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La Defense
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La Defense

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La Defense
4

Top ways to experience La Defense and nearby attractions

The area
Address
How to get there
  • La Défense • 5 min walk
  • La Défense • 5 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,996 within 3 miles
Quinte & Sens
408
0.2 mi$$$$ • Bar • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Le Faubourg
109
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • French • Seafood • Healthy
Hanoi Ca Phe
635
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Thai • Fusion
Friends & Fries
53
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Fast Food • Vegetarian Friendly
Bib & Guss
62
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • French • European
Toast and Pizz'
62
316 ft$ • Italian • Pizza
Les Gentlemen
67
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • French • Bar • Pub
Bistrot du Faubourg
124
445 ft$$ - $$$ • French • Bar • European
La French Touch
166
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Halal
Quai Marine
108
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • French • European
See all
Attractions
2,346 within 6 miles
Statue Icare
4
0.1 miMonuments & Statues
Statue Ikaria
3
0.1 miMonuments & Statues
Cemetery of Neuilly
2
0.1 miCemeteries
Les Quatre Tetes
1
0.2 miMonuments & Statues
La Grande Arche de La Defense
1,499
0.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Westfield Les 4 Temps
495
0.4 miShopping Malls
Paris La Defense Arena
295
0.3 miArenas & Stadiums
Sculpture Utsurohi
4
0.3 miMonuments & Statues
Les Signaux Lumineux de Takis
6
0.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
Sculpture de César, Le pouce
36
0.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
See all
See what other travelers are saying
  • B1714D
    Belgrade, Serbia15,552 contributions
    Opposite the rest
    Out of my 8 visits to Paris this was my only second time I've visited La Defense. There are many reasons for that. First of all, it simply doesn't fit Paris. I think they built it just to say "Hey, we can also build such glass and steel skyscrapers". Second, there's almost nothing to do there, it's a business part of city. Third, it's pretty far away from everything else in Paris and you need much of your time to go there and get back. The most interesting here is the Grand Arch of Defense which stands in a perfect straight line with the Arch de Triomphe, Concorde and Louvre.
    Written January 25, 2020
  • Quentin L
    Perth, Australia77 contributions
    Want shopping. Go here
    Ok so after a few days walking the streets of old Paris you come to find many of the same chain outlets about and those that are not chain were going to blow my whole trip budget for a single coat. Here right at the metro exit is a great big shopping centre with everything you need without huge price tags. That being said it's not the glam you get from places like gallerie Lafayette but once you're out o money but not done shopping this is where you'll get what you need.
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 25, 2020
  • MEBT
    Florida13 contributions
    La Defense in Paris
    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 November 20, 2020
These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,594 reviews
Excellent
595
Very good
648
Average
250
Poor
64
Terrible
37
John D
New York City, NY9 contributions
La Défense…quelle honte pour Paris
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
Written August 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Christopher I
Belleair, FL14 contributions
My go to in Paris, La Defense
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 January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA14,604 contributions
Office District
Jun 2022
This office district was named after the defense of Paris during the Prussian siege of 1870. There were battles here, but now its a high-rise district full of tall buildings, mostly offices. The square arch is intriguing and there are great views from on top. Some of the designs are also interesting. it could use more life.
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
lilycy
Nicosia, Cyprus408 contributions
Impressive buildings!
Aug 2021 • Family
This is the “modern side” of Paris. Impressive buildings, skyscrapers and huge shopping mall. As I have never seen skyscrapers before, this area has impressed me a lot. It is 35’ from city centre with one metro change. It worths a visit.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NikolinoPap
Cardiff, UK139 contributions
scattered art
Feb 2020
Well, worth a visit and only because is clearly Paris modern/shopping/business district which embraces art big time and has easy access by metro.
Smaller or bigger pieces jump out, here and there most of the times creatively blend with the surroundings and be part of daily life as handy objects.
I rode my first electric scooter there so I guess means a lot more to me...
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
paolovbossi
The Hague, The Netherlands788 contributions
The big arch and nothing else
Apr 2022 • Family
It was on my bucket list since many years. This time I visited it since we had the hotel in this are. I was expecting more. Very cold neighbourhood, dominated by the big Arch but nothing more. Personally it doesn’t not deserve a visit if you are not sleeping here as us
Written May 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DB7
Lisbon, Portugal11 contributions
Great place
Aug 2019 • Couples
Great place to visit and modern city. Love to visit this place again. I went with my wife we enjoyed a lot. It was nice weather and lovely place to click picture. The underground metro help reach in exact location.
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
bobfet1
Denver33 contributions
The Future (or so we thought in the 80s)
If you're in the mood for something a little different from the standard old, grand Paris architecture, take the the Metro yellow 1 line out to the La Defense area, the city's large business district.

