Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel's company built the tower for the Exposition Universelle of 1889, and what was meant to be a temporary structure became the defining shape of the Paris skyline. The wrought-iron lattice rises from the Champ de Mars beside the Seine, with three public levels: the first floor at 57 metres, the second floor at 116 metres and the summit at 276 metres.

There are several ways up. You can take the lift to the second floor, climb the stairs to the second floor, or continue from the second floor to the top in a second lift. The first floor has a glass floor section, exhibition panels about the tower's construction and Madame Brasserie, which takes table bookings. The second floor gives the clearest views of the city's landmarks, from the Trocadéro to Montmartre, while the summit has a champagne bar and a restored reconstruction of Gustave Eiffel's office. After dark the tower sparkles with flashing lights for a few minutes at the start of each hour.

The tower suits almost everyone, although the official site states that the summit and the stairways are not suitable for people with limited mobility. The stairs ticket is the cheapest way up and appeals to active visitors, while the full lift ticket to the summit is the most popular choice for first-timers. Children under four go free, and there are reduced youth, child and disability rates. Access to the summit can be restricted in bad weather or at very busy times.

Book a time slot on the official ticketing site well ahead, especially for the summit and for sunset slots, and avoid resellers. From 29 September 2026 stairs tickets must also be reserved in advance. Opening times vary through the year, so check the calendar on the official site for your date. Bag checks are in place, large luggage is not allowed and there is no left-luggage service, so travel light. Allow two to three hours including security, queues and time on each level.

Bir-Hakeim on metro line 6 and Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel on RER C are both within walking distance, and Trocadéro on lines 6 and 9 is across the river, with the best-known viewpoint of the tower from its terraces. Nearby, the Musée du quai Branly, the Champ de Mars lawns and the Seine river cruises from the Port de la Bourdonnais make it easy to build a full afternoon around the visit.