The best view in Paris that isn’t the Eiffel Tower, open until late. Here is how to get up there.
The short version
- €16 from October to March, €22 from April to September and €16 on summer Wednesdays. Free under 18 and for EU residents aged 18 to 25. Tickets and the day’s notices at paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr.
- Open every day until 22:30 in winter and 23:00 in summer, last entry 45 minutes before. Tuesdays it opens at 11:00 instead of 10:00.
- Never cross the roundabout. The way in is the underground passage from the top of the Champs-Élysées or from avenue de la Grande-Armée.
- It is 284 steps up a spiral staircase to the roof, and the lift is out of service until 2027. If stairs are a problem, this is a monument to see from below this year.
- Go up in the last hour of daylight. You get the Champs-Élysées in the sun, the lights coming on, and the Eiffel Tower sparkling on the hour.
- Closed May 1, May 8, July 14 and the morning of November 11 for ceremonies, and it can shut at short notice for a state event; online tickets are refunded automatically when it does.
Getting in
The ticket office and the staircase are inside the arch, reached only by the underpass, which is signposted Passage du Souvenir from the Champs-Élysées side. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the flame are at ground level under the arch and cost nothing to see; the ticket is for the climb.
Buy online for a time slot, or at the desk inside. Free entry for under-18s and EU residents 18 to 25 needs ID. The Paris Museum Pass is accepted. The first Sunday of the month is free for everyone from November to March.
With the lift out, everyone climbs: 284 steps in a tight spiral with no landings to speak of, then a museum floor, then a last flight to the roof. Fifteen minutes up at a normal pace.
Or see it from the car at night: our private Paris tour by car is four hours with a driver-guide from your hotel, any time of day, and the lap of the Étoile with the arch lit is the one everyone photographs.
The visit
Napoleon ordered it in 1806 after Austerlitz and never saw it finished; it went up in 1836 under Louis-Philippe. Rude’s Marseillaise on the Champs-Élysées pillar is the sculpture to look for, and the names of the battles and the generals run around the inside.
The Unknown Soldier was buried under the arch on November 11, 1920, and the flame has been rekindled every evening at 18:30 since 1923 by veterans’ associations. Stand back and watch; it takes ten minutes and nobody minds you being there.
The roof is the point. Twelve avenues leave the star below you, the Champs-Élysées runs straight to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower stands clear to the southwest and La Défense to the west. Give it 30 minutes and go round twice.
The museum level on the way down has the history of the arch and a model you can skip. A visit is an hour, door to door.
When to go
The last hour of light, any season. In winter that means a 16:30 slot; in June, 21:00. The roof stays open until 22:30 or 23:00, so you can wait for the lights.
Weekend afternoons from April to October are the long lines in the underpass. Summer Wednesdays are €16 instead of €22.
Closed May 1, May 8, July 14 and the morning of November 11; early close at 16:00 on December 24 and 31. The arch is draped and shut for state funerals and some ceremonies with little notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book the Arc de Triomphe in advance?
Not required, but an online ticket gives you a time slot and skips the desk. On a summer weekend afternoon that saves half an hour in the underpass.
Is there a lift?
Not until 2027. The lift is out of service for renovation, so the roof is 284 steps for everyone. Children and anyone fit for a long spiral stair are fine; anyone else should enjoy it from the ground.
Is the Arc de Triomphe free?
The arch, the tomb and the flame are free at ground level, always. The climb is free for under-18s, EU residents aged 18 to 25, Paris Museum Pass holders, and everyone on the first Sunday of the month from November to March. Otherwise €16 or €22 by season.
Arc de Triomphe or Eiffel Tower for the view?
The Arc. It is lower, so the city is close and readable, the Eiffel Tower is in the picture instead of under your feet, and the ticket is cheaper and easier to get. Do both if you have the evenings; do the Arc if you have one.
Is there a tour that covers this part of Paris?
Yes. Our half-day Paris walking tour is about three hours with a private guide, start times from 9:00 to 18:00, and a Right Bank route runs the Champs-Élysées from the arch down. Climb the arch on your own before or after.
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