The Arc de Triomphe is one of France’s most iconic monuments and is one of our favorite places to visit in Paris. With its ornate sculptures and decorative stonework the Arc de Triomphe itself is beautiful, and the views from the rooftop are among the best in Paris.
It’s no surprise that the Arc de Triomphe is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris. Due to its popularity, the queue for tickets and entry to the monument can be long, especially at peak times so reserving tickets in advance is a great option. We’ve put together this guide on how to buy Arc de Triomphe tickets which will save you a lot of time queuing and hopefully make your visit a lot more fun. We’ve included all our tips for visiting the Arc de Triomphe, including the best times to visit and things to do nearby.
How To Buy Arc de Triomphe Tickets
While it is possible to purchase tickets on arrival at the Arc de Triomphe we highly recommend booking your tickets in advance of your visit. Tickets on arrival require an additional queue at the ticket desk which is typically long and time-consuming.
There are a number of options for purchasing tickets for the Arc de Triomphe:
1 | Buy Skip the Line Tickets Online in advance
This is our preferred and recommended way to buy tickets for the Arc de Triomphe. We always buy skip-the-line tickets as it saves a lot of time when visiting the various attractions in Paris and especially popular sights like the Arc de Triomphe.
When visiting the Arc De Triomphe there are two queues: the first is for buying tickets on arrival at the ticket office and the second line is the security queue for accessing the stairs to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. These queues can exceed one hour at peak times. If you purchase skip-the-line tickets in advance you will avoid the ticket line queue – check prices now!
How to Buy Arc de Triomphe tickets tip: a big advantage of booking skip the line tickets is that they are cancellable up to 24 hours in advance in case your plans change.
Book your skip the line Arc de Triomphe tickets now
2 | Buy tickets on arrival at the ticket office
If you buy tickets on the day then you will need to visit the ticket office under the monument. The Arc de Triomphe ticket office is located in the underpass that leads to the Arc de Triomphe (accessible from the Champs Élysées and Avenue de la Grande Armée).
While it is possible to get a ticket on arrival at the Arc de Triomphe ticket office, we don’t recommend it. The queue at the ticket office can be very long at all times during the day – on our last visit to the Arc de Triomphe at the end of 2022, there was even a lengthy queue at the ticket office first thing in the morning.
3 | Arc de Triomphe + River Cruise
A river cruise along the Seine is extremely popular with visitors to Paris. Some ticket options offer a combination of Arc de Triomphe entry and a 1 hour Seine River Cruise with an optional extra to add an audioguide for the Louvre – click here for prices
Book your Arc de Triomphe and Cruise ticket now
4 | Paris Museum Pass
If you’re planning to visit some of the most popular museums and monuments then the Paris Museum Pass is a fantastic option and it includes entry to the Arc de Triomphe.
The Paris Museum Pass is sold as 2, 4 or 6-day passes and includes entry to over 60 monuments and museums around Paris. including the Arc de Triomphe, Palace of Versailles, the Louvre, the Pompidou Centre, Sainte-Chapelle, the Musee d’Orsay and many more. If you are planning to visit a number of these attractions in Paris the cost savings can be significant.
We purchased a 4-day Paris Museum Pass on a recent visit to the city and really found it worth it as we used it at so many places across the city – click here for prices!
Buy your Paris Museum Pass now
Visiting the Arc de Triomphe
Everything you need to know about visiting the Arc de Triomphe
Is the Arc de Triomphe Worth it?
In a word yes! The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most iconic monuments in France and one of the most beautiful in Paris. The views from the observation deck on the roof are some of the best in Paris. If you are looking for one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower then make sure you visit the rooftop of the Arc de Triomphe.
What are the Arc de Triomphe opening times?
The Arc de Triomphe is open each day from 10 am to 10:30/11 pm depending on the time of year. There are some closures for ceremonies but these will be evident when you search for tickets. The last access is 45 minutes before closing.
Do you need to book Arc de Triomphe tickets in advance?
You can still visit the Arc de Triomphe without reserving tickets in advance.
We highly recommend booking your tickets in advance as you will skip the ticket line. This can save you around 1 hour of queuing to get tickets on a typical day, and possibly even more on busy days.
How much are Arc de Triomphe tickets?
Tickets for the Arc de Triomphe cost €13 at the on-site ticket office. You may pay a little more to reserve in advance.
Entrance to the Arc de Triomphe is free in some circumstances: it is free for under 18s, and 18 to 25-year-olds who are nationals of the EU or the French Territories.
Entry is also free on the first Sunday of each month from November through March.
Do Arc de Triomphe Tickets Sell Out?
It’s usually possible to purchase same-day tickets at the Arc de Triomphe.
How long to spend at the Arc de Triomphe?
You can expect to spend at least one hour at the Arc de Triomphe once you have passed through security. The views from the top are epic and you’ll likely spend a lot of time trying to spot the various buildings around the city!
The queue for tickets and security are in addition to this so we recommend allowing at least 2 hours with reserved tickets and 3 hours if you are purchasing tickets at the ticket office on the day.
How to get to the Arc de Triomphe?
Access to the Arc de Triomphe is via an underground passageway that goes under The Étoile, the notorious roundabout that circles the Arc de Triomphe.
How to buy Arc de Triomphe tickets tip: It’s not advised to try and walk across the The Étoile, the roundabout to the Arc de Triomphe. This roundabout is notorious due to the volume of cars and junctions on it and the fact that there are no road markings on it
The Arc de Triomphe is accessible by the Metro: take RER 1, 2 or 6 to Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile station.
Pedestrian access is underground via Champs Élysées or Grande armée.
Do I have to climb stairs to the top of the Arc de Triomphe?
Most people access the rooftop of the Arc de Triomphe via the 284 stairs leading to the attic room. There is then another small set of stairs leading to the terrace.
If you are unable to climb the stairs then it is possible to take the elevator to the top.
What is the best time to visit the Arc de Triomphe?
Based on our experience there are two best times to visit the Arc de Triomphe – our favorites are first thing in the morning and just before sunset.
The early morning views across Paris are stunning and the monument tends to be less crowded first thing in the morning. If you arrive just before sunset you have the chance of catching a wonderful sunset and, if you hang out for a while, you can watch the city light up as darkness falls.
