Eiffel Tower Guide, Paris, France
A view of the Eiffel Tower from the Pantheon with the golden dome of Napoleon’s tomb in Hôtel des Invalides nearby.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower
Straddling the well-trodden grass of Champ de Mars, this symbol of Paris was the world’s tallest building – at 321m – when it was built for the Exposition Universelle (World Fair) in 1889. La Tour Eiffel is famous for its panoramic views and infamous for long lines for the lifts.
The tower from a Seine tourist boat.
Arguably the world’s most recognisable tourist sight but less attractive the closer you get to the brown beast and the barbarian hordes clustering at its gates.
An excellent first Tower viewpoint from Place du Trocadero, Trocadero Metro.
The latter half of a snaking line for the Eiffel Tower lift, probably taking 1-2 hours to reach the ticket office alone. Book online, weeks before in high season!
A shorter line, though still slow moving at 45 minutes, for stairs to the ‘saturated’ (their words) second level.
A panorama from the second level of the Eiffel Tower. Original photo by King of Hearts.
To avoid lining up for hours…
Buy your tickets online for a specific half-hour time slot, up to one month before your intended trip at Tour-Eiffel website. Print out the ticket then get to the entry just 10 minutes before your time and look for priority boarding.