A Guide to the Best Things to do in La Défense

Last Updated on 9th February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

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La Défense is located just a short métro ride away from central Paris and yet feels a world apart. Here’s your guide to the best things to do in La Défense, as well as what to know before you go.

When you picture Paris in your mind, you’re probably imagining wide café lined boulevards and Haussmannian architecture. But what you might not realise is that, just outside of Paris, there’s an entire area filled with towering skyscrapers and breathtakingly modern architecture.

The area is named for a statue that is called ‘La Défense de Paris’ and that commemorates the French soldiers who fought in the Franco-Prussian War. Though it’s not as popular as some other places in the Île de France area, La Défense still boasts millions of annual visitors.

Where is La Défense?

La Défense is located to the North West of Paris and is the largest business district in Europe (covering a staggering area of 560 hectares). The area is not located within Paris proper (i.e. within the Periphérique) but instead in the department of Hauts de Seine (the 92).

The area can be reached by public transportation by either taking the métro line 1 (which costs the price of a normal métro ticket) or alternatively by taking the RER A (though be aware that this ticket will cost more).

Best things to do in La Défense

Go shopping

One of the biggest draws of La Défense for those who love a bit of retail therapy is that there are multiple shopping malls stacked around one another, and centred around the Grande Arche that characterises the entire area.

The shops located in this area are your typical high street ones (there are also fast food chains) and there are very few independent boutiques. The main shopping centres at La Défense are Westfield les 4 Temps and CNIT, with the Westfield being the larger and more popular of the two.

See the skyscrapers

As I mentioned earlier, the area is particularly well-known for its high-rises and skyscrapers. Indeed, many of the tallest skyscrapers in France are located within this area. In total, there are 19 completed skyscrapers in the area.

The oldest skyscraper in the area is Tour Initiale (which means ‘First Tower’) and was completed in 1966. Some of the tallest buildings in La Défense include Tour Majunga (194 m), Tour Areva (178 m), and Tour Total (179 m).

Visit the la Defense Christmas Market

One of the biggest and best Christmas markets in the Île de France region is actually held at La Défense each year. The La Défense Christmas Market event boasts some 350 wooden chalets and is free to visit.

Head to the market during opening times and you can expect to find a wide array of artisanal goods, plenty of vin chaud (including ‘artisanal vin chaud’ and ‘Cuban vin Chaud’ as well as white wine vin chaud), and lots of delcious savoury and sweet eats. Worth noting is that prices are significantly less at La Défense than at Jardin des Tuileries.

La Grande Arche

While there are five historic arches within Paris itself, there is also another a new and modern big arch at La Défense which is officially known as ‘La Grande Arche de la Fraternité’. The arch also boasts a rooftop terrace and exhibition space with ever-changing artists on display. Purchase your Grande Arche Ticket here in advance.

Presiding over the centre of the district, the arch stands at an impressive 360 foot high and was built between 1985 and 1989. The arch was inaugurated on the 14th July 1989, two hundred years since the French Revolution.

Now, the arch houses offices. The arch is located on the same axis as the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Arc de Triomphe (the most famous of the Paris arches) and the distance between the Grande Arche and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel is 10 km.

See contemporary art

Over the decades, there has been an ever-growing number of outdoor art works scattered across the district. Today, there are over 60 contemporary works of art around La Défense. If you’re looking for a great free activity near Paris, then following in the trail of the outdoor artwork is a great way to spend a few hours.

Some of the most memorable works of art include sculptures and installations by Miró, Baldaccini, and Calder. While some of the works of art are easy to find, others are hidden behind buildings and in some particularly unique places. For more inspiration, check out the complete guide to artwork in La Défense.

See La Défense de Paris

As well as plenty of modern art installations, the statue after which the whole district is named, La Défense de Paris, can also be seen in the area. The bronze statue replaced a statue of Napoleon I and was installed in 1883 in front of a crowd of around 100,000 people.

See cherry blossoms

When it comes to thinking about cherry blossoms in Paris, the ultra-modern district is probably not the first place that springs to mind! However, it is well worth a wander around in blossom season, especially so in Place de L’Iris where you’ll spot plenty of spring flowers worth snapping a photo of.

Where to stay in La Défense

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