Eiffel Tower, Paris

I always said that I would not write a tip along the lines of "When in Paris visit that big pointy thing". Still, here goes. As the most visited monument in the world, the tower has recieved over 200 million visitors in it's history.

It was for a while the tallest building in the world, and it nearly finished it's life ignobally (is that a word ?) in 1909 when many Parisens thought of it as no more than an ugly metal structure littering their beautiful skyline. It was only saved by being a rather obvious place to site radio and TV masts - a service it performs to this day.

It has recover in public affection since then, and has become a very stong symbol of Paris, and indeed France itself.

Unless you pick an unusual time (either early or late) the experience is somewhat marred by the long lines of tourists waiting to go up (you can now get on line tickets - 14.5 euro all the way to the top) and the multitude of beggers and hawkers selling complete crap.

You can however cut down your waiting time (if you havn't pre booked, and even - this is france - if you have) nand feel a little virtuous by climbing the first two sections by the stairs. At 5 euro this is one of the true bargains of Paris.
From there you can pay about 6 euro for the final lift to the third floor.

One other thing, i've heard it said that on very busy days they put out a sign at the bottom saying that the lift to very top is not working - this is a blatent lie, intended to cut queue sizes.
They will not sell you a ticket on the ground, but just get a ticket for the 2nd level, and then purchase another ticket to make it to third !

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I am probably the only person alive who had no desire to scale the Eiffel. The crush of humanity put me right off so I chose it as a grace note for photos and saved a few euros besides. Fortunately, thousands are willing to queue up for that bird's-eye view of Paris or it likely would not be here today. Built in 1887-1889 for Exposition Universelle, a 100-year observance of the French Revolution, it was to be torn down 20 years after the expo and its 9441 tons of iron sold for scrap. But the thing turned out to be such an enormous tourist attraction that the clever French decided THAT would be just silly, wouldn't it?

It is, of course, named after its architect, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, to whom we Yanks owe the internal framework of our own Statue of Liberty: thank you, France! It was also not initially loved by some Parisians who felt that it marred the view of skies so lovely they inspired the song, "Sous Le Ciel De Paris." There is an oft-repeated story of a famous novelist who hated the thing so much that he had his lunch in one of the tower's cafes every day so he didn't have to look at it! Love, hate or simply tolerate it, they've gotten used to the thing over 120 years or so. The fortune collected in ticket fees hasn't hurt either.

Although you will catch a glimpse of it from points all around Paris, two favorite viewing spots are from the large green park to the east, Parc du Champ de Mars, and from across the Seine at the Trocadéro. Champs du Mars is a great place to take an evening picnic as it's one of the few green areas without pesky "Pelouse interdite" signs: "Keep off the grass." You will see lots of people spread out on the lawn for a nosh, a snooze or a bit of canoodling with their sweethearts. For evening viewing, the Trocadéro was our favorite for easy access from the nearby metro station (Trocadero) and impressive setting above a reflecting pool.

As prices and details can change, it's best to visit the website for everything you need to know. This is also where you can order time-specific tickets for either the elevator to the 1st and 2nd level viewing platforms or all the way to the third. This allows you to skip the ticket line and get into the shorter pass-holder queue. A budget ticket also exists for climbing the stairs to the 1st/2nd platforms but that one isn't available in advance. You may also pre-book a tour.

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/?lang=en

Be aware: the Eiffel is NOT included in the Paris Museum Pass or any other that I know of. You will also encounter a lot of hawkers who will do their best to sell you cheap tchotchkes; just ignore them and keep walking. If pursued, a firm "Non!" will do the trick. Access to the tower can be abruptly shut down due to adverse weather conditions and security incidents. The tower's special "sparkling" light effect occurs in the evening for 5 minutes every hour on the hour until 1:00 AM so plan accordingly.

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loads of information has been written on it, here and elsewhere. It is the international recognisable symbol of France ,and tops for visitors with over 7 millions visiting every year.

All the dream of one man Gustave Eiffel, and the idea to serve radio transmitters on top help the French in WWI too, alerting the Paris taxi to send more troops to the front lines. The France television antenna is still there, as well as other more important uses;. the restaurants has become a must in Paris as well, and underground there is a whole world to see.

Some numbers since constructed in 1889, high of 317 meters 325 counting the radio antennas, in pure steel, and with over 18 000 metallic pieces glued together with 2 500 000 miles of rivets nuts.

