Eiffel Tower

Engineering & Modern · France · Europe

Eiffel Tower in France — engineering & modern world miracle

Eiffel Tower is one of the 100 world miracles — an engineering & modern highlight in France, Europe. Below: what makes it special, what to expect on site and everything you need to plan a visit.

About Eiffel Tower

Few silhouettes are as instantly recognisable as the Eiffel Tower, the 324-metre iron lattice that has defined Paris's skyline since 1889. Built as the centrepiece of the Exposition Universelle marking the centenary of the French Revolution, it was always meant to be temporary — a 20-year demonstration of French industrial prowess. Instead, it became the most-visited paid monument in the world, drawing nearly seven million people each year. The design came from the office of Gustave Eiffel, with engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier doing much of the structural work, and architect Stephen Sauvestre softening the look with decorative arches at the base. The numbers are staggering: 18,038 wrought-iron parts, 2.5 million rivets, all held together by precision joinery rather than welding. The whole thing weighs around 10,100 tonnes, yet exerts less pressure on the ground per square centimetre than a person sitting in a chair. When it opened, the tower was deeply unpopular with the Parisian artistic establishment. A famous petition signed by Maupassant, Dumas and Gounod denounced it as a "useless and monstrous" iron asparagus. Maupassant reportedly ate lunch at the tower's restaurant every day, claiming it was the only place in Paris where he didn't have to look at it. Public opinion shifted the moment the lifts opened and visitors discovered something nobody had ever experienced before: a panoramic view of an entire major city from above. The tower survived because it turned out to be useful. It became a radio transmitter — crucial during the First World War — and later a TV antenna; today it still hosts broadcasting equipment, which is partly why it tops out at 330 metres including aerials. During the Occupation, Parisians cut the lift cables so the Nazis would have to climb on foot, and a German soldier had to scale the structure to hoist a swastika flag at the top. Visiting today is a layered experience. The first floor, 57 metres up, has a glass walkway you can stand on and a small museum about the tower's history. The second floor, at 115 metres, is where most photographers head for the panorama. The summit, at 276 metres, requires a separate lift and on a clear day delivers views up to 70 kilometres in every direction. Best of all is the hourly sparkle: for five minutes on every hour after sunset, 20,000 LED bulbs light up the iron and turn the whole tower into a champagne flute.

Highlights

  • ✦ 324 m tall iron lattice tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair
  • ✦ Most-visited paid monument in the world
  • ✦ Was meant to be temporary but became a global icon

Practical info

Best time to visitApril–June or September–October (mild weather, fewer crowds than July–August).
Entry costLift to the top from about €36.70, lift to the 2nd floor from about €22.60, stairs to the 2nd floor from about €7. Check the official site for current prices.
Days needed2–3 hours for the tower itself; combine with Champ de Mars & Trocadéro for a half day.
Getting thereMetro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim or RER C to Champ de Mars. Taxi/Uber from central Paris ~15 min.
Nearest airportFrom CDG: ~45–60 min by RER B + metro, ~35–50 min by taxi. From Orly: ~30–45 min by Orlyval + RER.
Crowd levelAlways busy — book timed tickets online weeks ahead.
SafetySafe overall, but pickpockets are very active around the tower and metro. Keep bags zipped.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower?

A lift ticket all the way to the summit costs around €36.70 for an adult booked online; going by stairs to the second floor then lift to the summit is cheaper, from about €7 for the stairs portion at ground level onsite only. Booking your exact time slot online in advance is strongly recommended, since walk-up queues can run over an hour.

Which metro station is closest to the Eiffel Tower?

Bir-Hakeim (line 6) and Trocadéro (line 9) are both about a 5-10 minute walk from the tower, on opposite sides of the Seine, so either works well depending on your onward route. The RER C station Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel is the closest of all, right at the foot of the monument.

Is it worth paying extra to reach the summit rather than just the second floor?

The second floor already gives excellent close-up views of Paris and is far less crowded, so many visitors find it sufficient. The summit adds height and a wider panorama plus a small champagne bar, but the queues and price are both higher, so it's worth it mainly if photography from maximum height is your priority.

How long do you need to visit the Eiffel Tower?

Budget 1.5-2 hours total if you have a pre-booked time slot, including security, the lift rides and time on the viewing platforms. Add 30-60 minutes of extra buffer if you're buying tickets on-site, since queues without a reservation can be substantial, especially in summer.

What is the best time of day to visit the Eiffel Tower to avoid crowds?

The first slots after opening, around 09:00, and the last ascent slots before closing tend to be quietest. Evening visits let you see Paris lit up and catch the tower's hourly light-sparkle show after dark, though evening slots are also popular and sell out first.

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