8th arrondissement

Bookended by l’Arc de Triomphe and the Place de Concorde, the 8th arrondissement is a hotspot for tourists and is famed for Les Champs-Élysées, one of the world’s most iconic shopping streets. Empty streets are a rare sight in this area and the nightlife of the 8th is a quintessential part of Paris. It is a major tourist destination and part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of shopping. As well as exploring the main streets, be sure to head off the beaten track to find some real hidden gems.

Being one of the wealthiest arrondissements in Paris, the 8th arrondissement sees high style flows through its streets. The district is separated into four administrative quarters: Champs-Élysées, Quartier de la Madeleine, Quartier du Faubourg-du-Roule and Quartier de l’Europe.

As well as being home to Paris’s best-known shopping street, this district has a number of famous landmarks such as the Église de la Madeleine and Le Grand Palais. With a high concentration of some of the best Michelin-starred restaurants, the 8th arrondissement is rightly proclaimed as the haute cuisine capital of the city. An abundance of high art institutions such as famous auction houses, museums and exclusive art galleries also make this arrondissement the centre of art trading. Finally, the Quartier de la Madeleine and Faubourg-du-Roule, which are very important business centres for Paris and home to many financial institutions and heritage French brands, make the 8th arrondissement a small city of its own.

Away from the vibrant Quartier des Champs-Élysées, the 8th can also be tranquil whilst offering some fantastic and renowned residences. Despite the area being so popular with tourists, the resident demographic is largely made up of French-born individuals and families. The residential side of the 8th arrondissement offers an exclusive but undeniably authentic Parisian lifestyle.

The property market in 8th arrondissement

Properties for sale in the 8th arrondissement are some of the most expensive in the city as it is such an iconic neighbourhood and Avenue Montaigne is one of the most expensive residential areas in the world. However, finding more affordable properties in the area is possible. For example, around the Saint-Lazare railway station, properties tend to be more competitively priced. There is very little room for property development in the area and the demand for properties here is constant which means that properties continue to increase in value in this neighbourhood. Commercial properties for sale in the 8th arrondissement are very rare.

The architecture here is a blend of traditional Haussmann buildings, with their famous classic French windows, and a mixture of contemporary buildings reminiscent of 1930s Paris. Properties near the Quartier des Champs-Élysées have an average of €22,000 per square metre. A bit farther out from the touristic spots, however, there are opportunities for a Paris property investment for about €9,000 per square metre but they often go quickly. There is a high demand for rental properties here which means that those who put their Paris 8 property on the rental market can expect good returns.