The 3 elevators/liffs, runs about 103 000 kms when working, or two and one half the the circumferance of the Earth. It has 3 floors that can be visited, the 1ér is 57 meters high with restaurant, bar and rooms. The 58 resto is here , on the 2nd floor you have 115 meters hight with Jules VErne restaurant , bar and salon de thé, and the third floor is at 214 meters with a panorama of 90 kms around Paris in clear days.
the site for restaurants is here
http://www.restaurants-toureiffel.com/

new rates from april 2013, going up to sommet and elevators/lift will cost 14,50€ adults, always good tocheck the webpage for the latest event and buy your tickets in advance here
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/en/preparing-your-visit/buying-your-tickets.html

The Paris tourist office take on the tour Eiffel
http://en.parisinfo.com/museum-monuments/322/tour-eiffel-salle-gustave-eiffel?1

The rest I leave it up to you, dream on !!!

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This was my third visit in Paris. But I´ve never been on the top of the Eiffel Tower.
We decided to take the elevators. The first elevator ends at the 2. floor. The second elevator took us on the top in 300 m. The ride up to the top was so strange. I don´t know how to descripe it. I was the last visitor who entered an elevator so I stood next to the window. And there was nothing between me and the abyss except this window. I felt so bad while the elevator was on his way to the top.

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There is no structure that is as immediately identifiable with its city as the Eiffel Tower is with Paris.
We have all seen it a million times and despite knowing that there will be lots of others wanting to do exactly the same thing we go ahead with it anyway.

The Eiffel Tower was built as the entry for the 1889 World's Fair, which would celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution. Somehow this temporary structure was never demolished as originally planned. It is visible from almost everywhere in Paris. At 320 meters, it is the tallest structure in Paris. Interestingly, it is the #1 paid monument in the world.

When visiting the Eiffel Tower, most people will find that a lot of the best pictures are from the platform by the museums at Trocadero. Just walk on down and you will see the crowd waiting to go up. There are several options;

1st and Second Floors- you can go by elevator or take the stairs. There are restaurants on each of these floors.

To the top- you can only take the elevator. There are stairs but they are not accessible to the public.

Hours
15 June- 1 September- 9am to midnight
the rest of the year- 930 am to 11 pm
** you will want to come as early as possible to avoid long lines. I went on a Sunday in the late afternoon (hoping to see the sunset from the tower) and the line took about an hour and a half until you were inside the elevators.

Prices
To 2nd floor- 8.50 euro
To the Top- 14 euro
Stairs to 2nd floor- 5 euro

I personally went up to the top. I'm not sure that the trip all the way to the top was worth it, the view was excellent from the 2nd level. I suppose if i go to the Tower again I'll try the stairs, just to see how it is (300 steps to each floor, total 600 to the 2nd level.) I would have loved to eat at the restaurants- I remember the one on the second floor was a bit more pricey. The view would be super from either of them.

some thoughts;
-was it worth waiting in line to go up the Eiffel Tower? The line moved pretty quick when I was there. Other than some people trying to cut in line it was not a problem as long as you are prepared to wait at least an hour. So, yes, it was worth it.
- would you do it again? Probably not. I would love to eat the restaurants. Go to the top, probably not.
- Going up the stairs might be a fun challenge for those who are capable.

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On the MAG forum I read a number of comments, critics, on the 1000 and more often redundant tips about the Tour Eiffel so that I felt somewhat guilty having written this tip. I only hope that my review is a bit different from the others.

When I came out of the Musée de la Marine at the Trocadero I faced what is for sure the best view on the Eiffel Tower.
As on the day before I had visited the Invalides Army museum and the WW II department with documents of the German occupation, I realised that it was from that Trocadero Esplanade at the exact place where tourists are now viewing the Tour Eiffel that on Sunday June 23, 1940 around 8 am, Adolf Hitler was standing to view the Tour Eiffel and the occupied Paris as shown by that famous photo at the Army museum (photo 2). He would never come back to Paris.

These 4 years were the worst for France and the Tour Eiffel.
They ended with the liberation of Paris by the French 2e Division Blindée under command of general Leclerc on August 25, 1944 and the famous discourse of General De Gaulle:
"Paris outragé ! Paris brisé ! Paris martyrisé ! mais Paris libéré !"

There was fierce fighting at the Champ de Mars when a platoon of Spahis from the 2e DB attacked the Ecole Militaire where 250 Germans resisted during 4 hours against the French troops.
At 12.30 h on August 25, 1944 the French flag was put again on the top of the Tour Eiffel by 6 Sapeurs-Pompiers from the fire brigade of Paris. It took them 25 minutes to climb the 1665 steps under the fire of the German soldiers.

The good years for tourism at the tour Eiffel were back (the Tour Eiffel was closed from 1940 till 1945) with more than 7 millions entries in 2012! 250 millions visitors since its construction in 1889.
I read in the French press that the access to the Tour Eiffel will be improved in order to reduce the queuing. I have been more than a dozen times on the Champ de Mars and each time the queues discouraged me. Now I like to stand at the bottom of the tower and look up to the biggest "Mecano" structure in the world.

