On the evening of December 31st, Avenue des Champs-Élysées becomes the capital's best-known gathering point: hundreds of thousands of people pack the avenue every year for the countdown and the fireworks display launched from the Arc de Triomphe, a free but very crowded event, with no seating or reserved areas. For anyone who would rather avoid the crowds, Paris offers plenty of alternatives, from dinner cruises on the Seine to rooftops with a clear view of the illuminations, away from the crush on the Champs-Élysées.
Avenue des Champs-Élysées
The classic gathering point for New Year's Eve, where the crowd makes its way up the avenue from Place de la Concorde toward the Arc de Triomphe as midnight approaches.
The Arc de Triomphe
The monument serves as the focal point for the fireworks and the light show projected onto its façade at midnight, visible from much of the avenue and the surrounding streets.
The Tuileries Ferris wheel
Set up for the holiday season, it offers a clear view over the illuminated capital, a good option for gaining a bit of height before joining the New Year's Eve crowds.
Tips
Plan to arrive early if you want to enjoy the fireworks from the Champs-Élysées: access to the avenue is gradually restricted later in the evening for security reasons, and some bags or glass containers may not be allowed. Public transport runs all night that evening, a much simpler option than trying to find a taxi right after the fireworks. For a quieter evening, dinner cruises on the Seine or rooftops at the grand hotels let you watch the fireworks from a distance, indoors and warm, though booking several weeks ahead is recommended.
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