Guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower
Whether you admire it from outside the newly erected perimeter fencing, or climb amongst the iron work of its impressive structure, no trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower.
For our first time exploring Paris as a family, we decided to make this the main focus of our day and allocated the necessary 3-4 hours required to fully enjoy the experience.
The kids were taken aback by the sheer height of the tower, especially appreciating just how tall it was when we reached the summit. We were also surprised to learn that the Eiffel Tower was only intended to be a temporary structure when it was constructed in 1889. So that left one of us slightly unnerved and stating that it was well overdue to collapse!
Luckily, all fears were (mainly) set aside and we embarked on our ascent to the summit. It was certainly a high point (excuse the pun) of the day.
1. Booking your Eiffel Tower tickets
As when planning any visit to a popular tourist attraction, I highly recommend booking tickets before you arrive. Not only does this guarantee you entry, it also saves a huge amount of queueing time. And standing in queues was something we did a great deal of during our Eiffel Tower experience.
We booked our tickets through the official Eiffel Tower website: www.toureiffel.paris
Tickets are priced according to:
- age
- how high you wish to travel up the tower
- whether you want to take the lift or walk
When booking tickets online you'll be required to choose a desired time slot. This is the time you begin your ascent. You'll need to allow yourself at least 15 minutes prior to this to pass through the first line of security outside the tower.
Hint: You can only pre-purchase tickets for the lift. If you're feeling energetic and wish to climb the stairs to the 2nd floor, you'll have to purchase your ticket at the ticket office located at the South pillar.
Hint: There are no stairs to the summit. To reach the very top of the tower, you'll need to purchase a separate ticket which allows you to board the lift from the 2nd floor.
2. What to do upon arrival at the Eiffel Tower
Guests with pre-purchased tickets gain access to the Eiffel Tower esplanade through the much shorter security line signposted 'Visitors with tickets'.
Those wishing to buy tickets on arrival, will need to pass through a different security line, before joining another queue to purchase them.
All guests are then required to head through a more rigorous security check, before queueing for the lift. I'm sure you're starting to see a pattern here. During busy times, expect to stand in many long queues before you even begin to ascend the tower.
On our visit, it took us an hour from arriving at the Eiffel Tower entrance, to getting in the lift to the 2nd floor. So you'll need to plan accordingly.
3. Fun on many levels:
The Eiffel Tower has 4 levels to explore:
The Esplanade
This is one of the best areas to fully appreciate the sheer beauty and scale of this fabulous structure.
Here, you can get up close to the four pillars, admire the design detailing, and look up through the heart of the tower.
As well as the new glass wall perimeter, there are also a number of gardens being added which enhance the whole experience by enabling visitors to view the tower from a completely new perspective.
Level 1
This is where we spent a large portion of time, as there's so much to see and do on this level.
We tested our nerve by stepping out onto the glass floor overlooking the esplanade nearly 60m below, learnt more about the Eiffel Tower and it's history through the interactive touchscreens located here, and took a step back in time through the video footage playing in the CinEiffel.
Level 1 is also the location of the 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant which serves a selection of (what we thought were) reasonably priced hot meals.
If you're looking for something a little lighter, there's also a small cafe on this level. Which is where we enjoyed a selection of hot and cold drinks, plus a huge donut and muffins.
Hint: If you're travelling up the Eiffel Tower in the lift, you will only be permitted to exit on level 1 if you have a restaurant reservation. All other guests must ascend to Level 2. Therefore, I recommend allowing plenty of time to explore this level during your descent.
Level 2
Obviously, the main focus of the second floor are the breathtaking views of Paris. As you walk the circuit look out for other iconic Parisian landmarks. See if you can spot the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and, on a clear day, Sacre-Coeur.
There's another restaurant on this levels, plus a souvenir shop - as there is on level 1.
The Summit
To fully appreciate the height of the tower and the views, I highly recommend travelling to the summit.
Whether you've arrived at the second level by stairs or lift, everyone is required to travel to the summit via one of the 4 lifts which operate between these 2 levels. It does cost extra and you'll need to ensure your ticket includes access to the top level (or purchase a ticket on the 2nd floor), but we all deemed it worth the cost.
This is where you'll find Gustave Eiffel's office/apartment, which he built to enable him to host parties and private gatherings. What a fantastic invitation that must have been.
If you're celebrating a special occasion, there's a small champagne bar at the very top of the tower, where you can purchase a glass of champagne for between 13-22 Euros.
And if you get caught short, there's even a toilet here.
But, what we really wanted to experience were the sights from this high vantage point. Despite the overcast day, we weren't disappointed. It was breathtaking.
Whichever way you travel up and down the Eiffel Tower, I recommend walking at least part of the way so you can get close to the framework. We walked down the stairs from level 2. It was an easy walk and provided even more interesting views:
Our trip up and down the Eiffel Tower was a magnificent experience. We were all so glad we took the time to fully explore everything this wonderful attraction has to offer, making memories we'll all treasure.
If you're planning a trip to Paris, I highly recommend including a visit to this spectacular structure in your itinerary. Discover how we worked it in to our day in the post below.
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