Paris La Défense
Paris La Défense
4
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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- La Défense • 5 min walk
- La Défense • 5 min walk
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- AlbertSalichsManresa, Spain22,446 contributionsVery nice business and modern areaLa Defense is a neighbourhood located in the surroundings of Paris, where there are a lot of skyscrapers and offices. Also, there is a big building called Le Grande Arche, which is a square, where nowadays there are a lot of offices. It was built in François Miterrand times and nowadays is a very known building in Paris. In fact, from here you can see a lot of modern skyscrapers and it is a business zone. We came here with my 7 years old daughter to see this area and the sculpture de Cesar, a big finger, where my daughter enjoyed a lot. Very nice and modern neighbourhood, from where you can see Arc de Triomphe and the place de la Concorde with the obelisc. (See also Le Grande Arche de la Defense and Sculpture de Cesar, le Pouce)Visited December 2022Travelled with familyWritten 28 November 2023
- Thomas VOakland, California17,790 contributionsNew Town of SkyscrapersThis is a city outside the limits of Paris, a neighbor that has been transformed from industry and rundown buildings into a huge business center. In most of Paris, height limitations mean no skyscrapers, so they were built here in the new town. Some of the architecture is wild, some is boring, and then there is the square arch, the landmark. Sadly there is not much happening on street level, eating and shopping can be found in an underground mall with the big train station.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 February 2024
- Ellen T4 contributionsLa Defense -- excellent location for Paris stayLa Defense is a bit out of the center city area, but an excellent location for access, food and some parks. I stayed in Puteaux, area right next to La Defense. It doesn't take long to get into center city from the La Defense Metro stop. Comfortable walk across the Seine to La Bagatelle and Bois de Bologne, lovely gardens, the Louis Vuitton Foundation (a very cool experience, by the way). And, of course, excellent patisseries on every block. A great place to stay if you don't want to be in the middle of the Paris crowds but near enough to enjoy everything in the city.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 7 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Brian T
London, UK8,046 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
La Grande Arche de la Défense is a monument and building in the business district of La Défense. It’s a relatively new addition to the cityscape of Paris, being inaugurated in 1989. I get the feeling that Parisians either love it or hate it. It’s a curious structure, roughly in the shape of a cube with the centre scooped out. It’s bold, and has been cleverly aligned to the historic axis from Musée du Louvre to Place de la Concorde, along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, and then along Avenue Charles De Gaulle across the River Seine to La Défense. It’s about 4 kilometres from the Arc de Triomphe.
The forecourt is spacious, and from there you’ll get a great view of the grand scale of the building. You can take a lift to the observation deck on the bridge of the construction. It costs from between €13 and €16 to visit. The observation deck was closed on the evening that we were visiting; it is open from 10.00 am to 6.30pm daily. I have been to the observation deck on a previous visit to Paris, and my opinion is that it’s not worth bothering to do so. You’ll see the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Montparnasse Tower, and lots of avenues and rooftops. You’ll get far better views of the various Parisian landmarks and the historic axis which links the Grande Arche to La Louvre from the observation deck of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile. It’s only a couple of Euros more, for a far superior view. And if you are lucky enough, as I was during the summer, you may get a fabulous view of the setting sun shining directly through the Grande Arche de la Défense from the Arc de Triomphe. It was a memorable moment.
The nearest Metro station to the monument is La Defense - Grande Arche, on Metro Line 1. There is also a RER station at the monument.
The forecourt is spacious, and from there you’ll get a great view of the grand scale of the building. You can take a lift to the observation deck on the bridge of the construction. It costs from between €13 and €16 to visit. The observation deck was closed on the evening that we were visiting; it is open from 10.00 am to 6.30pm daily. I have been to the observation deck on a previous visit to Paris, and my opinion is that it’s not worth bothering to do so. You’ll see the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Montparnasse Tower, and lots of avenues and rooftops. You’ll get far better views of the various Parisian landmarks and the historic axis which links the Grande Arche to La Louvre from the observation deck of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile. It’s only a couple of Euros more, for a far superior view. And if you are lucky enough, as I was during the summer, you may get a fabulous view of the setting sun shining directly through the Grande Arche de la Défense from the Arc de Triomphe. It was a memorable moment.
