Rise to 49.54 meters above Place Charles-de-Gaulle to dominate Paris with an imperial gaze. This monument is not just a statue: it is the absolute viewpoint where military history meets an unmatched panoramic view of the Champs-Élysées.
Which option fits your visit
From 18 €.
Visit Napoleon's tribute to his Grande Armée and see spectacular views of Paris.
Thousands of visitors have already booked their visit: reviews and testimonials
★ 4.6/5 · 12 reviews collected directly from visitors and moderated by Visit Tickets
"We bought the Arc de Triomphe: Entry Ticket + Access to skip the line. The view of the Champs-Élysées stretching all the way to the Grande Arche de la Défense is incredible, especially at dusk. We watched the eternal flame being relit, a truly moving moment. The staff were very friendly."
"The monument is majestic, but the 300 spiral steps are a real physical test, especially in summer. At the top, the Panoramic Terrace offers a unique perspective on Paris. I recommend arriving early in the morning to avoid the crowds. The small indoor museum is a welcome bonus."
"As a Canadian tourist, I was blown away by Rude's sculpted relief 'The Marseillaise', a detail often overlooked. The view from the south balcony towards the Eiffel Tower is perfect, with no obstacles. We visited the Indoor Museum, which does a good job explaining the history of 1836. A must-see stop."
"We came with our children, aged 10 and 12. They loved reading the 558 names of generals carved into the stone. The elevator made access easy, but we took the time to look at the Napoleonic friezes. The sunset view is magical. I recommend booking online for the €18 rate."
"The effort to climb up is real, but the reward is immense. I used the underground passage to cross Place Charles-de-Gaulle safely. The Tombeau du Soldat Inconnu (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) under the arch gave me chills. Note that there can sometimes be a queue for security even with a priority ticket, so allow 15 minutes."
"This is the absolute best viewpoint. The alignment of the Champs-Élysées is a superb sight. We visited the indoor museum before going up, which enriched our visit. The staff speak English and are helpful. For €18, it offers excellent value for money. The night view of the illuminated city is simply breathtaking."
"I went alone, without a guide. The monument is impressive, standing 49.54 meters tall. I enjoyed the eternal flame and its history. One downside: it was very hot and the stairs are narrow. I advise taking water. The view along the west axis is superb, but you should avoid peak hours to enjoy some tranquility."
"Our couple loved the solemn moment of the eternal flame ceremony at 6:30 PM. It’s moving to see this daily ritual. The structure weighs 50,000 tons; it’s dizzying! We took photos from the south balcony, a perfect setting. The service is professional. A monument that embodies French military history with rare grace."
"A very nice experience, but the queue can be long if you don’t have a ticket. We waited 20 minutes despite our reservation. Once up there, the view of Paris is incredible. I learned that Napoleon had originally planned the arc near the Bastille, an interesting fact discovered in the indoor museum. The staff are kind and helpful to foreigners."
"We took the advice to go up 30 minutes before sunset: the golden light on the city is unreal. The view of the Grande Arche de la Défense is clear. We visited the museum, which is small but informative about the Napoleonic campaigns. The €18 price is fair. It’s a stop you shouldn’t miss to understand Paris’s grand east-west axis."
"As a senior, I used the elevator, which is very convenient. The architecture is of rare majesty. I was moved by the Tombeau du Soldat Inconnu and the 558 names carved into the stone. The panoramic view is soothing, especially early in the morning. The place is well-maintained and the staff are respectful. A tribute to French collective memory, absolutely worth seeing."
"The view is magnificent, but the €18 price seems a bit high just for going to the top. It’s mostly the waiting time that can be annoying; even with a skip-the-line ticket, you sometimes have to wait for security. However, the sculpted relief is superb and the indoor museum is worth a visit. I recommend going late in the day to avoid families with small children."
Everything you need to plan your visit
PMR
Dedicated elevator for people with reduced mobility providing access to the terrace.
Family
Visit adapted for accompanied children, with interactive museum and a view that rewards physical effort.
Audio guide
French, English, Spanish
Current conditions and forecast to plan your visit
From Napoleon I to Louis-Philippe, a story of stone and memory.
