284 steps. 360° views across the Champs-Élysées and the whole of Paris. Covered by the Museum Pass — and open until 11pm in summer.
Individual ticket
€16
With Museum Pass
Included
Timed slot
Not required
Open
Daily
Hours
10am–11pm (Apr–Sep) · 10am–10:30pm (Oct–Mar)
Last updated: February 2026 · Prices and details verified
Quick Answer
Yes — the Paris Museum Pass covers full entry to the Arc de Triomphe rooftop terrace, saving you €16 per person. Tickets are dated but not timed — show up on your chosen day during opening hours. The monument is open until 11pm in summer, making it one of the best evening pass visits in Paris.
Is Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile Included in the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes — Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is covered by the Paris Museum Pass. Entry costs €16 per person without the pass; with the pass it’s included at no extra cost. The pass covers the rooftop terrace, the museum level inside the arch, and access to the base. The base and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are freely accessible to everyone without a ticket.
No reservation required. No timed reservation is required — tickets are dated but not timed. Simply show your pass at the entrance on your chosen day. Note: use the underground Passage du Souvenir pedestrian tunnel — do NOT cross the roundabout.
Note: The Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is rekindled every evening at 6:30pm — free to watch from outside. Partial closures on mornings of 8 May, 14 July, and 11 November for national ceremonies. Fully closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December.
What to See — Collection Highlights
The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after the Battle of Austerlitz and completed in 1836. It sits at the centre of 12 radiating avenues — Haussmann’s grand vision of Paris made visible from a single point.
Highlight 1
The rooftop terrace — 12 avenues radiating below, with the Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, Louvre, and La Défense all visible simultaneously
Highlight 2
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — the Eternal Flame rekindled every evening at 6:30pm since 1923, without interruption
Highlight 3
The sculptural reliefs — François Rude’s La Marseillaise on the east pillar, considered one of the greatest Romantic sculptures in France
Suggested Itinerary — 1 Hour
The Arc de Triomphe is a focused, efficient visit. The rooftop is the destination; build your timing around the light you want.
Arrive
Underground passage and base — Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Enter via the Passage du Souvenir underground tunnel (signed from Champs-Élysées). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the continuously burning Eternal Flame are free to see at the base.
+ 10 min
Museum level — history of the arch
Small but well-curated museum covering the arch’s construction history, the sculptural reliefs, and the 558 battle names and 600 generals’ names carved into the stone. Allow 15–20 minutes.
+ 30 min
Rooftop terrace — 360° panorama
Paris spread in all directions with all 12 avenues visible below. On a clear day: Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, the Louvre, La Défense simultaneously. Allow 20–30 minutes. At sunset, one of the best views in the city.
Practical Tips
Tip 1
Visit at sunset — aim to arrive 1 hour before local sunset time. In summer this means 9–10pm; in winter 4–5pm. The city lighting up around you from the rooftop is exceptional.
Tip 2
The 6:30pm Eternal Flame rekindling is worth timing your visit around — a brief but genuinely moving ceremony conducted by veterans’ associations every evening.
Tip 3
Never cross the roundabout. Use the signed underground pedestrian Passage du Souvenir from the Champs-Élysées or Avenue de la Grande Armée. The roundabout is both illegal to cross and genuinely dangerous.
Getting There
Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile — Fast Facts
Address
Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris
Nearest Metro
Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (Metro 1, 2, 6 / RER A) (Metro 1, 2, 6 · RER A)
RER
RER A — Charles de Gaulle–Étoile
Bus lines
22, 30, 31, 52, 73, 92
Opening hours
Daily April–September: 10am–11pm · October–March: 10am–10:30pm · Last admission 45 minutes before closing · Closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December
Closed
1 January, 1 May, 25 December · Partial closure mornings of 8 May, 14 July, 11 November
Yes — the Paris Museum Pass covers full access to the Arc de Triomphe including the rooftop terrace, the museum level, and the base. You save €16 per person. The base (including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) is freely accessible to everyone without any ticket.
No advance booking is required with the Museum Pass — tickets are dated but not timed. Simply present your pass at the entrance on your chosen day during opening hours. In peak season there can be a queue but it moves considerably faster than venues with mandatory timed entry.
Sunset is the classic answer — the views with the Champs-Élysées lit up and the city glowing are exceptional. In summer, sunset is after 9pm. In winter, sunset around 5pm means golden hour and dinner at a reasonable time. The 6:30pm Eternal Flame rekindling is worth timing your visit around.
Use the underground Passage du Souvenir pedestrian tunnel — signed from the Champs-Élysées and from Avenue de la Grande Armée. Do not attempt to cross the roundabout: it is both illegal and genuinely hazardous.
A lift is available but reserved for visitors who need it — it does not replace the 284-step climb for able-bodied visitors. No advance booking is needed for the lift. Strollers are not permitted inside but can be left with access control officers.
Yes — the Eternal Flame rekindling takes place every evening at 6:30pm at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and is visible from outside the monument without a ticket. The ceremony is conducted by veterans’ associations and the public is welcome to watch.
Combine Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile With These Museums
The Arc de Triomphe sits at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The Trocadéro museum cluster is 22 minutes walk west.
