Look out over Paris from a height of 275 meters
Visiting the Eiffel Tower is a must when in Paris. Although we have no doubt that this French icon has been on your bucket list for Paris for a long time. Walk past Gustave Eiffel’s office, sip a glass of champagne at the top and look down through the glass floor. The highest platform where you can walk around in the open air is 275 meters above the ground. From here you can look out over the city.
The icon of Paris
The beautifully landscaped Champs de Mars park is located at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. It is a large park where many locals and tourists come to have a picnic with friends, but also to read a book in a beautiful environment. Many marriage proposals are also made here in the park, so don’t be surprised when people try to sell you roses or a bottle of bubbles.
The square on which the Eiffel Tower is built is called The Esplanade. Previously you could walk straight under the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero into the park. They have now placed glass walls around the Eiffel Tower. The view from Trocadero is therefore still the same as a few years ago. The masses of people under the Eiffel Tower have now disappeared, which of course makes for much nicer pictures.
The Eiffel Tower through the years
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille in 1889, a world exhibition was to be organized in Paris. Gustave Eiffel, after whom the Eiffel Tower is named, decided to design the entrance to the exhibition. This has become a beautiful piece of architecture that we can still visit and admire.
At first, the French were not very pleased with the gigantic building. It wouldn’t fit the look of the city of Paris at all. The Eiffel Tower was to be demolished in 1909. Fortunately, the government later decided to leave the Eiffel Tower and use it as a communications post. For example, it turned out that the antennas caused interference in German radios, which made an attack on Paris more difficult during the First and Second World War. Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was even painted completely yellow once? Meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower has its well-known brownish color. The color is darker below than above. This way the tower looks uniform from every point of the city.
Best time to visit the Eiffel Tower
The best time to go up the Eiffel Tower completely depends on what you want to do on the Eiffel Tower. Watching the sunrise over Paris sounds great, but unfortunately you can’t do it from the Eiffel Tower. Throughout the year, the tower does not open until 09:00. It is recommended to visit the Eiffel Tower just before or during sunset. During the summer months the tower closes at 00:00, the rest of the year at 23:00. The view over the French capital is always beautiful, so if you don’t mind when you get to the top, check when tickets are still available.
RATES FOR A VISIT TO THE EIFFEL TOWER
If you want to visit the Eiffel Tower, it is best to buy your ticket in advance. There is a restriction on the number of people who can visit the tower at the same time. Children up to 4 years old can always visit the tower free of charge. These are the rates for a visit to the top of the Eiffel Tower (2020):
Elevator to second floor, elevator to the top:
- Adults: €25.90
- Youth (12-24): €13.00
- Children (4-11): €3.20
- Disabled: € 4.00
Stairs to second floor, then elevator to the top:
- Adults: €19.70
- Youth (12-24): € 9.80
- Children (4-11): € 2.50
- Disabled: € 5.00
How to get to the Eiffel Tower
Wherever you travel from Paris to the Eiffel Tower, we recommend going to Trocadéro. From here you have a beautiful view of the tower and it takes about 10 minutes to walk to the entrance. You can get here with lines 6 and 9 of the metro or use the handy Velib bicycles that are located all over the city. An alternative is the Champs de Mars train and metro station next to the Eiffel Tower.
Eating with a view of the Eiffel Tower
Do you want to end the evening in Paris in a crazy way? Then consider eating at the Girafe restaurant in Paris. The restaurant is beautifully located in Trocadéro, right in front of the Eiffel Tower. Enjoy delicious food and feast your eyes on all night long!
