If you’re visiting Paris, France, and planning a trip to the Eiffel Tower, we have some tips to save time and money. The most iconic attraction in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was built specifically for the 1889 World’s Fair and stands at an astonishing height of over 300 meters. An elevator ride will take you to the top of the tower, where you can admire the panoramic views and visit the secret apartment of engineer Gustave Eiffel, which is on display.
Climbing the Eiffel Tower is one of the most exciting trips in Europe. Sure, it’s crowded and expensive, and other places in Paris offer better views.
But once you complete the jaw-dropping climb, you become part of an exclusive society of some 250 million people who make the Eiffel Tower one of the most visited monuments in the world.
Why You Should Visit the Eiffel Tower?
Before you read further, first of all, check some reasons why you should need to visit this beautiful attraction in Europe tour. There are so many reasons to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, but here we share some top reasons that help you to find this place more beautiful, informative, historical, and mind-blowing.
- Iconic Landmarks of Europe
- History of the Eiffel Tower
- Photography
- Beauty of Tourist Destinations
- Help of Tour Guides
How to get to the Eiffel Tower?
First of all we recommend our online taxi booking service in France to visit the Eiffel Tower with our local tour guide. Then there are many different options for you to go to the Eiffel Tower easily.
METRO/SUBWAY:
The preferred mode of transportation in Paris is the metro. The Eiffel Tower is just a few steps away from the Camp de Mars / Tour Eiffel station on the RER line C. You can also take line 8 and get off at Ecole Militair or line 6 and get off at Bir-Hakeim, which is within walking distance. When you exit the metro station, look for the Eiffel Tower and there you are!
BY BUS:
You can take lines 30, 42, 80, 82, 86 or direct line 2. When you feel close enough to the tower, get off.
BY WALK:
Luckily, you can see the Eiffel Tower from almost anywhere in Paris. Go towards it!
Best Advice & Tips to Visit the Eiffel Tower
To visit this 1,000-foot-tall ornament today, you’ll be among the crowds and pay about $30 per person (to take the elevator to the top), but it’s well worth it.
Here are my suggestions to make the visit fun, time-saving, and unforgettable:
We’ve gone, we’ve seen, we’ve “wowed” and we are here to share the best tips and tricks for visiting this magical monument. Learn how to save time, how to get there, the best times to visit, and more.
1. Don’t Book in Advance
This goes against conventional wisdom, but I feel confident in this advice. If this were Southern California, I would recommend booking early, but the weather in Paris is so unpredictable and unstable.
Cloudy or rainy weather can have a real impact on the Eiffel Tower experience, you definitely won’t want to be up there for more than 2 hours if it’s raining or visibility is low. Since timed admission tickets sell out weeks in advance, you won’t know what the weather will be like if you book early.
If you don’t care about the weather or photos and are more interested in saving time, be sure to book early. This is especially true during peak summer travel periods, when waiting in the sun can be hot and uncomfortable.
2. Keep Your Wallet Safe
While you and other tourists marvel, eagle-eyed opportunists may also be nearby. We always give the same advice when visiting any major city’s iconic sights: keep an eye on your personal belongings. Make sure your pockets and bags have zippers and never swing valuables around. A little extra caution goes a long way.
3. Consider Your Schedule
For the best, plan to arrive near sunset to take in the views, then stay for the lights as it gets dark. Thousands of twinkling lights envelope the tower during the five-minute show on the hour.
No matter how impressive the tower is during the day, at dusk, when complete darkness covers the city, the tower becomes dazzling with a spectacular light show.
4. Tour From TOP to BOTTOM
The tower has three floors with observation decks at 200 feet, 400 feet, and 900 feet, all connected by elevators and stairs. But no elevator goes straight to the top. To get there, you first take the elevator to the second floor. Once you reach the second floor, immediately queue up for the next elevator to reach the top.
5. Looking for a “Secret Apartment”
While the Eiffel Tower was being built, Gustave Eiffel built himself a little hideout on the top floor of the tower! The legendary architect used it as a retreat for quiet reflection. He received few visitors and refused to rent. Today, visitors can see the interior of the still-furnished apartment on the top (third) floor!
6. Go Down the Stairs
Save time going down the mountain. The Eiffel Tower is breathtaking, but those elevator lines. It’s no secret; that the tower is notorious for its brutal elevator lines. You’ll want to wait for them to come out on the way up, but it’s always easier going down. The walk between each floor takes about five minutes – much quicker than waiting for a crowded elevator.
Hungry? Eiffel Tower Restaurant
The Eiffel Tower may look like a thin, solid structure, but at any given moment, up to 3,000 people may be eating and drinking on the Eiffel Tower’s three observation decks, ranging from 58 to 276 meters above the ground. Drinks or selfies.
When I travel, I’m a bit of a hedonist. We all work hard, so it’s important to decompress and enjoy the sweet fruits of your labor during the holidays. That’s why I always say: “If you can, you should go in.” This also applies to eating at Madame Brassiere or Le Jules Verne, if you can.
7. Peak Experience Has Dropped by Half
If you have time, no matter what, you must go to the top of the mountain. But I prefer to linger on the second floor: for me, the best view is on the middle floor – high enough to see all of Paris, but low enough to see prominent landmarks. Don’t skip the first level: Explore its shops and exhibits, then venture up to the dizzying glass floor to experience what it’s like to stand atop an 18-story building.
8. Plan for 3-4 Hours
If you book your tickets online, queuing to get in won’t take up too much of your time. If you’re waiting to buy your tickets upon arrival, expect at least an hour of waiting, buying, security lines – you know the drill.
Once you’ve finished all the boring stuff, let the fun begin! The length of your visit depends on how many photos you want to take and how many observation levels you choose to visit. To be safe, allow at least 3 hours for sightseeing, navigation, queuing for the elevators, and, well, browsing the gift shop.
9. Take a Video of an Elevator Ride
As you glide through the Eiffel Tower’s metal frame, take a short video of the experience with your phone. This building is difficult to describe and photos don’t do it justice. A quick video is a great way to capture what the tower looks like. We guarantee you’ll show it to everyone when you get home.
10. Perform “Dual Functions”
Arrive just in time for sunset and stay until dusk for the ultimate Eiffel Tower experience. Start on the second floor to see the afternoon sun sparkle over the Seine, kissing other buildings in the area, and stay to witness the sun sink below the horizon.
Once the best light and sunset colors are gone, line up for the lift to the top. Your wait will mostly occur during the transition time between sunset and dusk, and won’t be as bad as if you were to watch the sunset from the top of the mountain.
Your Thoughts
Have you visited the Eiffel Tower? What did you think of this experience? Do you take the stairs or the elevator? The second floor or the top of the mountain? Would you recommend it to someone visiting Paris for the first time? Do you have any thoughts or suggestions to add? Are you interested in climbing the Eiffel Tower? Or do you prefer watching it from the ground? Hearing your feedback (even if you disagree with us) can be interesting and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions in the comments below!