Eiffel Tower across the Pont d’Iena, gives you one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower in all of Paris (only surpassed by the view of the Eiffel Tower from the Palais de Chaillot – which you will already have seen for yourself);

Pedestrian Crossing – Quai Jacques Chirac [MAP]:

A series of light-controlled pedestrian crossings take you across Quai Jacques Chirac, until you reach the Eiffel Tower. At the end of the crossing, turn LEFT;

Eiffel Tower [MAP]:

Until just a few years ago, you could pass under the Eiffel Tower – without actually having to pay to go up the Eiffel Tower.

However, for security reasons, the Eiffel Tower is now completely fenced-off [PIC]. Which means you can only access the area below the tower – if you actually pay to go up the Eiffel Tower (which is only partially wheelchair accessible – the very top of the Eiffel Tower is NOT accessible).

My advice, would be to visit the nearby Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac instead (and as well as the view of the Eiffel Tower, there are also accessible toilets and a wonderful cafe);

Eiffel Tower Gardens [MAP]:

Continue along Quai Jacques Chirac until you reach the end of the security fence that surrounds the Eiffel Tower. Then turn RIGHT into the Eiffel Tower Gardens. Take the small path to your LEFT (furthest from the Eiffel Tower), and continue briefly along this path, until you see the exit to Rue de l’Université [MAP];

Rue de l’Université [MAP]:

With the Eiffel Tower at your back, walk along the LEFT hand pavement of Rue de l’Université, until you reach the junction with Avenue de la Bourdonnais;

Pedestrian Crossing – Avenue de la Bourdonnais [MAP]:

This crossing is NOT light-controlled (but it’s a pretty small Parisienne sidestreet). There are dropped kerbs though;

Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac [MAP]:

This is the accessible entrance to the Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac (this is also the staff entrance – the main visitor entrance is further along Rue de l’Université. After your visit to the Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac (HIGHLY recommended as an accessible alternative to the only partially accessible Eiffel Tower), return along Rue de l’Université until you reach the Eiffel Tower Gardens again;

Eiffel Tower Gardens (again) [MAP]:

After the security bollards at the entrance to the Eiffel Tower Gardens, turn LEFT and follow the path until you reach the exit by Avenue Gustave Eiffel [MAP];

Crossing (kind of anyway) [MAP]:

This is not an official road crossing (although there ARE dropped kerbs on either side here. Still – a few white lines would have been a help [maybe the road painters ran out of paint?].

The Paris road planners DID make it obvious where the crossing was though. By laying COBBLES here, to differentiate it from the normal (and smooth) road.

[Some circus in Paris has lost its clowns].

So DO NOT CROSS THE ROAD HERE.

Instead, turn RIGHT as you leave the Eiffel Tower Gardens, and walk beside the rather ugly security screens that now surround the Eiffel Tower [MAP], until you reach the first “proper” crossing of Avenue Gustave Eiffel at the entrance to the Avenue Anatole France path that runs beside the Jardin de la Tour Eiffel [MAP];

Avenue Anatole France [MAP]:

The Avenue Anatole France footpath (and most of the footpaths on the Champ de Mars), is made of a hard-packed gravel. In no way wheelchair-unfriendly, but a bit more work for whoever is pushing;

Pedestrian Crossings – Place Jacques Rueff [MAP]:

Two non light-controlled crossings take you across Place Jacques Rueff. Other than the tour buses taking visitors to see the Eiffel Tower, there is very little traffic though.

After the crossings, again continue along the Avenue Anatole France footpath (heading towards the temporary Grand Palais Éphémère and the École Militaire – well, I say “the temporary Grand Palais Éphémère“, but it will be in place until Autumn 2024, while the restoration of the actual Grand Palais takes place);

École Militaire [MAP]:

When you reach the École Militaire, turn LEFT and follow Place Joffre until you reach a pedestrain crossing that crosses the small sidestreet of Avenue Frédéric le Play;

Pedestrian Crossing – Avenue Frédéric le Play [MAP]:

There are no lights at this crossing. But, as with just about every pedestrian crossing in central Paris, there are dropped kerbs on either side;

Pedestrian Crossing – Place Joffre [MAP]:

Cross Place Joffre at the first pedestrian crossing you see on your RIGHT. And at the end of the crossing, turn LEFT.

This is the first of three pedestrian crossings that will take you across Place de l’École Militaire. All are light-controlled, and have dropped kerbs.