Total height of the monument
Weight of the structure
Generals engraved in stone
Year of completion under Louis-Philippe
The Arc de Triomphe is much more than a simple tetrapylon; it constitutes the zero point of Paris's historic axis. Commissioned by Napoleon I after Austerlitz, this colossal project required thirty years of work before its inauguration under Louis-Philippe. Each visitor discovers here a dual experience: the intimacy of the museum dedicated to military victories and the raw power of the panoramic terrace overlooking the capital.
The genesis of the monument dates back to 1806, when Napoleon I decided to honor the Grand Army with a Roman triumphal arch. Initially planned near the Bastille to create a perspective towards the Louvre, the project was moved to the Place de l'Étoile due to exorbitant costs. It was finally under the reign of Louis-Philippe that the building was completed and inaugurated in 1836, thus consecrating a work started by the Emperor but finished under the July Monarchy.
It is crucial to note that Napoleon never passed under his own triumphal arch during his lifetime, as it was still unfinished at his death. The monument today weighs 50,000 tonnes, or 100,000 tonnes including its deep foundations anchored 8.37 meters underground. This colossal mass houses the names of 558 generals and battles engraved in stone, serving as a book of collective memory for imperial and revolutionary France.
Under the central vault lies the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, transferred from the Abbey of Saint-Denis in 1920. The Eternal Flame guarding this grave is rekindled every day at 6:30 PM by a solemn military ceremony. This daily ritual attracts many visitors coming to pay tribute, transforming the site into a space for reflection right in the heart of the intense traffic of Place Charles-de-Gaulle.
Access to the Arc de Triomphe is mandatory via a pedestrian underground passage located under Place Charles-de-Gaulle, allowing you to avoid dense road traffic. Once inside, the small interior museum provides essential context on the sculptures and reliefs depicting war scenes such as 'The Departure of the Volunteers of 1792'. Do not go straight outside; these lit rooms explain the military symbols that adorn the exterior facades.
The ascent to the terrace is made via a spiral staircase of 284 steps, divided into two parts. For those in a hurry or with physical difficulties, a specific elevator for people with reduced mobility (PRM) is available, separate from the main staircase. As you climb, observe the wall inscriptions mentioning key victories like Austerlitz or Waterloo, engraved in the limestone from Villequier-Treys.
At the top, the panoramic terrace offers a 360-degree view of Paris. The perfect alignment of the Champs-Élysées towards the Louvre Pyramid on one side, and towards the La Défense Arch on the other, creates a unique architectural perspective. The southern balustrade allows for an ideal framing of the Eiffel Tower without obstacles, while the west offers an unobstructed view of the modern suburbs. It is here that the visual dominance of the monument takes on full meaning.
The opening hours of the Arc de Triomphe vary according to the season, with late openings in summer (often until 11 PM) and earlier closures in winter. It is imperative to check availability before your visit, as time slots are strict to manage crowds. Arc de Triomphe tickets can be purchased online to benefit from a 5% discount and avoid queues at physical ticket offices.
Regarding prices, the standard price is around €18, but free entry exists for European residents under 26 years old. Guided tours commented by monument agents are offered free of charge if you already have a ticket, at specific times (10:15 AM, 11:15 AM, 3:15 PM). These sessions last about 45 minutes and considerably enrich the understanding of sculptural details often ignored by hurried tourists.
For an optimal experience, aim for sunset to capture the golden light followed by the city's nighttime illumination. Bring a lightweight camera, as bulky bags are subject to strict security checks similar to those at airports. The Charles de Gaulle - Étoile metro station (lines 1, 2, 6) is the fastest way to reach the underground entrance, located just a few minutes' walk from the exit.
History, stone, and unique perspectives
Insider tips
Go up exactly 30 minutes before sunset to capture the golden light on the city and then observe the gradual lighting of public lights. This luminous transition offers the most striking photogenic contrast between the dark blue sky and the first lights of the Parisian capital.
Use the south balustrade to frame the Eiffel Tower without any visual obstacles or interfering branches. For the west axis, position yourself against the inner stone to include the Arch of La Défense in the distance, thus creating a powerful linear composition linking two major architectural eras.
If you are in a hurry, take the straight staircase which goes up faster, but take the time to savor the sculpted reliefs on the walls while climbing slowly. The details of the allegorical friezes are better visible up close and considerably enrich the cultural experience before reaching the upper platform.
