Since it was first unveiled at the Paris World Exposition in 1889, the tower has gone from being seen as a hated eyesore to slowly becoming accepted as a representative icon of the elegance of Paris. No trip to Paris is complete without taking an exhilarating ride or climb to the top of the tower and getting a view of the city of lights that is Paris.
There are three levels in the tower. The first level hosts a gallery that speaks to the towers history and design. It also has exhibits ranging from interactive informational exhibits to historical pieces such as the hydraulic pump that once supplied water to a former elevator. The second level features a glass floor where you can see straight through to the ground. Both of these levels are accessible by elevator which most visitors use, or a series of stairs for the more energetic visitor. The final level at the top is only accessible via elevator and provides a breathtaking view of Paris. The final level also hosts a reconstruction of Gustave Eiffel's office with wax figures of Gustave Eiffel and Thomas Edison.
The tower also hosts a glittering lightshow every hour on the hour from sundown to 2 am during the summer.
Where should I buy tickets?
The ideal place to buy a ticket to the tower is online at the official tower website http://ticket.toureiffel.fr/index-css5-sete-lgen-pg1-lgen.html . We strongly recommend buying ticket in advance, preferably months in advance as tickets tend to get sold out for prime viewing times. On this site you need to pick a date and time you'll have to show up at, and then just print out the ticket at home and present it at the pre-purchase line at the base of the tower when you get there. For tickets to the summit (3rd level) Adult tickets are €14, youth (ages 12-24) tickets are €12.50 and children (ages 4-11) as well as handicapped visitors and their assistants are €9.5. Babies get in free.
If tickets online are sold out, can I buy tickets at the tower?
Yes you can, but keep in mind that lines can be several hours long. If you find yourself stuck without a ticket and looking at long lines, a good alternative is to climb the stairs to the second level and take an elevator from there to the third level. If you buy a stair ticket, you'll have to buy an additional lift ticket to go from the second to the third level if you want to go to the very top. There are about 1700 stairs to the second level, and should take most people about 20 to 30 minutes. The views all the way up are beautiful and if you're claustrophobic and want to avoid the crowded elevators this is a rewarding way to ascend the tower.
Are there refreshments available at the tower?
Yes! Every floor has something for sale, and you can even get a glass of champagne at the summit to enjoy with your view.
What is the best time to visit?
We recommend planning to be at the summit before sunset so you can watch the sun go down. However this recommendation changes if you're going on a rainy day or in winter when it can get bitterly cold. If you're going in summer, booking a lift time an hour before sunset is ideal. There is no limit to how much time you can spend at the tower, but keep in mind that it gets very crowded the higher up you go and there's no sitting area at the summit.
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