The nearest Metro station to the monument is La Defense - Grande Arche, on Metro Line 1. There is also a RER station at the monument.
Written 23 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elisa
Prague, Czech Republic216 contributions
Oct 2022
This is a place to visit if you are staying more than a week in Paris or if you have already covered the "must-see" attractions.
The whole area is very unique and worths a visit. You can go on top of the Arche and dine at the very expensive but panoramic restaurant.
There is a shopping mall in the basement where Frenchies go for everyday shopping. Fair prices and interesting shopping experience for foreigners.
The whole area is very unique and worths a visit. You can go on top of the Arche and dine at the very expensive but panoramic restaurant.
There is a shopping mall in the basement where Frenchies go for everyday shopping. Fair prices and interesting shopping experience for foreigners.
Written 23 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PWMcC
Newtownabbey, UK231 contributions
Jul 2019
Whilst this is a bit of a journey from the other tourists attractions it is well worth a visit for the views.
It is in La Defense which is commercial / business area. There is a shopping centre near by and places to eat and drink.
You get to the viewing gallery by a glass lift which goes up the middle of the arch.
Before you go outside there is a good exhibition which explains the history a s building of the arch.
The viewing galley gives excellent views across the city and you can get good photos of the Eiffel Tower.
The viewing gallery has now for sun loungers so you can sit and relax whilst enjoying the view.
There is a cafe and gift show.
I have visited before and would do so again just for the views.
There are also excellent views of the arch itself from the steps either side where you can sit and relax or people watch !
It is in La Defense which is commercial / business area. There is a shopping centre near by and places to eat and drink.
You get to the viewing gallery by a glass lift which goes up the middle of the arch.
Before you go outside there is a good exhibition which explains the history a s building of the arch.
The viewing galley gives excellent views across the city and you can get good photos of the Eiffel Tower.
The viewing gallery has now for sun loungers so you can sit and relax whilst enjoying the view.
There is a cafe and gift show.
I have visited before and would do so again just for the views.
There are also excellent views of the arch itself from the steps either side where you can sit and relax or people watch !
Written 30 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher I
Belleair, FL11 contributions
Jan 2020
I generally have a vehicle when visiting Paris because parking downtown is almost impossible. I stay at a hotel in La Defense most of them have ample parking (for a fee) available. There are a few different hotels, I have stayed at the Sofitel a couple of times. There is a large shopping mall with stores and many restaurants very close to the hotels, easy 10 min walk. Large mall like you would find in an America along with a very large food market. Very reasonable prices. The food market and coffee shops are very handy to have near the hotel. The subway is a few steps from the market and another subway entrance closer to the hotels.
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John D
New York City, NY13 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
It’s the most boring site I’ve been to in Paris…unless you’re coming from a remote village and haven’t seen yet a modern city landscape in your life. It’s just boring with a few restaurants …junk mostly…
Avoid and get lost in the nicer neighborhoods of central Paris. I went there to catch a bus. Otherwise, I would not even have considered it and I was right…had to waste about an hour and ended up sitting on the steps of a stair and watching people waiting for the bus which has no train connection. If your spending more than a few months in Paris I think then it’s ok lol
Avoid and get lost in the nicer neighborhoods of central Paris. I went there to catch a bus. Otherwise, I would not even have considered it and I was right…had to waste about an hour and ended up sitting on the steps of a stair and watching people waiting for the bus which has no train connection. If your spending more than a few months in Paris I think then it’s ok lol
Written 24 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wraxall_Travellers
Bristol, UK1,067 contributions
Apr 2022
The view even from the steps up to the Arche are great. You can buy an entry ticket to go to the top.
