Eiffel Tower

Designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair, this wrought-iron lattice tower remains the ultimate symbol of Paris, commanding the skyline from the edge of the Champ de Mars.

What to expect

The ascent is a two-part journey. The elevators (or stairs) deposit you at the first and second levels, where you can walk the perimeter to view landmarks like the Invalides dome and the Sacré-Cœur basilica through high-powered binoculars. The true spectacle is the glass-floored section on the first level, which offers a dizzying perspective of the ironwork lattice below. For the most premium experience, take the glass funicular to the Summit (the Sommet). Here, you can visit Gustave Eiffel’s restored office and toast the view with a glass of champagne from the internal bar while standing 276 meters above the Seine.

History & significance

Constructed in just two years, two months, and five days, the tower was originally condemned by the artistic elite of 19th-century Paris as an "eyesore." It was intended to be dismantled after 20 years, but its utility as a radiotelegraph station saved it from the scrap heap. It represents the pinnacle of Industrial Age engineering, featuring 18,038 individual metallic parts held together by 2.5 million rivets.

Practical tips

• Booking: Tickets sell out weeks in advance. Purchase exclusively from the official Eiffel Tower website. Do not rely on third-party resellers unless necessary.
• Queues: Even with a timed ticket, expect a security screening line at the perimeter of the gardens. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your slot.
• Best time: Visit one hour before sunset. You will experience the city in golden hour, watch the transition into the "blue hour," and finally witness the tower's famous five-minute sparkle, which occurs on the hour after dusk.
• Hours: Generally open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., with extended hours until midnight during the summer.

Getting there

The tower is located at Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris.

• Metro: Line 6 (Bir-Hakeim stop) offers an iconic approach as the train emerges above ground; walk five minutes toward the tower. Alternatively, Line 9 (Trocadéro stop) provides the most dramatic head-on view of the tower as you walk down through the Trocadéro gardens.
• RER: Line C (Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel station) drops you just steps from the base.

Nearby

• Trocadéro Gardens: Situated directly across the Pont d'Iéna, these gardens host the famous fountains and offer the best vantage point for photography.
• Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac: Located just to the east, this museum of indigenous art is housed in a stunning building surrounded by a dense, quiet urban forest.
• Rue Saint-Dominique: A ten-minute walk south leads you to this neighborhood street, which is lined with exceptional bakeries and bistros, such as Café Constant, perfect for a post-ascent meal away from the immediate tourist crush.