The Best View in Paris: The Arc De Triomphe

Ah, the City of Lights.  There are so many great places to visit in Paris that you can visit there multiple times and still not see everything.    Climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower for breathtaking views of this magical city is undoubtedly one of life’s greatest thrills, a must do for anyone visiting Paris, and it as definitely on my list of “must-do’s” with the family when we visited this summer. Not at the top of the list…climbing the Arc de Triomphe.  On a whim one afternoon we decided to climb the 284 steps to the top, and I am SO glad we did!

One thing about climbing to the top of iconic tourist view spots to check out the city views, is that often you are missing one of the best parts of the skyline by being on top of it. 😉 Had we only climbed the Eiffel Tower, we would have missed amazing views of the 12 avenues departing from the Place de l’Étoile, and most panoramic views of the city with every important monument in sight…the Eiffel Tower, La Defense, Sacre Coeur you name it, you can see it.

The Arc de Triomphe is a monument dedicated to all of France’s great victories and armies.  It has served as an important part of French history as a gateway for returning victors and a stage for important French events, it is also the home of France’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since 1921. To reach the Arc, don’t stress about crossing the crazy round-a-bout that surrounds it, on foot.  One of my good friends tells a great story about her and her husband not realizing that there was a tunnel that ran underground over to the monument, and risked their lives darting in and out of crazy traffic to cross the wide and wild street.  If you decide to climb the tower and check out the views, here’s what you need to know:

There is an underground tunnel on the Avenue de la Grande Armee side of the circle. You can access this tunnel from the Wagram exit of the Metro.

Arc de Triomphe Hours
From April 1 to September 30: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
From October 1 to March 31: 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
The cash desk close 1/2 hour before
Closed on January 1, May 1,May 8 (morning) July 14 (morning), November 11 (morning) and December 25

Cost
Adults : 8 €
Students (18 à 25 ans) : 5 €
Groups (à partir de 20 adultes) : 6,20 €
Kids and teenagers, age 17 and younger get free admission.

A Paris Museum Pass also gets you to the top for free and is a great investment for your time in Paris if you plan on visiting many of it’s museums and monuments.  On producing your pass at the checkpoints, you will not only gain free entry, but you will also avoid the queues at the cash desk.  SUCH a great advantage to making the most of your time in the city!

I hope you enjoy your trip to one of my favorite cities!

If you’re heading to other places in Europe, here are some more posts you don’t want to miss!  You can check out our entire Europe Travel Gallery to see all of our posts and helpful info.

Tea at the Orangery | Riding Trains in Europe | Dublin Travel Guide | Paris Museum Pass | Best Family Hotel in Rome

Visiting Bruges | Staying Connected in Europe | Best View in Paris | Amsterdam Canal House | Borough Market

and one of my most popular travel posts:

72 Hours in New York City at Christmas Time with Kids

Happy Travels!

Tammy