No trip to Paris is complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower! Built for the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower has now become the icon of France. Visited by almost 7million people a year, the Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid for attraction in the world. There are three levels to visit, two restaurants and a champagne bar at the top.
Getting up the Eiffel Tower
The first time I went to Paris, six years ago, anyone could walk and stand under the tower. Recently security has been added and you now have to pass through security and bag checks if you want to get up close to the Eiffel Tower. Once under the Eiffel Tower you’ll notice two ticket lines, one really long one that snakes around the base, and one significantly smaller one. Unsurprisingly, the shorter line is for access to the stairs. You have two options for getting up the Eiffel Tower: the almost 700 stairs which will take you to the second level, or the elevator which stops at each floor. I personally have only ever climbed the stairs and I don’t find it to be too difficult. However, the stairs do only go as far as the second level, if you wish to go all the way up to the third floor you can purchase an elevator add on when you buy your ticket. Tickets for stair access are 10€ to get to the second floor or 19€ if you did want to take the elevator from the second to third floor. If you do want to take the elevator up it’s 16€ for access up to the second floor or 25€ to go to the top. You can buy tickets online and book a time slot to visit in advance which is a great idea if you are planning to take the elevator up. If you are able to though I would recommend taking the stairs as you get to enjoy the views and structure on the way up and you can stop at landings along the way and read the posted facts about the tower. We went first thing in the morning and only waited about 5 minutes in line to get our tickets.
Eating at the Eiffel Tower
Wether you’re looking for a quick snack or a Michelin star dinner, they have it and everything in between here. Starting on the top floor they have a champagne bar, you can sip on champagne while you enjoy the 360 degree views of Paris. Alcohol-free drinks are also available so there’s something for everyone. On the second floor you’ll find the macaron bar because no trip to Paris would be complete without eating at least one macaron. There you’ll also find Michelin star rated The Jules Verne. Currently closed for renovation and reopening again in the spring of 2019 serving incredible French cuisine and wines. On the first floor with unique chic-picnic concept is 58 Tour Eiffel. Starting at 39€ per person at lunch you can select a starter, main course and dessert which is brought to your table in a picnic style basket. Or dinner starts at 86€ per person and includes a welcome glass of champagne. We ate at 58 Tour Eiffel for lunch and it was incredible. No matter where you sit you are getting beautiful views through the floor to ceiling windows. All the food is prepared fresh each day to accommodate the changing seasons and availability of ingredients. I highly suggest the chocolate mousse for dessert, it melts in your mouth. However, if you are looking for just a quick snack on the ground, first and second floors there are the Buffets which offer a selection of hot foods, sandwiches, and hot and cold drinks to eat-in or take-out.
The Eiffel Tower at Night
Height restrictions were placed on builders due to all the tunnels that have been dug underneath Paris since the Roman times, because of these restrictions, there are no skyscrapers within the city core. Most buildings are only about five or six stories tall giving you a view of the Eiffel Tower from all over the city if you’re high enough. A total of 20000 light bulbs light up the tower starting at dusk and every hour on the hour until 1am it lights up with shimmering lights for five minutes. There are plenty of places around the city to get a fantastic view of the light show. Our first place we visited to view the tower was the Arc de Triomphe. Make sure you check what time sundown is and leave yourself enough time to climb the stairs to the top and get a good spot. This is a popular place to view the show as you get to view the Paris landscape at the same time. It does get very crowded up there but if you arrive before sunset you shouldn’t have a problem finding a spot. For a more direct view of the Eiffel Tower try Place de Trocadero or gardens at Trocadero. Or garb a blanket and head over to the Champs de Mars, a large public green space between the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire. Here you will probably get one of the best views of the tower and you can sit and relax while you watch. The only obstruction you might get is the occasional person who decides to standup for a photo. It gets very hot and very busy in the summer and the grass gets dry and trampled; therefore, I do highly recommend bringing a blanket or something to sit on especially in the summer if you don’t want to be covered in itchy dry grass.
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Make sure to check opening times and days as it’s not uncommon for big attractions in Paris to be closed on certain weekdays. Always double-check and plan accordingly to make sure you see everything you’d like to see!