11 Most Famous Streets in Paris, France

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

The city of Paris is known for many things. Among others, one of the most famous streets in Paris, and maybe the world, the Champs-Élysées. But the world-famous avenue isn’t the only wonderful street Paris has to offer.

Luckily, we visited Paris during our long trip to Europe (while studying abroad in Ireland) and we were on a mission to see as many Paris famous streets as we could. We rounded them all up for you!

Below, find a collection of famous streets in Paris, from grand avenues and long historic streets to colorful little alleys, all well worth a visit during your stay in France.

🚗 Don’t forget to book your Paris rental car! Click here to check rates. 🚗

Famous Streets in Paris

Champs-Élysées

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is located in the 8th arrondissement in Paris. It starts at Place de la Concorde and ends at Place Charles de Gaulle with the absolutely chaotic roundabout around Arc de Triomphe.

The avenue is a well-known shopping street where many luxury brands have their most prestigious Parisian storefronts.

The lower part of the Champs-Élysées is a park before the road expands into a full-blown avenue. In the park, you can find the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais, the Theatre Marigny, and several restaurants, gardens, and monuments.

At its end stands the imposing Arc de Triomphe that honors the victories of Napoleon. Walking up to the Arc, the Champs-Élysées offer a lovely photo opportunity if you can manage to avoid the sea of tourists jumping and walking in your photo.

For best photos, try to cross the avenue at one of the crosswalks close to the Arc and have a friend snap a photo of you from the middle of the road.

Rue Saint-Dominique

Rue Saint-Dominique is another famous street in Paris. It runs through the 7th arrondissement of Paris, from Champs de Mars through Esplanade des Invalides to Boulevard Saint-Germain. Rue Saint-Dominique runs parallel to Rue de l’Universite.

All along Rue Saint-Dominique, you can find storefronts of cool French brands, sweet shops, and bakeries. If you’re feeling like picking up some French delicacies, like foie gras, pate, cassoulet, or confit de canard, you’re never too far from a specialty store here.

Not too far from Paris’s most imposing attraction, the Eiffel Tower, Rue Saint-Dominique offers wonderful glimpses of the tower between the buildings. Strolling along, you’re not far from Musée du Quai Branly, Musée des Égouts and Musée Rodin.

This street is well worth strolling along for a glimpse into quintessential Parisian life and a way to get to Paris’ main attractions in style.

Rue de l’Université

This long Parisian street runs parallel to the Seine on its left bank in Paris’ 7th arrondissement. It passes several important points in that area of Paris, most notably the Palais Bourbon, Esplanade des Invalides, boulevard Saint-Germain, and avenue de La Bourdonnais before it ends in a dead end just to the side of the Eiffel Tower.

Even if you don’t decide to walk the entire length of this 2785 m long street, do make a point to visit its end by the Camps de Mars.

Along with some two streets running parallel to it, this dead end offers a unique opportunity for you to snap a photo with distinctly Parisian buildings, the greenery of Camps de Mars, and the Eiffel Tower in the background.

The photo spot is very popular, so it isn’t unusual if you’ll have to wait for some influencers to finish their photo shoots, but I promise you, it will be worth it.

Rue de l’Abreuvoir

Unless you’re familiar with the names of Parisian streets, chances are you won’t recognize this cobbled lane by name. But looking at the photo, you’ll find it’s one of the most iconic Parisian sights, the street running through the very heart of even more iconic Montmartre.

In Paris’ 18th arrondissement, the historic Rue de l’Abreuvoir runs from La Maison Rose on one end to Place Dalida on the other.

La Maison Rose is the ever so Instagrammable historic restaurant, once frequented by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Suzanne Valadon, and Albert Camus. Today, you can choose to sit on the green chairs outside and enjoy the French-inspired menu of one of the most historic restaurants in Paris.

Combine your stroll down Rue de l’Abreuvoir with a visit to the nearby Montmartre vineyard and the Montmartre museum. If you’re after the perfect photos (ones without people in them), head there early in the morning to beat the crowds.

Rue Norvins

Running through the very heart of Montmartre, Rue Norvins is one of the most famous streets of the district. It connects two iconic squares, Place Marcel-Aymé and Place Jean Marais. It also passes Place du Tertre, the historic meeting place of artists.

Today, Rue Norvins is one of the busiest touristy streets of Montmartre, and there’s no guarantee you could ever see it truly empty. The street is lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops.

If you manage to get through the crowds of tourists, you’ll also be able to enjoy authentic street art and pop into an authentic artist’s atelier.

Avenue Montaigne

Mostly known to the fashion connoisseurs, Avenue Montaigne is to Paris what Paris is to the world.

Situated in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, Avenue Montaigne connects Place de l’Alma (also known as the spot where Lady Diana was in a car accident that took her life) and the Champs-Élysées.

