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More Arc de Triomphe questions

Trying to plan the best day and time to fit a climb to the top into our itinerary and have some questions for those who have done this.
1) How much time should we allocate to make the climb, enjoy the view, and climb back down without feeling rushed?
2) How long would we need to go through security and stand in line (does everyone go through security? Is there a separate pass holder (Passion Monuments) line? This would be a weekday during peak season (early June)
3) Will it be hot inside? If there’s a heat wave will a late afternoon (4:30, 5:00) climb be unpleasantly hot?
4) Is there a separate line to watch the 6:30 lighting of the flame for the Unknown Soldier? How far in advance would we need to be there?
5) How long is the daily ceremony? If we decide to watch that first and climb after, would we be able to climb at 7:30 or would we not have sufficient time to go through security, etc?

Basically trying to figure out whether to try to fit in both the climb and the ceremony or to skip the ceremony to give us more flexibility for the climb.
Thanks!

Posted by
1542 posts

By American standards it will be hot everywhere and the French will still be bundled up with a lovely scarf on. It will be stuffy in there and you will have climbed 284 steps - which is not my idea of fun. Keep in mind, there's also a lift.

Security + entry: 10–30 min (can be more in June)

Climb up (284 steps): 10–20 min

Time at top: 15–30 min (longer if you love views/photos)

Descent + ground level: 10–15 min

With Passion Monuments, you of course skip the ticket line and then go to security.