The Eiffel Tower, Napoleon, Rodin and the best picnic street in Paris, all within a 20-minute walk. Here is how to string them together.
The short version
- The Eiffel Tower is open 9:30 to 23:00; book the lift weeks ahead in season at toureiffel.paris. The view of it is free from the Champ de Mars and the Trocadéro.
- Rue Cler, between the Champ de Mars and the Invalides, is a pedestrian market street of cheese shops, bakeries and delis. Buy a picnic here.
- Les Invalides is €17 for the Army Museum and Napoleon’s tomb, open daily. The Musée Rodin next door is €14, closed Mondays, and its garden is the best part.
- The Musée du Quai Branly, by the river below the tower, holds the national collections from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas in a building by Jean Nouvel with a planted wall.
- Cross the Pont d’Iéna to the Trocadéro for the classic view back across the river. It is best at sunset and on the hour after dark.
- The Marché Saxe-Breteuil on Thursday and Saturday mornings, with the tower at the end of the avenue, is the prettiest food market in Paris.
The walk
From École Militaire metro, walk rue Cler and buy lunch, then cross to the Champ de Mars and walk the length of the lawns to the tower. If you booked the lift, this is the morning to go up.
From the tower, walk east along the river past the Quai Branly to the Pont Alexandre III, then south across the Esplanade to Les Invalides and Napoleon’s tomb. The Rodin garden is two minutes from the Invalides on rue de Varenne.
Finish the day back at the river: cross the Pont d’Iéna to the Trocadéro for sunset, and stay for the tower lights at the top of the hour.
Or let us drive it: our private Paris tour by car is four hours with a driver-guide from your hotel, any time of day or night, the Eiffel Tower and the 7th with the rest of the big sights.
Where to eat
Rue Cler for a picnic: bread, cheese, charcuterie, fruit, a bottle of wine. Eat it on the Champ de Mars with the tower over you.
The cafes on rue Cler and the streets around it, rue Saint-Dominique and rue de Grenelle, are the neighborhood lunch and dinner. The brasseries facing the tower charge for the view.
The Saxe-Breteuil market on Thursday and Saturday mornings has the food stalls with the tower at the end of the avenue.
When to go
Morning for the tower, before the lines; midday for rue Cler and the picnic; afternoon for the Invalides and the Rodin; sunset at the Trocadéro.
Monday the Rodin is closed; Les Invalides and the tower are open every day. Rue Cler is quietest on Sunday afternoon and Monday, when some shops close.
July 14 the fireworks go up from the tower and the Champ de Mars fills from the afternoon. Book a table or a spot early, or watch from the Trocadéro side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best view of the Eiffel Tower?
The Trocadéro across the river, for the full tower with the fountains in front. The Champ de Mars for the view from below, and the Pont de Bir-Hakeim for the tower with the river and the metro going over.
Is rue Cler a market?
It is a market street rather than a market: permanent shops, open most days, with cheese, bakeries, wine and delis. The street market nearby is Saxe-Breteuil, on Thursday and Saturday mornings.
How much can I see in a day?
The tower, Les Invalides and the Rodin garden with a picnic in between, and the Trocadéro at sunset. That is a full day, all on foot.
Can I picnic on the Champ de Mars?
Yes, on the lawns that are open, and it is the classic thing to do. Take your rubbish with you; the bins fill fast on summer evenings.
Is there a tour that covers the 7th?
Yes. Our private Paris in a Day is eight hours with a driver-guide, and our half-day Paris walking tour is about three hours on foot with a private guide; tell us you want the 7th and we build the route around it.
Our Most Popular Day Trips From Paris
Louvre, Montmartre and Notre Dame in eight hours with a private driver-guide.
