Visiting the Arc de Triomphe Paris

Welcome to my guide to the Arc de Triomphe Paris. It’s one of the ‘big three’ Paris sights, and crowns the Avenue des  Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous streets in the world.

The Arc de Triomphe is such a powerful symbol of Paris. I remember seeing it for the first time against a sunset sky in 1982, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up in awe. I also lived 20 minutes away from the Arc for several months, and would find any excuse possible to see it again.

We recently revisited the Arc de Triomphe, this time bringing my equally-Impressed son. My guide to visiting the Arc de Triomphe includes everything you need to know about the Arc. I also cover all the practicalities you need to know, including its location, buying tickets and places to visit nearby.

Along with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe is one of the three great iconic must-see Paris sights.

Like the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe is one of a few universally recognized symbols of Paris, and indeed France.

It’s probably the most famous triumphal arch in the world, and influenced a great many more recent ones.  These are as far afield as Mexico City, New Delhi, Vientiane and Pyongyang.

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most important historic monuments in France, commemorating the country’s wars over the last 200 years.

The Arc de Triomphe is also one of the best viewpoints in Paris, commanding superb views of much of the city including the Eiffel Tower.

The construction of the Arc de Triomphe – Arch of Triumph – was ordered by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806.

This was shortly after the French victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, one of Napoleon’s biggest military triumphs.

The architect of the Arc de Triomphe, Jean Chalgrin, died in 1811, and the project was taken over by Jean-Nicolas Huyot.

Work on the Arc was halted for around 20 years, and only resumed in 1833. The Arc de Triomphe architects were led by Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury and the team included Huyot.

The Arc de Triomphe was inspired by the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum in Rome.

Its full official name is the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, the Triumphal Arch of the Star. It is located at the junction of twelve avenues which radiate from it.

The Arc was built to honour the fallen in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. There are also memorials to those who lost their lives in subsequent conflicts, including the two World Wars.

The Ard de Triomphe height is 50 metres (164 feet), and it is 45 metres (148 feet) wide.

It was the tallest arch in the world for over a century, until it was superseded by an arch in Mexico in 1938.

In August 1919 Charles Godefroy flew a biplane through the Arc to mark the end of fighting in World War I. This was an amazing accomplishment – the arch is just over 14 metres wide, and the plane was 8.5 metres wide.

It is the famous backdrop for many important Parisian events. These range from French military parades on Bastille Day to the finish of the annual Tour de France cycle race.

The Arc de Triomphe is also sometimes incorporated into art – most famously the Arc de Triomphe Wrapped, by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. They had also wrapped the Pont Neuf Paris in 1985.

The Arc de Triomphe is the centrepiece of the Historical Axis of Paris, an unbroken line of sight from the Louvre to La Defense business district.

The Axis (Axe Historique) extends from the Louvre, past the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel outside. It continues through the Tuileries Garden to the Obelisk in the Place de la Concorde, and on to the Arc de Triomphe.

The Paris Historical Axis has been extended in recent times to include the Grande Arche de la Défense. This modern edifice is the centrepiece of the business district of La Défense. This is just outside the city centre and is to Paris what Canary Wharf is to London.

You can visit the area around the base of the Arc de Triomphe for free. This is well worth doing, even if you don’t intend to climb the Arc.

It’s a great opportunity to look at some of the monumental sculptures up close. The series of four includes La Marseillaise and La Résistance de 1814 (pictured). The latter is the work of Antoine Étex.

The insides of the Arc de Triomphe Paris are inscribed with lists of battles fought by the French, and generals who led them. There are also numerous plaques commemorating later wars in which the French have fought.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier houses the body of an unidentified French soldier who died during the First World War. His body was laid to rest there in 1920, and an eternal flame burns next to huis tomb.

There is a 284-step climb to the Arc de Triomphe viewing gallery inside the arch. The Arc de Triomphe stairs aren’t too taxing – the steps are fairly shallow. Our Little Man, a veteran of a great many tower climbs, described it as ‘easy-peasy’.

It isn’t for everyone, of course. There is a lift which takes people with mobility issues most of the way up, but they still have to negotiate the last steps to the rooftop.

We stopped on the way up to visit the small Arc de Triomphe Museum. It didn’t take long to explore, but is very informative about the Arc’s history and the statues around the pillar bases.

Many people visit the Arc de Triomphe for its outstanding views of Paris. Along with the Pantheon and Notre Dame, I rate it the best viewpoint in Paris, and we loved every moment up there.

Starting at the ‘back’ (north-west side) of the Arc, there’s a fine view along the Avenue de la Grande Armée to La Défense.

Around to the north the most obvious landmark is the shining white Basilica of Sacré Coeur, on the summit of the Butte de Montmartre.

The Arc de Triomphe offers a wonderful view over the boulevards laid out in the 19^th century by Baron Haussmann. This includes the one named after him, Boulevard Haussmann, which leads to the grands magasins of Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, which also offer some of the best rooftop views of Paris.

The view back down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is also superb, with the Place de Concorde, Tuileries Garden and Louvre beyond.

However, the highlight is the view down Avenue d’Iéna to that other famous Paris landmark. The Arc de Triomphe has one of the best Eiffel Tower views, an awesome sight at any time of day or night.  

The Arc de Triomphe is on a hilltop roundabout in the west of central Paris. The space on which it stands is called Place Charles de Gaulle, which was formerly known as the Place de l’Étoile.

The Place Charles de Gaulle straddles three Paris arrondissements – the 8^th, 16^th and 17^th.

Most famously it stands at the top of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous streets in Paris.

The Arc de Triomphe is located above one of the busiest stations in the Paris Metro network.