At at the time of writing, there was some building work in the area (new metro station I believe), so that may spoil the view a bit.
At at the time of writing, there was some building work in the area (new metro station I believe), so that may spoil the view a bit.
Written 24 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MEBT
Florida20 contributions
Dec 2019
There is a lot of scattered art in this are which makes it worth the visit, if you have extra time while in Paris. Getting there was very easy with public transportation. Amazing architecture (but it is, after-all, Paris). It was part of my bucket list of places to visit and enjoyed the walk around the town.
Written 21 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gerald e
Barcelona, Spain1,120 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
This event took place for just a few days last year for the first time, but this year it lasted for four weeks due to the interest generated. Given the astonishing success, it will have to last several months next year.
I'll start with the only criticism: the directions to get to the place of the visit are very imprecise and we discussed this with other visitors who had had the same difficulties as us.
The space, located under the La Défense square, is immense, it is a bit the antithesis of the surface with its setting worthy of a science fiction film, here we are rather in an immense prehistoric cave, in concrete, certainly, but just as dark, deserted, devoid of traces of life, even hostile!
When you go down there, there is a sort of muffled noise, a wave that you might believe to be unreal, a latent vibration because of the underground highways, the metro or RER cars passing close to this technical void.
It is a space which should have been allocated to a station whose construction was abandoned, it is also called the cathedral.
The visit was made possible thanks to agreements between the consortium which manages La Défense, the town hall and this association of artists.
The visit lasts more than an hour and a half and we go from virtual spaces to photo exhibitions of abandoned places, from installations with recycled materials to an interactive space, from a cut-out paper passage to wall frescoes and everything is beautiful , surprising or interesting.
The visit ends with the vision of Moretti's "monster".
An essential visit for lovers of unusual, different, exotic places....
I'll start with the only criticism: the directions to get to the place of the visit are very imprecise and we discussed this with other visitors who had had the same difficulties as us.
The space, located under the La Défense square, is immense, it is a bit the antithesis of the surface with its setting worthy of a science fiction film, here we are rather in an immense prehistoric cave, in concrete, certainly, but just as dark, deserted, devoid of traces of life, even hostile!
When you go down there, there is a sort of muffled noise, a wave that you might believe to be unreal, a latent vibration because of the underground highways, the metro or RER cars passing close to this technical void.
It is a space which should have been allocated to a station whose construction was abandoned, it is also called the cathedral.
The visit was made possible thanks to agreements between the consortium which manages La Défense, the town hall and this association of artists.
The visit lasts more than an hour and a half and we go from virtual spaces to photo exhibitions of abandoned places, from installations with recycled materials to an interactive space, from a cut-out paper passage to wall frescoes and everything is beautiful , surprising or interesting.
The visit ends with the vision of Moretti's "monster".
An essential visit for lovers of unusual, different, exotic places....
Written 7 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlbertSalichs
Manresa, Spain22,446 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
La Defense is a neighbourhood located in the surroundings of Paris, where there are a lot of skyscrapers and offices. Also, there is a big building called Le Grande Arche, which is a square, where nowadays there are a lot of offices. It was built in François Miterrand times and nowadays is a very known building in Paris. In fact, from here you can see a lot of modern skyscrapers and it is a business zone. We came here with my 7 years old daughter to see this area and the sculpture de Cesar, a big finger, where my daughter enjoyed a lot. Very nice and modern neighbourhood, from where you can see Arc de Triomphe and the place de la Concorde with the obelisc.
