The Arc de Triomphe at Night: Paris from Above

By day on the Champs-Élysées, the café terraces and shops tend to catch your eye before the Arc de Triomphe does. After dark, though, the beautifully lit Arc stands out above everything else, and you naturally find yourself walking toward it.

The Arc stands in the Place Charles de Gaulle, a roundabout where 12 roads converge. It's a hectic spot, but pedestrian underpasses make it easy to reach the monument.

Be sure to climb to the viewing platform, which stays open until 11 p.m. It means tackling 284 steps, which is no small effort, but the view is well worth it. From the top you can see the Eiffel Tower sparkling in its lights, the Champs-Élysées taking on a different charm at night, La Défense, the Place de la Concorde, and the Paris skyline after dark. Because it's open late, it's an ideal way to cap off a short trip to Paris. Stay until you've seen the Eiffel Tower twinkle, and the memory will stay with you even longer.

The Arc is also at a major transport hub, served by Metro lines 1, 2, and 6 and RER line A. Wherever you're staying, getting back late at night is easy, which makes this a great spot to end your Paris night tour.