How to Make the Most of Eiffel Tower

With almost an average of more than 25000 visitors per day, the Paris Eiffel Tower has become one of the most-visited monuments in the world. Your visit to the Paris Eiffel Tower can be a lot more enjoyable if you go with more information in hand.

It is the most famous tourist attraction with the highest footfall in Paris. Every day, thousands of visitors go to the tower to enjoy the amazing views from the top and the stunning evening light shows.

The Paris Eiffel Tower has a total of three levels, the 1st floor, 2nd floor, and the top level. On the first floor, there are museum exhibits, a glass floor, changing exhibitions, souvenir shops, and restaurants. The second floor has the Jules Verne restaurant, some more eateries, shops, and an observation area.

The summit is mainly an observation area that is 905 feet (276 metres) above the ground. It is the highest observation deck in Europe. The top floor is divided into two levels. There is also a champagne bar and a recreation of Gustav Eiffel’s office.

The Eiffel Tower was used as a communications tower before it became a tourist attraction. Even today, it is used to transmit both radio and digital television signals.

Let us review the history and some interesting facts about the Paris Eiffel Tower before delving into the details of planning your visit.

The Paris Eiffel Tower is named after the French engineer Gustav Eiffel whose company created the design of the structure. However, Gustav Eiffel did not design the tower himself. The design of this 324-metre tall tower is attributed to Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier. This was built as an entrance to 1889 World Fair to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution.

The Eiffel Tower is made from wrought iron.The design of this tower was selected from over 100 proposals. It is the most famous example of a lattice tower or free-standing framework. During the time of its construction,it was considered a daring design due to its delicate form and the economy of its design.

The construction of the tower began on 1^st July 1887, and it took only 22 months to complete the construction. For that period, this was an amazing feat to achieve. The Paris Eiffel Tower was initially supposed to stand only for 20 years, one of the selection criteria being that it should be easy to dismantle. It was useful for communication and also so well-liked that in 1909, the government decided to keep it.

In the original building on the first level, there were three restaurants - French, Russian, and Flemish. There was also an Anglo-American Bar present. After these were closed, the Flemish restaurant was converted to a 250-seat theatre. There was a 2.6-metre-wide (8 ft 6 in) promenade which ran around the outside of the first level. At the summit which is the top, there were laboratories for various experiments, and a small office for Gustav Eiffel, which also had an apartment to entertain guests.

You might think that the Paris Eiffel Tower is a world-famous landmark only due to the beautiful views from the top. However, there are many things to see and do when you are there.

The ground around the Paris Eiffel Tower is also called Esplanade. It does not need a ticket and is free for all. You do need to pass through security to before entering this area. There are many gift shops and fast food options available here. The information centre and ticket offices are also in this area.

You can have a look at the architecture closely. This is where the statue of Gustav Eiffel is located. This statue was sculpted by Bourdelle.

The first floor has the rotating cultural exhibitions, a cinema projection screen, a section of the former spiral staircase, a children’s play area, and a unique transparent floor. There are many gift shops and dining options.It is accessible by both stairs and elevator.

Many times visitors usually skip this floor, but it is worth visiting to get a different view and to visit the unique exhibits.

The large observation deck which provides stunning views over Paris is the highlight of the second floor of the Paris Eiffel Tower. There are a few gift shops and dining options here as well.

This floor is accessible by both stairs and the elevators. It is considered the busiest level of the three because of the observation deck. You can book tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line to see the stunning views of the city from the deck.

The top floor or the summit gives a bird’s eye view over Paris, which is extremely picturesque. A champagne bar and former office of Gustav Eiffel is also present on this floor. This floor is accessible only via elevator, and there are no stairs leading up to this floor. This recreated office of Gustav Eiffel has wax figures of Gustav Eiffel, his daughter, and Thomas Edison.

Note: The summit is currently not accessible to wheelchair users.

Some of the adventurous tourists can even walk up the Eiffel Tower till the 2^nd floor and then take the elevator to the top. There are exactly 674 steps to climb. It is a great opportunity to have a look at the structure at your own pace and get to see the ironwork up close. It even saves time waiting for the elevators.

Some claim that the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower is at night with its incredible lighting. With its thousands of illuminating light bulbs, the tower is breathtaking after sunset. It is open till midnight, giving you ample time to admire its beauty.

The tickets for the Eiffel Tower can be purchased online or in-person at the booths located at the foot of the tower. The “stairs summit elevator access” are the only you cannot buy online. You can purchase these only at the tower and they are for same-day use only. The guided tour is the only one which has pre-purchased tickets.

