Arc De Triomphe

Perfect place to learn to drive,

The top of this famous French monument easily has the absolute best view in Paris, in my opinion. We went at night just before it closed and it was one of the most breathtaking vistas you can ever imagine. Seeing the cars circling the flood-lit Arch and elegant buildings, looking down the traffic-clogged but somehow timeless Champs-Elysees towards the Louvre and in the distance the floodlights of the Eiffel Tower pierce the sky… this is Paris at its grandest. From here you really get a sense of how genious the actual plan of Paris is, for it’s as if all of the famous avenues of the capital radiate from this single monument. Also, from atop the Arch you can experience the entire Axe-historique from the Louvre Pyramid through the Tuieleries down the Champs-Elysees under the arch and all the way to the new modern Arch in La Defense on the opposite horizon. Standing here was one of my favorite memories of Paris and I believe it is an absolutely essential experience to have even for the most time constrained visitor to Paris.

The top of this famous French monument easily has the absolute best view in Paris, in my opinion. We went at night just before it closed and it was one of the most breathtaking vistas you can ever imagine. Seeing the cars circling the flood-lit Arch and elegant buildings, looking down the traffic-clogged but somehow timeless Champs-Elysees towards the Louvre and in the distance the floodlights of the Eiffel Tower pierce the sky… this is Paris at its grandest. From here you really get a sense of how genious the actual plan of Paris is, for it’s as if all of the famous avenues of the capital radiate from this single monument. Also, from atop the Arch you can experience the entire Axe-historique from the Louvre Pyramid through the Tuieleries down the Champs-Elysees under the arch and all the way to the new modern Arch in La Defense on the opposite horizon. Standing here was one of my favorite memories of Paris and I believe it is an absolutely essential experience to have even for the most time constrained visitor to Paris.

The top of this famous French monument easily has the absolute best view in Paris, in my opinion. We went at night just before it closed and it was one of the most breathtaking vistas you can ever imagine. Seeing the cars circling the flood-lit Arch and elegant buildings, looking down the traffic-clogged but somehow timeless Champs-Elysees towards the Louvre and in the distance the floodlights of the Eiffel Tower pierce the sky… this is Paris at its grandest. From here you really get a sense of how genious the actual plan of Paris is, for it’s as if all of the famous avenues of the capital radiate from this single monument. Also, from atop the Arch you can experience the entire Axe-historique from the Louvre Pyramid through the Tuieleries down the Champs-Elysees under the arch and all the way to the new modern Arch in La Defense on the opposite horizon. Standing here was one of my favorite memories of Paris and I believe it is an absolutely essential experience to have even for the most time constrained visitor to Paris.

So many steps!! They will make you so dizzy but it’s worth it.Wear comfortable shoes. The view is amazing :) I’m dying to go back!

but did take pictures nearby at night after walking the Champs. Didn’t get to walk right up to it because the pedestrian subway was closed at night. Never made it back to tour during the day. I would have liked to, but of course there were so many things to do in Paris that I never made it back.

...the closer you get, the more you appreciate its perfect symmetry and its sheer size.

It’s a good stop if you’re seeing the sights. It’s also a long climb and you should be prepared for that. And, as with all highly-elevated places, make sure the weather is decent when you go. It’s not fun if it’s sleeting out.

There is a sleek grocery really close (l’epicerie) and we got lunch there and then walked to a near by park to have a little parisian picnic – complete with tiny bottles of wine.

The Champs Elysee is a bit of a disappointment unless of course you want to stop at the Gap (yes, they seriously have one there). I was expecting high end shops left and right.

The Arc itself won’t let you down – it’s beautiful. And planes have flown through the arch… talk about crazy!

The roundabout is crazy! Don’t drive around the Arc de Triomphe unless you want to have a heart attack or an accident or most likely both. Don’t let the taxi or airport shuttle take you around it either. (Though if the driver is a Parisian, at least you’ll make it out alive!)