Arguably the most illustrious boulevard on the planet, the Avenue des Champs-Elysées is the pinnacle of Parisian retail therapy. Cutting through the city’s 8th arrondissement, it stretches for 1.9 kilometres. Both sides of the 70-metre-wide thoroughfare are lined with a kaleidoscope of luxury boutiques, chic cafes, elegant theatres, and leafy street trees.

On top of being a nirvana for well-heeled shoppers and sightseers alike, the Avenue des Champs-Elysées plays host to the annual Bastille Day military parade. It’s also the finishing point of the Tour de France cycle race, and the go-to site for a myriad of impromptu street celebrations. Given its grand proportions and inherent elegance, it’s no wonder that Parisians celebrate the Champs-Elysées as "la plus belle avenue du monde,” which translates to “the world's most beautiful avenue.”

To the east lies the Place de la Concorde, centred by the Obelisk of Luxor. To the west is the Place Charles de Gaulle, the site of the iconic Arc de Triomphe monument. The Paris Métro Line 1 runs under the Champs-Élysées, with Station Charles de Gaulle – Étoile located to the west and Concorde to the south. The street can also be accessed via George V and Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau.

While today the Champs-Élysées is synonymous with Parisian style, the boulevard is named after the Elysian Fields. In Greek mythology, ancient poets like Homer coveted the Elysian Fields as a paradisiac resting point for fabled heroes. The avenue was laid out in the 17th century by French landscape architect, André Le Nôtre.