The prices of the tickets are the same for online on the Eiffel Tower website and in person at the Eiffel Tower. Buying a timed ticket beforehand is the best way to save time and skip long lines.

Even though there are many websites and businesses in Paris that sell the tickets to the Paris Eiffel Tower, it is best to buy the ticket from the official Eiffel Tower website.

If you want to know more about the construction and history of the Paris Eiffel Tower, booking a guided tour is better. Most of these tours include pre-purchased timed tickets for faster entry.

Below are few options for guided Eiffel Tower tours:

The Paris Eiffel Tower is located on the north end of the Champ de Mars, in a large public park in the 7th Arrondissement. The tower can be found at the intersection of the Quai Branly and the Pont d’Iéna.

As you explore Paris, you can catch glimpses of the Paris Eiffel Tower from various places in the city. The structure is such that it is pretty hard to miss when you are within walking distance.

There are many accommodation options available around the Paris Eiffel Tower, which are within walking distance. The places within walking distance might be a bit expensive, but you can choose to stay a little further if you are travelling on a budget.

There are many different modes of transportation available to reach the Paris Eiffel Tower. There are various public transport options like the bus, riverboat, and day tours besides the private cabs or rental cars.

The least stressful way to reach the Paris Eiffel Tower is by using public transport. One need not worry about parking or time constraints, and it is also easy on your wallet. One can easily get Metro, RER commuter rail or a public bus to reach the tower.

Within walking distance of Paris Eiffel Tower,there are three metro stops and one RER commuter rail stop. The details are given below:

Line 6 (Nation – Charles de Gaulle Etoile) which stops at Bir-Hakeim
Line 9 (Pont de Sévres – Mairie de Montreuil) which stops at Trocadéro
Line 8 (Balard – Créteil) which stops at Ecole Militaire
RER Line C which stops at Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel

Within walking distance of the Paris Eiffel Tower, there are many bus stops.

Bus 82 stops at “tour Eiffel” or “Champ de Mars”
Bus 42 stops at “tour Eiffel”
Bus 87 stops at “Champ de Mars”
Bus 69 stops at “Champ de Mars”

You can even opt for the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus when you are in Paris. They have routes with a stop near the Eiffel Tower. The Stops are mentioned as either “Eiffel Tower” or “Champ de Mars.”

If you take the Hop-On-Hop-Off River Cruise on the Batobus, you can reach the Paris Eiffel Tower via the river as well.It has the Eiffel Tower as one of the stops. The place to get down is within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower. You can purchase tickets for the Batobus online in advance to avoid waiting in line.

There are several companies which give cars on rent. There are many paid parking lots available around the Eiffel Tower, which are within walking distance. You can also read more about the parking rules from the city’s official website. Parking lot details are as below:

Parking Pullman Tour Eiffel which is at 18 Avenue de Suffren
Parking Quai Branly which is at 25 Quai Branly
Parking Bouvard which is at 443 Avenue Joseph Bouvard
Parking Sainte Dominique which is at 133 rue Sainte Dominique

Parking Joffre Ecole Militaire which is at 2 Place Joffre

It would be advisable to avoid travelling by car to the Paris Eiffel Tower as the traffic is heavy, and it is not very easy to get parking space. Besides, the parking fees are also very expensive.

The surrounding lawns of the Paris Eiffel Tower are ideal to have a French picnic with best wine, cheese & bread. You can even buy food from Rue Cler and have it on the lawn. It is one of the best streets for food in Paris, and it is right next to the Eiffel Tower.

On the first floor, there is the 58 Tour Eiffel Brasserie which derives its name as it is 58 meters high. It offers gourmet food with a spectacular view. It has a buffet as well as picnic-style lunch options. You can make a reservation here in advance and avoid the waiting line.

The Michelin-starred Jules Verne fine-dine restaurant is on the second floor and is a must-visit for food lovers who want to splurge on some gourmet food. You will have to make a reservation well in advance to get a table here. Other than the Jules Verne Restaurant, there are fast food places and a macaroon bar on the second floor.

There are many restaurants around the Paris Eiffel Tower where you can enjoy the food with the tower in the backdrop. A few famous places are Les Cocottes & Chez L’ami Jean. There are many small cafés and bistros which offer delectable French food.

We hope this information helps you make most of your visit to Eiffel Tower. Have a memorable and enjoyable stay in Paris!