# Hôtel de Ville Paris: The City Hall, the Square and How to Visit

The history of the building, free exhibitions, group and heritage-day visits, and the square in every season

By Finzi

The Hôtel de Ville Paris is the city hall of the French capital, a vast neo-Renaissance palace on the Right Bank, facing the Seine and the Île de la Cité. It is a working building, home to the mayor and the city council, so it is not open like a museum. Still, visitors can see it in several ways: from the wide square in front, through free exhibitions held inside, on group tours booked in advance, and during the September heritage weekend. This guide explains each option and how to fit the building into a walk through central Paris.

Visit rules change often. Check the City of Paris website before planning a tour or an exhibition visit.

# A short history

Paris has had a city government on this spot since the 14th century, when the merchants of the city bought a house on the square. A Renaissance city hall was built from the 16th century onward. That building burned in May 1871, during the last days of the Paris Commune, along with the city archives.

The building you see today was rebuilt between 1874 and 1892, following the plans of the architects Théodore Ballu and Édouard Deperthes. They kept the style of the old Renaissance façade but made the new palace much larger. The outside is covered with statues of famous people linked to Paris, including artists, scientists and politicians. Inside, the ceremonial rooms are rich with gilding, chandeliers and painted ceilings from the late 19th century.

The square in front was once called the Place de Grève, after the sandy riverbank where boats unloaded goods. Workers looking for jobs gathered there. The French expression for going on strike comes from this square, since the word for a strike and the old name of the square are the same.

# What happens inside

The building is far more than a monument. Thousands of people work in and around it. The mayor of Paris has an office here, and the city council of 163 members meets in the council chamber for regular sessions. Weddings of Parisians are usually held in the town halls of each arrondissement, not here, but the Hôtel de Ville hosts official receptions, honors and visits by foreign leaders.

Council sessions are public in principle, with limited seats for the public. They are also streamed online, which is the easier way to watch.

This working role explains the rules for visitors. Tours depend on the calendar of meetings and events, and a room can close at short notice when an official event is planned.

# Can you visit the Hôtel de Ville Paris?

Yes, but not freely. The building is a seat of government, and access is controlled.

• Individual guided tours have been suspended until further notice in 2026.
• Group tours are free and possible on request, booked by email with the city’s visits service, ideally two months in advance.
• Heritage weekend visits take place each September. In 2026, free public visits were offered on September 19 and 20, with registration required from September 9.
• Free exhibitions are held in rooms of the building, open to everyone without a tour.

Security checks apply at every entrance. Bring ID for booked visits, and travel light.

# What the tours show

When tours run, they cover the ceremonial rooms used for receptions and official events.

• The Salle des Fêtes, a long ballroom with chandeliers and painted ceilings, often compared to the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
• The council chamber, where the Paris city council meets.
• Staircases and galleries, decorated with paintings by artists of the late 19th century.
• Reception salons, each with its own decoration and theme.

The rooms tell the story of the Third Republic and of the city’s pride after the 1871 fire. Tours are usually given in French, with some groups served in other languages on request.

# Free exhibitions

The city regularly holds exhibitions inside the Hôtel de Ville, often on the history of Paris, photography or major events. They are usually free and very popular. Entry is through a side door, with security checks and sometimes a long line.

• Check the City of Paris website for current exhibitions and hours.
• Go early on weekdays to avoid the longest lines.
• Expect bag checks at the entrance.
• Allow about an hour for most exhibitions.

These shows are one of the easiest ways to see part of the building from inside without booking a tour.

# The square through the year

The Place de l’Hôtel de Ville is a large pedestrian square and a meeting place for the city. Its program changes with the seasons.

• Winter: Christmas decorations, and in some years a temporary ice rink. Check whether it is planned for the year of your visit.
• Spring and summer: big screens for sports events, cultural festivals and open-air activities.
• Major events: concerts, celebrations and public gatherings, sometimes with security perimeters.

On quiet days, the square is open and calm, with fountains and benches. It is one of the best places to see the full façade of the building, especially in the evening when it is lit.

# Photography and the famous kiss

The Hôtel de Ville has a special place in the history of photography. In 1950, Robert Doisneau took his famous picture of a couple kissing in the street in front of the building. The image became one of the most reproduced photos of Paris. Decades later, it was revealed that the scene had been staged with actors, but its charm has stayed.

The square is a good spot for photos of the façade, the lamp posts and the river. Early morning is the calmest time. The guide on the best time of day for a Paris photoshoot to avoid crowds on photographers-paris.com explains why the first hours after sunrise work best in central Paris. The square follows the same rule, with few people around before 9 a.m.

Photos inside the building follow the rules of each visit or exhibition. Flash and tripods are rarely allowed.

# Getting there

The Hôtel de Ville stands in the 4th arrondissement, now part of the Paris Centre district.

• Metro lines 1 and 11: Hôtel de Ville station, right on the square.
• Metro lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14 and RER A, B and D: Châtelet, a few minutes on foot.
• Buses: several lines stop on Rue de Rivoli and the quays.
• On foot: about 10 minutes from Notre-Dame and 15 minutes from the Louvre.

# Walking routes from the square

The Hôtel de Ville is at a crossroads of some of the best walks in Paris.

• North and east: the Marais, with its mansions, the Place des Vosges and the Rue des Rosiers.
• South: the Pont d’Arcole and the Île de la Cité, with Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle.
• Southeast: the Pont Louis-Philippe and the Île Saint-Louis.
• West: the Tour Saint-Jacques, Châtelet and Les Halles.

The notes on a couples walk through the Marais on photographers-paris.com describe a route through the streets just behind the city hall, with courtyards and small squares along the way. Starting at the Hôtel de Ville and walking north into the Marais is an easy half day.

The BHV Marais department store sits across Rue de Rivoli from the square. Its upper floors have a terrace in season with views over the rooftops.

# A rainy day near the city hall

If the weather turns, the area has good indoor options within a short walk. A free exhibition inside the Hôtel de Ville is the first choice when one is running. The Centre Pompidou is close but under renovation, so check its status. The BHV store, the covered shops of the Forum des Halles and the churches of Saint-Gervais and Saint-Merry offer shelter and something to see.

# Visiting with a group

Groups have the best chance of seeing the interior. School classes, associations and organized groups can request a free tour.

• Send your request about two months ahead.
• Give your preferred dates and the number of people.
• Prepare a list of names and IDs if asked.
• Plan for security checks on the day.

If your group is small or your dates are fixed, have a backup plan, such as a free exhibition or a walk around the outside.

# Quick answers

Can you go inside the Hôtel de Ville? Yes, for free exhibitions, group tours booked in advance and the September heritage weekend. Individual tours are suspended for now.

Is it free? Yes. Exhibitions and tours are free.

How do you book a group tour? Through the City of Paris visits service, by email, ideally two months ahead.

What is the nearest metro? Hôtel de Ville station on lines 1 and 11.

Why is the square linked to strikes? It was once the Place de Grève, where workers gathered, and the French word for a strike comes from that name.

# Sources

• City of Paris: visiting the Hôtel de Ville, exhibitions and group tours, paris.fr
• Ministry of Culture: European Heritage Days 2026 program, Hôtel de Ville visit, journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr
• Paris je t’aime, Paris tourist office: Hôtel de Ville de Paris, parisjetaime.com
• photographers-paris.com: “Best Time of Day for a Paris Photoshoot to Avoid Crowds” and “Couples Walk Through the Marais”