Champs-Élysées Guide 2026: Arc de Triomphe Tickets, Metro, Shopping and Food
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées runs about 1.9 km through Paris's 8th arrondissement, from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, with metro Line 1 stopping along its whole length. Climbing the Arc de Triomphe costs €16 from October to March and €22 from April to September (€16 on Wednesdays) in 2026, and under-18s go free. Most shops on the Champs-Élysées also open on Sundays.
Key takeaways
- The Champs-Élysées is about 1.9 km long; Line 1 stops at Concorde, Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George V and Charles de Gaulle–Étoile.
- Arc de Triomphe rooftop tickets: €22 from 1 April to 30 September (€16 on Wednesdays) and €16 from 1 October to 31 March; the lift is under maintenance, so it's 284 steps up.
- From Charles de Gaulle Airport the RER takes about an hour and the 2026 airport ticket costs €14; a taxi to the Right Bank is a flat €56.
- The Musée Yves Saint Laurent has been closed for renovation since May 2025 and is expected to reopen in autumn 2027.
- The 2025 Christmas lights ran from 16 November 2025 to 4 January 2026; 2026 dates are still to be announced.
How to get to the Champs-Élysées: metro stations and airport transfers
The easiest way to reach the Champs-Élysées is metro Line 1, which runs right underneath the avenue from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. A single metro ticket costs €2.55 in 2026. To walk the whole avenue, start at the Arc de Triomphe end and head towards Concorde, which is gently downhill.
| Metro station | Lines | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Charles de Gaulle–Étoile | 1, 2, 6, RER A | Arc de Triomphe, west end of the avenue |
| George V | 1 | Louis Vuitton flagship, Fouquet's |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1, 9 | Middle of the avenue, Avenue Montaigne |
| Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau | 1, 13 | Grand Palais, Petit Palais |
| Concorde | 1, 8, 12 | Place de la Concorde, Tuileries Garden |
From Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports to the Champs-Élysées
From Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), take RER B to Châtelet–Les Halles and change to RER A for Charles de Gaulle–Étoile; the trip takes about an hour. The "Paris Région ↔ Aéroports" ticket costs €14 one way in 2026 and covers connections on the metro and RER. The Roissybus between CDG and Opéra stopped running at the end of February 2026, so there is no longer a direct airport bus to central Paris.
| Option | Route | Price (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| RER (from CDG) | RER B → change at Châtelet–Les Halles to RER A | €14 (airport ticket) |
| Taxi (from CDG) | Direct; the Champs-Élysées is on the Right Bank | Flat fare €56 |
| Taxi (from Orly) | Direct; the Champs-Élysées is on the Right Bank | Flat fare €45 |
Taxi flat fares apply to trips within Paris for up to four passengers with luggage; booking a taxi in advance may add a booking fee. See the Île-de-France Mobilités 2026 fares for ticket prices.
Top things to see on the Champs-Élysées
The must-sees around the Champs-Élysées are the Arc de Triomphe, the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais, all within walking distance of each other. The Petit Palais's permanent collection is free, which makes it a good break between shops.
Arc de Triomphe tickets and opening hours (2026)
Napoleon ordered the Arc de Triomphe after his victory at Austerlitz in 1806, and it was finished in 1836. The rooftop terrace looks straight down the Champs-Élysées and over the 12 avenues that radiate from Place de l'Étoile. Use the underground passage to get there; don't try to cross the roundabout.
| Item | 1 April – 30 September | 1 October – 31 March |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket (adult) | €22 (€16 on Wednesdays) | €16 |
| Opening hours | Wed–Mon 10:00–23:00, Tue 11:00–23:00 | Wed–Mon 10:00–22:30, Tue 11:00–22:30 |
| Free entry | Under 18s; 18–25-year-old EU nationals and legal residents of France | Same, plus the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December |
Last entry is 45 minutes before closing. The monument is closed on 1 May, 8 May, 14 July and the morning of 11 November, and closes early at 16:00 on 24 and 31 December. The lift is currently under maintenance, so reaching the terrace means climbing 284 steps; check the official Arc de Triomphe website for updates.
The Champs-Élysées seen from the Arc de Triomphe terrace. Photo: Jebulon / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Petit Palais (City of Paris Fine Arts Museum)
The Petit Palais was built for the 1900 World's Fair and now houses the City of Paris Fine Arts Museum, whose permanent collection is free. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and is closed on Mondays; temporary exhibitions are ticketed. See the Petit Palais website for details.
The front of the Petit Palais. Photo: Gunnar Klack / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Grand Palais
The Grand Palais stands opposite the Petit Palais and fully reopened in June 2025 after years of renovation. Some public areas are free to enter, while exhibitions are ticketed; while the Centre Pompidou is closed for renovation, some of its exhibitions are being staged here. See the Grand Palais website for current shows and prices.
Musée Yves Saint Laurent (closed until 2027)
The Musée Yves Saint Laurent, at 5 avenue Marceau near the avenue, has been closed for renovation since 5 May 2025 and is expected to reopen in autumn 2027. If you're visiting Paris in 2026, leave it off your plan.
Shopping on the Champs-Élysées: which brands are there?