After reaching the end of the third crossing (at the beginning of Avenue de Tourville), turn RIGHT and continue along Avenue de Tourville;

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue Chevert [MAP]:

Not light-controlled, but has dropped kerbs. After crossing Rue Chevert, continue straight ahead along Avenue de Tourville;

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue Joseph Granier [MAP]:

Not light-controlled, but has dropped kerbs. After crossing Rue Joseph Granier, continue straight ahead along Avenue de Tourville;

Pedestrian Crossing – Boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg [MAP]:

Light-controlled, with dropped kerbs. After crossing Boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg, continue straight ahead along Avenue de Tourville (you will now see the golden dome of the Hôtel des Invalides on your LEFT;

Hôtel des Invalides [MAP]:

The accessible entrance of the Hôtel des Invalides is actually further on (and as this route that you are following actually passes it, it is described in more detail below). To reach the accessible entrance, continue walking along Avenue de Tourville until the next corner (Boulevard des Invalides) where you turn LEFT;

Hôtel des Invalides – Accessible Entrance [MAP]:

Les Invalides is only partially accessible. The actual tomb of Napoleon is housed beneath that golden dome, and there are steps there.

However, all areas of the Musée de l’Armée are accessible.

If you do not wish to visit Les Invalides, the pedestrian crossing that you need to take next, is immediately after the accessible entrance to Les Invalides anyway (rather handily?);

Pedestrian Crossing – Boulevard des Invalides [MAP]:

Light-controlled, with dropped kerbs. After crossing Boulevard des Invalides, turn LEFT, and continue walking down the right hand side of the same street. The garden of the Musée Rodin is just behind the wall on your right (but to get there, keep heading down this side of Boulevard des Invalides, until you reach the corner of Rue de Varenne, where you should turn RIGHT [MAP];

Musée Rodin – Accessible Entrance [MAP]:

There is a separate, step-free, accessible entrance to the Musée Rodin (the main entrance is 20 metres further along Rue de Varenne).

To continue this walk, you must return back along Rue de Varenne, and turn RIGHT at the junction with Boulevard des Invalides (there is a light-controlled pedestrian crossing just before the junction [MAP]);

Boulevard des Invalides (again) [MAP]:

Immediately after turning the corner, cross to the other side of Boulevard des Invalides at the light-controlled pedestrian crossing. At the end of the crossing, turn RIGHT, and continue down the LEFT hand side of Boulevard des Invalides until it ends at Rue de Grenelle (the pretty gardens of the Square d’Ajaccio will be on your left). Turn LEFT into Rue de Grenelle [MAP];

Rue de Grenelle [MAP]:

Ignore the first pedestrian crossing that you see when you first enter Rue de Grenelle. Instead, continue walking along this LEFT hand side until you see the second pedestrian crossing (the cannons of Les Invalides will be on your immediate LEFT at this point, and the crossing will be on your RIGHT) [MAP];

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue de Grenelle [MAP]:

This crossing is NOT light-controlled though. But there are dropped kerbs on either side, and a little island in the middle of the road. At the end of the crossing, turn LEFT, and walk around this section of the Rond-Point du Bleuet de France until you turn RIGHT into Avenue du Maréchal Gallieni (where you will immediately see the next pedestrian crossing – on your LEFT now);

Pedestrian Crossing – Avenue du Maréchal Gallieni [MAP]:

Again, this crossing is not light-controlled. But as with the previous crossing, there are dropped kerbs on either side, and a little island (of sorts) midway across the road.

At the end of the crossing, turn RIGHT and continue along this LEFT hand side of Avenue du Maréchal Gallieni until you reach Rue Saint-Dominique and the next pedestrian crossing;

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue Saint-Dominique [MAP]:

The Rue Saint-Dominique crossing is light-controlled (with dropped kerbs on either side – as usual for central Paris).

At the end of the crossing, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD, along Avenue du Maréchal Gallieni until you reach the next crossing (at Rue de l’Université);

Pedestrian Crossing – Rue de l’Université [MAP]:

The Rue de l’Université crossing is also light-controlled (with dropped kerbs on either side).

At the end of the crossing, again continue STRAIGHT AHEAD, along Avenue du Maréchal Gallieni until you reach the next crossing (at Quai d’Orsay), where you will see Pont Alexandre III, the most beautiful bridge in Paris, on the opposite side of the road;

Pedestrian Crossing – Quai d’Orsay [MAP]:

After crossing the road, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD over the Pont Alexandre III;

Pedestrian Crossings – Cours-la-Reine [MAP]:

Two pedestrian crossings take you across both lanes of Cours-la-Reine, towards the Grand Palais. At the end of the second crossing, you will immediately see the next crossing on your RIGHT (crosses Avenue Winston Churchill towards the main entrance of the Petit Palais) [MAP];

Petit Palais – Accessible Entrance [MAP]:

As there are steps leading up to the main entrance of Le Petit Palais, there is a separate accessible entrance (just to the RIGHT of the steps).

