Why go

The Arc de Triomphe stands at the heart of the great star of twelve avenues that meet at Place Charles de Gaulle, still widely known by its old name, l’Étoile. Napoleon commissioned it in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz, but it was not finished until 1836, long after his fall. Since 1921 it has sheltered the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the flame there is rekindled every evening.

The view from the roof is the reason to climb. Below you the traffic swirls round the roundabout, the Champs-Élysées runs straight down to the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower rises close by to the south. Because the arch is lower than the tower, the city feels near enough to touch. The arch is also the stage for national life: military parades on 14 July begin here, and the Tour de France finishes on the avenue below it each summer.

What to see

  • The rooftop terrace. About 50 metres up, with a direct line along the historic axis to the Louvre and out to the towers of La Défense.
  • The sculptures. Rude’s Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, known as La Marseillaise, is the most famous of the four great groups.
  • The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Beneath the arch, free to visit, with the eternal flame.
  • The museum room. Inside the attic, displays explain the arch’s history; the exhibition Triumph by Night runs until 26 March 2027.

Plan your visit

From October to March the arch opens from 10am to 10.30pm, and from April to September until 11pm. On Tuesdays it opens an hour later, at 11am. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing. It closes early, at 4pm, on 24 and 31 December 2026, and is closed on 1 May, 8 May, 14 July and the morning of 11 November. Official ceremonies or bad weather can also close it at short notice.

A ticket costs €16 from October to March; the official site lists a higher price in the summer season. Entry is free for under 18s, for EU nationals and legal residents of France aged 18 to 25, and for everyone on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the arch is always free.

The lift is being modernised, so for now the only way up is the spiral staircase of 284 steps. Take it slowly; there is a landing with the museum room before the final flight.

Reach the arch through the Passage du Souvenir, the underpass that starts at the top of the Champs-Élysées and Avenue de la Grande-Armée. Never try to cross the roundabout on foot. Late afternoon, just before sunset, gives the best light, and the climb takes about an hour in all. Bags are checked at the entrance, and large luggage is not allowed on the stairs.

Nearby

Walk down the Champs-Élysées towards the Grand Palais and Place de la Concorde; from late November the avenue’s Christmas lights make the evening walk special. The Trocadéro and its view of the Eiffel Tower are about 15 minutes’ walk south along Avenue Kléber.