Arc de Triomphe
The great triumphal arch at the top of the Champs-Elysees - a monument to French military glory, with a rooftop view down twelve radiating avenues.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
The Arc de Triomphe stands at the top of the Champs-Elysees, a monumental triumphal arch commissioned by Napoleon to honour the armies of France, carved with great reliefs and sheltering the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its eternal flame. Its rooftop terrace gives a superb view down the twelve grand avenues that radiate from it like a star.
What you actually see
- The arch and reliefs - the monumental arch and its sculpted battle scenes.
- The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - the memorial and eternal flame beneath.
- The rooftop view - the panorama down the twelve radiating avenues.
- The Champs-Elysees - the grand avenue leading down toward the Louvre.
When to go
Year-round; a clear day or dusk for the rooftop view down the avenues, with the Eiffel Tower sparkling in the distance after dark. The flame is rekindled each evening in a ceremony.
Honest expectations
Reaching it means an underpass, not crossing the chaotic traffic circle, and the rooftop is a climb of many stairs. The rooftop charges and can queue. The view down the avenues is the highlight.
Nearby
The Champs-Elysees leads to the Tuileries and Louvre; the Eiffel Tower is a short ride.
What to pack for Arc de Triomphe
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
