- April 10, 2019
- All things Paris
- Amanda Mehtala
The Eiffel Tower is of course THE must-see landmark for anyone traveling to Paris, and millions gather to see France’s Iron Lady each year. To get the full Eiffel Tower experience and truly admire its unique charm, we suggest seeing it from all angles, and we’ve listed out exactly how to do so! Planning your visit to the Eiffel Tower can seem a daunting task, but not to worry, because we’ve hand-selected all the best ways to catch a glimpse. Ready for the full Eiffel Tower experience all in one day? (or two, or three, you decide!) Follow our 5 steps for the ultimate Eiffel Tower day, à la parisienne. Did you know, in 2019, the incredible architectural feat is celebrating its 130th anniversary in style!
To begin: Climb the Montparnasse Tower
You may be thinking, ‘well why not start with the Eiffel Tower itself?’ And to that we suggest admiring the Eiffel from the OTHER highest viewpoint in Paris, the top of the Montparnasse Tower. At 210 metres tall, the Montparnasse Tower isn’t quite as tall as our beloved Eiffel, but the panoramic observatory viewing deck at the top offers a splendid sight of the city sprawled out at her feet, the most beautiful view in all of Paris and definitely worth the stop! WIth flexible opening hours, you can admire the view day and night, and stay as long as you want!
Open 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Sunday - Thursday 9:30AM to 10:30PM / Friday - Saturday 9:30AM to 11PM
Ticket prices to access the Montparnasse roofdeck range from 10-18€
Copyright Jacques Witt
Take Metro Line 6
While it may seem like silly advice, Line 6 is one of the two Paris metro lines that goes above ground, passing directly by our beloved Eiffel Tower. Imagine emerging from the tunnel, glancing out the window as you cross over the bridge, and BAM there she is! Line 6 is definitely our favoured means of transportation to get to the Eiffel Tower, building up the anticipation as the wheels draw nearer. Offering a unique view of the Eiffel Tower across the Parisian skyline, day or night the view through the Line 6 window is truly a unique vantage point! You can get on Line 6 directly at Montparnasse, and follow the line straight to our next stop...
Stop at Trocadero
After you’ve had your share of Metro line 6, stop and get off at Trocadero, directly across the river from the EIffel Tower. The large Trocadero Esplanade offers one of the best unobscured angles of the Eiffel Tower, an Instagrammer’s heaven! With the sprawling tiling of the esplanade, framed on both sides by picturesque golden statues between corinthian columns, it truly makes for a splendid view. Bonus, head into the café of the Musée de l’Homme right next door, for a coffee on the terrasse and more incredible views! For any true photographers out there searching for that perfect lighting, we recommend heading to Trocadero early morning to catch the best light and avoid any crowds, so you can get that PERFECT shot. Once you have it...drumroll please...it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. Head down through the gardens and across the Pont d’Iéna bridge...
Climb the Eiffel Tower
You’ve now seen the it from above, from the metro, and perfectly framed by the Trocadero Esplanade, you’re ready to get up close and personal to truly continue your ultimate Eiffel Tower experience. You can book tickets online up to 2 months in advance, and we highly recommend doing so to ensure availability, to avoid queing in the ticketing line the day of your visit, reserving ahead of time online to save more time once you’re there for admiring the view! When reserving online, you first select your desired date and category, and then a timeslot. Upon arrival, you will get in line for the routine security check, and then depending on whether you have reserved tickets in advance you will be appropriately directed to the entry point.
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Prices: Different rates are available depending on how high you’re willing to go up (comprised of 3 levels), and whether you opt to take the stairs or the lift. The maximum price for an adult taking the lift for the entire climb to the top is 25,50€ (price as of April 2019). Children under 4 are free, and special child and youth rates are available.
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Opening Hours: The Eiffel Tower is open all year round. Opening times vary by season: June 14 - August 31 9am - 12:45am, Rest of the year 9:30am - 11:45pm.
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Adventure Game: In honor of the 130 year anniversary of the Eiffel Tower, a brand new Adventure Game premiered March 2019 and will run through the end of the year, free for all visitors and available in English, just pick up the game booklet at the entrance. The challenge? Unlock the secret of the Eiffel workshops alone or in teams, with family or friends, to find the name of a confidential dossier, by deciphering a series of riddles scattered throughout the 1st floor as well as in the Tower’s gardens. A great interactive way to discover hidden secrets of the Eiffel Tower!
Attend a concert on the inside
If you’re looking for a more intimate way to beat the crowds and see the tower, we have the perfect solution. In Spring 2019 a trio of scintillating classical concerts will be playing inside the Eiffel Tower itself. What’s more, concert tickets come with a free elevator pass to the first and second floor, which means attendees can visit the tower in total exclusivity! We can’t think of a much more atmospheric location to listen to some of history’s finest composers: from Vivaldi to Bartok, baroque to the twentieth century, the concerts will take you on a tour of classical music’s greats. And when the music’s over there’ll be time for a tour of a different kind: one of Paris' most iconic monument.
Learn the history by seeing the musical
Now that you’ve seen the beautiful Eiffel from every vantage point, there’s one more angle that remains, a musically historic angle that is! Learn all about the history of the Eiffel Tower in an original musical show brand new to the Paris theatre scene. Head to the Théâtre des Mathurins in the heart of the Paris theatre district to catch The Tower of Monsieur Eiffel (La Tour de 300 mètres), performed in French with English subtitles. What better way to complete your ultimate Eiffel Tower experience than a night out alongside the locals, a true Parisian theatre night to wrap up a fully-charged day.
Did you know? The Eiffel Tower is celebrating 130 year birthday in 2019!
The Tower of Monsieur Eiffel will immerse you in the heart of the Belle Epoque period to tell the Tower’s incredible story. Well-known characters far and wide will cross paths during this incredible architectural feat. A true exclamation of love for the Eiffel Tower and the city of Paris itself, this brand new original musical is a must see!
So there you have it, 5 unusual and special ways to get the full Eiffel Tower experience. Care to learn even more about the story behind the Eiffel Tower? Try some of our other articles: