Arc de Triomphe – Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

by The Weekly Flyer

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Visiting the Arc de Triomphe not only gives you one of the best views of Paris, but it gives you a sense of history in the city of lights.

The Arc de Triomphe stands 164 feet in height at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. It was inaugurated in 1836 and later the tomb of the unknown soldier was added in 1921. The monument is open for visitors from 10 am through 10:30 pm each day. During our first trip to Paris before our self guided tour of the Champagne region, we decided to spend a morning checking out the monument. 

How To Visit Arc de Triomphe

For our visit, we took a stroll to the Champs-Élysées from our suite at the Prince de Galles Luxury Collection hotel (on a later trip we’d stay at the Park Hyatt Paris and liked it better), turned left and walked directly towards the monument. It was all in all about a 15 minute leisurely stroll. 

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We paid about about 8 Euros at the time of our visit, but you can always find the latest information here. Of course I used my “what to say in Paris to get by phrase” to order my tickets in English, and it worked very well.

Walking up to the monument you get a sense of the size and grandeur of one of the most famous monuments in all of Paris.

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You take the winding stairs all the way up to the top.

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You immediately get the sense that the famous avenues diverge from the Arc de Triomphe. During our first trip to Paris, we really enjoyed visiting the monument to get a sense of the places we wanted to visit while in the city.

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Bottom Line

We highly recommend any first time or returning visitor take a quick stop at the Arc de Triomphe to ground yourself in the city. Our quick walk to the monument was a great way to start our trip.

Have you ever been to the Arc de Triomphe? Did you think it was a worthwhile use of time in Paris? What are some of the other monuments you like in the city?

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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or suggestions expressed on this site are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed.

About The Weekly Flyer

The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.

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Comments

  4. Great post! Just there walked up to it and saw people up on it but will make it a must do next time…….the idea of using it to scope out the rest of your visit is a very smart idea…….

  5. Just Saying – All I’m saying is happy you like the idea! 🙂 It was an accident but definitely something that helped out time in Paris. We got a visual picture of the city from atop the monument. If it had not been so close to our hotel, we may not have stumbled upon it. But we are definitely glad we did. It is such a cost effective way to get an view of the city that it just makes sense, just like the museum pass makes a lot of sense to skip the lines…more on that later.

  8. The best travel advice I can give a person before they visit Paris is not to stay at the PHV. No, it is to buy a map. Study it. Learn that every part of the city has somethng historical and magical about it.

  9. ……..how the hell could you think that every human knows the idea of the trip to the top……..how many times have you been there?????
    How many times have you stayed at the Park Hyatt? Obviously one too many times for me as when you were leaving all the French and Americans in the lobby were in perfect unison to raise our nose and glasses in disgust at your low rent behavior………tisk risk…….move along now and go to the Best Western where you be welcomed with open arms………….

  10. @just saying.

    1) You assume I am female. That is correct, but you shouldn’t automatically make the asssumption. I have no idea if you are male or female. I did not care to find out. It shouldn’t matter in discussions such as this.

    2) Does calling me a slut make you feel superior, like an adult? BTW, that is slander and libel. I could sue against you and win. Do you feel like you are “winning” by using such reprehensible language? Was I supposed to cower in fear?

    3) I asked questions because I did not assume the intentions of the author. I stated my frustrations with this material. I did not make it personal.

    4) Let’s say that again. I did not make it personal. YOU did, however, in a very misogynistic way. How thoughtfully sexist of you. Didn’t realize that “slut-shaming” had a place in the world of travel blogs.

    5) You are not Dan Aykroyd, and I am not Jane Curtin. Don’t plagiarize their work, and especially do not use it incorrectly.

    6) How many times have I been there? I LIVED in France. Still have the government visa somewhere around as a souvenir that allowed me to stay for months, and months, and months. I also have a degree in French and in history. Where’s your expertise? I’m offended because I have the credentials to back up mine, including ones from Université de Rouen Haute-Normandie.

    7) Where did I stay in France? Not at the PHV. I lived in a French apartment. That was built in the 1700s. An apartment. I would never hang out in a hotel lobby- that’s for tourists not locals. Real French people don’t “Vendome”. To look down upon someone in a monetary sense or act like a rich snob…that’s declassé.

    BTW, the truly wealthy stay at Saint James Paris or at Hôtel de Crillon (can’t wait for it to re-open!). Real wealth doesn’t use free coupon nights. That’s declassé too.

    BTW, once one spends a night at the Crillon, one realizes that any other place is just subpar and bland.

    8) “Low rent behavior”?! LMAO. Sweetie, money doesn’t buy you class. Also, yet another reference to being a ‘slut’. This terminology says more about your character than it will ever say about mine.

    9) Differing opinions should be welcome on blogs such as this. Discourse and debate should be welcome. Throwing slander and hoping it sticks…or in this case, trying to shame me into second class serfdom is beneath us as human beings.

    10) Before you start insulting my intelligence, learn how to form proper sentences.

    11) My curiosity is valid. I don’t comprehend why people spend all their time, money, and energy to go somewhere as wonderful as Paris but are clueless about it’s structure.

    12) I am quite aware of the Day of Remembrances in France, having lived in Normandy for quite awhile as well.

    13) I stand by my words: If one is going to go to a place like Paris, one needs to do proper research beforehand. And please, do not aimlessly roam around. There are roman ruins to be found. Musée Marmottan to be explored. Walk across Pont Neuf and comprehend its significance. Pay a visit to Cathédrale royale de Saint-Denis. How many people know that Paris has hosted the Olympic games twice?

    I want people to love Paris as much as I do. And you will not find Paris in the lobby of PHV.

    Please do research beforehand. Understand the impact of Henri IV, Frédéric Bartholdi, and Louis Maille upon the city. Know that the Paris you know only exists due to Baron Haussmann.

    14) Such rhetoric that you used only disminishes the travel world. I’m trying to understand other people’s motivations in travelling without comprehending their destinations. It is a valid conversation topic.

  11. I’m hoping that the comment about stumbling upon it is just a poor choice of words. I haven’t been to Paris yet, but I have heard about the Arc de Triomphe (and that you can climb to the top).

    @JustSaying
    Your comments were completely uncalled for. She had some valid points.

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