This street is known as the chosen home for many haute-couture fashion brands, such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chloe’, Celine, Thierry Mugler, Saint Laurent Paris, Prada, and Gucci, as well as jewelers like Bulgari.

The endpoint of the avenue, Place de l’Alma offers a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower.

Rue Montorgueil

Rue Montorgueil is a street running through the Montorgueil-Saint Denis-Les Halles district in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements of Paris. The street and its namesake neighborhood is a vibrant pedestrian area right in the heart of Paris.

While Paris might be a large, busy city, one of its best qualities is these kinds of small, village-like neighborhoods that preserve wonderful traditions that are family-owned businesses. 

Rue Montorgueil is a part of Paris that often gets overlooked by tourists, but it boasts some of the best meat and fish markets in the city. This permanent market street is home to some of the most renowned pastry shops, bistros, boutiques, and bars that will surely please even the most difficult customer.

The houses that line the street feature painted facades, and some, most notably nos. 17, 23, and 25 are also decorated with elaborate ironwork. Head here if you’re wanting to explore Paris off the beaten path and enjoy browsing through exquisite boutiques with native Parisians.

Rue Lepic

Another famous street in Paris, Rue Lepic, is once again located in Montmartre. This windy street spans from Boulevard de Clichy to the Place Jean-Baptiste-Clement.

Rue Lepic boasts the only still-working windmill in the district, Moulin de la Galette, and was home to many other, now gone, windmills.

Famously, 54 Rue Lepic was home to Vincent Van Gogh from 1886 to 1888.

The street offers numerous shops and cafes where you can sit down and have a drink. Because Montmartre is set on a hill, it’s recommended you take the funicular up and then walk down, taking in the vibe, views, and architecture of Rue Lepic.

Rue Cler

Rue Cler is one of the most famous streets in Paris, but not for its historical significance; it is the most famous market street. 

Located in the 7th arrondissement between Rue Saint-Dominique and Avenue de la Motte Picquet, Rue Cler is the perfect stop for when you’re shopping for groceries or picnic supplies.

Most of the street is a pedestrian area and is still paved with its original cobblestones. A truly perfect setting for a leisurely stroll between cafes, boulangeries, cheese shops, delicatessens, and pastry shops. 

Whether you’re shopping for a Parisian dinner or a picnic in the park, Rue Cler is sure to offer the freshest produce. Do not miss out on other open-air markets in the area.

Rue Crémieux

A true hidden gem, Rue Crémieux could not be described as one of the most famous streets in Paris. This doesn’t mean, however, that it’s not worth visiting.

Located in Paris’ 12th district, Rue Crémieux is a one-block pedestrian street that was originally built as workers’ housing. The short street is only 144 m (472 ft) long and runs between Rue de Lyon and Rue de Bercy. 

It’s paved with cobblestones and is lined with colorful small terraced houses.

The colorful facades in combination with picturesque greenery make it an especially popular destination for selfies, photoshoots, and Instagram posts.

If you head there for a photo shoot of your own, understand that you’re essentially taking photos in front of residential houses, and try to be respectful.

Rue de Rivoli

The last of the famous streets in Paris on this list, but absolutely not the least is Rue de Rivoli. It is a 3 km long commercial street running through the 1st and 4th Paris arrondissements. Its name comes from an early victory of Napoleon against the Austrian army at the Battle of Rivoli in 1797.

Along Rue de Rivoli, you can find no shortage of things to do, but because the street is so long, it’s best you decide on a focused activity. 

If you want to simply enjoy the street, try going on a walking tour. For shopping, you can stop anywhere, but do make sure to visit the Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville, a department store owned by Galleries Lafayette, and the beautiful Libraries Galigani.

If you’d like to see the sights, entry to the Louvre is hard to miss from Rue de Rivoli, which also runs past Jardin des Tuileries and the eastern boundary of Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Concorde.

Another must-see on Rue de Rivoli is the famous Parisian tea house, Angelina. It was opened in 1903, and it quickly became an institution.

Today it’s an incredibly busy spot, but if you’re committed to the cause and decide to wait in line, you won’t be disappointed.

Otherwise, buying an edible chocolate souvenir from Paris is a great option as you get to skip the queue of people waiting to be seated and can head to the separate takeaway counter.

🚗 Don’t forget to book your Paris rental car! Click here to check rates. 🚗

Final Thoughts: Most Famous Paris Streets

Visiting the most famous streets is a must in any city you travel to, but especially when you travel to Paris. The variety Paris has to offer is hard to match, with famous streets in Paris ranging between grand imposing avenues and historic streets and little, charming alleys. 

One thing is true for grand avenues and little alleys alike; all are incredibly and uniquely Parisian.