Visit Arc de Triomphe in Paris: Tickets, Tours, Prices and Opening Hours

One of the best things to see and do in Paris is undoubtedly the Arc de Triomphe, which is located in the Place Charles de Gaulle or Place de l'Etoile. As well as seeing it from the outside, you can go up to its observation deck to see the Paris skyline and the Avenue des Champs Elysées, and learn more about its history, architecture and construction in the exhibition on its terrace.

At almost 50 metres high, the Arc de Triomphe, which was inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome, is one of the most representative monuments in Paris and a must-see during your visit to the city. Here you will find information about the most convenient tickets and the details you should take into account to make the most of your visit to the monument.

The best option

Paris Arc de Triomphe Tickets

Queue-free entry to the Arc de Triomphe

You can see the famous monument and go up to its terrace without queuing or wasting time at the ticket office.

From £17 at Hellotickets

This skip-the-line ticket to the Arc de Triomphe is the most convenient option as the cost is similar to the general admission ticket and allows you to visit the monument without waiting too long at the ticket office.

Recommended if... you want to visit the Arc de Triomphe in the most convenient way and without wasting time queuing.

General admission to the Arc de Triomphe costs around 12 euros per person per day, and children under 18 are free. This benefit is extended a little further for EU citizens, as children under 26 years of age do not pay admission. Foreign residents in France in this age group do not pay admission either.

In addition, people with disabilities accompanied by a carer can enter free of charge, on the sole condition that they present their identity documents. In addition, only people with reduced mobility and pregnant women and/or women with small children can take the lift to the terrace of the Arc de Triomphe, instead of going up the stairs.

Admission to the Arc de Triomphe includes access to the terrace, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the Champs Elysées, its main avenue. It is only accessible by stairs, so be prepared to climb the 284 steps to the top of the Parisian monument. There you will also be able to see an exhibition where you will learn all the details of the construction of the Arc de Triomphe.

On the other hand, there are usually different events and performances at the monument, especially for the little ones, so I recommend you to check the schedule of shows if you are going to Paris with children. These performances are also free for children, and can cost around €8 approximately.

When to get free admission to the Arc de Triomphe

Entry to the Arc de Triomphe is free on the first Sunday of the month most of the year, except from May to October in Paris. It is also free during the European Heritage Days which take place on the third weekend of September. Therefore, you can enter the monument for free on the following dates:

• The first Sundays of the month from 1 November to 31 March.
• The third weekend in September, when the European Heritage Days take place.

To visit the Arc de Triomphe for a day in Paris, you can buy a general admission ticket, which is sold at the monument's ticket office and on its official website, but it is not a skip-the-line ticket. Therefore, if you are interested in buying the skip-the-line ticket, you should buy it at tourist agencies, whose price does not vary much in relation to the price of the general ticket, so it is very convenient.

On the other hand, children under 18 years of age do not pay admission. If you are also from the EU, children under 25 years of age enter free of charge. This benefit is extended to foreigners who have applied for residency in the country. Disabled persons accompanied by a carer also get in free.

If you buy your ticket at the ticket office, you will have to queue to buy it and then queue to enter the monument (and go through security checks), so it is best to buy your ticket in advance via the web or a tourist agency. Many agencies offer guided tours of Paris in addition to admission, which you can take advantage of to get an in-depth look at the city, its history and culture, and its most important monuments and attractions.

Yes, tickets to the Arc de Triomphe are included in the city's tourist passes, such as the Paris Pass, which also includes entry to the Eiffel Tower and other iconic monuments such as the Montparnasse Tower and the archaeological crypt of Notre Dame. It also usually includes a cruise on the Seine River, a sightseeing tour on the Big Bus, breakfast, cheese tasting and wine tasting.

If you are in Paris for several days and plan to visit its most representative buildings, you should definitely buy the Paris Pass. Not only will you save money on entrance fees, but you will also save time at the ticket office because they are skip-the-line tickets.

You can buy this tourist card for a minimum of 2 days in Paris and up to 6 days, so ideally you should make a list of the monuments you don't want to miss and decide which is the most convenient plan for you.

Yes, general admission tickets include the guided tour of the Arc de Triomphe at no extra cost at the following times:

• Weekdays at 10.15 am.
• Weekends at 10.15am, 11.15am and 3.15pm.

If you book your ticket at any of these times, you can take a guided tour of the monument at no extra cost, but remember to book in advance. Outside these times you can listen to the audio guide provided free with your ticket.

Another option is to book a guided tour with a tour company. These agencies offer more varied options, as in addition to the queue-free guided tour of the Arc de Triomphe, they also offer private guided tours with which you can get to know the history, architecture and significance of this monument in depth.

One way to buy your discounted ticket to the Arc de Triomphe is by purchasing a city sightseeing card, such as the Paris Pass. With this tourist card you will get significant discounts on your entry, and many extra benefits such as a sightseeing bus tour, breakfast, wine tasting and sampling.

Tourist cards include discounted entry to the city's main attractions and monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower, and often include a boat trip on the Seine. It may also include entry to the main museums in Paris.

