Seeing Arc de Triomphe from a plane
Napoleon ordered it in 1806; it stands 164 ft tall at the center of a star of 12 avenues. Look for the white arch with avenues radiating like spokes, the Champs-Élysées running straight toward the Louvre.
8 of our routes pass it. France · rated 5 of 10
The easy pick
Paris to Barcelona: sit on the left, on the climb, 5 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona to Paris | Right | on the way down |
| Geneva to Paris | Left | on the way down |
| Marseille to Paris | Left | on the way down |
| Nice to Paris | Left | on the way down |
| Paris to Barcelona | Left | on the climb, 5 min after takeoff |
| Paris to Rome | Left | on the climb, 5 min after takeoff |
| Rome to Paris | Left | on the way down |
| Zurich to Paris | Left | on the way down |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Arc de Triomphe from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (7 of 8). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Arc de Triomphe from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see Arc de Triomphe at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Louvre Sacré-Cœur Paris Grande Arche Stade de France Barcelona (BCN) Paris (CDG) Geneva (GVA) Nice (NCE) All routes