Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous sites in Paris.  It has been featured in multiple movies and is a landmark that you cannot miss when visiting Paris, since it's right in the middle of an intersection - cars circle around it 24 hours a day.  The Arc was built to honor those who died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.  

To reach the Arc and stand beneath it, you have to descend the stairs across the street and walk under the road, then ascend near the Arc.  You can purchase tickets to climb on top of the Arc, which I recommend.  It only costs 22 euro to enjoy the view from the top.  It is open from 10 am to 11 pm.  There are two levels that are part of the trip to the top -- the attic level and the terrace level.  There is a small museum on the attic level, and the terrace level offers a beautiful view of Paris.  There is a total of 284 steps to reach the terrace.  The Arc is 164 feet tall.  One of the times I visited the Arc, I had purchased my tickets ahead of time and unfortunately the site was closed for the day because of some sort of political rally.  I was upset that they hadn't reached out to warn me that I wouldn't be able to enter the Arc.  I filed for a refund and was issued one.  Their official website is here:

Arc de Triomphe

The address of Arc de Triomphe is Place Charles de Gaulle 75008 Paris.  The Charles de Gaulle metro stop will take you directly to the Arc.  It is on metro lines 1, 2, and 6.  Construction of the Arc was completed in 1836.  Some famous "visitors" to the Arc included Napoleon, whose body passed under the Arc on the way to his burial, and Victor Hugo, whose body spent a night on display underneath the Arc in 1885 on his way to burial.  Charles Godefroy flew through the Arc in 1919.  

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is under the Arc, and you can visit this without purchasing a ticket.  In fact, you can admire the Arc at any time -- it is open to the public 24 hours a day -- it is just going to the top of the Arc that costs money or requires a reservation.  There is a French soldier buried in the tomb who died in WWI and was never identified.  He represents all unknown soldiers who died fighting for France.  There is a camera on the underside of the Arc that shows everyone on the ground level, and the people on the roof can see what those under the Arc are doing.  The camera blends in with the ceiling of the Arc so that probably most people don't even know they're on camera as they stand near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  

You can watch a video of our climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe here:  Climbing the Arc de Triomphe

From the top of the Arc you have a beautiful view of Paris, including the close-by Eiffel Tower.  Here is the location of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris:

Notice the Eiffel Tower directly below the Arc.  It is about a 30 minute walk between the two.

Approaching the Arc from a nearby parking garage

My son and grandson heading down into the underground walkway from the Arc in 2025

My daughter heading into the tunnel in 2025 from the opposite side

Information in the tunnel

My son, daughter, and grandsons walking under the road through the tunnel

Heading up from the tunnel, directly beside the Arc

Looking up at the Arc from below

The ticket entrance that is under the Arc

The entrance to the stairs that take you up to the roof

This photo was taken in .5

If you look closely you can see the camera in the center of the Arc

The note that we found on the ticket office door when we came for our reservation in 2025

Notice the Eiffel Tower through the Arc de Triomphe

view of the Eiffel Tower through the Arc de Triomphe

The eternal flame and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The winding staircase heading up to the attic level of the Arc

These stairs head to the terrace where you can look at a beautiful view of Paris

View of the Eiffel Tower from on top of the Arc

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its Eternal Flame

My family at the Arc in 2024

View from the other side of Arc de Triomphe, my daughter and I in 2025

There is a McDonalds only a few minutes away from the Arc, where my daughter and I grabbed lunch when we visited in 2025

And this is their version of fry sauce, which is basically just mayonnaise

Mission Impossible: Fallout was filmed at the Arc de Triomphe.  They were given 2 hours in the early morning to use the Arc and its surrounding traffic circle to film that particular scene for their movie, which is really cool.  Tom Cruise races his motorcycle, against traffic, around the Arc.  Here are a couple videos featuring Mission Impossible: Fallout and the Arc de Triomphe:

Making of the Mission Impossible: Fallout Arc de Triomphe scene

Clip from Mission Impossible: Fallout Arc de Triomphe scene