Eiffel Tower

By patrick, edited by tjacks55

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View from Eiffel Tower

An iconic landmark of Paris, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most well-known destinations in the world and the tallest building in Paris. Although it was first criticized as an eyesore, today it is revered and actually a magnificent sight to behold.

The tower was built in 1889 by gifted engineer Gustave Eiffel, who is also responsible for the Statue of Liberty. The Eiffel Tower was his crowning achievement, after which he spent most of his time maintaining the tower (since it was actually built to last only 20 years).

Practically, you might not actually want to go up the tower. The crowds are always very long, and it can take up to 4 hours to get up. There are great views of the Paris skyline from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, or from Montmartre as well. There are a few ways to skip the line or shorten your queuing time, such as booking on to a tour or making a reservation at the Jules Verne restaurant.

But if you must go up, go very early in the morning (8am), or later at night like 10pm. There are elevators to the second floor (8 euros) and to the top floor (16 euros). Active visitors can take the stairs to the second floor, but this will still cost money (4.50 euros).

There are 3 levels.
Level 1: Reach by elevator, or climb 345 steps. There's a post office here.
Level 2: Reach by elevator, or climb 359 steps more. The Jules Verne restaurant, one of the best in Paris, is here. It is pricey.
Level 3: The very top of the tower, at 276m above ground. Take double-decker elevators to the top, which can hold 400 people at a time.

The tower sits in front of a large and scenic park, so consider relaxing here for a bit and having a baguette sandwich.


The tower is open from 9:30am to 11:45pm daily. It is incredibly crowded so go either early in the morning, or later at night (after sunset). Many visitors do not actually go up, instead going up the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, or Montmartre.

Take RER C-line to Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel station. The tower is centrally located and often in walking distance of other major attractions like the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees.

Official Eiffel Tower website




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