Arc de Triomphe: Tickets, the Climb and How to Reach It Safely

Sights

Close-up of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris framed by lush green foliage under a clear blue sky.

In brief

As of September 2026, the elevator is out of service, so the only way up is the 284-step staircase. A ticket costs €22 in season (€16 Wednesdays) and €16 October through March. Entry to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the base is free; only the terrace climb needs a ticket.

  • Elevator: out of service as of September 2026, “until further notice”; terrace reached by stairs only1.
  • Steps to the terrace: 2841.
  • Ticket: €22 (April–September, €16 Wednesdays), €16 (October–March)1.
  • Hours: 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Wed–Mon and 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Tue (April–Sept); 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Wed–Mon and 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Tue (Oct–Mar); last admission 45 minutes before closing1.
  • Free at the base for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which has stood beneath the arch since 11 November 192013.
  • Free entry to the terrace on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December, and for under-18s1.
  • Pedestrian access to the monument is via the Passage du Souvenir, from the top of the Champs-Élysées or Avenue de la Grande-Armée1.

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This page covers tickets, hours, the climb, and how to reach the monument, using only what the Arc de Triomphe’s own site publishes. For a narrower answer on whether the climb is worth the price given the elevator closure, see Is the Arc de Triomphe Worth Climbing?. For the wider list of Paris sights, start at Things to Do in Paris.

The Elevator Is Out — What That Means for Your Visit

The monument’s practical-information page is direct about this: “The elevator is currently undergoing maintenance until further notice. Access to the terrace is via the stairs only”1. That is the situation as of September 2026, and it is dated language — “until further notice” means the monument itself has not given a date for the elevator’s return, so check the same page again close to your travel date rather than assume it is fixed. Separately, a lift is listed as “available to those who need it, with no need to book in advance” — that is a different piece of equipment from the passenger elevator, aimed at visitors who need mobility assistance, and it is worth confirming on arrival whether it is running, since the general elevator closure and this assistance lift are described in different sections of the same page1.

Practically, this means every visitor headed to the terrace in September 2026 takes the same route: the staircase.

The Climb

The staircase to the terrace has 284 steps1. The monument does not publish an estimated climbing time. There is no separate express or one-way route stated for people who only want to descend by elevator; with the elevator out of service, both the climb and the descent are on foot.

Tickets and Prices

Prices as of September 2026.

Ticket April 1 – September 30 October 1 – March 31
Individual, standard days €22 €16
Individual, Wednesdays €16 €16

Sources for the table:1.

Partnership fares are also listed for SNCF Grand Voyageur and Thalys members: €20 from April to September (€14.50 on Wednesdays), and €14.50 from October to March1. Tickets cover the terrace and the full monument; entry to view the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at ground level does not require a ticket1. Groups of 7 to 35 people have their own adult, school and special rates, listed on separate pages the monument links from its main fares section, and must reserve at least 4 weeks ahead by email1.

Who Gets In Free

The monument’s practical-information page lists the following as free1:

  • Under-18s.
  • 18–25-year-old EU nationals, and non-EU nationals who are legal residents of France in that age range.
  • A disabled visitor and one companion (a group rate of €20 applies for groups larger than 8).
  • Jobseekers, with proof dated within the last 6 months.
  • Teachers holding a valid 2025–2027 French Education Pass.
  • The first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December.
  • Soldiers on a Sentinelle security mission.
  • ICOM and ICOMOS members.
  • Ministry of Culture cardholders, plus one guest.

Hours and Closures

As of September 2026, from 1 April to 30 September the monument is open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday. From 1 October to 31 March it closes 30 minutes earlier: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing every day1. It is closed on 1 May, 8 May, 14 July, and on the morning of 11 November1. A set of shortened and special hours was also published for September and December 2026: the monument closes from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 11 September 2026; it is closed all day Saturday, 26 September 2026; and it closes early, at 4 p.m., on 24 and 31 December 20261. Separately, the practical-information page notes that “due to official ceremonies or adverse weather conditions, the Arc de Triomphe may be partially or totally closed on an exceptional basis,” and that e-tickets bought through the official online service are automatically refunded if that happens, with no claim needed, though the refund itself can take time to arrive1. Because both the scheduled closures and the possibility of an exceptional one can affect a planned visit, check the monument’s own practical-information page again close to your date.