Emerging out of the metro station into this area, you will feel like you have entered into another world (or been transported to the future). The skyscrapers, the modern architecture, and the 80s-era modern art everywhere remind you of sci-fi movies almost to the point where you expect to see spaceships flying around.

While there are some restaurants and stores here, there's nothing too special and the best thing you can do is really just do a little exploring and see all the interesting buildings and art pieces. Be careful though, the further away you get from the Grand Arch the more confusing it gets.

I was totally amazed by the Grand Arch when I first saw it. It's immense size and the sleek modernity compared to the Arc d'Triomphe (with which it is aligned) just stops you in your tracks with awe. The view from the steps is really nice - you can see the all the way down the Champs d'Elysees past the Arc d'Triomphe and to the Louvre - really amazing how straight it is.

The top of the Grand Arch really isn't that special. It's pretty expensive to go up there, and they don't accept the Museum Pass. It is cool to be able to go up one of the cool tube elevators, but the top feels like a total tourist trap. They have some gimmicky art displays, a small computer history museum-type exhibit, and a gift shop. You can go outside to look out over Paris , but the problem is that you can't walk all the way around and can't get too close to the edge so it's hard to appreciate how high up you are. Unfortunately, the skyscrapers surrounding the arch also obstruct what would otherwise be a wonderful view. So I'd skip the top, unless you want to do it just to say that you did it.
Written December 17, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
keith r w
Wallasey, UK271 contributions
Modern area ,we loved it. La Defense.
Jul 2014 • Friends
There have been a lot of negative reviews about La Defense ,like most things in life its one persons opinion against anothers, but many of the comments are unjustified .
By that I dont mean they are not true ,people should have at least read up on the building and area before going,we did thats why we went.
Some comments I have read are,distant,(yes it is not in the heart of Paris buts not that far away)long ride(its prob 10-15 min ride and station is right beside it) ,offices,concrete jungle,modern structure no beauty(you can see from pictures that is exactly what the area is like)No where for kids to play (does it look like a playground)
Lack of safety (well yes like most areas in any place I would't go there late at night but in middle of the day its fine)
You can see what the area is from photos,dont complain because thats exactly what it turns out to be.
It is modern architecture not just the arch but the surrounding area which we thought was great , we like old buildings as well but we still like this area.
The Arch its self is office blocks like a lot of the surrounding area which means you are seeing more Parisians( than tourists ) who use the area to have there lunch .
It is not a closed in space, there is a large open space in front of the tower which also has a park area, the back of the Arch has a wooden walk which comes to a dead end , with more interesting buildings and a building project which boards to show you what it will look like.
One bit of advice = there is still a web site for La Defense but its an old one seems to have been left and no one has done any thing about it.
For up to date info go to the Paris tourist board site .
Finally the lift does not work has't done for a long time from what we could see but it did't spoil our enjoyment of this area.
Remember do research know what it is your going to see.
Written July 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
plopplopl
grenoble32 contributions
Be careful with the subway fares !!!!
Nov 2016
Be extra-careful with the subway ! Depending on which one you use to get to La Défense it is considered as being outside of Paris and therefore at an other price.
Worse thing : you can enter the subway with a Paris ticket and think everything is OK. So you don't know you've made a mistake until you meet the controlling guys who will charge you for not knowing !
Written November 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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La Defense (Paris) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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