Visiting the Arc de Triomphe with your family: what to know before bringing your children along

Want to take in the most beautiful view of Paris with your family? Visiting the Arc de Triomphe together is a memorable adventure, as long as you plan ahead for the stairs and access. Practical tips, anecdotes and free admission options for a hassle-free visit.

It is one of Paris’s most iconic monuments, proudly standing at the top of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. To plan your visit to the Arc de Triomphe with children, here’s what you need to know to make the most of your visit. Children under 18 get in free, as do European Union citizens under 26, but climbing to the top of this stone giant takes a little physical and logistical preparation for young explorers. Adult admission costs €16 from October to March and €22 from April to September. If you’re planning to visit in spring or summer, note that Wednesdays are cheaper, with admission priced at €16.

Climbing to the panoramic terrace is a demanding challenge: expect to tackle 284 spiral steps. The monument’s elevators are reserved strictly for people with reduced mobility and pregnant women. If this applies to you, be sure to check the website to make sure the elevators are working: they may occasionally be undergoing maintenance. You’ll need to leave your folding stroller at the luggage desk at the foot of the monument or opt for an ergonomic baby carrier to make your way through the narrow passages with ease. There’s also no place to eat or buy drinks inside the monument. Be sure to bring a bottle of water, especially in hot weather.

ALTHOUGH climbing the steps can be tough on little legs, it’s worth knowing that the Arc de Triomphe regularly offers fun workshop tours for younger visitors. If you can, we recommend opting for one of these to make the most of your family outing—and get the most out of that climb! You can find the program here. At the top, the effort is rewarded with 360-degree views of the twelve radiating avenues, the Eiffel Tower and La Défense. Interactive orientation tables help children pick out the capital’s main landmarks.

One last piece of advice: never try to cross the Place de l’Étoile roundabout at ground level. There is a pedestrian underpass, the “Passage du Souvenir,” from the Champs-Élysées or the Avenue de la Grande-Armée (Charles de Gaulle–Étoile metro/RER station), which will allow you to reach the monument safely.

The Arc de Triomphe, the emblematic monument at the top of the Champs-Élysées
The Arc de Triomphe, the emblematic monument on the Champs-Élysées that sits at the center of the Place de l'Étoile, is a must-see on your visit to Paris! [Read more]

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