Arrive very early in the morning right at opening or stay late in the evening just before closing to enjoy almost empty terraces. These time slots offer a much more intimate and quiet experience, allowing you to contemplate the view without the pressure of the massive midday tourist crowds.
Never go straight outside without exploring the small interior museum located on the ground floor. This space clearly explains the meaning of the sculptures, the military history of the Napoleonic campaigns, and the construction process, providing essential context to fully appreciate the panoramic terrace afterwards.
Use exclusively the marked underground passages to cross the Charles-de-Gaulle Square, as road traffic is intense and dangerous there. Never cross the avenues on foot: the pedestrian tunnels lead you directly and safely to the main entrance located under the central roundabout.
Actively look for the names of famous battles engraved in the stone, notably 'Austerlitz' and 'Waterloo', which mark French military history. These inscriptions serve as narrative landmarks to mentally reconstruct troop movements and the strategic stakes of each major conflict.
Head towards the elegant cafés of the Trocadéro or the Champs-Élysées to digest the impressive view and recover from the physical effort of the climb. A seated break allows you to consolidate visual memories and calmly discuss impressions gathered during this monumental ascent.
Little-known anecdotes
This majestic monument weighs approximately 50,000 tonnes of visible stone, but if we count the deep foundations that sink 8.37 meters underground, the total mass reaches 100,000 tonnes. This structural heaviness was essential to guarantee the stability of the tetrapylon against violent winds blowing at height on the Place de l'Étoile.
Although commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806, the building was not completed until 1836 under the reign of Louis-Philippe. This thirty-year delay is explained by interruptions linked to the Napoleonic Wars and the Restoration, making any inauguration by the Emperor himself during his lifetime impossible.
Napoleon had initially planned to raise this arc near the Bastille to create a direct perspective towards the Louvre. However, the exorbitant cost of expropriating land in this dense neighborhood forced a change of plans. The current site of the Place de l'Étoile was chosen for its spatial openness and urban symbolism.
With its total height of 49.54 meters, the Arc de Triomphe dominates the Charles-de-Gaulle Square. It fits into a major east-west Parisian axis starting from the Louvre pyramid, passing through the Obelisk of La Concorde, and ending far away with the Arch of La Défense.
It is crucial to note that Napoleon I never passed under the arc during his lifetime because it was still unfinished at the time of his death in 1821. The building was completed in 1836 under the reign of Louis-Philippe, thus marking the definitive end of this long imperial construction project.
Under the arc lies the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a symbol of those who died for France since November 11, 1920. A flame is rekindled there every evening at 6:30 PM by a military ceremony. This ritual perpetuates the memory of fallen fighters without identification, paying homage to all soldiers who fell during conflicts, notably during World War I.
Three itineraries depending on available time
Find the attraction and nearby places to visit
Make time to explore the surrounding area
15 min walk
Green esplanade facing the Eiffel Tower, ideal for a photo break after the visit or a sunny picnic at the Trocadéro.
35 min walk
Historical starting point of the monumental axis, accessible via the Champs-Élysées for a complete cultural stroll towards the Louvre.
10 min walk
Legendary opera café, perfect for enjoying tea while watching the crowd pass by at Opéra Garnier, a masterpiece of the Second Empire.
15 min walk
Majestic glass dome and luxury shopping, a must-visit to complete your day on the grand boulevards of Galeries Lafayette.
Distant view
Modern terminus of the historical axis, perfectly aligned from the terrace for a photo contrasting old and new.
Estimated travel times from the main points in the city
Metro : Avenue de Wagram (1 min walk) Bus : Charles de Gaulle - Étoile (3 min walk)
Everything you need to know before your visit
A preview of this exceptional place before your visit
See what to expect during your visit
Quick comparison with other major sites
| Arc de Triomphe | Eiffel Tower | Arc du Carrousel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of creation | 1836 | 1889 | 1808 |
| Adult rate | 18€ | 26,90€ | Free |
| Visit duration | 1h30 | 2h00 | 30 min |
| Feature | Panoramic view of the historical axis | Elevator to the top with 360° view | Located at the Louvre, smaller |