The Napoleon walking tour
Why walk before the tomb
People usually reach the Dôme without having seen what Napoleon did to Paris. That is a shame, because the city is full of him: the Vendôme column, cast from the bronze of the guns taken at Austerlitz; the Carrousel arch, raised for the same victories; the rue de Rivoli; the Champs-Élysées as a triumphal way. Making that journey before you walk in under the Dôme puts the tomb back at its true scale: you stop seeing a sarcophagus and start seeing the end point of an urban programme.
It also answers a question visitors often have without saying it out loud: why did France build this for a man who ended in exile? The answer is in the route, not in the crypt. The story of the return of the ashes is on the tomb page.
Included
- The guided walk of Napoleonic sites in central Paris
- Skip-the-line access to the tomb and the Army Museum
- Free exploration of the museum rooms afterwards
- Guide assistance with your other Paris reservations
Not included
- Transport: it is all on foot
- Food and drink
- French: this format is in English
What works
- Gives the tomb a context the museum alone cannot
- Three well-filled hours in the middle of Paris
- Ends at Les Invalides, with entry included
- Excellent rating, even if the review count is modest
Worth knowing
- Three hours of walking: wear proper shoes
- English only
- The meeting point is the Place Vendôme, far from Les Invalides
- Not well suited to very young children
If you do this walk, keep the afternoon free. It drops you at Les Invalides with a valid entry and the appetite to carry on: that is the moment for the great Napoleonic rooms of the museum, described on the museum page.
Book this walk
Available departures are below. Our detailed review is on the review page.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the walk start?
At the corner of the Place Vendôme, outside the Boucheron shop; the guide carries a flag. It is not at Les Invalides: the walk ends there.
Is tomb entry included?
Yes, with skip-the-line access to the tomb and the Army Museum.
Is it suitable for children?
Three hours of walking suits younger children badly. For a family visit, see the family page.