The Eiffel Tower (A Local’s Guide to Visiting)

👉 Jump to: History | Why Visit? | Visiting Information | What to Expect | Tips | FAQ

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular symbols of Paris and one of the top attractions in the city. But it’s not just a famous image! The Eiffel Tower is also one of the best places to get great views and pictures of Paris.

As a Parisian local, I find the Eiffel Tower to be part of the background of my everyday life. However, I’ve visited it more than once when traveling with friends and family, and its rich history and different access points make every visit unique. 

Coming to Paris and want to see the Eiffel Tower? Here’s what you should know before visiting!

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History

Before you visit this iconic landmark, there are a few things you should know about its history: 

🇫🇷 Why it was built – The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World’s Fair. During this time, two million people visited the tower. 

🏗️ How it was built – It took 22 months to construct the Eiffel Tower. Gustave Eiffel’s factory created the 18,000 pieces outside the city and then put them together on-site with 150-300 workers.

🚩 During its construction – Famous writers and artists protested the Eiffel Tower for its appearance — before construction finished! These included Guy de Maupassant, Alexandre Dumas (fils/son), and Charles Garnier.

👨‍👩‍👧 Eiffel Tower visitors – To date, nearly 300 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower since its opening. The Eiffel Tower receives around seven million visitors a year, three-quarters of whom are foreign.

Why Visit the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel Tower is a classic Parisian attraction. From the viewing decks, you can see the rest of the city and get great photos. You can also get great close-up images of the architectural details. Meanwhile, it makes a great place for portraits.

In addition to its panoramas, the Eiffel Tower has great restaurants. These are some of the best restaurants in Paris! You can splurge on a Michelin-starred restaurant at Le Jules Verne. But, if your budget is more limited, the Madame Brasserie also offers a chic dining experience.

Finally, the Eiffel Tower’s surroundings are gorgeous. On one side, you have the Champs de Mars park — the perfect place for a picnic. On the other hand, you have the Seine River. You can end your trip with a stroll down it or a scenic boat ride for even more views of Paris.

Visiting Information

Going up the Eiffel Tower takes some planning! With so many visitors each year, it’s crucial to decide exactly how you’ll get there, how much you’ll spend, and when you’ll go in advance. Here’s what you need to know for your perfect visit.

Hours and Details

🎟️ Entrance – €14.20-€35.30 adults, €7.10-€17.70 ages 12-24, €3.60-€8.90 ages 4-11, free 4 and under. Discounted rates are available for people with disabilities and one additional person. These tickets cost from €3.60 to €8.90 and require documentation.

💵 Payment Method – You can pay for your tickets online with many types of debit and credit cards: Visa, Visa Electron, Master Card, Maestro, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club International. You can also pay with a (French) check, French holiday vouchers, or cash in person.

🗓️ Booking – You can (and should) book tickets in advance at the official Eiffel Tower ticketing website. Booking opens two months in advance. Advance purchasing your tickets is important, particularly during the peak months of July and August.

If you don’t get the chance to book your tickets in advance, you still have options. You can get same-day visits online up to 30 minutes before your visit if slots are available. You can also go in person to buy tickets, though plan for long lines. 

Note that you can buy a maximum of nine tickets for the same group online. If your group is larger, you will have to visit the group website for those working in tourism and schools. 

🕖 Operating Hours – The Eiffel Tower is open from 9 am – 12 am daily. Unlike almost all other attractions, it’s open every day of the year, including holidays.

However, if you’re hoping to visit the top of the tower (the summit), avoid January and early February visits. The summit and elevators get renovated from the second floor every year. [Source]

🚙 Parking –  Finding parking near the Eiffel Tower can be difficult. There’s no official lot, as the river borders the site to the north and a park surrounds its other sides. You might get lucky and find street parking, but it can be stressful and hard to find.

Using a nearby underground car park that you can book in advance, like the Quai Branly-Tour Eiffel parking lot, will save you stress and time.

♿ Accessibility – Visitors with disabilities can visit the Eiffel Tower. There are limitations, though. If you have mobility issues, you won’t be able to visit the top or use stair access. There is an elevator that goes to the summit, but people with mobility issues can’t use it in case there’s an emergency evacuation. 

