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The Eiffel Tower, Paris France
“There are only two places in the world where we can live happy: at Home and in Paris”
– Ernest Hemingway
Whether you love or hate it- you can’t deny it is a Paris icon! Some people can happily visit Paris and never go to the Eiffel Tower- that would not be me. The Eiffel Tower, not only represents architecture and history, it is a symbol of freedom, not only in France, but across the world. So- visiting the tower is a must do on my list.
Years ago you went to the tower ticket booth, bought a ticket and up you went. Not so true these days. As tourists continue to flock to Paris, the Eiffel Tower now sees approximately 6 million visitors annually and subsequently adopted a Timed Ticket to ease the congestion. This is most relevant during peak tourist seasons, including shoulder seasons. There are several ways to obtain a ticket.
1) Show up at the tower ticket booth. Beware- you may find out the tower is sold out, closed because too many people are on the upper levels, and long lines. If you plan to purchase a ticket in this fashion- you are best doing so arriving before opening and in the evening/night hours. It’s a gamble. If you plan on going to the very top- you must purchase a SUMMIT ticket.
2) Purchase your ticket with a tour group. Tour groups generally meet near the Eiffel Tower- so don’t be alarmed if you are given an address that is not the Eiffel Tower. Even more importantly- RESEARCH your tour operator prior to buying tickets. While most are reputable- some are not. Read the reviews, ask questions on blogs, Trip Advisor. Know what potential problems you might face. Some that you might encounter: 1) you will not receive your ticket, but rather a voucher. This means you must exchange your voucher either with the tour guide or at the ticket counter for the actual ticket. 2) There is no such thing as avoiding lines. The only line you get to avoid is the ticket counter- you can’t avoid security checks, waiting for your time slot to open, or jumping ahead of the line. It looks nice in print, but it’s not reality. 3) If you plan on going to the summit- make sure your tour SPECIFIES this as the final destination- if not, you may only reach the second level. 4) There is always the slight possibility that the tower will be closed because there are too many people on the top.
3) Buy your timed ticket online in advance– This is the OFFICIAL ticket page-https://www.toureiffel.paris/fr Eiffel Tower tickets are available 60 days in advance. You can visit the buy ticket page, click on the calendar day you wish to visit and the site will tell you the day your desired tickets will be released so you can mark your calendar. Tickets are RELEASED at MIDNIGHT FRENCH TIME (6 hours ahead for those on the US East Coast). In peak seasons- they can sell out in 15 min. In order to access the buy tickets page- your laptop/phone or other device MUST be set to French time. For example, if you live on the US East Coast, it is 6pm when it is 12 midnight in Paris (please remember to account for Daylight savings times in both countries). If you log on your computer at 6 pm to try and buy tickets knowing it is midnight in France you will be met with a window that says your tickets are not available. If you set your computer to French time so that your 6 pm now reads 12 midnight- you will be able to access tickets. If you plan on going to the top- make sure you purchase a SUMMIT ticket. Once you have your online ticket- you can proceed to security without stopping at the ticket counter. Electronic and paper tickets are accepted. While I appreciate the ease of electronic (e tickets) tickets, there is always a chance that you may not have internet service, service might be disrupted, your phone battery dies, etc. Carrying a paper back up eliminates those risks.
Ways To Tour:
There are two types of Eiffel Tower tours- climbing or elevator. They are NOT interchangeable- if your tickets say climb- you climb. The tour guide will walk with you to the Eiffel Tower, escort you through security, secure your tickets and either climb or ride with you to at least the second floor where you will learn how the tower was constructed, its relevance, etc. If your tickets do not go to the summit- your visit ends here. If you are going to the top- you will leave your guide, get into the elevator (no stairs for this part) line for the summit. The elevator holds a small number of people- so you might have a bit of a wait. To get down- you reverse the process.
How much time should you allow? At the fastest and least crowded time-a minimum of an hour to clear security and make the climb- realistically though 2 -3 hours would be more appropriate
Map Courtesy of : Eiffel Tower Official Site
Location:
Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007, Paris, Ile de France, France GPS: 48.858282, 2.29447
The wrought iron, lace patterned Eiffel Tower is located on the Champ de Mars. It is accessible by metro, bus, taxi, and walking.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is accessible by three metro lines:
Line 6 Green line that stops at Bir-Hakeim station, which is less than a 10-minute walk from Entrance 1
Line 9 Yellow line that stops at Trocadéro station, which is a 15-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower
Line 8 Purple line that stops at École Militaire station, which is a 15-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is also accessible by the RER train network, line C, which stops at the Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel station, a 5-minute walk from Entrance 1.
A Brief History:
Constructed in 1887-1889 by Gustav Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair and to mark the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution. The iron lacework styled tower stands 1,083 ft (330 m) tall or the equivalent of an 81 story building. The Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to become the tallest man-made building at the time. It reigned as the highest building in the world from 1889-1930 when it was displaced by the Chrysler building. The summit’s platform is 906 feet above ground is the highest in the European Union.
Let’s Go UP!-
There is no time limit on any floor-so take your time and enjoy
The Esplanade: Once you clear security, this is the area that is under the Eiffel Tower. It is free to all visitors. It is a great opportunity to marvel at the base architecture. A bust of Gustav Eiffel is located here as well.
First Floor: It’s 300 steps to reach the first level. The stairways are wide so plenty of room for fast movers to go around those climbing more slowly.
The Summit- There is both an outdoor (be prepared for wind!) and indoor component offering stunning views of the city.
Eiffel Tower Illuminations:
Every evening, the Eiffel Tower is adorned with its golden covering and sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour, while its beacon shines over Paris.
Onward Trip 