The comparison at a glance
| Offer | Duration | Price "from" | What is included | Who it suits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private guided tour and rooftop ticket | 2 h | About $261 to $273 | Private guide, rooftop ticket, time slot of your choice | Families, special occasions | See |
| Arc de Triomphe and hop-on hop-off bus | Day | About $62 to $88 | Arc ticket and Big Bus | First visit to Paris | See |
| Ticket and smartphone audio guide | At your own pace | About $49 | Ticket and audio tour in the WeGoTrip app | History fans | See |
| Arc de Triomphe and Seine cruise | 3 h | About $45 | Arc ticket, 1-hour cruise with audio guide | Couples, a single purchase | See |
| Rooftop tickets | At your own pace | From 16 € | Rooftop ticket | Almost everyone | See |
Official ticket or GetYourGuide?
Our guide to the Arc de Triomphe gives the ticket-office price: 16 € from October to March, 22 € from April to September (16 € on Wednesdays). Free for under 18s and, with ID, for 18 to 25-year-olds from the European Union. The GetYourGuide rooftop ticket starts at 16 €, so the gap is small: you gain a time slot chosen in advance, not a big saving. The options below are worth what they add.
Private guided tour and rooftop ticket
The most expensive, about $261 to $273, with a private operator: 2 hours, a guide for your group, a time slot you choose. The elevator can only be used by people who need it, with no advance reservation possible. See the offer.
Arc de Triomphe and hop-on hop-off bus
The Arc ticket paired with a Big Bus, about $62 to $88 before discounts; the full tour lasts about 2 h 15 with a bus every 10 to 20 minutes. See also our comparison of sightseeing buses. See the offer.
Ticket and smartphone audio guide
About $49 for the ticket and an audio tour: it runs only through the WeGoTrip app, so bring a charged smartphone and your headphones. Reviews are mixed: this is not an in-person guide. See the offer.
Arc de Triomphe and Seine cruise
About $45 for 3 hours: the Arc ticket and a 1-hour cruise with Bateaux Parisiens, audio guide included. The cruise ticket stays valid for a month. One review notes that the boat was crowded. To pick the cruise, see our comparison of one-hour cruises. See the offer.
Rooftop tickets
The most booked of the group: 4.6 out of 5 from 38,305 reviews, from 16 €. It gives access to the terrace, with no guide. One review reports that the elevator was out of service during a visit. See the offer.
What is not included and the pitfalls
- The steps. You must climb 284 steps; do not count on the elevator.
- A walk is not a ticket. A walking tour of the Champs-Élysées, around $56, does not go up to the terrace: check that the ticket is included.
- The audio guide. It works only in an app.
- Access. You reach the Arc through the underground passage, never by crossing the roundabout.
- Closing days. The monument closes on some public holidays and during ceremonies; last access is 45 minutes before closing.
- Tuesday. It opens at 11 am only.
Which offer to choose?
- Almost everyone: the rooftop ticket.
- First visit to Paris: the combination with the bus.
- Couple, evening: the Arc and the cruise, or Paris at night.
- History: the ticket with audio guide.
- Family or special occasion: the private tour; see also Paris with kids.
Booking at the right time
Lines are generally shorter at opening time and in the evening. The flame of the Unknown Soldier is rekindled every evening at 18:30. Then walk down the avenue with our Champs-Élysées guide, or read the best free views of Paris.
