Paris from the Top of the Arc de Triomphe

At the heart of Place de l’Étoile, where twelve grand avenues radiate like the spokes of an overly ambitious wheel, the Arc de Triomphe keeps watch over the constant motion of Paris.

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honor his army this monument has seen military victories, national celebrations, and probably many tourists trying to figure out how to cross the chaotic roundabout below. But while its sculpted reliefs tell the story of France’s past, the most spectacular experience awaits at the top.

Climbing the 284 steps might make a while, but the view from the top makes every breathless moment worthwhile. From the summit, Paris unfolds in all directions, a perfectly organized maze of grand boulevards and historic landmarks. The Champs-Élysées, lined with elegant cafés and boutiques, stretches toward the Louvre, while in the opposite direction, the sleek towers of La Défense rise, crowned by the massive Grande Arche, which looks suspiciously like a minimalist take on the Arc de Triomphe itself.

Yet nothing steals the show quite like the Eiffel Tower. From this height, it stands in perfect isolation, its iron lattice soaring above the rooftops, with the Seine gracefully weaving beside it. Unlike ground-level views, where the tower looms over everything, here, it becomes part of the city’s grand design—a masterpiece within a masterpiece.