Arc de Triomphe Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Arc de Triomphe. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Paris Top Sights Half-Day Walking Tour With a Fun Guide

• Golf Cart in Paris - Private Guided City Tour - Pickup Included

• Paris Private Flexible Duration Guided Tour on a Vintage Sidecar

• Paris: Your Perfect Private Customized Day Tour–Half or Full Day

• Tours of Paris and the Hauts-de-Seine in an Amphibious Bus

It’s free to admire the Arc de Triomphe from outside, but you need a ticket to ascend to its terraces. Prices vary by season: Under-18s and EU citizens under 26 go free throughout the year. In winter (October–March), tickets cost €16; in summer (April–September), they cost €22, except on Wednesdays, when they're €16.

Yes, the Arc de Triomphe is absolutely worth visiting. It's as distinctive a symbol of Paris as the Eiffel Tower, and the views from the top are spectacular. Visiting on a tour that covers other Paris highlights can maximize your vacation days, minimize time spent on the metro, and enrich your understanding of the city.

Per one customer who booked the Paris Top Sights Half-Day Walking Tour With a Fun Guide, "If you are a Paris first-timer and have the time this is the perfect tour! Me and my husband were looking for a tour that would cover a lot of ground and lay the groundwork for the rest of our trip. This ended up being just what we were looking for! Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and informative on so many subjects related to the city. We moved at a comfortable pace and saw so many of the iconic Paris sites in a few hours. We went back the next day to a few places that we wanted to explore a bit further. We highly recommend this tour! What a magical city."

The best time to visit the Arc de Triomphe is around 6pm, when the Eternal Flame is rekindled. After dark is also atmospheric, as you can admire the city’s illuminations. The NYE fireworks and Bastille Day parade are equally spectacular, but avoid the crowds by opting for a weekday morning visit instead.

The Arc de Triomphe is among Paris’ most famous landmarks. You shouldn’t miss the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame, or the views from the observation deck, from which you can spot top Paris attractions such as the Champs Elysées, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre.

You don’t need a reservation for the Arc de Triomphe, but booking in advance is recommended. While you can buy tickets on arrival, you might wait up to an hour at busy times and entry isn’t always guaranteed. Booking a timed admission ticket or guided tour lets you skip the lines and guarantees entry.

Plan to spend an hour at the Arc de Triomphe, as this will give you time to admire its unique architecture, see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame, and take in the views from the observation deck. Book your tickets in advance to skip the lines and save time.

Queues at the Arc de Triomphe can take up to 1.5 hours at busy times, which are summers, holiday weekends, and evenings during the Christmas illuminations. To skip the long lines, buy your tickets online and get a timed entry slot, or plan your visit for the first or last entry when there are fewer crowds.

Visiting the Arc de Triomphe at night affords even more spectacular views, and the observation deck stays open until 11pm from April through September and until 10:30pm from October through March. However, the last entry is 45 minutes before closing, so you should arrive before 10:15pm or 9:45pm, depending on the season.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Arc de Triomphe. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Paris:

• Eiffel Tower

• Louvre Museum

• Notre-Dame Cathedral

• River Seine

• Musée d'Orsay

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Paris.