Arc de Triomphe Tickets
Arc de Triomphe, an iconic monument in the heart of Paris, is one of Paris’s most significant and recognizable landmarks.
One of the largest triumphal arches in the world celebrating the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte and French soldiers took nearly 30 years to build.
Known for the tomb of the unknown soldier from the first world war, it is an iconic symbol of French national identity visited by millions of people each year.
The Arc, inaugurated in 1836, rests at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, boasting an overall height of 50 m (164 ft) and a width of 45 m (148 ft).
Why buy Arc de Triomphe tickets online?
Where do you buy Arc de Triomphe tickets? You can purchase them online or at the ticket office on-site.
If you hope to make the most of your stay in Paris, purchasing Arc de Triomphe tickets online is a wise and practical decision.
To have the best experience, selecting the best Arc de Triomphe tickets for you and your group is essential.
You can buy Arc de Triomphe tickets online to skip the lines at the ticket counter and get more information about the kinds of tickets available.
This will save you valuable time and make the overall experience more enjoyable.
You can also select a specific time slot for your visit and plan your day better.
Online tickets include discounts or combo packages, making them an affordable way to visit multiple Paris sights efficiently.
Buying tickets online in advance will help ease your mind and spare you the stress of last-minute arrangements or, even worse, the possibility of tickets being sold out for the date and time of your planned visit.
Purchasing Arc de Triomphe tickets online is also convenient.
After selecting the ideal ticket or tour for yourself or your group, you must choose the date and book your tickets.
When you buy Arc de Triomphe tickets online, you get an email confirming the purchase and digital tickets.
You have to show the e-tickets at the monument’s entrance and get quick access to the top of Arc de Triomphe.
Carrying a hard copy of the Arc de Triomphe tickets is not mandatory.
Types of Arc de Triomphe tickets
Do you need tickets for Arc de Triomphe?
Everyone needs a ticket to get to the top of Arc de Triomphe, but if you only want to see the monument from beneath, there is no need to purchase a ticket.
You will find various Arc de Triomphe tickets online, from the general entry ticket, city pass, and guided tours to combination tickets.
The most widely purchased tickets are the Arc de Triomphe rooftop tickets that offer access to the top of the monument after climbing the nearly 300 stairs.
The general Arc de Triomphe ticket price is €13 (US$ 14) per adult.
Individuals below the age of 18 years can get an Arc de Triomphe free ticket online or at the monument ticket office.
For a more educational experience, you can buy the Arc de Triomphe rooftop tickets with audio guide and learn all about the monument’s history.
This personal smartphone audio guide in five languages costs €5 more than the general entry, €18 ($ US 19) per ticket.
You can also take pictures by a professional photographer in front of the Arc de Triomphe. This Arc de Triomphe private tour for groups of up to 10 people costs €35.
If you only want to see the city and its sights illuminated at night, you can book a front-row seat on the nighttime Paris bus tour, including landmarks like Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and more.
Other well-liked Arc de Triomphe tickets are the combo tickets that include more than one attraction.
Arc de Triomphe with Seine River cruise is a popular combo package for € 31 (US$ 33) per adult.
The package includes Arc de Triomphe skip-the-line tickets and a river cruise on the Seine River, which you can use anytime during the selected day.
To optimize your day in Paris further and purchase Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe tickets together, choose the combo package that provides:
- An Eiffel Tower tour.
- Arc de Triomphe entrance tickets.
- An hour cruise on the Seine River.
You can also visit Arc de Triomphe and Louvre Museum on the same day with an optional digital audio guide.
If you plan to visit Paris for over a day, the best way to save money is to purchase a 2, 4, or 6-day Paris Museum pass starting at € 65 (US$ 70).
The city pass includes free admission for the selected duration to several attractions, including museums, monuments, and other landmarks, in and around Paris.
A Tootbus hop-on hop-off tour for one, two, or three days is another popular way to explore the city and its attractions, including Arc de Triomphe.
Arc de Triomphe ticket discounts
Entry to Arc de Triomphe is free for certain individuals, including
- Children below 18 years of age (in family and excluding school groups)
- EU residents between the ages of 18 and 25 with valid IDs (also applies to long-term non-European French residents)
- People with disabilities and the person assisting them
- Unemployed persons with a certificate of fewer than 6 months
If you are a minor, you can make a reservation on the monument’s official website and get your Arc de Triomphe tickets free of charge.
