Eiffel Tower
Tour Eiffel
A 330-metre tower built for the 1889 World's Fair, and a symbol of Paris and France. From the top you can see the whole city, and the lights that sparkle on the hour after dark are Paris's most romantic sight.
The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel's company for the 1889 World's Fair. It stands 330 m tall, including antennas, and held the record as the world's tallest structure for 40 years. At first it was criticised as an ugly temporary structure, but today it welcomes about 7 million visitors a year. There are two ways to climb it: by lift or by stairs. A lift to the second floor costs about €22, and to the top about €37. The stairs to the second floor cost about €15 (674 steps, no queue, and cheaper). Stairs plus lift to the top cost about €28. At the top level, 276 m up, there is a recreation of Eiffel's office and a champagne bar. Tickets go on sale on the official website about two months in advance. Popular time slots sell out fast, so book timed lift tickets early, or choose the 9:30 a.m. opening slot, or go up after 9 p.m. to see the city at night.
Classic photo spots for the full view of the tower include Trocadéro Square at the Palais de Chaillot, across the Seine, which faces the tower and is quiet in the early morning; the lawn of the Champ de Mars at its base; the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, the bridge featured in the film Inception; and the top floor of the Tour Montparnasse (56th-floor observation deck, with the tower as the main subject).
After sunset, the tower sparkles for five minutes on the hour, every hour, with about 20,000 lights, until 1 a.m. The lawn and Trocadéro are good viewing spots.
Getting there: take Metro Line 6 to Bir-Hakeim or Line 9 to Trocadéro, about 10 minutes' walk, or take RER C to Champ de Mars station.
Note: security checks at the base are strict, so allow 30 minutes. Be wary of vendors around the square selling keychains and 'friendship bracelets'. The tower's nighttime light display is protected by copyright, so photos for commercial use require a licence.
Opening hours
9:30 a.m.–11:45 p.m. (summer 9:00 a.m.–12:45 a.m.; last summit about 1 hour earlier)
Nearby sights
- Les Invalides
- Musée Rodin
- Pont Alexandre III
- Seine River Cruise
- Champs-Élysées
- Musée de l'Orangerie
- Trocadéro & Palais de Chaillot
- Arc de Triomphe