Best for
First-time visitors, photographers, anyone wanting a Champs-Élysées view
Time needed
1–1.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes — one of the best panoramic viewpoints in Paris
Skip if
You've already done a similar view from the Eiffel Tower or Montparnasse and are short on time
About Arc de Triomphe
Napoleon commissioned the Arc de Triomphe in 1806 to celebrate his military victories, particularly Austerlitz, but construction dragged on through political upheaval and his own downfall, and the arch wasn't finally completed until 1836, under King Louis-Philippe — meaning Napoleon himself never saw it finished. At 50 metres tall and 45 metres wide, it stood as the largest triumphal arch in the world for over a century.
The arch sits at the centre of Place Charles-de-Gaulle (long known as l'Étoile, 'the star,' for the twelve avenues radiating from it), and its sculpted reliefs, including François Rude's La Marseillaise, commemorate the armies of the Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. Beneath the arch, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I has burned an eternal flame, rekindled daily at 6:30pm, since 1921 — one of the more solemn, easy-to-miss details for visitors focused only on the view.
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A spiral staircase of 284 steps (with a lift for those who need it) leads to a rooftop terrace, from which the view down the Champs-Élysées toward the Louvre on one side and out toward La Défense's skyscrapers on the other gives one of the clearest senses of how deliberately Baron Haussmann's 19th-century boulevards were laid out around this exact point.
Crossing to the arch itself requires using the underground pedestrian tunnel from the Champs-Élysées side — the surrounding roundabout is one of the most chaotic traffic circles in Europe, and stepping onto the road directly is genuinely dangerous.
What to See: Highlights
- 1A panoramic terrace view down the Champs-Élysées and out to La Défense
- 2François Rude's La Marseillaise relief sculpture
- 3The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with its eternal flame rekindled daily at 6:30pm
- 4284 steps to the top (or a lift for accessibility)
- 5One of the clearest views anywhere of Haussmann's radiating boulevard design
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Insider Tips
Buy tickets online to skip the queue, especially in peak season
Always use the underground pedestrian tunnel — never attempt to cross the roundabout
Wednesdays and off-peak times offer a discounted rate
Arrive around 6:15pm to see the eternal flame rekindling ceremony
Check for FIFA World Cup 2026-related closures in late June/July before planning a visit
Book a Guided Tour
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Getting There
Place Charles-de-Gaulle, 75008 Paris
Open in Google Maps →- 1Metro 1, 2 or 6 or RER A to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile. Use the underground pedestrian passage to reach the arch — never cross the roundabout on foot.
Where to stay
Hotels in Paris
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want a classic view down the Champs-Élysées
- You're interested in Napoleonic history
- You'd like to see the eternal flame ceremony at 6:30pm
- You're already exploring the Champs-Élysées area
Skip if...
- You've already seen a comparable Paris panorama elsewhere
- You have limited time and other priorities nearby
- Climbing 284 steps (without using the lift) isn't feasible for you
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Paris
Musée Jacquemart-André
A lavish 19th-century private mansion, still furnished as its art-collector owners left it, holding an outstanding collection of Italian Renaissance and French 18th-century art.
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Frank Gehry's billowing glass-sailed building in the Bois de Boulogne, home to LVMH's contemporary and modern art foundation and major touring exhibitions.
Champs-Élysées
The 1.9-kilometre avenue linking the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde — Paris's grandest shopping street and one of the world's most famous boulevards.