Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honor his armies, the Arc de Triomphe wasn’t completed until decades after his death, and it now stands at the center of Paris’s grandest traffic circle, with twelve avenues, including the Champs-Élysées, radiating outward from its base like spokes on a wheel. Carved reliefs of major military campaigns cover its facade, and beneath the arch burns France’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, its flame rekindled every evening since 1923.
Related: Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano): Rooftop Terraces, Tickets and Tips
Top-Rated Arc de Triomphe Tours & Tickets
What to See and Do
Climb to the Rooftop Viewing Platform
A narrow spiral staircase of nearly 300 steps leads to an open-air platform atop the arch, delivering one of the best panoramic views in Paris, with the Champs-Élysées stretching toward the Louvre in one direction and La Défense’s skyscrapers visible in the other. It’s a genuinely different Paris skyline than the one seen from the Eiffel Tower.
See the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Beneath the arch itself, an eternal flame marks the grave of an unidentified French soldier from the First World War, rekindled in a small ceremony every evening at 6:30pm. It’s a solemn, low-key moment worth timing your visit around if you’re nearby.
Study the Carved Reliefs
Four large sculptural groups decorate the arch’s base, the most famous being François Rude’s “La Marseillaise,” depicting volunteers departing for war with dramatic, almost operatic energy. Smaller friezes above detail specific battles and campaigns from the Napoleonic era.
Walk the Champs-Élysées from the Arch
From the base of the arch, the avenue stretches roughly two kilometers toward Place de la Concorde, past flagship stores, cafes and theaters, making it a natural starting point for an afternoon of walking rather than just a standalone stop.
Best Time to Visit
Sunset is the single best time to climb to the rooftop, timing the view so the city transitions from daylight to lit-up evening while you’re still up top. Clear days obviously make the long-distance views far more worthwhile than hazy or overcast ones.
How to Get There
The arch sits at Place Charles de Gaulle, served directly by its own metro and RER station. Critically, pedestrians should never attempt to cross the traffic circle at street level; an underground pedestrian tunnel, accessed from the surrounding sidewalks, is the only safe and legal way to reach the arch itself.
Good to Know
There is no elevator to the top, only the spiral staircase, so the climb isn’t suitable for those with mobility limitations. Tickets are timed and often sell out on busy days and around sunset slots, so booking ahead is worth it if the rooftop view is your priority.
The Arc de Triomphe rewards visitors who go beyond the photo from street level. Make the climb, and one of the most recognizable monuments in Paris turns into one of the city’s best viewpoints as well.
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