Last Updated: August 5, 2022
22 Famous Streets in Paris You Must Visit
Wondering which of the most famous streets in Paris you need to visit when you’re in town? Then you’re definitely in the right place because we’ve got the 22 most famous streets in Paris right here!
From iconic avenues like Champs-Elysées to lesser-known hidden gems like Avenue Rapp, this guide to famous streets in Paris covers all the prettiest parts of the city. The best shopping streets, the most iconic views of the Eiffel Tower, and the prettiest cityscapes are all included in our guide to 22 famous streets in Paris you must visit, so keep reading and take notes!
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Rue Cler
Rue Cler is an iconic street in Paris that’s famous for all the right reasons. It’s lined with the city’s best shops, grocery stores, and cafes, and it’s the place to be if you want to experience the Paris of locals.
The pedestrian street is home to quite a few of the city’s top restaurants and pastry shops, which naturally include Ladurée with their amazing delicacies. This is a good place to go shopping for fresh produce, thanks to the variety of local grocery stores.
It’s also a great place if you’re looking for some specialty items since Rue Cler is home to everything from a cheese shop to an indoor seafood market.
The buildings that line this iconic street in Paris feature a mixture of the different architectures found in the city, so there’s everything from classic neo-renaissance facades to modern buildings. The further down the street you get the older it seems, with the heart of the street being the cobblestone alley lined with colorful storefronts.
Avenue des Champs-Elysées
There is hardly a more famous street in Paris than Avenue des Champs-Elysées. The iconic avenue runs from Place de la Concorde to Arc de Triomphe, and it’s lined with boutiques, shops, and cafes throughout. The famous avenue stretches from one end of the 8th arrondissement to the other, and if you’re not there you’re seriously missing out.
In addition to being the most famous street in the city, Avenue des Champs-Elysées is also one of the best shopping streets in all of Paris. The likes of Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, and Dior are all to be found here, as well as Ladurée – the iconic pastry shop that’s known around the world for its macarons.
Arc de Triomphe is another famous sight here, and not just because it’s a notable landmark. The traffic in the hectic roundabout surrounding Arc de Triomphe is much more interesting than the actual landmark, and a good example of everyday life in Paris.
Rue de l’Université
Rue de l’Université is a rather long street that runs parallel to the Seine. It runs from the University of Paris to the Eiffel Tower, and it’s easily one of the most iconic streets in Paris. There are several famous landmarks in Rue de l’Université, a lot of which were built in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The street is located entirely in the 7th arrondissement, so it’s pretty much impossible to miss it while you’re exploring the most iconic sights in the city of Paris. In addition to famous hotels that were constructed centuries ago, This famous street is also lined with galleries, coffee shops, and a spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower.
Head to the very end of Rue de l’Université to get a spectacular glimpse of the most famous Parisian landmark, towering over the nearby buildings. It’s a good place to get a beautiful photo with the Eiffel Tower, but without the huge crowds that the parks in front of the landmark are known for.
Rue Saint Dominique
Rue Saint Dominique is another of the most famous streets in Paris, this time in the 7th arrondissement. It’s almost parallel with Rue de l’Université because it runs from the Champs de Mars entrance to the Embassy of Paraguay, where it merges with the Bd Saint-Germain.
Rue Saint Dominique is a popular shopping street in Paris, particularly the part of the street that’s near Champs de Mars. It’s got fashion boutiques, jewelry shops, countless bistros, and the stunning Église Catholique Saint-Pierre-du-Gros-Caillou, which just immediately makes you stop in your tracks as soon as you stumble upon it.
Avenue de la Bourdonnais
Avenue de la Bourdonnais is a street in the 7th arrondissement that runs parallel with Champ de Mars park. It’s mostly notable for the classic Parisian architecture of the buildings, as well as a couple of historic storefronts that have been deemed historical monuments for the city of Paris.
