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Arc de Triomphe vs Eiffel Tower: the Arc has the better view

Reviewed by TheOneToGo Editorial · Updated July 13, 2026

The verdict

The Arc de Triomphe wins as a viewpoint, the Eiffel Tower wins as a personal Paris milestone.

Pick the Arc de Triomphe if you want the smarter Paris viewpoint. Pick the Eiffel Tower if standing on the icon matters more than the photo you get from it.

bridge during night timePhoto by Léonard Cotte on Unsplash

Both are paid viewpoints, but they solve different cravings. The Eiffel Tower is the landmark itself, tall, famous and busy, with tickets that reward advance planning.

The Arc de Triomphe is shorter and less theatrical, but its rooftop gives you the Champs Elysees axis, the star-shaped avenues and, crucially, the Eiffel Tower in the view.

Arc de TriompheEiffel Tower
What you see A rooftop over Place de l'Etoile, with straight views down the Champs Elysees and a clean angle on the Eiffel Tower. Paris from its most famous structure, with higher viewpoints and the novelty of being inside the landmark.
Time Usually a compact 45 to 75 minute visit if you have a ticket and the line is reasonable. Often a 2 to 3 hour commitment once you include security, queues, lifts and time on the levels.
Access and booking The terrace is reached by 284 steps. A lift is available for people who need it, and official tickets are straightforward. Book ahead, especially for elevator and summit access. In 2026, official adult prices run from lower-cost stairs tickets to higher summit elevator tickets.
Crowds and cost Usually cheaper and less of a production than the Eiffel Tower, though high-season pricing can rise. More expensive at the top end and much busier. The official summit elevator adult ticket is one of the pricier simple viewpoint tickets in Paris.
The payoff The better city photo because the Eiffel Tower is actually in it. The stronger bucket-list feeling because you can say you went up the Eiffel Tower.
The verdict

Pick Arc de Triomphe if

  • You want photos with the Eiffel Tower in the skyline.
  • You prefer a shorter, usually cheaper viewpoint visit.
  • You are comfortable with stairs or qualify for lift assistance.
Arc de Triomphe guide

Pick Eiffel Tower if

  • You have always wanted to stand on the Eiffel Tower.
  • You want the highest of the two views.
  • You can book ahead and tolerate heavier crowds.
Eiffel Tower guide

FAQs

For photos, yes. The Arc view includes the Eiffel Tower, while the Eiffel Tower view obviously does not.

There are 284 steps to the terrace. A lift is available for visitors who need it.

You should. Some tickets are sold on site, but advance official tickets are the safer move for elevator access, summit access and popular times.

The Arc de Triomphe is usually cheaper for a simple rooftop visit. Eiffel Tower prices vary by stairs, lift, second floor or summit, and the summit elevator ticket costs more.

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