Arc de Triomphe tickets in Paris for 2027: the rooftop above the Étoile

Why climb the Arc de Triomphe: thirty years in the making and a unique viewpoint

Napoleon I commissioned the monument in 1806 to celebrate the Grande Armée. The architect Jean-François Chalgrin drew up the plans but never saw the work completed: building stopped with the fall of the Empire, resumed under the Restoration and continued under the July Monarchy. The arch was finally inaugurated on 29 July 1836, during the reign of Louis-Philippe. Built from Château-Landon limestone, it rises to almost 50 metres.

The stories told by the Arc de Triomphe's façades

Four monumental sculpted groups adorn the pillars. The most famous, on the Champs-Élysées side, is François Rude's Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, which everyone simply calls La Marseillaise. Jean-Pierre Cortot sculpted The Triumph of 1810, and Antoine Étex Resistance of 1814 and Peace of 1815. On the inner walls, the names of 558 generals and many battles are carved into the stone.

An Arc de Triomphe shaped by modern history

The arch has witnessed the great moments of the nation: the Occupation in 1940, then General de Gaulle's walk down the Champs-Élysées on 26 August 1944, at the Liberation. To this day, parades, commemorations and sporting celebrations all converge on it. Managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux, it receives around 1.75 million visitors a year.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the flame beneath the Arc de Triomphe

Since the early 1920s, an anonymous French soldier who fell during the First World War has lain beneath the great vault, symbolising all the combatants who were lost. The Flame of Remembrance was lit there for the first time on 11 November 1923, and it has never gone out since.

Watching the flame being rekindled at the Arc de Triomphe

Every evening at 6.30pm, a short ceremony organised by the Comité de la Flamme takes place under the vault, often attended by veterans' associations, delegations or school groups. Access to the foot of the monument to watch is free, with no ticket required. Arrive a few minutes early, stay back from the rope and keep a respectful attitude: it is a solemn moment, valued for its simplicity.

Good to know: the flame and the tombstone are inside the enclosure, which you can enter free of charge; only access to the rooftop and the interior rooms requires a ticket.

What an Arc de Triomphe rooftop ticket includes

The ticket covers the climb to the roof, the exhibition space set up in the attic and, of course, the panoramic terrace at around fifty metres above street level.

The 284 steps of the Arc de Triomphe

The ascent is via a spiral staircase of 284 steps, narrow and even. Allow about ten minutes at a relaxed pace, with a possible stop at the level of the interior rooms. There is a lift for people with reduced mobility, but it may be temporarily out of service: if you need it, ask when you book, and bring some water for the climb.

The panorama from the Arc de Triomphe roof

The show is as much about the city as about the ballet of traffic below. The twelve avenues radiate like the points of a star, hence the historic name of the square. Along the axis, your eye runs down the Champs-Élysées towards the Concorde and the Louvre, and in the other direction towards the Grande Arche at La Défense. The Eiffel Tower appears to the south-west, and Sacré-Cœur to the north-east on the hill of Montmartre.

Arc de Triomphe prices and free admission (indicative)

In October 2026, a full-price ticket for the rooftop was listed at €16 (indicative, checked October 2026). Several sources mention a higher rate in high season, from April to September: check the amount applied to your date when you book.

Who gets into the Arc de Triomphe for free

• Under-18s.
• Young people aged 18 to 25 who live in the European Union or the European Economic Area, with proof.
• Disabled visitors and the person accompanying them.
• Jobseekers, on presentation of recent proof.

Other free-entry rules apply under the Centre des monuments nationaux's policy, for example on certain first Sundays of the month in low season. Even when entry is free, a timed ticket is a good idea so you are not left waiting at the ticket desk on busy days.

Arc de Triomphe opening hours and the best slots for the view

The monument opens every day, usually at 10am (11am on Tuesdays), and closes in the evening: around 10.30pm from October to March, and later in spring and summer according to sources. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing. During national ceremonies, notably on 8 May, 14 July and 11 November, opening may be delayed or the rooftop closed for part of the day: check the day's hours when booking.

The Arc de Triomphe at sunset

This is the highlight: the sun sinks in line with La Défense, the Haussmann façades turn pink, and then car headlights trace the spokes of the Étoile. Aim to arrive about three quarters of an hour before sunset so you have time to climb.

The Arc de Triomphe in the morning or after dark

At opening time on a weekday, the terrace is quieter and the light falls on the east of the city. At night, the illuminated Eiffel Tower and the lit-up line of the Champs-Élysées make the climb a fine way to end an evening, all the more so as the monument stays open late.

Reaching the Arc de Triomphe: metro, RER and the underpass

The Arc de Triomphe sits at the centre of place Charles-de-Gaulle, where the 8th, 16th and 17th arrondissements meet.

• Metro lines 1, 2 and 6: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile station.
• RER A: the same Charles de Gaulle – Étoile station.

The Arc de Triomphe underpass

Never try to cross the roundabout on foot: the traffic is heavy and constant. An underground passage links the pavement to the foot of the monument; you enter it from the top of the Champs-Élysées or from avenue de la Grande-Armée. Signs on the square point the way clearly.

Approaching the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs-Élysées

From place de la Concorde, walking up the avenue covers about two kilometres, or half an hour on a gentle slope: a lovely way to watch the arch grow larger as you get closer.

Visit length and practical tips for the Arc de Triomphe

An hour is usually enough for the climb, the interior space and a full lap of the terrace; add half an hour to study the sculptures from ground level and read the engraved names.

Before climbing the Arc de Triomphe

• There is a bag check at the entrance: travel light, as large luggage is refused.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the spiral staircase is narrow and the steps are many.
• The roof is exposed to the wind: a light jacket comes in handy even in summer.
• With young children, hold their hands on the stairs and on the terrace.
• The climb can be challenging if you suffer from vertigo or feel claustrophobic in a winding staircase.

As the ticket is dated, arrive a little before your time slot, allowing for the walk through the underpass.

Things to do around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

A stroll down the Champs-Élysées is a must: shops, cinemas, then gardens as far as the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, before place de la Concorde. To the south, avenue d'Iéna or avenue Kléber lead to the Trocadéro in twenty minutes, opposite the Eiffel Tower: climbing both monuments on the same day lets you compare two very different perspectives on Paris. From the Pont de l'Alma, a Seine river cruise continues the day on the water. In the evening, the avenue George-V neighbourhood is home to the Crazy Horse Paris cabaret, a few minutes' walk from the Étoile.

Pairing the Arc de Triomphe with another ticket

For a well-balanced plan, book the Eiffel Tower in the morning, for example, and the Étoile rooftop at sunset: the two sites are easily linked by metro line 6.

The Arc de Triomphe in 2027: book your date with our calendar

As every year, the monument will be at the heart of national life in 2027: the 8 May ceremony, the 14 July military parade, which traditionally sets off from the Étoile, and the Armistice commemoration on 11 November. On those days, public opening hours may change. For the rest of the year, spring and summer evenings remain the most popular.

The Arc de Triomphe availability calendar

Choose a day in the calendar on this page, then click “Check availability”. Our booking partner tells us in real time whether rooftop tickets are still available for that date; if not, enter your email address and we will let you know as soon as a place opens up at the Arc de Triomphe.