Also, some parts of the street offer a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower, far away from the much crowdier areas of Paris. This avenue is best known for the many shops and bistros that line it, as well as the numerous historic buildings that are a testament to Paris from a previous era.
Another interesting fact about this avenue is that it’s where the first mayor of Paris was guillotined, back in the late 18th century. I wouldn’t necessarily call that a fun fact, but it’s certainly an interesting piece of trivia to know about one of Paris’ most famous streets!
Rue de la Paix
Rue de la Paix is known as one of the best shopping streets in Paris, particularly if you’re looking to shop for jewelry, watches, and other accessories. This elegant street is home to some amazing high-end jewelry stores, including Tiffany & Co., Breitling Boutique, Rolex, and others.
It’s the shopping street in Paris for those with deeper wallets looking to add some special pieces to their collections, but it’s worth checking out even if the only shopping you’ll be doing is window shopping.
The iconic street runs from Place de l’Opéra to Colonne Vendôme, offering amazing views of the iconic bronze column. It’s incredible how the tall monument just sits perfectly in the middle of the buildings on either side of Rue de la Paix, and it’s truly something you need to experience with your own two eyes.
Avenue Rapp
Avenue Rapp is another of the famous streets in Paris’ 7th arrondissement. It’s home to beautiful Art Noveau architecture typical of this city, as well as a spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower. Several buildings on Avenue Rapp were designed by Jules Lavirotte, one of the most famous Art Noveau architects France has ever produced.
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The popular avenue also offers occasional glimpses of the city’s most iconic landmark, which is always a bonus in my book.
Avenue de Camoëns
Avenue de Camoëns is a short historic street in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. It’s best known for a fabulous view of the Eiffel tower, and it’s one of the places in the city that offers the best-uninterrupted view of the iconic landmark.
This street is situated in an area of Paris that’s not exactly swarming with tourists all the time, so you can get a great photograph of just you and the landmark. It’s a bit out of the way, but it is pretty close to quite a few other famous attractions, so you don’t have to make a trip to the 16th arrondissement just for one short alley.
Place du Trocadero is just a few minutes away from Avenue de Camoëns, and it’s a consensus that the alley offers a better photo/op with the Eiffel Tower, simply because there are fewer people in the background.
Avenue Victor Hugo
Avenue Victor Hugo is a classic Parisian street in the 16th arrondissement. It runs through about half of the arrondissement, all the way from Arc de Triomphe at Place Charles de Gaulle to the monument of Victor Hugo. This typical Paris street has a rather elegant feel, mostly because of the beautiful architecture of all the buildings that line it.
Everything about this street screams Paris, from the Arc de Triomphe views at the start, to the architecture of the residential buildings, down to those tiny balconies.
Also, the countless shops along Avenue Victor Hugo are everything from grocery stores to luxury watch shops, and it’s similar with the restaurants – the selection of bistros ranges from authentic French cafes to McDonald’s, so you can truly experience the different epochs of Paris’ rich history.
Rue Lepic
Rue Lepic is a well-known street in Montmartre, famous for quite a few popular attractions that Paris is known for. One of the top attractions here is Appartement de Théo Van Gogh, which is the exact apartment in which Van Gogh lived with his brother Theo when they came to Paris.
Another notable attraction in this uphill (or downhill, depending on which way you enter Rue Lepic) cobblestone street is Le Moulin de la Galette, which is only the most iconic restaurant in Montmartre.
This is the place for anyone looking to truly experience French cuisine. The upscale restaurant boasts a gorgeous interior and an even better exterior. It’s situated inside an old mill, so it’s definitely a unique way to experience Paris.
Rue des Rosiers
Rue des Rosiers is literally the street of the rose bushes. It’s situated in the 4th arrondissement, beginning at Rue Malher and ending at Rue Vielle du Temple. It’s situated at the heart of the Jewish Quarter, and it’s a particularly popular destination during the weekends and holidays since all the stores remain open on Sunday.
