Tourist Attractions

The Eiffel Tower is the most famous Paris sight ever and one of the most recognizable towers on the planet. The Eiffel Tower is the creation of the great Gustave Eiffel and it was built in 1889 as an entrance to the World Fair. It is the highest building in Paris, with a total of 324 meters in height and 300 steps to the second level.

There are 3 levels that you can go to for: the first has a restaurant, post office, information about the tower and tourist things, the second level is at 115 meters and has a viewing area and another restaurant (Jules Verne – where it’s necessary to book at least 2 months in advance and the meals are very expensive, but nice for a special occasion), and the third level at 276 meters, which has another viewing area.

You will arrive to find crowds of people and to promptly get in a line. After about 1 ½ hours in line you will be able to get on an elevator. The sky has to be very bright for you to be able to see far away, but at only 115 meters there is a good view. With Paris rooftops all around, you could see all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, and up and down the Seine.

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”, for English speakers. 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 is a favorite as it is easily accessible from the nearby metro station (Trocadero) and has a really nice setting across a reflecting pool.

The Eiffel Tower is opened between 09:30 AM to 23:00 PM most of the year, but in the summer time, between June 17 and August 28 it is opened from 09:00 AM to midnight. You can either climb on the stairs or take the lifts, depending on your preference. The ticket for climbing the stairs is cheaper than the lift ticket but it might also be tiring to some persons.