It is also the intention to have visitors spend more money once in the tower by offering more catering possibilities. Somebody at the management realised that the prices of the upper restaurant are not for budget travellers! Lunch at the Jules Verne restaurant is at 85 € and dinner at 200 €. Bon appétit!

The Eiffel Tower (located on the Champ de Mars and not the Trocadero as mentionned in the title from VT) is open every day ( From 9 a.m. to midnight from 15 June to 1 September, and from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the rest of the year.
The prices vary between 5,00 € (stairs to 2nd floor), lift to 2nd floor (8,50 €) or lift to top at 14,50 €.
Buying tickets (only those with lift included) is possible on line at http:// ticket.toureiffel.fr on a chosen day and time (subject to availability).
With the printed electronic ticket or saved on your mobile ‘phone you can go straight to the queue for people with tickets.

It was built for the Universal Exhibition
in celebration of the French Revolution's
centenary.

The Eiffle Tower hoisting the flag to the top,
was inaugurated March 3, 1889.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The number of steps if you want to walk up:
1665 steps for sportive visitors ......

There are two levels, one outdoors and the other indoors for you to
explore and discover Paris by day or by night.

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An iconic structure recognizable the world over and visible from anywhere in Paris its absolutely breathtaking!

No visit to Paris would be complete without scaling the heights for a bird's eye view of Montmartre and Sacre Couer, the Arc du Triomphe and Champs Elysees, Invalides, Champs du Mars below, Palais du Chaillot and not to mention the views of Trocadéro fountains when their in full force.

There are various rates to the tower and depending on whether you decide to visit the first two floors or the top and whether you decide to take the elevators or climb the stairs. Check out the website for updated information regarding entrance fees.

Its quite spectacular, isn't it?

Almost everybody know about Eiffel tower in Paris! so Am I, but now I see in real and its amazing wrought iron construction!

The Eiffel Tower was started in 1887 and was finished in 1889.It was a early example of wrought-iron construction in a gigantic scale. There are three sections on the Eiffel Tower; on the first level there is a restaurant, many people visit the second level, and last the third level has a beautiful view of France.

I more prefer to visit Eiffel Tower at night, because the glittering of this landmark really beautiful, and make me silence and just can say "wow...".

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It's unmistakable. You know it's Paris when you see the Eiffel Tower.

It is a must see when you first visit the city, but unfortunately it is also a beacon to welcome 250 million other visitors every year too and so expect crowds and queues.

The tower was only intended as a temporary structure for about 20 years when it was built by Gustave Eiffel for the Exposition Universelle in 1889 (it took just 2 years, 2 months and 5 days to build) and was not universally welcomed during it's construction. There is a page about the protests against the Eiffel Tower on the official website. The tower did however survive the controversy and in fact has now become much loved in Paris and around France and the world.

The views across Paris on a fine and clear day are fantastic, my favourite being those towards the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre. Possibly the views are actually better from the 2nd Floor than from the top. But do beware, even on a hot day in August on the ground it was chilly up on the tower (all floors) so be prepared to take something you can throw on quickly if you are cold. You don't want to spend all that time waiting to go up and then find that you are too cold to enjoy the experience once you are there.

The ground area around the tower is less of a delight I'm afraid. There is obviously some effort in making the area look pleasant but it is very busy with both people and traffic and attracts all the wrong sorts of people as well as the tourists, so keep your wits about you and your valuables safe and secure.

The numerous sellers of drinks and snacks are amazingly bad value and some will try to charge up to €5 for a bottle of mineral water, so take your own instead.

Then there is the queues. I hate long queues, but here you just can't avoid them entirely. To minimise the pain I'd strongly suggest booking tickets in advance on the official website and don't forget to print your ticket (preferbaly on a laser printer for clarity) before you leave home as you will need to scan them to get in. Buying tickets in advance means that you join a different queue to most people. You should queue at the Pilier Nord foot of the Tower if you have pre-booked, where you will see the seperate entrance for wise people thinking in advance. Look for the signs "Visiteurs avec Reservation " . The other thing to do is to pre-book for first thing in the morning before it gets really busy (it will still be busy on the ground, but not so busy!) as this means that when you head up the tower you will be in the first batch of people and so will have to contend with a lot less people than later in the day. In fact, for the first 10 to 15 minutes if you seperate out from the rest of the people in your lift then you will have a small part of the tower very much to yourself.

There are many different ways to get to the Eiffel Tower but I'd strongly recommend using the RER line C station at Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel and just follow the signs to the tower (once out of the station it's actually very hard to not see which way to go!). It's the quickest and simplest way to get from any station to the destination.