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An insider’s guide to the Eiffel Tower, by someone who has been there 100 times
From how to get tickets to where to enjoy the perfect picnic with a view, here’s our insider tips for seeing the iconic monument
![It's hard to believe that the structure was first conceived as a pop-up](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2024/07/11/TELEMMGLPICT000384859974_17207012242080_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Ahhh, la Tour Eiffel – does she need an introduction? The great spire of iron lattice work is instantly recognisable all over the world. So familiar is the tower in the global imagination, it’s hard to believe that the 1000-foot structure was first conceived as a pop-up.
Originally the entrance way of the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) held in Paris in 1889, on the centenary of the French Revolution, the daring design came from the company of famous engineer Gustave Eiffel and was originally meant to be dismantled after 20 years. Eiffel managed to secure his creation’s future by adding public uses to the tower, including a military telegraph, which was used in World War One. Today, a television antenna still tops the tower, adding 17 feet to its height.
The icon was constructed using an innovative flat-pack technique: 18,000 parts were made in a factory outside of Paris and then erected step by step on-site using 2.5 million rivets. The method facilitated its incredibly rapid construction in just over two years. The tallest structure in the world at the time, it was a piece of ultra-modern showboating and divided opinions from the start. Many, including famous artists, considered its design an aesthetic aberration. Author Guy de Maupassant famously said that the Eiffel Tower’s restaurant was his favourite place to dine because it was the only place in the city where the monument itself could not be seen.
Today, the tower has the last laugh. It attracts some 7 million visitors a year, making it the most popular ticketed monument in the world. Even Parisians learned to love it in time and it has become a symbol of a certain dream of Belle Époque creativity and liberty. During the liberation of Paris in August 1944, six firefighters climbed the tower to fly a homemade French “tricolore” at the top, while active fighting went on below. A plaque commemorates the flag mission at the summit.
In the 21st century, the monument has continued to be a flagpole for big events. It was lit up in green when the Paris Climate Accord was reached in 2015; displayed a light show to honour essential workers during the pandemic; and in summer 2024 carries majestic Olympic rings.
When I first moved to Paris nearly 10 years ago, I worked as a tour guide at the tower, sometimes visiting the iconic site three times a day – I’ve been to the top more than 100 times. Here is an insider guide to how to best enjoy your time at the iconic site.
In this guide:
- Visiting the Eiffel Tower
- The best views of the Eiffel Tower
- Where to eat near the Eiffel Tower
- Where to stay near the Eiffel Tower
Visiting the Eiffel Tower
How to get tickets
If possible, it is always advisable to book a timed entry ticket, which will save you time waiting in the ticket line. Tickets go on sale on the Eiffel Tower website two months in advance; book early for high season if you can.
Tickets with lift access to the top (€35.30/ £30) will take you all the way to the summit via the two lifts. Lift tickets to the second level, 377 feet up, are less expensive (€22.60/ £19) and more available. You can also opt to climb the 600 steps to the second level for a reduced rate. A number of concession prices are available for children up to 11 (€8.90/ £7.50), and young people 24 and under (€17.70/ £15). Children under four can visit for free.
![Pro tip: You can walk down from the second level of the Eiffel Tower to avoid queuing for the lifts back down](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2024/07/11/TELEMMGLPICT000384859428_17207013407710_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqC_LLCXkS_z-CZqgOMP7Be4NJOW97-4gC-TIHNP2xpBw.jpeg?imwidth=350)
Concession prices are also available for disabled visitors and their companions (€8.90/ £7.50). The summit is not fully accessible for people with reduced mobility because of limited evacuation capacity. Find full details on the Eiffel Tower website.
Tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable, so you need to be sure of your date and also hope for the best weather-wise. If you’re not booking ahead, try and visit in the morning at opening time or in the evening, especially in the summer months when it’s busier. The Eiffel Tower website has a guide to its busy times and seasons.
Special visits and tours
You can book different tours and packages on the Eiffel Tower website, including guided visits or lunch packages.
Companies like Fat Tire Tours also offer ‘Skip-the-line’ tickets with a guide. The Paris tourism board website, Paris Je t’aime, also offers combo tickets with a boat shuttle or hop-on/hop-off bus via partner Paris City Vision.
Opening times
Open all year (including public holidays), seven days a week, from 9.30am to 11.45pm, or 12.45am in summer months. The last ascent to the top is at 10.30 pm, or 11pm in summer.
Making the most of your visit
The Otis lifts are part of the attraction – enjoy the journey.
At the summit (906 feet) you can take in the vertigo-inducing view across Paris and its suburbs. On the secured open-air deck you can buy a glass of champagne and check out Gustave Eiffel’s tiny secret apartment.
On the second floor (377 feet), take in wraparound views of the city. It’s a great place to monument-spot and get your bearings. This floor also houses Jules Verne, a two-Michelin-Starred restaurant with its own elevator.