Also, because the street is in the Jewish Quarter, it’s home to some of the best restaurants that are associated with Jewish and Middle Eastern cuisine. It’s where to go if you’re looking for kosher food, but also if you’re in the mood for falafel or shawarma.
Over the past few years, this street has become more notable for fashion thanks to the variety of modern showrooms and stores of some of the trendiest fashion brands in Europe. Another great thing about this popular street is that it’s lined with all sorts of trees and bushes on either side, for a truly marvelous experience.
Rue des Martyrs
Rue des Martyrs is a Paris street notable for churches, bakeries, and cafes. It runs from Notre-Dame de Lorette church, across Boulevard de Clichy, and up to the intersection with Rue le Vieuville. It traverses deep into the Montmartre neighborhood, and it’s home to some of the best pastry shops in this part of Paris.
If you’re craving croissants, pain au chocolates, and macarons, this is one of the best streets in Paris to check out. You’ll also find a selection of souvenir shops, clothing stores, and excellent Parisian cafes, so there’s plenty of love about Rue des Martyrs.
Some elements of Boulevard de Clichy also bleed into this street, and there are a few theaters and live music venues close to the intersection of the two streets. It’s a place you should visit if you want to experience a different side of Paris, one that isn’t just about luxuries and couture.
Boulevard de Clichy
Boulevard de Clichy is probably the second most famous street in Paris, even though not all people will know it by name. The street is famous because it’s where you’ll find Moulin Rouge, one of the most iconic landmarks in the city of Paris.
It runs from Place de Clichy to the intersection with Rue des Martyrs, at the foot of the Montmartre hill. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in this city, so don’t be surprised to stumble upon crowds of other tourists.
The good news is that there are plenty of bars, pubs, and restaurants to accommodate those crowds. There are also several theaters and places where you can enjoy performing arts, making Boulevard de Clichy a great destination for anyone looking to experience the more entertaining side of Paris.
Rue Montorgueil
Rue Montorgueil is a famous Parisian street that stretches through the 1st and 2nd arrondissements. It’s lined with pastry shops, cheese shops, wine stores, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants, and it’s one of the best places to visit in the city if you’re trying to get a sense of what daily life of locals is like in Paris.
This is where many locals will come to do their daily shopping and socialize while they’re doing it. The famous shopping street is also home to a few of Paris’ oldest restaurants, as well as the Les Halles indoor shopping mall.
This isn’t strictly a pedestrian street, but it’s common to see people walking on the cobblestone road. Cars aren’t entirely banned from Rue Montorgueil, but most drivers avoid it because of the sheer number of pedestrians who can be seen here at all times.
Avenue Montaigne
Avenue Montaigne is a street famous for high-end shopping. It’s almost an extension of Champs Elyses, in the sense that it has all the stores that the more famous Paris shopping street doesn’t. Here you’ll find the likes of Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Prada, and most of the other iconic fashion names you can think of.
This avenue runs from Les Fontaines des Champs-Elysées to the Place de l’Alma, and that’s how you should traverse it. Make a left at the Fontaines des Champs-Elysées (assuming you’re coming in the direction of Place de la Concorde) – you’ll know you’re in the right place if you start to see the priciest designer stores that exist.
Walking down Avenue Montaigne in this direction means you’re rewarded with a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower toward the end, and since you’re on the other side of the Seine, the crowds aren’t nearly as insufferable as they are right in front of the landmark.
Rue Vieille du Temple
Rue Vieille du Temple is a historic walking street in the Marais neighborhood. It runs from Rue de Rivoli in the south up to Rue de Bretagne, encompassing quite a few popular blocks in Paris. The street is lined with cafes and shops on either side, which is pretty much the definition of nearly every street in Paris.
The beautiful street isn’t just an opportunity to explore the more affordable shops in Paris, but to also admire the incredible architecture of the city.