The Champs-Élysées is mostly lined with international flagship stores, from luxury houses to affordable sportswear. The avenue is in one of Paris's international tourist zones (ZTI), so most shops open on Sundays, unlike in many other Paris neighbourhoods.
| Type | Examples | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury | Louis Vuitton flagship | No. 101 (George V station) |
| Department store and beauty | Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées, Sephora, Guerlain | Middle of the avenue |
| Pastries | Ladurée | No. 75 |
| More high-end fashion | Dior, Chanel and others | Nearby Avenue Montaigne |
Louis Vuitton's first branded hotel, being built at Nos. 103–111, has been reported as opening in 2026, but no official opening date has been announced. Shops on the avenue change often, so check a brand's own website before making a special trip.
The Champs-Élysées, with the Arc de Triomphe in the distance. Photo: Florian Pépellin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to eat on the Champs-Élysées
The classic addresses on the Champs-Élysées are Ladurée and Fouquet's, and for Michelin-starred cooking you can walk to the Pavillon Ledoyen just off the avenue. Prices on the avenue itself are high, so for a cheaper coffee or lunch, try the side streets.
| Restaurant | What it's known for | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Ladurée | Macarons and French pastries, with a tea room; open daily | 75 avenue des Champs-Élysées |
| Fouquet's | Classic brasserie open since 1899 | 99 avenue des Champs-Élysées |
| Pavyllon | Chef Yannick Alléno's counter restaurant, one Michelin star | 8 avenue Dutuit (Pavillon Ledoyen) |
Sources disagree on Ladurée's exact hours, which run roughly from about 8:00 until 21:30 or later, so check the official website before you go.
Champs-Élysées events: when is the best time to visit?
For a car-free stroll, go on the first Sunday of the month; for the lights, go between mid-November and early January. The avenue also hosts the Bastille Day parade and the Tour de France finish, when roads close and crowds are at their biggest.
| Event | When | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Respire car-free day | First Sunday of every month | Closed to traffic 11:00–18:00 (April–October) and 10:00–17:00 (November–March) |
| Bastille Day military parade | 14 July | The Arc de Triomphe is closed all day |
| Tour de France finish | Late July | The final 2026 stage was on 26 July |
| Christmas lights | Mid-November to early January | 16 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, about 400 trees lit |
| New Year's Eve | 31 December | Usually a light show on the Arc de Triomphe, with the avenue closed to traffic |
The Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe during the Christmas lights. Photo: Pierre Blaché / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
The 2026 Christmas lights date hasn't been announced yet; going by previous years, the lights are expected to go on in mid-to-late November, but check the City of Paris for the official date. Paris Respire dates can also change around events; see the official page.
Where to stay near the Champs-Élysées
Staying around the Champs-Élysées (8th arrondissement) is convenient and relatively safe, but it is one of the most expensive areas in Paris. On a tighter budget, stay elsewhere along metro Line 1, which takes you straight to the avenue.
| Area | Best for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 8th arrondissement (the avenue and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré) | A big budget and walking to the shops | Le Bristol Paris (palace hotel with the three-Michelin-star Epicure) |
| 16th and 17th arrondissements (west and north of the Arc) | Staying close for a little less | Four-star hotels around the Arc de Triomphe |
| Along metro Line 1 (Le Marais, Bastille, etc.) | Lower budgets and easy access to other sights | Hotels and apartments at every price |
Arriving with big suitcases? Send your luggage from the airport to your hotel
Many Paris metro stations have stairs but no lifts, and RER B gets very crowded at rush hour, so changing trains with large suitcases is hard work. Most hotels don't let you check in until mid-afternoon, so if you land in the morning you'll have to drop your bags off before you can start exploring.
LuggAgent can collect your bags at the airport or your hotel and deliver them to your next address in Paris the same day or the next day. That means you can head straight from the plane to the Arc de Triomphe, or send your bags to the airport on check-out day and keep shopping. See luggage delivery in Paris for coverage and how it works.
Flying into Charles de Gaulle? Hand your bags over at the airport and we'll take them to your hotel in central Paris:
Arriving at Orly instead, you can also have your luggage delivered straight to your hotel in the city:
FAQ
How much are Arc de Triomphe tickets?
In 2026 a ticket to the top of the Arc de Triomphe costs €22 from 1 April to 30 September (€16 on Wednesdays) and €16 from 1 October to 31 March. Under-18s go free, and everyone gets in free on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December. The lift is under maintenance, so expect 284 steps.
Which metro stop is closest to the Champs-Élysées?
Line 1 is the most convenient, with five stops along the avenue: Concorde, Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George V and Charles de Gaulle–Étoile. For the Arc de Triomphe, get off at Charles de Gaulle–Étoile, which is also served by RER A and metro Lines 2 and 6.
How do I get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Champs-Élysées?
Take RER B to Châtelet–Les Halles and change to RER A for Charles de Gaulle–Étoile, which takes about an hour; the 2026 airport ticket is €14. A taxi to the Right Bank is a flat €56. The Roissybus stopped running at the end of February 2026.
Are shops on the Champs-Élysées open on Sunday?
Yes. The Champs-Élysées is in one of Paris's international tourist zones (ZTI), so most shops open on Sundays. Hours still vary by store, so check the brand's website before you go.
When do the Champs-Élysées Christmas lights start?
The 2025 lights ran from 16 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 and were on each evening until midnight. The 2026 date hasn't been announced; based on previous years they should go on in mid-to-late November, but check the City of Paris for the official date.
Cover photo: Khairul Abdullah / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
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