Paris in Winter | Our Stay at Hôtel du Bois Near the Arc de Triomphe | Fabulous Choice – Travel guides for couples; romantic escapes, city breaks + worldwide adventures

VERDICT: We gave 4 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!

This guide forms part of our complete France Travel Guide , featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across France.

This article is also part of our 48 Hrs; Paris in Winter series, exploring Normandy Beaches and experiencing Eurostar for the first time. Read the complete itinerary here.

Full Paris Winter Itinerary:

A character-filled boutique hotel with compact rooms and an excellent sightseeing location

On a trip to Paris, we discovered a hotel that was not too far from the Eiffel Tower, literally 10-12 minutes walk around the corner to the Trocadero.

It was called Hotel du Bois, and immediately the owner gave off classic Basil Fawlty vibes(IYKYK), a little flustered but generally kind & helpful. He insisted on hilariously trying out his impressions of famous actors while he was getting us checked in. Especially funny, was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “I’ll be back” in a heavily French Austrian accent!

The room was very tiny… when we opened the door it crashed straight into the bed! You couldn’t turn around in the bathroom. When we went back downstairs to mention this to “Basil” he smiled, shrugged his shoulders & said “C’est Paris!”. He knew we weren’t that thrilled, so did manage to change our booking for our next night’s stay to a larger room that would be available.

The stairwells & elevator were tricky to manoeuvre with luggage, as they were so little, but everything was clean & the hotel was close to everything.

There was a small grocery just up the street from Hotel du Bois with lovely fresh baguettes, good cheese & wine.

We had a nice breakfast in the breakfast room – fresh delicious food. We were pleased that a Hop On Hop Off bus stop was very nearby. The neighborhood was fairly quiet once the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower went off & the cafes were done for the evening.

The hotel, despite being a little cramped, was perfect for our walking sightseeing journeys around Paris. Knowing that after a full day you are never far from your hotel. This was a great experience.

Hôtel du Bois Address and Location

The hotel is tucked along a quiet side street near Avenue Victor Hugo. Its strongest advantage is its position between the Arc de Triomphe and Trocadéro, with restaurants, cafés, grocery stores and Métro connections nearby.

Hôtel du Bois Paris
11 Rue du Dôme
75116 Paris, France
16th arrondissement

Nearest Métro: Kléber, Line 6
Neighbourhood: Chaillot, near Avenue Victor Hugo
Telephone: +33 1 45 00 31 96

History of Hôtel du Bois

Hôtel du Bois occupies a 19th-century Parisian townhouse in the city’s elegant 16th arrondissement. The intimate three-star property has only 39 rooms, helping it retain the atmosphere of a private Paris residence rather than a large chain hotel.

French interior architect Michel Jouannet designed its present interiors using traditional wooden furniture, mirrors, rich fabrics and warm colours. The combination of older townhouse architecture and modern hotel requirements also helps explain the narrow staircase, small elevator and compact room dimensions described during our stay.

OK – But how far do we need to walk?

1. Arc de Triomphe

Walking time: Approximately 7–10 minutes
Distance: Approximately 650 metres

Standing at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, the Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought for France. Visitors can climb to its rooftop terrace for sweeping views along the Champs-Élysées and across Paris.

2. Champs-Élysées

Walking time: Approximately 8–10 minutes
Distance: Approximately 700 metres

The western end of the Champs-Élysées begins at the Arc de Triomphe. The famous avenue is lined with flagship stores, restaurants, cinemas and luxury boutiques and continues toward Place de la Concorde.

3. Trocadéro and Palais de Chaillot

Walking time: Approximately 15–18 minutes
Distance: Approximately 1.2 kilometres

The Trocadéro esplanade provides one of the finest unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower. Palais de Chaillot also contains several museums, including the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine and Musée de l’Homme.

4. Palais Galliera

Walking time: Approximately 15–18 minutes
Distance: Approximately 1.2 kilometres

The Palais Galliera houses the Fashion Museum of Paris. Its rotating exhibitions explore historic clothing, haute couture and the work of influential French and international designers.

5. Eiffel Tower

Walking time: Approximately 25–30 minutes
Distance: Approximately two kilometres

Walk through Trocadéro Gardens and cross the Seine using Pont d’Iéna to reach the Eiffel Tower. This approach provides outstanding views and plenty of photography opportunities along the way.

Walking times are approximate and depend on the chosen route.

Continue Exploring Northern France

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