Other individuals qualifying the above criteria can directly visit the monument’s ticket counter for free entry.
Please note that the Arc de Triomphe discount tickets are valid for only individuals and not for people traveling in a group.
Moreover, the monument offers free entry to everyone on the first Sunday of each month, from 1 November to 31 March.
If you are not qualified for an Arc de Triomphe free ticket, purchasing your Arc de Triomphe tickets in advance will save you time and money at the monument’s entrance and money too.
Combined tickets
For additional discounts on the Arc de Triomphe ticket price, you can purchase combo tickets, including admission to other attractions besides the monument.
You get a discount on all individual tickets by combining attractions into a single ticket.
The Arc de Triomphe entry with Seine Cruise combo tickets and the bus panoramic night city tour saves you up to 10 percent on the ticket price.
What to expect
Arc de Triomphe is situated at the western end of the Champs-Elysées and offers stunning panoramic views of the capital city and the surrounding countryside.
The Arc’s pillars display four sculptures with intricate details depicting various points in the country’s history.
Inside the monument, 284 steps lead to the top of the arc, while the museum in the attic is a few floors below the terrace.
The museum is the best place to learn about the history of the Arc de Triomphe and its significance in French culture and history.
It showcases exhibits about the design and displays large models of the arc.
Another moving feature of the Arc de Triomphe is the eternal flame rekindled every evening, honoring the memory of soldiers who fought and died for France.
Visiting Arc de Triomphe provides the best opportunity to experience the beauty and history of Paris firsthand.
Facts
Here are some fascinating facts about the Arc de Triomphe.
The Arc de Triomphe, in Paris, occupies a central position at the Étoile (Star) roundabout, where 12 main roads converge.
Millions of tourists annually visit the Arc de Triomphe, one of the most famous landmarks in Paris.
The Arc de Triomphe is 50 meters (164 feet) high, 45 meters (148 feet) wide, and 22 meters (72 feet) deep.
Visitors may go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for sweeping views of Paris. There are 284 steps to the top.
Inside the arc, an elevator takes you to the attic, where you can find a small museum.
The museum exhibits big replicas of the Arc and offers historical information about its construction and past.
To get to the terrasse, the top level from where one can see all of Paris, one must climb 40 more stairs.
Architect Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin created the arc that Napoleon Bonaparte ordered in 1806 following his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz.
Construction of the monument began in 1806 but was only completed in 1836, long after Napoleon died in 1821.
When Napoleon married his wife Marie-Louise, he had a replica of the Arc made of wood.
Until North Korea built its victorious arch in 1982, which was far larger than Paris’, the Arc de Triomphe was the biggest structure on Earth.
The arc lists the 660 generals who fought in Napoleon’s army and is decorated with relief sculptures showing significant events in French history.
The tomb of the unknown soldier lies beneath the Arc de Triomphe and contains the remains of a French soldier who died in World War I.
The monument is illuminated every night, and every evening at 6.30 pm, a flame is rekindled at the unidentified soldier’s tomb.
The monument’s Eternal Flame has been continuously lit for almost a century.
Several significant events in French history took place at the monument, including the funeral procession of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1840, the Allies’ victory march in 1919, and General Charles de Gaulle’s burial procession in 1970.
The arc was the scene of two assassination attempts— one on Charles de Gaulle (1962) and one on Jaques Chirac (2002) — both failed.
Charles Godefroy flew his fighter plane through the archway shortly after World War I as a tribute to the fallen pilots who died in the war.
This impressive act was recorded on video and is now widely available online.
Watch the seconds-long clips on youtube.
The four pillars each display sculptures representing distinct periods in French history:
- Le Départ de 1792, designed by François Rude, depicts the departure of the volunteers in 1792 during the French Revolution.
- Le Triomphe de 1810, designed by Jean-Pierre Cortot, shows the triumph of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810.
- Résistance de 1814, designed by Antoine Étex, conveys the resistance during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
- Paix de 1815, also designed by Antoine Étex, establishes the French army’s victory during World War I.
To learn more interesting Arc de Triomphe facts, take the audio-guided tour, including the entry ticket.
FAQs
Can you go to the top of Arc de Triomphe?
You can climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe using the staircase inside the monument to take in the city’s sweeping vistas.
