Walk Paris in 2 Days 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 Walk Paris in 2 Days DIY Walking Tour – Day 1 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 – Place du Trocadéro [MAP]:

Your walk starts at the line 63 bus stop on Avenue du President Wilson (the recommended way to arrive – a G7 accessible taxi is even better though).

With your back to the buildings, turn RIGHT, and walk up Avenue du President Wilson for a few metres, where you will find the first of two crossings, just at the junction with Place du Trocadéro, that will take you across to the other side of Avenue du President Wilson;

Pedestrian Crossing – Avenue du President Wilson [MAP]:

At the end of the second crossing, turn RIGHT, and head towards the gap between the two large buildings on your left (the two separate wings of the Palais de Chaillot). As a wheelchair user, your ultimate destination is the ramp at the near side of the farthest building;

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, where you should turn RIGHT, and head along this side (right side) of Avenue du President Wilson [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 (a HIGHLY recommended 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 sucurity 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, after your Musée Rodin visit, 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, recross the road at the same crossing as before. At the end of the crossing, turn RIGHT, and continue heading to Place Clemenceau.