Arc de Triomphe & the Paris Museum Pass 2026

Last updated: May 2026 · Prices and details verified

Quick Answer

Yes — the Paris Museum Pass covers full entry to the Arc de Triomphe rooftop terrace, saving you €22 per person (Apr–Sep) · €16 (Oct–Mar). 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 €22 per person (April–September) or €16 (October–March and all Wednesdays) 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.

Using the Arc de Triomphe on a Museum Pass — Strategy

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most strategically useful venues on the pass for two reasons: it’s open until 11pm in summer, and it requires no timed reservation — just show your pass on the day.

This makes it the natural closer to any pass day from April to September. Plan your morning and afternoon around indoor venues (Louvre, Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle), then arrive at the Arc de Triomphe around 8:30–9pm for a sunset rooftop view as Paris lights up below. In June, sunset is around 9:45pm — the city from the terrace at that hour is exceptional and the crowds are thinner than midday.

Wednesday is worth noting for non-pass visitors deciding whether the pass is worthwhile: the Arc de Triomphe drops to €16 on Wednesdays in high season. For pass holders it makes no difference, but it’s useful when calculating savings — on any day other than Wednesday from April to September, the pass saves you €22 here alone.

The rooftop is also one of the few pass venues where arriving early adds little — the view is the same at 10am as at 10pm, but the evening light is far superior. Save your morning energy for venues where early arrival matters (Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle) and use the Arc de Triomphe’s late hours to your advantage.

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	April–September: Mon, Wed–Sun 10am–11pm · Tuesdays 11am–11pm October–March: Mon, Wed–Sun 10am–10:30pm · Tuesdays 11am–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 for national ceremonies. Additional full closure: 23 July 2026.
Individual ticket	€22 Apr–Sep · €16 Oct–Mar and Wednesdays (2026)
With Museum Pass	Free — included
Timed slot required	Not required
Book at	paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr/en/visit/practical-information
Walking note	35 min walk from Louvre via Champs-Élysées; 22 min to Guimet/Trocadéro

Ready to Visit Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile?

€22 entry included with the Museum Pass (Apr–Sep rate). Plus 50+ more venues across Paris.

Buy the Museum Pass → Calculate your savings → Book Arc Ticket Only →

Frequently Asked Questions

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 €22 per person (Apr–Sep) or €16 (Oct–Mar). 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.

Art Museum

Musée Guimet

Europe’s largest Asian arts collection at Iéna — 22 min walk. No reservation required and rarely crowded.

Architecture Museum

Cité de l’Architecture

Plaster casts of French cathedral portals at Trocadéro — 22 min walk, pass covered.

Art Museum

Musée d’Orsay

The Impressionists — 45 min by Metro 1 then RER or scenic walk along the Seine.

See all 50+ pass venues in our complete museum list → or check the 4-day itinerary for a suggested visit order.