La Défense is the only truly modern neighbourhood in the immediate vicinity of Paris and the largest administrative district in the entire Île-de-France region and one of the largest in Europe.
The first skyscrapers were built here in the 1960s and 1970s, inspired by Manhattan in New York and downtown Chicago.
La Défense is home to many multinational companies, one of the largest department stores in France and the tallest building in Paris, the Tour First at 231 metres.
The district is built at the end of the 10-kilometre-long Axe historique, which starts at the Louvre Museum and continues past the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe to La Défense.
The modern Arc de Triomphe
Le Défense's biggest landmark is undoubtedly the Grande Arche, a modern triumphal arch that complements the pair of historic arches in the city centre.
The Grande Arche is a massive concrete-and-glass structure designed by Danish architect Otto von Spreckelsen and built in 1989.
This building is described more in the detailed mini-guide.
How to get there
Although La Défense is not administratively in Paris, it belongs to the city's zones 1-3, so your all-day or multi-day ticket for Paris for zones 1-3 applies here.
From the centre, it's very easy to get here via La Défense metro and train station.
- Metro 1 - Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Petit and Grand Palais, Concorde, Tuileries Gardens, Louvre, Palais Royal, Chatelet, Hotel de Ville, Le Marais, Bastille, Nation, Chateau Vincennes, Gare de Lyon
- RER A - Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Church of the Madeleine, Les Halles-Chatelet, Gare de Lyon, Nation, Disneyland
- RER E - Gare Saint-Lazare, Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est
- Train L - Versailles Rive-Droite, Gare Saint-Lazare
- Train U - Versailles Chantiers
- Tram T2 - along the river Seine via Suresnes, Meudon, Issy to Porte de Versailles
Then bus lines 73, 144, 174, 275, 276 and 278 pass through La Défense.
Accommodation
Hotels in La Défense are mainly catering to the business clientele and hence you will come across better quality and more expensive accommodation.
Prices usually range from 180 eur to 250 eur per night.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Paris.
