The essentials before you book
The Arc de Triomphe is one of France's most visited national monuments: around 1.7 million visitors a year. Unlike the Eiffel Tower, you can often climb it on the day — but at peak times the ticket-purchase queue easily tops 30 to 45 minutes. Booking a timed ticket online remains the simplest way to skip that first queue.
| Quick summary — visiting the Arc de Triomphe | |
|---|---|
| Full price | €22 (April–September) · €16 (October–March, and every Wednesday in summer) |
| Free entry | Under 18 · EU residents aged 18-25 · first Sundays (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) |
| Opening hours | 10am–11pm (April–Sept) · 10am–10:30pm (Oct–March) · last entry 45 min before closing |
| Book ahead? | Yes, especially May to September and at sunset |
| Visit length | 1h to 1h30 (climb, terrace, museum in the attic) |
| Getting there | Metro 1, 2, 6 · RER A — Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile station, via the underpass |
Source: prices and opening hours published on the official website paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr (Centre des monuments nationaux). Verified July 2026.
Good to know — it's free for a lot of visitors: rooftop access is free for under-18s, for 18-25-year-olds resident in the European Union, for visitors with disabilities (plus one companion) and for everyone on the first Sundays of January, February, March, November and December. The forecourt itself is open to all year-round: only the terrace requires a ticket.
Plan your visit: our guides by topic
- 🎫2026 prices & tickets
Official prices, timed tickets, combos and what the €16 winter rate changes.
See the prices → - 🕙Opening hours
Season-by-season hours, public holidays, last entry and the best times to go.
See the hours → - ⚡Skip-the-line ticket
What a timed ticket really lets you skip — and what no ticket ever skips.
Beat the queue → - 🌇Rooftop & panorama
Going to the top: the 284 steps, the 50 m terrace, golden hour.
Climb up → - 🆓Free entry
First Sundays, EU under-26s, Heritage Days: every condition explained.
Who gets in free? → - 🎓Tickets under 26 & students
Free entry for EU 18-25s, which documents work and the traps to avoid.
Youth guide →
Why climb the Arc de Triomphe?
Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after Austerlitz and completed in 1836 under Louis-Philippe, Jean-François Chalgrin's arch stands 50 metres tall. It is the only viewpoint in Paris that shows the city as a star: Haussmann's twelve avenues radiate directly beneath your feet, with the Champs-Élysées on one side and La Défense on the other.
Three levels are open to visitors: the exhibition hall in the attic, the panoramic terrace and, at the foot of the monument, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, whose flame has been rekindled every evening at 6:30pm since 1923. Under the vault, the names of 660 generals of the Revolution and the Empire; on the Champs-Élysées pillar, François Rude's Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, better known as "La Marseillaise".
Which ticket should you choose?
| Option | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Timed ticket online | Most visitors | Reserved time slot, mobile ticket, you skip the purchase queue. This is the option sold by our partner Headout. |
| Ticket + audio guide | First visit, history lovers | The monument is self-guided; the audio guide brings the reliefs, the engraved names and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to life. |
| Combos (Seine cruise, Eiffel Tower, Panthéon…) | Short stays | 10 to 20% cheaper than buying the tickets separately. See the tiles above. |
| Ticket desk on site | Low season, weekday visits | Possible, but you queue twice: once to buy, once for security. Avoid it from May to September. |
Full breakdown of prices, discounts and cancellation terms in our guide to Arc de Triomphe tickets & prices.
Three tips that transform the visit
- Use the underpass. Never try to cross the roundabout on foot: take the pedestrian underpass on the Champs-Élysées side (exit 1 of Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile station) or on the Avenue de la Grande-Armée side.
- Aim for golden hour. Go up 45 minutes before sunset: golden light on the Eiffel Tower first, then the Champs-Élysées switching on below you. In summer the monument stays open until 11pm.
- Respect the 284 steps. The lift is reserved for visitors with reduced mobility (and flagged as under maintenance on the official site). Allow 10 minutes up the spiral staircase.
How to get to Place de l'Étoile
The Arc de Triomphe stands on Place Charles-de-Gaulle (75008), at the top of the Champs-Élysées. Station: Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile — metro lines 1, 2 and 6, RER A. Buses 22, 30, 31, 52, 73, 92 and the Balabus. From the Eiffel Tower, line 6 reaches the Étoile in about ten minutes; from the Louvre, line 1 is direct. There is no dedicated car park: leave the car in the Champs-Élysées or Avenue Foch garages.
Day-by-day opening details are on our Arc de Triomphe opening hours page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Arc de Triomphe tickets in advance?
It is not compulsory, but strongly recommended from May to September, at weekends and at sunset. A timed online ticket spares you the purchase queue, which often exceeds 30 minutes in high season.
How much does the Arc de Triomphe cost in 2026?
€22 from April to September, €16 from October to March and on every Wednesday of the high season, according to the official website. Entry is free for under-18s and EU residents aged 18-25.
Is the Arc de Triomphe really free for some visitors?
Yes. Under-18s, 18-25-year-olds resident in the European Union, visitors with disabilities plus one companion, registered jobseekers with proof — and everyone on the first Sundays of January, February, March, November and December.
Is there a lift to the top?
The lift is reserved for visitors with reduced mobility and may be out of service (it is flagged as under maintenance on the official site). Everyone else takes the 284-step staircase.
How long does the visit take?
Allow 1h to 1h30: the climb, the exhibition in the attic, the panoramic terrace and the way back down. Add 15 minutes at sunset, when everyone is waiting for the same photo.
Does the Arc de Triomphe ticket include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
The tomb sits at the foot of the monument, on the forecourt that is free to reach via the underpass. A ticket is only needed to go up to the terrace. The flame is rekindled every evening at 6:30pm.
What is the best time to go up?
At opening (10am) to beat the crowds, or 45 minutes before sunset for the light. Summer evenings after 9pm are surprisingly quiet, and the monument closes at 11pm.
Ready to stand on the roof of Paris?
Mobile ticket, instant confirmation and flexible cancellation with our booking partner.
Book my ticket