On the first level (187 feet), you’ll find a number of boutiques and the bistro Madame Brasserie. There are a range of interactive displays and information panels (great for kids) – plus the adrenaline-making glass floor feature.
![For picnic supplies go to PariSeven boulangerie, about a ten-minute walk away, or the Monoprix supermarket on Rue du Commerce](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2024/07/11/TELEMMGLPICT000384859973_17207017021390_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwUSrDJFWeheSGJ84pq8G3pA.jpeg?imwidth=350)
How to enjoy the light show in the evening
Since the Millennium, the tower twinkles for five minutes every hour on the hour until 11pm (1am in summer). The show is powered by 20,000 energy-efficient light bulbs and is unfailingly enchanting. At the top, a revolving searchlight casts a spellbinding beam out over the whole city. To best experience the light show from the monument itself, go at sundown to be on the tower when the lights go on. From the second level, you can enjoy the lights sparkling above you.
How to get to the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is located by the Seine in the west of the city in the upscale 7th arrondissement.
Take the Metro to École Militaire on Line 8, which sits at the other end of the Champ de Mars. To approach the tower from the river side, arrive at Trocadéro (Lines 6 and 9), or from Bir-Hakeim (Line 6). You can also use Paris’s underrated bus system (the 82, 30 or 42).
For those who favour le vélo (cycling), there are several nearby Vélib stations, as well as spots to park e-bike rentals.
Get Ubers to drop you on the nearby Avenue de la Bourdonnais to avoid crowds and packed roads.
The best views of the Eiffel Tower
Part of the genius of the monument is how visible it is across the city, creating lovely viewpoints near the tower and far.
For prime picnic spots, try the Champ de Mars park, where the World’s Fair sprawled out in 1889. It’s particularly atmospheric in the evening when the tower sparkles. Get your supplies before and consider a loo trip before you arrive, as the public toilets are scarce. You get a great further-away view of the tower from the elegant Jardin du Luxembourg. Enjoy a picnic on the iconic green chairs that dot the central parterre.
To take postcard-perfect photos, the esplanade in the Trocadéro complex, just across the river from the monument, is the place to get that perfect Eiffel Tower shot. Head there early in the morning for a chance to beat the photo-snapping crowds. Or, café-lined Rue Saint-Dominique is a great place to snap a photo that blends typical Parisian architecture with an Eiffel Tower background. Bir-Hakeim bridge is a favourite with photographers thanks to the bridge’s distinctive architecture and dreamy Eiffel Tower backdrop.
But perhaps the most romantic view of the tower is from the water. Ducasse sur Seine, an electric river boat serving the cuisine of France’s iconic chef is a favourite. You can also hire a private boat for you and your beloved with companies such as Green River Cruises. The Bateaux Mouches is another more budget-friendly option.
Where to eat near the Eiffel Tower
For lunch
Try local gem Bleu Olive café on Rue de Grenelle, for a light bite and warm welcome – or the loved-by-locals Au Dernier Metro bistro to the west.
For picnic supplies
Stop off at PariSeven boulangerie, about a 10-minute walk away (20 Rue Jean Nicot, 75007 Paris) or the Monoprix supermarket on Rue du Commerce.
For dinner
Amble 20 minutes west of the tower to iconic Café du Commerce, featuring original 1920s dining room and top-notch bistro fare. Café Max by the Invalides is also a French-flavoured treat.
![Le Cafe du Commerce](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2024/07/11/TELEMMGLPICT000384859992_17207012467050_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=350)
For drinks with a view
For something swanky, try Le Rooftop bar at the Peninsula Paris (walk-ins only), or get a late cocktail at Terrass Bar in Montmartre for a great distance view of the light show.
![Visit Terrass in Monmarte to watch the light show](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2024/07/11/TELEMMGLPICT000384860287_17207012634790_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqWk4R1RUzV7c06LL0cC4zoUYYweLBa66lbRnHP8_oS38.jpeg?imwidth=350)
Where to stay near the Eiffel Tower
To situate your stay close to the iconic site, Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel, Hotel La Bourdonnais and Peninsula Paris each offer a unique view from rooftop terraces, suite balconies or bedroom windows. For a budget option, consider Generator Paris. Although not as near to the site, this hostel’s rooftop has a great view of the tower.
![L'Oiseau Blanc at the Peninsula Hotel](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2024/07/11/TELEMMGLPICT000384170762_17207013160110_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqNtWG4Wr3guyn1gqFswRqQu-ibwo9sdjTa8phqMEU1Jo.jpeg?imwidth=350)
Insider tips
- Avoid the overpriced cafés close to the tower for food (multi-language menus are a giveaway). Opt for one of our recommendations in our guide to the best restaurants in Paris, or explore the cafés on tucked-away Rue Cler.
- Be wary of anyone approaching you to participate in a petition, just say “non merci” politely and firmly. Also be mindful of pickpockets, even within the monument itself.
- Pro tip: You can always walk down from the second level of the Eiffel Tower to avoid queuing for the lifts back down (all the tour guides do this between shifts – I can say, having been one).