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Arc de Triomphe
Pay for the rooftop if you want a sharp Paris viewpoint and your legs are up for the stairs. If money or time is tight, see the exterior and tomb for free, then put the ticket budget somewhere else.
The Arc de Triomphe is the big arch standing over the top of the Champs-Elysees. Napoleon commissioned it in 1806 and it was inaugurated in 1836. Pay to climb the 284 steps and the reward is one of the cleanest views in Paris: twelve avenues fanning out below you, the Eiffel Tower off to one side, and La Defense lined up behind the old city.
Worth it for
- Travelers who want a lower viewpoint with the Eiffel Tower in the frame
- People who like city planning, symmetry, and a short visit with a strong payoff
You can skip if
- You dislike stairs or tight spiral climbs
- You already booked the Eiffel Tower or Montparnasse and only need one paid viewpoint
Our pick for Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe rooftop delivers one of the cleanest city views in Paris: the Champs-Elysees radiates outward below you, and the Eiffel Tower sits squarely in the skyline without anything blocking it. This is the cheapest way to get that view, with a review pool large enough to confirm it consistently delivers. Book it, climb the stairs, and you have the whole Paris axis laid out in front of you without spending more than you need to.
If our pick doesn't fit
The national monuments service sells rooftop terrace entry on its own site, and its own booking surfaces the free-entry categories a reseller will not.
Official ticketsThe same rooftop access with a notably better rating, at a small premium over the cheapest option.
Bundles rooftop access with a guided Eiffel Tower visit, popular with visitors doing both landmarks in one go.
See all options for Arc de Triomphe
What travelers flag about Arc de Triomphe
We weighed recent traveler opinion on the Arc de Triomphe against the provider reviews. These are the themes that came up again and again.
- Use the underground passageReported by several
Never try to cross the traffic circle on foot; there is a pedestrian underpass from the Champs-Élysées side, which is also the only way to the entrance. People genuinely get this wrong and end up stranded on the island.
- It is a stair climbReported by several
Reaching the rooftop terrace is about 280 steps with no lift for most visitors. The reward is arguably the best view in Paris, because unlike the Eiffel's own view this one has the Eiffel Tower in the frame.
- Book, and time it for sunsetReported by several
A timed ticket skips the queue, and sunset is the prime and busiest slot. The wide Champs-Élysées below is more a street to walk once than a place to shop.
Sourced from recent traveler discussions, not provider reviews. We only flag what several visitors independently reported, and the bars show how widely each point came up.
Which ticket should you buy?
What you actually get
The paid visit is really about the rooftop. There are a couple of small interior rooms that give you some context, but the terrace is the reason to buy a ticket. From up there the traffic circle finally makes sense, and the layout of the city reads more clearly than it does from the Eiffel Tower.
The base is free and worth seeing even if you skip the climb. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sits right under the arch, and the eternal flame is rekindled every evening at 6:30 pm. That part is sober, not a photo prop, so give it a little room.
The climb and access
The climb is no joke: 284 steps to the terrace. There is a lift for visitors who need it, but most people should expect a tight spiral staircase and some burn in the legs. If stairs are a problem for you, this is not the easy Paris viewpoint.
Do not try to cross the roundabout at street level. It looks chaotic because it is. Use the underground Passage du Souvenir from the Champs-Elysees side or the Avenue de la Grande-Armee side. Once you know about it, getting there is simple.
Is it worth paying for
Yes, with caveats. The exterior is free, it is powerful, and for a lot of travelers that is enough. The ticket earns its money if you want a viewpoint, especially at sunset or after dark, when the avenues light up and the Eiffel Tower is easy to pick out.
It will not beat the Eiffel Tower for height or drama. What it does beat the Eiffel Tower at is helping you understand Paris as a city. Montparnasse is higher and smoother, with elevators and a full skyline that includes the Eiffel Tower. The Arc is lower, more physical, more specific. Pick it if what you want is the Champs-Elysees axis and the star-shaped road plan.
Crowds, timing, and tourist-trap risk
This is not a tourist trap, but it does sit in a tourist-heavy zone. The Champs-Elysees around it can feel pricey and short on charm, so do not build your food plans around the nearest cafes unless convenience matters to you more than value.
The best light comes late afternoon into blue hour. Morning is calmer and better for clean photos, though the view has less glow to it. Check the official hours before you go. The monument runs seasonal hours, opens late on Tuesdays, and closes for ceremonies, security, weather, and the odd special date.
Arc de Triomphe: FAQs
No. You can see the exterior, walk under the arch through the underground passage, and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for free. You only need a ticket for the interior rooms and the rooftop terrace.
The official visitor information lists 284 steps to the terrace. There is a lift for visitors who need it, but most people should plan on the stairs.
The flame is rekindled every evening at 6:30 pm. Turn up a little early if you want to watch respectfully from the base area, and expect access around the tomb to be managed during ceremonies.
The monument lists no normal tourist dress code. Wear comfortable shoes for the stairs. In hot weather the ticketing guidance advises practical kit such as a hat, water, and sun protection, and areas can close or change route in bad weather or extreme heat.
For a first-time wow moment, no. The Eiffel Tower is the bigger icon. But for a cheaper, shorter, more readable city view that puts the Eiffel Tower in the frame, the Arc de Triomphe can be the smarter viewpoint.
Do not cross the traffic circle at street level. Use the underground Passage du Souvenir, with access from the Champs-Elysees side or the Avenue de la Grande-Armee side.
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