Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair as a temporary structure and was nearly demolished after twenty years before its usefulness as a radio antenna saved it — it's since become the defining symbol of Paris. Three levels are open to visitors: the first and second floors reachable by stairs or lift with restaurants and viewing areas, and the summit, reachable only by a separate lift from the second floor, offering the highest public viewpoint in the city.
Booking tickets online in advance for a specific time slot is strongly advisable and often meaningfully cheaper than buying on-site, where queues can run into hours during peak season; stair access to the second floor is usually faster-moving than the lift queue and a legitimate option for visitors comfortable with roughly 700 steps. Many visitors find the view of the tower — especially from Trocadéro across the river, or from the Champ de Mars at night when it sparkles on the hour for five minutes — as memorable as the view from it.
Eiffel Tower FAQs
Yes, strongly recommended — online booking for a specific time slot avoids the worst queues and is often cheaper than buying on-site.
Yes, stairs go as far as the second floor (about 700 steps), and the stair queue is often considerably shorter than the lift line; the summit requires a separate lift from the second floor regardless.
The tower's lights sparkle for five minutes on the hour after dark, a popular moment to watch from the Champ de Mars or Trocadéro.
Trocadéro, across the Seine, is the classic vantage point, especially at night or golden hour.
It offers the highest view in Paris, but the second floor already gives an excellent panorama at a lower cost and shorter wait, so it depends on how much the extra height matters to you.
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