Paris in Winter | Visiting the Eiffel Tower | World’s Most Visited Monument 🇫🇷 – Travel guides for couples; romantic escapes, city breaks + worldwide adventures

VERDICT: We gave 4 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!

This guide forms part of our complete France Travel Guide , featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across France.

This article is also part of our 48 Hrs; Paris in Winter series, exploring Normandy Beaches and experiencing Eurostar for the first time. Read the complete itinerary here.

Full Paris Winter Itinerary:

From its glass floor to the summit views above the City of Light

Et voilà la Tour Eiffel… this lattice tower can be found on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. There’s something about seeing the Eiffel Tower on every visit to Paris. It feels strange if you do not see the pivotal monument in France.

Named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower from 1887 to 1889, for the World’s Fair. The height of the tower is 330m/ 1083ft with the antennas. To this day, it’s still the tallest structure in Paris. There’s a cool 6-7 million visitors per year – making it the most visited paid monument in the world. Interestingly, it’s repainted every 7 years with its own custom colour: “Eiffel Tower Brown” – the last full repaint was finished in 2020.

► The 3 levels you can visit:
The Ground level: it’s free to access the gardens. The security check is tight so arrive 30 minutes early for your reservation.

The 1st Floor:
At 57m, you’ll find a glass floor, souvenir shops, even a kids playground. There’s also the Madame Brasserie restaurant, that’s casual, modern with French cuisine. Thierry Marx, is a Michelin-starred chef. It’s quite something to look through the glass floor panels as you can see straight down.

The 2nd Floor:
At 115m, these are the best views without going all the way up. While you’re here, try Le Jules Verne, the famous 2-star Michelin restaurant.

The Summit:
At 276m, you can see Gustave Eiffel’s original office recreated with wax figures. There’s a Champagne bar + 360° views, where on a clear day, you can see 60km out!

The Eiffel Tower’s LED lighting upgrade: the 5-min hourly sparkle at night is produced by 20,000 flashing bulbs, making it way more energy efficient. This must-see feature runs from sunset until 1am.

The Eiffel Tower’s Olympic legacy: The Olympic rings were on the tower for Paris in 2024 and the tower got new crowd flow systems, so much more efficient.

Booking online is recommended, but not mandatory, for most time slots, and really, that’s the best way to visit, otherwise you would wait in line for ages.

Did you know the Eiffel Tower is now sustainable? There are solar panels + 2 wind turbines on the 2nd floor to help power it + rainwater is used for the toilets.

Buy your tickets on the official site*
http://ticket.toureiffel.paris

*(3rd party resellers are often fake).

Be warned: Summit tickets sell out weeks ahead in the Summer.

Here are some crazy Eiffel Tower facts:
•It grows 15cm in the Summer heat
•It has its own post office & radio station
•The paint weighs as much as 10 elephants

It may be touristy but it’s still magical, especially at night when it sparkles. The Eiffel Tower will always be our favourite sight in Paris.

Restaurants

Le Grand Comptoir

Cafe Le Merrill

Cafe Panis

3-Course Dinner Cruise

La Favorite Saint Paul

Attractions

What Can You See From the Eiffel Tower?

Usually incredible views – in our experience, perhaps we have been lucky! Visibility depends on weather, cloud cover and haze. The second floor often provides the clearest views of individual buildings, while the summit reveals the overall scale and layout of Paris.

Trocadéro and Western Paris

Directly across the Seine are Trocadéro Gardens and Palais de Chaillot. Farther west, visitors can identify the Arc de Triomphe, Bois de Boulogne and the modern towers of La Défense.

The Seine and Historic Centre

The winding Seine leads toward several recognizable landmarks, including Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais, Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Les Invalides and Montparnasse

The golden dome of Les Invalides is particularly easy to recognize. Looking south, the dark Montparnasse Tower rises prominently above the surrounding buildings.

Champ de Mars and École Militaire

Immediately below the tower is the long green space of Champ de Mars. At its opposite end stands École Militaire, founded during the 18th century as a military academy.

Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur

On a clear day, the white domes of Sacré-Cœur can be seen above Montmartre in northern Paris. From the summit, visitors may also see dozens of kilometres beyond the city, although the frequently quoted 60-kilometre range requires exceptionally clear conditions.

Five Visitor Tips for the Eiffel Tower

1. Buy Tickets Through the Official Website

Elevator tickets are normally released online up to 60 days before the visit. Summit tickets sell quickly, particularly for sunset and evening times. If online tickets are unavailable, tickets may still be sold at the tower on the day, subject to availability.

Photo by philriley427

Official ticket office: ticket.toureiffel.paris⁠

2. Arrive at Least 30 Minutes Early

All visitors must pass through security before approaching the tower’s pillars. Allow additional time during holidays, weekends and peak travel periods. Large luggage is prohibited, and there is no baggage-storage facility.

3. Dress for Stronger Wind and Colder Temperatures

The second floor and summit can feel considerably colder than street level, particularly during winter. Wear warm layers, gloves and secure footwear. Summit access can be temporarily suspended during high winds or severe weather.

4. Visit the Highest Level First

If your ticket includes the summit, travel to the highest accessible level before exploring the second and first floors on the way down. This protects your summit visit if lines grow longer later.

5. Time the Visit for Daylight and the Nighttime Sparkle

A late-afternoon reservation can provide daylight views, sunset and illuminated Paris during one visit. After dark, the tower sparkles for five minutes at the beginning of each hour, generally until midnight or 1:00 a.m., depending on the season. Official lighting information

⁠Eiffel Tower Admission Costs

Second Floor – Elevator

Adult: €23.50
Youth 12–24: €11.80
Children 4–11: €6.00
Under 4: Free

Summit – Elevator

Adult: €36.70
Youth 12–24: €18.40
Children 4–11: €9.20
Under 4: Free

Second Floor – Stairs

Adult: €14.80
Youth 12–24: €7.40
Children 4–11: €3.80
Under 4: Free

Summit – Stairs + Elevator

Adult: €28.00
Youth 12–24: €14.00
Children 4–11: €7.00
Under 4: Free

Good to Know: Access to the Eiffel Tower gardens and esplanade is free. Summit access can close because of weather or visitor capacity.

Buy tickets through the official Eiffel Tower ticket office. Prices correct at time of publication.

Time Needed 2 Hours

Admission Paid Admission

Best Time to Visit Year Round

Accessibility Good.

Visit Official Website Open in Google Maps

Local Tip

Get there early and avoid the crowds. Go up the Eiffel Tower at least once in a lifetime!

Information Verified: 08/02/2024

The Bottom Line

This is a strong 4 out of 5 Ticket Rating. Sadly, there can be very long lineups, so crowds can gather quickly. Even seeing the Eiffel Tower up close and personal is a real thrill. It never gets tired.

Continue Exploring Northern France

Nearby Attractions

Planning Your Trip?

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With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.