The facades that line Rue Vieille du Temple are an example of the medley that Parisian architecture is, and it’s possible to see elements from many of the different styles that are represented in Paris. Renaissance, Art Nouveau, and even modernism are noticeable in the facades along either side of Rue Vieille du Temple.
It’s similar with the storefronts – some are incredibly chic and modern while others are so old that it’s obvious they’re from a different century.
Rue des Barres
Rue des Barres is a hidden gem in Paris. It’s a narrow alley in the Saint Gervais neighborhood, and it’s hidden among the ancient buildings. This alley is home to some of the oldest buildings in the city of Paris, and it’s worth it to get a little lost looking for it.
To find this street, you’ll want to look for Chez Julian – a classic corner bistro in Paris. Head to the side of the bistro that’s away from the main street here and look for a cobblestone alley that goes past the bistro and towards some very old buildings.
It’s worth noting that the cobblestone area near the bistro is the most interesting part of this famous Paris street. The rest is just a narrow passage between buildings, without any major attractions.
Rue Crémieux
Rue Crémieux is a short pedestrian street in Paris’ 12th arrondissement. It was initially built as housing for workers, but nowadays it’s best known for the pastel-colored houses and countless plants that line both sides of the street.
This is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Paris, so it’s no surprise that it’s a very popular tourist attraction in the city. It can get a bit crowded, so if you want to get a good photograph, you’ll want to get there earlier in the morning. It is one of the most famous attractions in Paris, and you can’t miss it if you’re walking around the 12th arrondissement.
Rue de l’Abreuvoir
Rue de l’Abreuvoir is a narrow cobblestone alley in Montmartre. It’s best known for the iconic Le Maison Rose restaurant, which is not just Instagram famous but also one of the prettiest parts of the alley.
The restaurant’s pink facade stands out from the older houses in this alley, so it’s impossible to miss it. Rue de l’Abreviour descends from the famous restaurant to the Buste de Dalida, a famous monument of the iconic Italian-French singer. It’s truly a nod to an older version of the city, so be sure to explore this gem while you’re walking around one of the most popular neighborhoods in Paris!
Rue Norvins
Rue Norvins is an iconically Parisian street in the heart of Montmartre. It’s lined with colorful bistros, cafes, and shops and it’s easily one of the most famous streets in the city. The cobblestone alley runs to the Place Jean Marais in front of the Paroisse Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, just a block away from the famous Sacre-Cour basilica.
This alley is easy to miss if you’re going to Montmartre just for the Sacre-Cour and you should make a point of exploring the charming alley. The aesthetic of the cafes and restaurants is typically Parisian, but the cuisine is just trying to be.
They’re not exactly known for amazing food and service, so maybe skip these locals since they’re certainly not among the best coffee shops in Paris. Unless you’re in the mood for Starbucks, since there is one right there Rue Norvins.
Rue Lamarck
Rue Lamarck is a charming alley in Montmartre. It’s one of the 18th arrondissement’s longest thoroughfares, running from the western end of the borough to the iconic Sacre Cour cathedral. It’s a street you can’t miss while you’re exploring this famous neighborhood in Paris, and it’s one of the best places to stay in the city for a little while.
Rue Lamarck is also famous for being a one-way street that goes in both directions. The traffic runs only one way from Place Jacques-Froment up the hill, and then it goes in the other way down the hill.
Rue de Rivoli
Rue de Rivoli is a notable street in Paris because it’s lined with some of the city’s most famous landmarks. The iconic street runs from Place de la Concorde along the north wing of the Louvre, ending at an intersection with Rue de Sévigné. It’s named after the Battle of Rivoli, which was one of Napoleon’s early victories against the Austrian army.
The Louvre is only one of the famous things about this Parisian street. It’s also home to some of the best fashion stores in the city, allowing you to dabble in sightseeing and window shopping at the same time. The entire street is a great compromise between commercial stores and historic landmarks and squares, and it’s a great example of modern town planning in Paris.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
