Climbing the Arc de Triomphe: steps, lift and access

Never cross the roundabout

The Arc sits in the middle of place Charles de Gaulle, where twelve avenues meet in a roundabout with no marked lanes and a reputation as the most chaotic in Europe. There is no pedestrian crossing and walking across is simply dangerous. Access is through an underpass starting on the right-hand pavement of the Champs-Élysées as you face the Arc. Look for the signposted stairway: it comes out right at the foot of the monument.

By metro and RER

The stop is Charles de Gaulle - Étoile, served by metro lines 1, 2 and 6 and by RER A. The exits open onto the square itself and some connect straight to the underpass, so there is no need to surface at all.

284 steps

The climb to the terrace is 284 steps up a narrow stone spiral staircase with no landings until the very top. It takes five to ten unhurried minutes, and halfway up there is a room with a small museum where you can catch your breath. The monument's lift is currently under maintenance, so right now the stairs are the only way up.

Luggage and access

There is no left-luggage facility. Large suitcases will not pass security and pushchairs cannot go up the spiral staircase, so with a baby you will need a carrier. A day bag is no problem.

What you see from the top

The terrace is what sets the Arc apart from any other viewpoint in Paris: you stand at the exact centre of the star, with the twelve avenues fanning out beneath your feet in every direction. To the east, the Champs-Élysées run straight down to Place de la Concorde and the Louvre; to the west, the axis carries on to the Grande Arche at La Défense. And to the south, the whole Eiffel Tower, base to antenna, which is the one thing you cannot see from the tower itself.

Arc de Triomphe opening hours