In Eurocode 3, the general method to determine the ultimate lateral torsional buckling load of steel beams in bending is presented. This method makes use of buckling curves. The ultimate lateral torsional buckling load can also be calculated using the finite element method by means of a geometrical and material non-linear analysis on a beam including imperfections. This paper compares the ultimate loads based on the design rules in Eurocode 3 for lateral torsional buckling of laterally restrained beams in bending to the ultimate loads obtained with finite element simulations on the basis of a parameter study.