Security

The monument states that it applies France’s Vigipirate security measures, the government’s standing framework for public administrations, “to ensure the safety of visitors”1. Beyond the standard bag and prohibited-items checks described below, the page does not itemize what this involves day to day, so expect security screening broadly similar to other major Paris monuments.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The tomb has stood beneath the Arc de Triomphe since 11 November 19203. It commemorates the roughly 1.4 million French lives lost in the First World War, including soldiers whose remains could not be identified3. Nine coffins were exhumed from the war’s most heavily fought-over battlefields on 9 November 1920; after one was set aside over a question of nationality, a soldier named Auguste Thin chose the sixth of the remaining eight coffins, and that soldier was buried beneath the arch on 28 January 1921, in a ceremony attended by the French government, President Millerand, and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George3. An Eternal Flame, proposed by journalist Gabriel Boissy, was first lit on 11 November 1923 and has not been extinguished since; it is rekindled daily at 6:30 p.m. by veterans’ associations3. Viewing the tomb, at the base of the monument, is free and does not require a ticket13.

What You See From the Terrace

The monument’s own page on the panorama names the landmarks visible from the terrace: the Eiffel Tower, described as reachable via “just one avenue away”; Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre; the La Défense business district; Les Invalides and its gilded dome; the Panthéon and its dome; Notre-Dame’s towers, visible “in the distance”; the Tour Montparnasse; and the Centre Georges Pompidou2. A 360° digital device on the terrace gives historical detail on more than 20 monuments visible from the viewpoint2.

Getting There

The monument sits at Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris1. Pedestrian access is via the Passage du Souvenir, reached from the top of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées or the Avenue de la Grande-Armée1. By metro, it is served by lines 1, 2 and 6 and by RER A, at the Charles-de-Gaulle–Étoile station; by bus, lines 22, 30, 31, 52, 73, 92 and the Balabus all stop nearby1. Drivers coming from outside Paris are directed to exit at Porte Maillot onto Avenue de la Grande-Armée, or at Porte Dauphine onto Avenue Foch1. Vélib’ bike-share stations are on rue Arsène Houssaye, avenue Hoche, rue Beaujon, rue Balzac and rue Traktir1.

Bags, Strollers and What's Not Allowed

Maximum luggage size is 40 × 40 × 20 cm, and there is no left-luggage office at the monument itself1. Strollers are not allowed inside; access-control officers will hold one for you and return it at the end of your visit1. Dogs are prohibited except guide dogs for visually impaired visitors1. Also prohibited: flags, banners, selfie poles, tripods, scooters, rollerblades, sharp objects, glass bottles and weapons1. A drinking fountain is available inside the monument1.

Accessibility

The monument’s own accessibility rating is “partially compliant”1. As covered above, its passenger elevator was out of service as of September 2026, though a lift is described as available on request, without advance booking, for visitors who need it1. Given the 284-step staircase and the elevator closure, a visitor who cannot climb stairs should confirm the status of that assistance lift directly with the monument before planning a terrace visit.

Tours worth considering

This section contains affiliate links. If you book through them, the site earns a commission at no cost to you. It does not change what is recommended.

The official ticket, bought directly from the monument, is the cheapest way to the terrace, and it is the only route for anyone entitled to free admission. A paid product makes sense in one case worth naming here:

  • You want the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées explained by a guide. See the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées walking tour. The listing describes a walk along the avenue and its monuments and does not say it includes the climb, so plan on the official ticket for the terrace.

Skip a paid product if you qualify for any of the free-entry categories above, or if you only plan to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at ground level, which needs no ticket at all1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the elevator working at the Arc de Triomphe?

No, not as of September 2026. The monument’s own page states it is undergoing maintenance “until further notice,” and the terrace is reached by the 284-step staircase only1.

How many steps are there to the top of the Arc de Triomphe?

2841.

Is it free to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

Yes. Viewing the tomb at the base of the monument does not require a ticket; only the terrace does13.

Is the Arc de Triomphe free on the first Sunday of the month?

Yes, but only in winter: the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December1.

What can you see from the top of the Arc de Triomphe?

The monument’s own panorama page names the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, La Défense, Les Invalides, the Panthéon, Notre-Dame’s towers “in the distance,” the Tour Montparnasse and the Centre Georges Pompidou2.

How do I get to the Arc de Triomphe on foot?

Through the Passage du Souvenir, at the top of the Champs-Élysées or the Avenue de la Grande-Armée; that is the pedestrian access point the monument publishes1.

Can I bring a stroller up the Arc de Triomphe?

No, not inside. Access-control staff will hold it for you and return it when you leave1.

Sources

  1. Practical Information — Arc de Triomphe, Centre des monuments nationaux. Accessed 2026-09-19.
  2. The Panorama — Arc de Triomphe, Centre des monuments nationaux. Accessed 2026-09-19.
  3. The Unknown Soldier — Arc de Triomphe, Centre des monuments nationaux. Accessed 2026-09-19.