There are 284 steps to the top and an elevator reserved for people with reduced mobility.
Is there an admission fee to visit the Arc de Triomphe?
Yes, there is an admission ticket to enter the Arc de Triomphe.
How much does it cost to visit the Arc de Triomphe?
To climb to the top of the monument, you must purchase a rooftop ticket that costs €13 for adults.
However, entry to Arc de Triomphe is free for everyone below 18 years, EU citizens under 26, and non-European permanent residents of France.
The monument also allows free entry to everyone on the first Sunday of every month, from November to March.
How much does the Arc de Triomphe child ticket cost?
Arc de Triomphe entry tickets are free for children under the age of 18 years.
Should I buy Arc de Triomphe tickets in advance?
To have the best experience, you can buy your Arc de Triomphe tickets in advance online. You can choose from several Arc de Triomphe tickets, tours, and passes.
Doing so will give you more time to explore the monument and reduce the chances of last-minute hassles and disappointments of sold tickets for your preferred time slot.
How do I get to Arc de Triomphe for free?
Arc de Triomphe tickets are free for specific people, including minors, EU citizens between 18 and 25 with valid ID, people with disabilities, and unemployed people with certificates.
You can get to Arc de Triomphe for free.
What to do at the Arc de Triomphe?
To see the stunning views of Paris and its famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and La Defense, you can ascend to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
You can study the structure, a stunning illustration of French neoclassical architecture with intricate details and a telling history.
At 6.30 pm every day, you can see the rekindling of the eternal flame, lit since 1923, in memory of the soldiers who died in World War I and II.
The monument also houses a museum on the mezzanine floor which you can access after climbing the 202nd stair.
How to get to Arc de Triomphe?
Situated at the western end of the Champs-Elysees at the center of a busy roundabout, Arc de Triomphe is easily accessible by metro, bus, or taxi.
The nearest metro station is Charles de Gaulle-Etoile, served by lines 1, 2, and 6.
Read more about various ways to reach Arc de Triomphe for more information on public transportation in Paris.
How much time to spend at Arc de Triomphe?
You would need one to two hours to enjoy the monument and its surroundings properly.
If you plan to climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, you should set aside 30 to 45 minutes for the climb and return and extra time to take in the sights at the top.
Give yourself additional time to visit the exhibitions and displays if you want to learn more about the history and significance of the Arc de Triomphe.
The Champs-Elysees and the Palais de Tokyo Museum are two of the many nearby attractions you can enjoy.
Is the Arc de Triomphe rooftop worth it?
Although climbing to the roof of the Arc de Triomphe may require some time and effort, the stunning views that await you are well worth it.
The panoramic view from the top includes the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Champs-Élysées, La Defense, Sacré Coeur, and more.
If you enjoy taking pictures, it also provides an excellent opportunity to take some fantastic shots of Paris, especially around dusk or night when the city is illuminated.
Can I see the Eiffel Tower from the Arc de Triomphe?
Yes, you can see the Eiffel Tower from the Arc de Triomphe. It is one of the many structures visible from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
Climbing to the top of the Arc de Triomphe provides an unmatched experience and stunning city views.
What is the best time to visit Arc de Triomphe?
The best time to visit Arc de Triomphe is early in the morning, as soon as the monument opens at 10 am, or in the evening after 6 pm. The view around sunset and the rekindling of eternal fame are other reasons for visiting in the evening.
For a better experience, travel in the spring or fall off-season with fewer visitors.
What is the Arc de Triomphe famous for?
Arc de Triomphe, built between 1806 and 1836, is famous for its symbolic importance to French culture and history.
Initially built to commemorate the French army’s victories under Napoleon Bonaparte, the monument today represents the military triumphs of France and its soldiers over the years.
The panoramic views, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and magnificent structural architecture are popular among tourists and locals. It is the starting point for military parades and other national celebrations.
Is there a tunnel to the Arc de Triomphe?
The roughly 400 meters long tunnel, tunnel de l’Étoile, connects the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to the Avenue de la Grande Armée by passing under the Charles de Gaulle and the Arc de Triomphe.
Since the roads surrounding the monument are usually chaotic, it is dangerous to access it from above.
Walking through this underground passage will lead you directly to the center of the Arc De Triomphe.
Featured Image: Paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr