The Eiffel Tower

Most tourists visit the Eiffel Tower in daylight. That's reason enough to delay your climb until the late evening, when smaller crowds and shorter lines make an ascent more pleasant. But an even better reason is to enjoy the tower's nighttime ambience. There is something magical about visiting the Eiffel Tower at night. Riding up the glass elevator, looking out over the streets of Paris, you'll see why it is known as the "City of Light." At street level, seeing the spotlight on the top of the Tower zoom across the Paris skyline, and the reflection of the Tower in the Seine are sights not to be missed.

After dark, the entire tower is cloaked in the warm glow of 336 light projectors and 20,000 sparkling strobe lights. And from the tower's observation decks, you can enjoy cool evening breezes as you view floodlit bridges, churches, and other landmarks in the glittering Parisian lightscape.

It was cool to see it. Saw a lot from the top.

This is probably one of the most touristy things to do in Paris, but it doesn't have to be! I've been to Paris three times, and even though I've never paid money to actually go up the tower, I've still had a really great experience. One good place to view the Eiffel Tower is right off the Trocedero metro stop. There is a large piazza type area where you can get a great view away from all the crowds, but it is still touristy enough that there are vendors selling mini-Eiffel tower souvenirs.

For the best viewing experience (thanks Tim!), go to the "Parc du Champs de Mars", which is a long expanse of grass directly south east of the tower. My friends and I went at sunset and it was flooded with locals enjoying the view. All the locals had brought wine and food and were enjoying themselves in perhaps one of the best picnic spots on earth. It seemed to be a pretty popular spot for students and young professionals. I think we were the only non-French speaking people sitting out there, but everyone was pretty friendly to us. Sitting out here with my friends and watching the sunset was perhaps one of the best experiences I've had in Paris. Bring a blanket to sit on, wine, and snacks.

The Eiffel Tower, the iconic image of Paris. Probably the most photographed spot in the world. Images of the tower elicit such a response in anyone.

I thought that the Eiffel Tower would be an awe-inspiring sight and visible from virtually everywhere in Paris. I was probably in Paris for 5 or 6 hours walking around before I first caught sight of it.

The best view of this Icon is from Trocadero, as best I could tell. I had little to no interest in actually going up the tower so I decided against it.

I arrived at Trocadero late in the evening while the sun was still out. I ended up walking down to base of the tower and then back to Trocadero as the sun was starting to set. I viewed the tower as it became lit up and the sky got darker, and then there was the wonderful light show that makes the tower sparkle every hour on the hour after sunset.

I learned quickly that if someone holding a piece of paper comes up and asks if you speak English the best response is 'No', though I liked to throw in an additional response for fun: "No, Russie" :)

The Eiffel Tower has become one of the many symbols of Paris and is one of the most recognizable structures in the world due to it’s unique architectural design. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris, which wasn’t always a great thing. When it was completed in 1889 many locals considered it was an eye sore and wanted it torn down. Novelist Guy de Maupassant claimed to hate the tower yet ate at it’s restaurant on a daily basis. When he was asked why, he said it was because it was the only place in Paris where he didn’t have to look at the tower.
The structure weighs 7,300 tons but despite this the tower still sways slightly in the wind. It was originally built as the entranceway to the World’s Fair marking the 100 year anniversary of the French Revolution. Eiffel, the architect, originally intended on building the structure in Canada for the 1888 World’s Fair, but they rejected it. Silly Canadians! Construction of the tower was very risky. Three hundred workers jointed together 18,038 pieces of iron on an open frame without any floors to break their fall. Eiffel took great precautions when it came to the safety of his builders and as a result only one man died during it’s construction.
Eiffel had a permit for the tower to stand for twenty years meaning it would have to be demolished in 1909. The city officials decided that it could be used as a communication tower and agreed to allow it to stay in tact. I bet today they are glad they did.
The first and second levels are accessible by both stairs and lifts. There is a ticket booth at the base of the tower that sells tickets to use the stairs. The third level summit is only accessible by a lift. Expect to wait in line if you plan on using the lift to get to the top. Although it’s a lot of stairs, I recommend taking them if you are capable. It has proven to be faster, in my past experiences and it’s rewarding when you get to the top. Of course, if you’re a lazy bum you can wait in line for the elevator J.
From the top of the tower you can see amazing panoramic views of the city of lights. It is exceptionally spectacular at night. From the summit you can see many of the cities famed buildings lit to display all of their glory.
On the way down you can stop by gift shops featuring Eiffel Tower souvenirs. After exiting the tower I was offered several different Eiffel key chains for only one euro, which was cheaper than they were sold for in the shops. You might want to consider taking advantage of this.
As the bells of Notre Dame Cathedral chime in the arrival of a new hour, the Eiffel Tower’s evening lights switch from a solid white to a sparkling white. The shimmery lights make for an excellent picture and may be worth spending a little extra time in the area in order to catch a picture or video of it.

I love the eiffel tower. I'm afraid of height but i really loved it. Great view of paris!

If you are ever in Paris, you have a few "MUST SEE" things to do. The Eiffel Tower just has to be at or very near the top of the list. Built in 1887, it is the tallest structure in all of Paris. Named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, it is the most visited monument in the world. Including the antenna on the top it is 1,063 feet tall. It takes 360 steps just to get to the first level if you climbing the stairs and nearly that many to go on to the second level. However, you can take the elevator not only to the first or second level. To go on to the top level another elevator must be taken and they may require quite a wait. There are two restaurants, one on the first, and one on the second floors. Even if you suffer from fear of heights, this is a must. If you ride the elevator up, you are safe inside, and once you reach the first level or even second level you can walk as near the outside railings as you are comfortable without a chance of falling. And the view is unsurpassed! You will never forget this.

I have been there last july, and it was one of the best days of my life ! The staff was very nice and professionnal, particulary this young man with blue eyes who was so handsome !

The Eiffel Tower is located on the Champs de Mars in Paris.

The Eiffel Tower is the most well-known landmark in the world, designed by Gustave Eiffel. It was constructed between 1887 and 1889. It's certainly an identifiable symbol of both Paris and France. It's unique architecture is fantastic.

The views from the Eiffel Tower are absolutely phenomenal. Paris is such a beautiful city with so much to offer.

I went up the Eiffel Tower at night and while I despise heights, I found the experience very exciting. I had a camcorder so I got it all on tape...awesome views of nighttime Paris, lit up and so breathtaking that I could have stood up there for hours! True, it's very touristy but it's hard to find sights in Europe that aren't, unless one visits a little town off the beaten trail. When I return to Paris in 2010, I definitely plan to go back up the Eiffel Tower.

This is the highlight of visiting Paris. The cities symbolic tower next to the river Seine overlooks the whole of the city of love. Built in the late 1890's for the world Expo conference, the 'Tour Effiel' has now become one of the famous landmarks of the world and, like the rest of France, is one of the most visitied landmarks in the world.

For a famous attraction, the prices to go up the tower are quite cheap and is highly recommended, and depending which floor you want to go to, the cost will go from €4-€12.50 depending if you take the lifts or stairs. My advice also for the tower is to get here really early as you could be queuing for quite some time on ground level just to get to the ticket counters.

The lifts yo-yo up and down the north, west and east pillars of Paris signature tower, change lifts on the second floor for the final ascent to the tio (anyone nervous will be relieved to know that the lifts are monitored by computer, and in the event of overloading they're automatically immobilised and unable to leave). If you feeling fit and great, you can take the south pillar's stairs, some 1665 of them as far as the second floor. There wheelchairs access to the 1st and 2nd floor.

Also on the tower are buffet bars for light refreshments and drinks and a cinema/museum about the history of the tower.

It is a truly great few hours up here, and is worth queuing up for.

Nearest Metro: Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel or Bir Hakeim

What can you say about the eiffel tower, incredible. Go see it at night around 9 when it is glittering it is most beautiful. Paris is a wonderful city and this is the crown jewel of it. To think that parisans wanted to tear it down after the worlds fair.

OK, if you go to Paris, you simply must see the Eiffel Tower. If not, your friends will think you are wierd. Frankly, though, you can see it from almost any vantage point in Paris. It is a sight to behold due to its amazing architecture and sheer size. It is the typical tourist trap; however, 100% worth seeing!

It was a fun stop during my visit to Paris, but it is all tourists. There are a ton of other Americans. In fact I ran into the Spanish teacher from my high school there. There are so many more interesting things to see in Paris. For instance I would recommend going to the Louvre or a Sunday service at Notre Dame.

A must have seen for every visitor of paris. It's cheap and nevertheless making fun. Just try it youselves!

This is one of the things that you just have to do, and some times again and again. I had been there before a couple of times but I still like to go up to the top. This time my girlfriend and I had a visit from Estonia, her sister. She was actually visiting us in Brussels for a short weekend but when she heard that we could drive to Paris she was very happy. One of the things that we had to do was enter the eiffel tower again.

Compared to the other times I had been up there, we arrived pretty late. This ment that we were in a long line the most of the day. The view over Paris from this point is amazing. One of the best things here are the different types of people that you meet - and most of the people are in a jolly mood. Yes you have the ones that feel forced to enter, like my girlfriend this time and the mothers with their kids, but most of the people love to do it. And when you are up there why not enjoy.

Well, Eiffel TOwer is, i think, always full of visitors. I decided to take up to the 3rd floor 'cause i think it would worth the line-up...:-) If i'm not mistaken the cost is around 11 Euro. Actually, it was quite nice. I mean, the city of Paris looked so beautiful from the Eiffel Tower... I went there in the late afternoon, but it was still beautiful, i think:-) But everybody suggested that i should've gone there at night. Well, I'm suggesting that you go up till the highest floor...:-)

When I turned the corner and saw the tower across the way, it hit me - I was in Paris :D

What can I say - it was absolutely amazing to be standing underneath one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. Suddenly the cold winter weather didn't seem so bad anymore and you're taken away - for a split second - to a magical place.

The lines, although they seemed quite long, moved quickly. Going up in the cable lift opened up more of Paris from a unique view and brought stupid smiles to my face.
Having to change elevators on the second level to go all the way to the top was an impatient experience - the line moved a lot slower and icy wind reminded me that it was right there as an unwanted guest.

The views from the top were breathtaking, absolutely awesome - Paris is a huge city and from up there you could see just how big and beautiful it was. I even managed to see Johannesburg :D

A definite must and next time - I'm taking the stairs...

Okay....so I lived here for 18 months before going up to the top of the Eiffel Tower...I knew that someone American would come visit and want to do it...and was it worth the wait? YOU BETCHA!!! I don't know if we were lucky or if the polution is generally that bad, but we started our trek around 4pm and were at the top just in time for a GORGEOUS sunset! I did have an added appreciation for already having a clue as to which direction is which...but sometimes it was pretty cool to get lost gazing over the city thinking of all of the unknowns that lie beneath. I was surprised that I (the "local") was the one that could have stayed there for hours just looking around...I was sure I would be dragging the others back down. The best part is that if you get bored of looking across the city (which is a bit ridiculous), you can still admire the tower itself from various perspectives. Don't be seduced by the gift shop or snack bar - those are there to take advantage of the distracted Americans and not worth your time! Do take the metro to Trocadero to get a good view from the plaza there before walking up to the tower itself, as I believe that is how it is meant to be seen. Enjoy!

The visit to the Eiffel Tower was such an awesome experience for me. I learnt that booking in groups will get you up quicker rather than purchasing indivindual tickets. I dont know what other experiences are like, but it took our group only 10 mins upon arrival to go straight in to the lifts. I still dont know how the system works, but maybe someone can tell me??? The scenery from the top of the tower is Priceless, and i would recommend new visitors to Paris to go up the eiffel for the experience...its just Magic!!!! Goodluck...

The Eiffel Tower is located next to the River Seine in Paris, the tallest structure in France.

