École Militaire Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience École Militaire. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Paris: Segway Night Highlights Small-Group Tour
• Segway Tour Best of Paris
• Paris Napoleon Walking Tour With a Historian Guide
• Paris Gourmet French Delicacies Food Tour in Eiffel Tower Area
• Segway Tour Paris

While it’s free to visit the École Militaire, there is a catch. The prestigious military academy is only open during European Heritage Days, celebrated in the third week of September. Otherwise, anyone can admire the impressive building from the outside year-round. Count on paying €180 per person for a Napoleon-themed walking tour.

The École Militaire has been part of Paris since after the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745. The French emerged victorious, but lost thousands of soldiers in the process. It was decided that a military academy should be set up to train officers. Napoleon Bonaparte and Charles de Gaulle were once students.

Yes, it is possible to visit École Militaire on a guided tour, but only during European Heritage Days. That’s the only chance that you have to see inside the storied institution. Keep in mind that the École Militaire doesn’t participate every year, so be sure to check in advance.

While you won’t be able to get inside the École Militaire, the best time to walk around the building is just before sunset, during the pre-dusk Golden Hour. That’s when you’ll find the best lighting conditions, ideal for anyone looking to photograph the building. Walk here by crossing Champ de Mars.

That depends. Outside of European Heritage Days, many people only pass by the exterior of the building briefly. If you’re on a Segway tour, you may spend as little as 5–10 minutes cruising by, with perhaps a brief stop so the guide can fill you in on the building’s history.