After leaving Le Petit Palais, turn RIGHT, and walk around the RIGHT hand side of Place Clemenceau until you see the next crossing (crosses the Champs-Élysées);

Pedestrian Crossing – Champs-Élysées [MAP]:

After crossing the Champs-Élysées here, turn LEFT, then immediately turn RIGHT into the Jardins des Champs-Élysées. Almost immediately, again turn RIGHT (so that Le Pavillon Elysée Té is now on your LEFT as you pass it);

Jardins des Champs-Élysées [MAP]:

It is fairly easy to follow the main path (wheelchair-friendly hard-packed gravel) through the gardens. Just always head in the same general direction (parallel to the Champs-Élysées road, in the direction of Place de la Concorde).

The first “obstacle” that you come to in the “Champs-Élysées Gardens” will be the Jardin des Ambassadeurs (with the Fontaine de Diane fountain in the centre).

Follow the path halfway around the circle of grass, and continue in the same general direction as before.

When you reach your final junction, take the path on the RIGHT (just head towards the obelisk of the Place de la Concorde – and the very prominent Horse of Marly statue at the corner before it);

Pedestrian Crossings – Place de la Concorde [MAP]:

Just to the LEFT of the Horse of Marly statue, you will see the first of a series of crossings that will take you across the Place de la Concorde. All crossings are light-controlled, with dropped kerbs at all points. Continue to the main entrance to the Jardin des Tuilleries;

Jardin des Tuilleries – Entrance [MAP]:

Just as with the Jardins des Champs-Élysées before, it is VERY easy following the main/central path through the Jardin des Tuilleries.

You will first come to the Bassin Octagonal, the octagonal pond of the Jardin des Tuilleries, surrounded by chairs (but you will need to be quick to grab one) [MAP].

Continuing along the main/central path through the Jardin des Tuilleries, you will next come to the Grand Bassin Rond, with its central fountain [MAP];

STEPS – AND A RAMP! [MAP]:

As you near the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuilleries rises (via an ornate flight of steps). However, there is a ramp to the RIGHT of the steps;

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel [MAP]:

Once you have returned to the top of the steps, continue along the main path of the Jardin des Tuilleries, and you will next come to, pass through, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.

After passing through the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD/SLIGHTLY RIGHT-ISH until you reach the pedestrian crossing at the Place du Carrousel;

Pedestrian Crossing – Place du Carrousel [MAP]:

The crossing is light-controlled. And there are dropped kerbs on both sides of the road.

However, COBBLES! It’s only for a few metres – but hang on to your French beret. After crossing the road, head for the glass pyramid, and the entrance to the Louvre Museum;

Louvre Museum Entrance [MAP]:

Wheelchair users are treated impeccably well at the Louvre:

There are 4 different queues at the entrance to the Louvre. One queue for visitors without tickets, one for visitors with tickets/Museum Passes, one for Louvre members/supporters – and a priority queue for staff AND disabled visitors (so next-to-no waiting);

STEPS! (with RAMPS) [MAP]:

After visiting the Louvre, continue in the same direction as before, towards the Pavillon Sully / Pavillon de l’Horloge (the side facing the Louvre pyramid is known as Pavillon Sully, while the eastern face, the side on Cour Carrée, of the same part of the Louvre building is known as Pavillon de l’Horloge).

There are steps leading up to the arched passageway through Pavillon Sully / Pavillon de l’Horloge. However, there are ramps on either side of the steps;

Cour Carrée [MAP]:

After passing through the archway, you will arrive in Cour Carrée (“Square Court”) [the archway on the right of that MAP photograph].

Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD to the fountain in the centre of the square. Where you turn RIGHT, and head to the Porte Des Arts archway that leads towards the Pont des Arts [the archway in the centre of that MAP photograph];

Louvre – Porte des Arts [MAP]:

After passing through the Porte des Arts archway, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD to the pedestrian crossing that leads to the Pont des Arts.

CAUTION: The pathway through/after the Porte des Arts is made of COBBLES – they don’t last long though, but it will be a short, bumpy ride [MAP];

Pedestrian Crossing – Quai François Mitterrand [MAP]:

Light-controlled with dropped kerbs. At the end of the crossing, wheelchair users should turn LEFT to access the ramp that bypasses the steps that lead up to the Pont des Arts;

RAMP – Pont des Arts [MAP]:

The ramp is VERY easy to see (just to the LEFT of the steps);

END – Pont des Arts [MAP]:

Ther are just a few wooden benches in the Pont des Arts. But it is a bit of an evening tradition, for local Parisiens/Parisiennes just to lay a pinic blanket on the wooden floor of the bridge, lay out some food, uncork a bottle of wine – and enjoy the Paris sunset (possibly even with a local musician playing in the background).

The Paris “Joie de Vivre”!