You can purchase the ticket at the south tower base.

The Eiffel Tower at night was simply stunning...

Just take a look inside the tower while you are standing in the middle and look it up is quite interesting. It's an unfortunate that the old restaurant it used to be in the midway up the tower was dismantled.

The most noticable movie probably would be the "A View to a kill" from the James Bond series back in 1985 starring with Roger Moore. However, upon the recent 2007 pool to choose the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Tower was kick out of the finalist. But still, when I took my plane before landing into Paris CDG, it's still clearly visible as a landmark of the French....

In girlfriend Mandys words...

Very scary on way up, I cried for the whole 5 minutes (she's scared of lifts!). But it was worth it when I got up there! We timed it correctly as we went up in the daylight and managed to get to the very top just before sunset. I took a picture of it cos Im good and its the best picture Ive ever taken cos Im rubbish! And rayrays jealous cos I got it and he didnt! It was good seeing it in the dark too, as you got to see all the lights. After this we took candles and a pack of cards and played underneath on the greens beneath the tower which was very romantic! Rayray was adorable and I love him :-) It was on the date of our one year anniversary which made it even more special :-D Thank you darling! Love you MWAH!

There are a total of three "floors" you can visit. The first two are accessible by stairs but the last at the very top requires and elevator ride. We stood in a line at the bottom just to pay to go up the stairs! I can’t imagine waiting in the line for the elevator if you are reasonable fit and have some time. After too many stairs to count (though they put the number right on the stair actually) we made it to the first level. Heading on up to the second level wasnt nearly as bad and here you can find a great view and a slew of things like a restaurant and a post office which has it's own special Eiffel Tower stamp to place on your mail. From this level you can board the elevator to the top and get to see a fantastic view of Paris. In the winter it was pretty chilly up here to take a jacket!

If you find yourself in Paris and with no money, there's still plenty to do! Of course you won't enjoy such delights as a slice of pie at Fauchon, or a view of the Mona Lisa, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself just as much by simply wandering around the Eiffel Tower, or going up and down Champs Elysées window-shopping while trying to figure out whom it was that you just fell in love. Again.

There's art on the parks, artists on every corner, and you can always be stupefied by hte historical sights and architecture. Some goth churches are just outright impressive, while you'll find amusement even in the wee things like patterns on a tea cup or walking alongside the Seine. There's lots to do, see, smell, listen and taste at street markets, and lots of public monuments and attractions, where you can hang around some other tourists and find out some stuff to do.

You can ask for tips wherever you're staying, preferrably if you do so in french (or at least tries to), and browse the papers for free activities around the city. Make sure you spare some subway money every day, 'cause it can get you pretty much anywhere in the city. Other than that, just be creative and follow whichever catches your heart, and you will soon realize that, in Paris, the city itself is an activity to be enjoyed.

The Eiffel Tower is one of the sights I have wanted to see all my life.
We first went at night on our first night in Paris and was greeted by a shower of golden sparkles when we emerged from the metro station.
The sight wass truely magical and really gave you an idea of just how big the tower is.
We chose to go to the top and waited in a queue for about 20 minutes trying to dodge the sales men selling glowing towers.

The ride to the top was slightly squashed and scarey for me as I am a little afraid of heights!

The view from the top is great, the lights and the river are just beautiful!

To walk up the tower only costs 3.80€.  The first flight is the longest and they do offer an elevator up to this first platform.  From this first platform you can see a lot but you definatly should not stop here.  Additionally on the 1st platform there is a lot of great information, in English, French, and other languages that is worth reviewing about the tower, its construction, and events around it.  There are a total of three platforms and you can walk to the first two.  The second platform is less informative but has a better sight of th city as well as a tourist shop.  You must take an elevator to get to the third platform which is not always open and was not open when I visited.  There is also a cafe and some tourists shops including a post office that will stamp your post cards as being from the tower. 

Bring your walking shoes so you can make the hike. 

I almost cried when I first saw it. Gorgeous is all I can say. Must be seen at night as well with someone you love.