🖥️ Website – Official Eiffel Tower Website

📍 Map It – Google Maps

📞 Phone – +33 (0)8 92 70 12 39

🧑🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Tours – Deciding whether to get a professional tour of the Eiffel Tower depends on your preferences. A guide can provide you with more history and details about the attraction. But, unlike some other Paris tours, there’s no skip-the-line access for groups, so the benefits end there. The story of the tower is amazing, though! 

If you do choose a tour, here are my favorites:

• Guided Eiffel Tower Climbing Experience Tour
• Paris in a Day with Louvre, Eiffel Tower, City Walk & Cruise
• Eiffel Tower Elevator Tour with a Guide

Getting There

The Eiffel Tower is located in the 7th Arrondissement (also one of the most popular places to stay in Paris). Here are the best ways to reach the tower:

• 🚶 Walking – Paris is very walkable, and this includes the Eiffel Tower. If you’re staying on the western side of the city near the Seine River, it’s a quick walk to the Eiffel Tower. However, the tower is walkable from nearly anywhere in central Paris if you have the stamina. Central Paris is fairly flat, making for an easy walk. 
• 🚌 Public Transportation – The Eiffel Tower is close to several Métro stops. These include the stations Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel (RER C), Bir-Hakim (Line 6), and École Militaire (Line 8). There are also many bus stops within a ten-minute walk of the attraction. Notably, buses 30, 42, 69, 82, and 86 stop nearby. For more about public transport in the city, check out my guide to getting around Paris.
• 🚕 Rideshare – Rideshares can take you to most of the Eiffel Tower’s surrounding streets. Lyft doesn’t serve Paris, but Uber does. You can also use the G7 taxi service app to order a cab. 
• 🚗 Driving – Driving in Paris is not for the faint-hearted! This is especially true if you’re coming from the east or north of the Eiffel Tower, which are crowded areas. But it is possible to drive to the Eiffel Tower, though other modes are generally faster and more efficient. 

When to Go

For shorter lines and fewer crowds, the best time to go is during the weekdays in the morning, between 9 am and 12 pm. Sunday mornings are also a good time to visit. 9 am entries generally experience the fewest crowds. 

Eiffel Tower by Season

• 🌼🍂 Spring and Fall – These are the best times to visit Paris generally, but I think they’re also the best times to visit the Eiffel Tower! Late spring and early fall are especially nice for clear views and good weather. You’ll experience fewer crowds than you will in summer.
• ☀️ Summer – Summer is generally the busiest time at the Eiffel Tower, particularly in July and August. But it’s also great for clear views and good weather. The Champs de Mars park surrounding the tower is also in bloom at this time of year. 
• 🌧️ Winter – Paris doesn’t usually get too cold in winter, though there are exceptions. You’ll find shorter lines and smaller crowds, except around the holidays. Carefully plan your trip, as parts of the tower close for maintenance around January and February. 

What to Expect at the Eiffel Tower

On my first ever visit to Paris, I thought I could just walk right up to the Eiffel Tower and start climbing – nope! So, what can you expect when you arrive at the Eiffel Tower? Here’s a brief rundown of what you’ll see: 

Surrounding Park Areas

The Eiffel Tower is surrounded by the park areas of the Champs de Mars on three sides. This is where you’ll access it. The fourth side faces the Seine River, but there’s no access to the main attraction that way. 

Security

During the 2024 Summer Olympics, security checkpoints went up around the Eiffel Tower. It’s unclear whether these are a permanent feature yet but be prepared to open bags and pass through a metal detector. 

Lots of Signage!

The Eiffel Tower has multiple entrances. One is for groups only. Another is for ticketed visitors. A third is for unticketed visitors, who can walk around the base of the tower for free and buy tickets as desired on the inside. 

There are signs every few feet as you approach the Eiffel Tower. They’ll also point you in the direction of bathrooms and other amenities. The entrance to the tower also hosts a map, which is useful for getting situated. 

Finally, staff at entry points are multilingual and can help you find the right entrance if you’re unsure.  

Ticketing and Information 

Once you get to the base of the tower, you’ll see multiple lines. Look for the line labeled with the access you want: second floor or summit, stairs or elevator. If you’re unsure where to go, there’s an information kiosk at the southeastern corner of the base. 

Note that when you buy tickets, every member of your group will need to be present. It is not possible to buy tickets for people waiting elsewhere. 

