Palais de Chaillot
Palace Historic Parisian complex facing the Eiffel Tower
On the Trocadéro plateau facing the Seine, the Palais de Chaillot houses museums (architecture and maritime collections) and a terrace with framed views of the Eiffel Tower; tourists visit for galleries and the viewpoint.
Palais de Chaillot is a 20th-century complex on the Trocadéro hill in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, built for the 1937 International Exposition. Its two broad, curved wings surround a central esplanade that faces the Eiffel Tower across the Seine.
The site is principally visited for the wide esplanade and the framed view of the Eiffel Tower, and for the museums housed in the wings such as the Musée de l’Homme and the Musée national de la Marine. The esplanade is a primary pedestrian space used for photography, ceremonies and public events.
The present palace replaced the 19th-century Trocadéro Palace and was completed for the 1937 exposition under architects Jacques Carlu, Louis-Hippolyte Boileau and Léon Azéma. Since then the complex has been adapted to house cultural institutions and public spaces.
The Palais de Chaillot stands at Place du Trocadéro, on the right bank of the Seine opposite the Champ de Mars and Eiffel Tower, close to the Trocadéro metro station and major central Paris avenues.
- Best viewpoint: The esplanade offers unobstructed frontal views of the Eiffel Tower and is the standard vantage point for photos and light-show viewing.
- Architectural date: The building dates from the 1937 Exposition Internationale and was designed by architects including Jacques Carlu, Louis-Hippolyte Boileau and Léon Azéma.
What to See #
- Esplanade du Trocadéro: A large open esplanade facing the Eiffel Tower that provides the most widely photographed frontal view of the tower across the Seine.
- Museum wings: A group of museums and cultural institutions housed in the palace wings, including the Musée de l'Homme and the Musée national de la Marine.
- Palace wings: Two curved classical wings linked by the central esplanade, designed and rebuilt for the 1937 International Exposition.
How to Get to Palais de Chaillot #
Trocadéro is served by Paris Metro lines 6 and 9 (Trocadéro station). Multiple bus routes and taxis serve the square. The esplanade is a short walk from the Seine and the Iéna bridge.
Tips for Visiting Palais de Chaillot #
- Cross the esplanade at dusk for the best photographs of the Eiffel Tower lit against the Trocadéro façade.
- Pick up tickets for the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine or Musée de l'Homme in advance-weekends can be busy.
- Stand in the square and watch the unofficial ceremony of selfie-frames, street performers, and couples; the spot still produces the definitive 'Eiffel' view.
Best Time to Visit Palais de Chaillot #
Visit in spring-summer for terrace activity and the best views of the Eiffel Tower; evenings are atmospheric year-round.
Weather & Climate near Palais de Chaillot #
Palais de Chaillot's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (646 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with 63 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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