(See also Le Grande Arche de la Defense and Sculpture de Cesar, le Pouce)
(See also Le Grande Arche de la Defense and Sculpture de Cesar, le Pouce)
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler O
Washington DC, DC1,216 contributions
May 2022
Facing the Arc de Triomphe, this modern structure affords great views of the city without the same lines seen at the Arc or the Eiffel Tower. Huge observation deck on top of the arch along with a restaurant open at certain times and an art exhibition area indoors below the observation deck. There's a lift to take you to the exhibit area first, then another lift to the observation deck, if so needed, or you climb some steep steps (quite a few) to reach the top. Great views and much less crowded than downtown.
Written 13 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olá, chegando em Paris e desembarcando em Orly, o bairro de Lá Defense ainda está incluso na aérea de tarifa fixa dos táxis ou a cobrança é no taxímetro ?
Written 1 March 2019
Best French restaurants that are easy walk from Sofitel Paris La Defense
Written 13 August 2018
We never went to any restaurants around here we were there even before the shopping mall opened.,sorry.
Written 13 August 2018
Best French restaurants that are easy walk from Sofitel Paris La Defense
Written 13 August 2018
Try go to Quai Marine or Le Saint Sert resto.
Written 13 August 2018
AfroditiA_62
Kefalonia, Greece
Σε ποιό arrondissement βρίσκεται η La Defense ??
Written 5 December 2017
Το La Défense βρίσκεται στο Παρίσι, κοντά στη συνοικία Hauts-de-Seine, στο Παρίσι
Written 7 January 2019
Hello Nice People
We're based in La Defense for a few days while in Paris, and wondered if you could recommend a good breakfast place (in La Defense) for the family?
Thank you in advance, your helpful insight is always much appreciated.
Written 13 March 2017
Till what time does the shopping Centre at La Defence open on weekdays?
Written 18 October 2016
Most shops in the “Les 4 Temps” shopping mall are open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 08:30 PM, and on sundays from 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM. The restaurants and the cinema have more extended schedules.
Written 7 January 2019
la navette de l'aéroport Charles de Gaulle à l'appart hôtel citadines la défense est elle gratuite ou payante, si c'est payant combien pour 4 adultes et 02 enfants de 8 et 4 ans?
Written 8 August 2016
Bonjour, voici les infos trouvées sur le site de citadines :
Accéder à Citadines La Défense Paris
(...)
Depuis l'aéroport de Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle :
(...)
En bus et métro : Prendre le bus "Air France" ligne 2 jusqu'à Porte Maillot. Ensuite prendre la ligne 1 du métro jusqu'à Esplanade de la Défense. Le trajet dure environ 60 minutes et coûte 16.40€.
Written 9 August 2016
Is this a good location for exploring Paris?
Written 15 February 2016
Although it's not in the heart of Paris it offers good access to a wide range of places via the Metro.
Written 19 February 2016
Hi. We are four 50yr olds staying in Paris for New Year 2015/16. We have booked into a hotel at La Defense which we know is a bit out of the main drag but ok for us as don't mind walking etc.
I am asking for ideas of what to do for NYE. We would like to see the fireworks...can anyone recommend a restuarant for late meal near to where we will need to be. Any other suggestions would be gratefully accepted also.
Thanks S.
Written 21 October 2015
Hello, not sure that in Paris there is any fireworks...Most people come together at midnight on the Champs Elysées high part or at the Eifel Tower. So many restaurants that an advise is useless since you have your own budget and taste. However, for something special, a Libanese restaurant with a large choise of cold and hot mezze is recommended. I like Al Ajami.
Written 24 October 2015
I am only familiar with arriving on the Metro. You arrive in an underground shopping area. After looking around a bit you find an elevator that will take you above ground. It is quite small. I don't know if it would accommodate a wheel chair. There could be other elevators but I don't personally know of any. If you are in braces or using a walker you would be able to use the elevator. It really is amazing when you come up in the elevator and step out and there is the Grand Arch and the other contemporary architecture. I don't believe there is an elevator to the upper platform of the Grand Arch but it still would be quite an amazing view even if you stayed on the level at base of the steps. I hope you are able to go to La Defense. Good Luck
Written 29 July 2015
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