Charles de Gaulle – Étoile station is on three key Metro lines – 1,2 and 6 – and RER line A. The station is a bit of a labyrinth – when I lived in Paris I always tried to avoid changing lines there. But finding your way to the Arc de Triomphe is straightforward – it’s well-signposted.

Bus 73 also stops near the Arc, on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Another way of getting to the Arc de Triomphe is to alight at the station before, George V.  It’s around halfway down the Champs-Élysées, so you can walk up the famous Avenue to the Arc. It’s also close to some great vantage points.

A standard adult Arc de Triomphe ticket costs €13, and you can buy yours here. Under-18s are free, as are EU nationals and French residents aged 18-25.

Even though kids can visit for free, they still need a ticket if they’re climbing the Arc de Triomphe.  We had to queue for a ticket for my 8-year-old son – he needed that piece of paper with the €0.00 price on it so it could be scanned and he could enter.

The Arc de Triomphe Paris is also included on the excellent Paris Museum Pass – you just turn up, scan your pass and enter.

The Arc is also included on the Passion Monuments pass, which covers around 80 sites across France for €45 a year. It includes some of the most famous landmarks in France, such as Le Mont Saint-Michel and the stunning Loire Valley chateaux at Azay-le-Rideau and Angers.  

From 1^st April to 30^th September, the Arc de Triomphe is open from 10.00 am to 11.00 pm daily.

Between 1^st October and 31^st March, the Arc closes a little earlier – it is open from 10.00 am to 10.30 pm.

Last entry to the Arc de Triomphe is 45 minutes before closing time throughout the year.

It is closed three days a year, on 1^st January, 1^st May and 25^th December. It is also closed on the mornings of May 8^th, July 14^th and 11^th November.

I have climbed the Arc de Triomphe twice, and recommend both times of day that I visited.

My first climb up the Arc de Triomphe was when I lived in Paris in the ‘90s. I visited at sunset one summer evening, the lights twinkling across the magical city. It’s an extraordinary sight.

The only drawback with visiting at sunset and dusk is that you don’t get to see the Arc from the Champs-Élysées!

I visited the Arc again in the summer of 2022, this time with my 8-year-old son. We were both buzzing about it and couldn’t wait to climb up the Arc. We visited between 4-5 pm, which is also a great time to see it. We had amazing views over much of central Paris, especially down the Champs-Élysées to the Louvre.

When visiting the Arc de Triomphe Paris, try to make time to appreciate some views of it from a distance. The most famous of these is the view up the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

I strongly recommend trying to see the Arc de Triomphe at sunset. The Arc with a sunset or dusk sky behind is a magnificent sight, and looks amazing from many places along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

I’ve found that some of the best places for photographing the Arc de Triomphe are towards the bottom end of the Champs-Élysées. I tend to go for the crossings close to the Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau Metro stop (lines 1 and 13), close to the Grand Palais. It also looks great from the Place de la Concorde.

The Arc de Triomphe also looks fantastic from the Eiffel Tower, especially at dusk when it’s illuminated. I’ve always thought that the view from the Eiffel Tower is a bit over-rated (partly because I prefer a view with the Eiffel Tower IN it). But the view of the Arc de Triomphe from there is superb.

The Arc de Triomphe is a little out on a limb, a short but easily manageable distance from many of the other best things to see in Paris.

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is the obvious place to start. The glitzy over-priced street has never particularly appealed to me. I’ve always gone there for one reason  – the Arc de Triomphe is the star of the show, and one of the best places to enjoy a sunset in Paris.

The views of it from the Champs-Élysées are sublime, and you sometimes chance upon some of the best sunsets in Europe there. The sky glowing orange and pink behind the Arc is one of the most inspiring sights in Paris.

One place close to the Arc de Triomphe which we recommend is Parc Monceau Paris. This gorgeous Parisian park has an unusual collection of follies modelled on great buildings from Antiquity. The best of these is the Ancient Greek style colonnade, and there’s also an unusual pyramid nearby.

Can you visit the Arc de Triomphe for free?

Yes, you can visit the Arc de Triomphe for free. You can walk around the base of the Arc, seeing the sculptures and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

However, you do need to buy a ticket to go inside and climb the Arc de Triomphe.

Is the Arc de Triomphe worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely. It’s a fascinating journey through over two centuries of French history. And the Arc de Triomphe climb is rewarded with some of the best views in Paris.

How long does it take to visit the Arc de Triomphe?

I would say a minimum of an hour, up to an hour and a half (60 to 90 minutes). This gives you time to view the sculptures, memorials, Museum and rooftop terrace.

How long does it take to climb the Arc de Triomphe Paris?

If you climb the 284 steps in one go, it should take less than five minutes. However we recommend stopping on the way up to see the small Arc de Triomphe exhibition.

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the outstanding things to see in Paris. I recommend that everyone who visits Paris should visit the Arc once.  

I loved returning there with my son, thirty years after first climbing it, and experiencing it anew with him. I’m not sure which of us was more thrilled by the whole thing. He wants to visit it again – next time at sunset – and so do I!

While in the vicinity of the Arc de Triomphe, don’t miss the wonderful Parc Monceau. It’s a gorgeous neighbourhood park with one of the best Paris carousels, themed around Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.

At the other end of the Champs-Élysées, the vast Place de la Concorde is one of the most famous squares in Paris.  La Madeleine, one of the most famous churches in Paris, is a short walk away from the square at the end of Rue Royale.

The Arc de Triomphe is also close to the River Seine and one of the most famous Paris bridges.  The stunning Art Nouveau Pont Alexandre III is a few minutes’ walk from Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau Metro station, which is on lines 1 and 13.