Different Access Options

You’ll see several different lines of people. Once you have your tickets, look for the line for your access level and type. The lines may look long, but they tend to move fairly quickly. The electronic signs switch back and forth among French, English, and Spanish, so if you’re not sure where to go, keep watching the sign!

Restaurants

Le Jules Verne, the Eiffel Tower’s Michelin-starred restaurant, has its own entrance at the southwestern corner of the tower. You can access Madame Brasserie through Entrance 1 at the Avenue de Suffren’s south entrance. There is also a kiosk selling lighter fare at the base of the tower. 

Vendors

While you’ll pass many unofficial vendors on your way to the tower, the Eiffel Tower also has its own store. Souvenirs can be pricey, but it’s worth supporting the attraction. Choose official merchandise rather than knock-offs.

Tips for Visiting the Eiffel Tower

Tip #1: Visit the Champs de Mars too

The area around the Eiffel Tower is parkland. While the Champ de Mars looks like a flat field in many pictures, it has many charming corners. You’ll find playgrounds, bathrooms, and picnic areas here. It makes the perfect place to relax on the ground after ascending the tower.

Tip #2: Book in advance

Though you may get lucky and come on a day with short lines, don’t count on it. You can book tickets online up to two months in advance. This is especially important if you’re coming in the high season or on a holiday when crowds can be large.

Tip #3: Combine your visit with a boat tour

One of my favorite paired activities is combining the Eiffel Tower with a “Bateaux Mouche” boat ride down the Seine. The Paris Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Champagne Tour is one of my favorites. 

First, you’ll see Paris from a unique vantage point. Then, you’ll see the attractions from a different perspective on the water. Luckily, many docking stations are near the tower!

Tip #4: Charge your phone!

It may seem obvious, but you don’t want to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower and realize you can’t take pictures. Charge your phone to 100% first. If your phone loses charge easily or you plan on making stops along the way, consider bringing a portable battery charger. 

Tip #5: Plan around meals

The restaurants at the Eiffel Tower are top-notch and a great way to extend your trip. Even the less-expensive Madame Brasserie can be pricey, but both it and the Jules Verne are good splurges. You can also purchase food on-site to eat in the park if you’re on a budget in Paris. 

Tip #6: Guides are available

If you’re interested in learning about the Eiffel Tower’s history from an expert, you can book a guided tour. The Guided Eiffel Tower Climbing Experience Tour, for example, has great reviews. But keep in mind that the Eiffel Tower isn’t an attraction where purchasing a tour gets you skip-the-line access.   

Tip #7: Beware of anyone who approaches you

The Eiffel Tower is one of the top attractions in Paris, making it a hub for scammers and pickpockets. When I’m at or around the tower, I ignore anyone who approaches me. It’s better to seem rude than to put yourself in danger.

Tip #8: Keep a close eye on your belongings

I only go to the Eiffel Tower with a cross-body bag with a secure latch. Be particularly careful when taking photos. Both the photographer and the subject are focusing on the camera rather than the surroundings, so it’s a risky time.

📚 Related Reading: My guide to packing for Paris

Tip #9: Don’t use the taxi queue

There is a taxi queue between the Eiffel Tower and the river: avoid it. I took a taxi to the Eiffel Tower for twenty euros once and tried to take one of these taxis on the way back. The driver quoted me a fixed price of fifty-five euros rather than running the meter, so I took the métro instead.

Taxis or rideshares even a few blocks away will be much more likely to abide by the laws. 

FAQs

What is the best way to visit the Eiffel Tower?

The best way to visit the Eiffel Tower is to go to the summit, where you’ll get amazing views of the city. Make a day of it by booking into one of the tower’s restaurants or picnicking in the park, then take a boat ride down the Seine River. 

Can I visit the Eiffel Tower for free?

You can visit the base of the Eiffel Tower for free. If you want to go up it, either by elevator or stairs, you’ll need to pay. The only free entries are for children under four. 

Is it worth going to the top of the Eiffel Tower?

It is worth going to the top of the Eiffel Tower for the views and the experience. This is especially true if the weather’s good or you’re celebrating a special occasion. 

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The Eiffel Tower is one of the top sights for any Parisian visitor. Find more of my recommendations for what to see and do in my five-day Paris itinerary!