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Visiting the Eiffel Tower Tips; Best views, cheapest tickets etc

Did you know that Paris is always fighting with Bangkok to be the most visited city in the world? And if you come to France, then visiting the Eiffel Tower is perhaps the number one thing on people’s travel bucket lists! In fact, it’s the most visited, ticketed monument in the world. Wowzer.

But visiting the Eiffel tower can either be the highlight of your trip, or a messy, crowded disaster. Believe me, I’ve been on both sides of that coin! With a little bit of planning though, an idea of the best viewpoints, the best time to visit, whether or not to take a tour, and whether or not to climb it, your trip will be perfect.

That’s where I come in! Learn from my mistakes, and check out my visiting the Eiffel Tower tips. It should really help I promise.

Visiting the Eiffel Tower

I know, it’s confusing. You need to break it down and not stress out. So when you visit the Eiffel Tower think of it like this:

• Getting there. It’s easiest by Metro. See below.
• irst, do you want to climb it. Yes/No? I have visited both climbing it, and not climbing it. There are merits to both.
• If you want to climb, do you want to go ALL the way to the top? Or not? And if yes, do you want to take the stairs, or the lift (different tickets, and different prices).
• The Eiffel Tower is broken down into 4 sections: Esplanade, 1st Floor, 2nd Floor and Top. The Esplanade is the space at the bottom, with the grass. Then the 3 floors have different things/cafes/restaurants along the way. The Champagne bar at the top being the highlight!

So, when you visit the Eiffel Tower the best way to do it is:

Arrive by metro to Trocadero (the best views are from that side). Walk all the way across the River Seine, passed the Eiffel Tower to the Champs de Mars, the other view point, with the grass.

Then use your (PRE-BOOKED!) ticket to enter the Eiffel Tower Esplanade. An hour or 2 before sunset is best. And then begin to climb. The stairs are more fun in my opinion. Then finish off with a glass of (admittedly overpriced) Champagne at the bar at the top (€20). Finish up with a dinner River Cruise on the Seine, just for sunset as the Eiffel Tower lights up. Perfect!

Best Views of the Eiffel Tower

As is often the case with these iconic buildings, the best views don’t involve being inside the building itself. Why? Because when you’re IN it, you can’t see it!

Trocadero Metro Walk

With that, the best viewpoints of the Eiffel Tower start with walking from Trocadero Metro to the Eiffel Tower. You get a great view from the stairs.

River Seine Balloons

As you walk from Trocadero towards the Eiffel Tower, you go over a bridge atop the Seine River. Here, 99% of the time are the guys with the balloons. For an extortionate 5-20 Euro (depending on how many pics you want) you can get the iconic, cheesy but cool romantic balloon shot!

Champs De Mars Garden

20 minute walk from Trocadero Metro, passed the Eiffel Tower itself, and you’ll find yourself in the Champs De Mars garden. Here you can get the iconic shot below. Or even better, the one where you pretend to be picking up the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower Ticket Prices

There are a whole confusing set of different Eiffel Tower Tickets. I hope I can make it clearer!

You can buy a ticket to either the second floor, or the top. And then you can decide whether to take the stairs (cheaper) or lift (more expensive). When you book your ticket online, you can also choose your time so you can avoid queues too. You can book up to 2 months in advance.

NOTE: TICKETS ALWAYS SELL OUT. BOOK ONLINE IN ADVANCE!!!

If you miss your chance buying online, you can show up and try to get a ticket at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. This is often possible, but if your heart is set on climbing the Eiffel Tower, it’s really much better to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Can you climb the Eiffel Tower?

Yes, kind of. Depending on which ticket you buy, can visit second or second and third floor (all tickets include the first floor)

2nd floor:

You can buy a ticket, and then access the 1st floor. From there your depending on your ticket, you go by stairs or life to the second floor.

2nd to 3rd floor:

From the second to the 3rd floor, first you need to make sure you have a ticket that grants you access to the top. Then you can take one of the 6 lifts. Be aware that security check is strict and can be long.

Eiffel Tower Opening Hours

There are 2 different sets of Eiffel Tower opening times. Summer and the rest of the year. Summer is 9am until almost midnight. Rest of the year is just half an hour later opening, and an hour earlier shutting. 9.30am to 10.45PM.

Does the Eiffel Tower light up every night?

Yes, every night before sunset the Eiffel Tower lights up.

Where is the Eiffel Tower

It’s in South West Paris. The best way is by Metro. Ideally to the Trocadero Metro stop.

Final thoughts on visiting the Eiffel Tower

As I mentioned above, it’s iconic. You can’t miss it. Should you climb it? If it’s your first time visiting Paris, then yes, you probably should. I did the first time I visited. But in the 3rd, 4th time since I’ve been back, I didn’t bother climbing it again. For me, it’s a once-only event.

So, first time? Do it. But don’t forget to book online first!

A brief history of the Eiffel Tower; Some Eiffel Tower Facts

I don’t want to bore you, don’t worry. If you really cared that much about the Eiffel Tower’s history, you’d check out the wiki page. This is just enough info to impress your friends and pretend you’re cultured:

When was the Eiffel Tower Built?

Construction started 28th January 1887, and finished on the 15th March 1889.

Who built the Eiffel Tower?

Gustave Eiffel designed and oversaw the construction of the Eiffel Tower.

Is the Eiffel Tower a world wonder?

No it’s not. It misses out on the 7 new wonders of the world.

Who now owns the Eiffel Tower?

It’s now owned by the City of Paris. So it belongs to France, as a nation, rather than being privately owned.

How high is the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel Tower is 330m (1,083 feet) tall. Of that the actually building is 300m (984ft), with the last 30m made up from the spire/tip. The top floor is at 276m (906 feet)

How many people visit the Eiffel tower each year?

7 million people each year ascend the tower. But how many people see it, without climbing it? That’s unknown but believe to be in excess of 25 million a year.

Can you climb the Eiffel Tower?

You can. But you do need tickets.

Was the Eiffel tower ever the tallest building in the world?

It was indeed. From when it was finished in 1889 until 1930, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world (until the Chrysler building overtook it).