Also remember that the monument is free for people under the age of 18. In the case of people living in the European Union, people up to the age of 25 get in free. Disabled persons and their carers can also enter free of charge.

Yes, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris offers special tickets for children. Children under 18 years of age do not pay admission. The age range for free entry is wider for those living in the European Union, as people up to 25 years of age are admitted free of charge.

Children's tickets are also available for those who wish to attend special events that take place at the monument, such as dramatised tours, workshops and various family activities.

If you're visiting Paris with children, it's best to check the monument's official calendar and book in advance to make sure you don't miss out.

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the best viewpoints in Paris and one of the most visited monuments in the city, so buying tickets online has several advantages. On the one hand, you won't waste time at the monument's ticket office and you'll only have to queue to get in.

That is, if you buy your ticket at the ticket office you will have to queue twice, once to buy your ticket and once to enter the Arc de Triomphe, which includes security checks. Bear in mind that there is a limit to the amount of luggage you can enter with (40 x 40 x 20 cm) and that you do not have the option of storing your luggage in the monument.

That is why it is best to buy your ticket online, although only tourist agencies offer skip-the-line tickets. In addition, agencies offer promotional packages with your ticket that add other experiences such as tours of the city or cruises on the Seine River, which can enrich your visit to the Parisian capital.

The Arc de Triomphe is open every day from 10am to 11pm, but the latest opening time is 10.15pm, 45 minutes before closing time. Please note that on some public holidays it may be closed, such as 1 January in Paris, 1 May and 25 December.

It may also be closed for other reasons, but these are usually announced on the monument's official website. This may be due to adverse weather conditions or maintenance work, but these are exceptions and are usually announced in advance.

You need between 40 minutes and 1 hour to visit the Arc de Triomphe and see the views of Paris and the Champs Elysées, one of the most beautiful avenues in Paris. If you also visit the exhibition on its terrace, it may take a little longer, depending on your interest and your own pace.

Also, if you buy your ticket at the ticket office, there may be some delays, especially in times of high tourist traffic. If you buy your ticket at the ticket office, you will have to queue twice: once to buy your ticket and once to enter the monument. Therefore, to make the best use of your time, it is advisable to buy a ticket without queues or a ticket with guided tours by an expert.

On the other hand, bear in mind that you have to climb the stairs to the terrace (there are some 248 steps), which may take you more or less time depending on your pace of ascent. The monument has a lift, but only people with reduced mobility, pregnant women and people with small children can use it.

The best time to visit the Arc de Triomphe is at sunset, when the sunlight reflects off the walls of the monument and its terrace offers one of the most beautiful views of the city. Another ideal time is at dusk, when the flame of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is located between the two columns of the monument, is lit.

In addition, there are times of the year that are ideal to visit the Arc de Triomphe, such as during the Christmas season in Paris, when you can appreciate the decorations and the special lighting of the city at night. It is also interesting to visit during important events for the city such as the 14th of July in Paris, when you can see a military parade carrying a giant flag.

On the other hand, in Paris in winter, and also in autumn, there are fewer tourists in the city, so these are the best times of the year to visit the Arc de Triomphe at your own pace and at your own pace.

The Arc de Triomphe is located in a commercial area of Paris and is easily accessible from anywhere in the city, so it's not difficult to get to the Arc de Triomphe. The monument is located in the Place Charles de Gaulle or Place de l'Etoile, on a roundabout where 12 streets converge, including the Champs Elysées.

As it is on a roundabout, the heavy traffic makes it difficult to reach the monument, so it is best to use the pedestrian subway, which is safer. The pedestrian underpass has two entrances, one on the Champs Elysées and the other on the Avenue de la Grande Armee. There are metro and bus stations in the vicinity of the monument.

On the other hand, if you go by car, bear in mind that finding free parking in the vicinity is quite difficult, so it is best to look for a private car park. Another practical way to get there is to use the tourist buses, which take you to the main attractions of the city in a very convenient way.

In addition to climbing up to the terrace for the unmissable views, there are several things you can do during your visit to the Arc de Triomphe to further enrich your experience of the Parisian monument:

• Terrace: without a doubt the view from the top is what visitors to the monument love the most, as from there you can see the Eiffel Tower and the Avenue des Champs Elysées, considered one of the most beautiful avenues in Paris.
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: located at the base of the monument, between the two columns. It was erected in 1921 to pay homage to the soldiers who died in the First World War (whose identity is unknown) with a flame that is never extinguished. The flame is renewed every day at sunset.
• The engravings: the names of 128 battles fought during the Revolution and under the Empire are engraved on the pillars under the vault, as well as the names of some of the main generals of the armies.
• Sculpted groups: located on the jambs, they evoke major events in the history of France. The most famous is Le Départ des Volontaires, which commemorates an uprising for the Republic in 1792.
• Exhibition: if you are interested in learning more about the history of the monument and how it was built, you can visit the small exhibition on the terrace of the monument. It is also a good idea to take a guided tour to learn all the details about this emblematic monument of Paris.