In Paris Eiffel in Love with Travel
We are finally in the month of February, which of course is saturated with the idea of LOVE. That’s why I wanted to share the first time I Eiffel (I fell) in love before I tell you everything you need to know about visiting the Eiffel Tower.
It was June 2013 when I was in Paris “Eiffel” in love with travel. I’d love to help you with your trip to Paris by giving you ALL the details to have the best time visiting the Eiffel Tower.
I'm excited! Let's skip right to it!
The First Time I Fell in Love...
I was taking my very first trip to Europe. I had no clue what I was doing, so I bought the BEST travel book and started planning. Imagine being the perfect combination of nervous and excited! Since then, I’ve gone back 3 times. I think Paris is the perfect place to spend your 1st time in Europe.
I studied French Language in high school and French Architecture in college. However, I always thought that going to France would be a really BIG dream for this small-town girl. To be honest, I still well up with tears when thinking about that first trip, which was so humbling.
Specifically what I’d like to share with you in this “February month of love” is all the beauty of the Eiffel Tower and the details of experiencing it.
There have only been two sights that have actually taken my breath away. One was the first time seeing my son in his Air Force blues uniform. The other was the first time I came around the corner of a side street and saw the Eiffel Tower. On both occasions, my life felt so insanely surreal.
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Architectural History of the Eiffel Tower
I remember learning in my Architectural History class about architect and engineer Gustave Eiffel. He was the one who won the commission to build the structure for the entrance to the World Fair, which was being hosted by Paris. He was 1 out of over 100 entries. (Hopefully, that gives you some motivation to give your ideas a try, even if the odds are against you.)
The structure was only intended to be temporary. It would have been taken down after 20 years if it wasn’t for Eiffel’s suggestion to keep it as a radiotelegraph station. As you know, this famous landmark is still standing since its opening in May of 1889. It is the most visited monument in the world.
Eiffel worked with structural engineer Maurice Koechlin on the project. Here’s a fun fact… they previously worked together on the Statue Of Liberty. It’s hard to believe that one of the most popular attractions in the WORLD for taking a selfie, was once a source of controversy. They even had a petition filed for the “Protest against the tower of Mr. Eiffel”. There seemed to be a discrepancy between art and engineering.
I remember learning in college that the original design for the iron lady was very simplified and sparse. The potential design issue was that it could be visually unsettling to have such a large structure appearing that lightweight and unsteady.
So Eiffel instructed Koechlin to add more ornate flourishes, particularly at the base of the Eiffel Tower. This would provide visual stability and security, although it was not deemed necessary on a structural basis.
Do you love architecture? Are you also planning to see another iconic symbol of Paris the Notre Dame Cathedral? CLICK HERE to read more about it as one of the 5 Most Famous Churches in the World!
How to Get to the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is located at Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
There are LOTS of public transportation options to get you there.
Metro: There are three metro lines that take you within a short walk to the Eiffel Tower.
Yellow line 9 – Trocadéro
Purple line 8 – Ecole Militarie
Green line 6 – Bir-Hakeim
Do you need some help with navigating the metro system in Europe? CLICK HERE to read the Ultimate Guide for How to Use the Metro in Europe!
RER: Take line C – Champ de Mars then it’s a 7-minute walk.
Boat: If the weather conditions are good, you can travel along the Seine River, then take a short walk to the Eiffel Tower.
Bus: There are 4 bus options available. You will take the bus and then it’s a short walk to the Eiffel Tower.
(1) Line 82, 30 – Eiffel Tower
(2) Line 42 – Tour Eiffel
(3) Line 60,86 – Champ de Mars
(4) Line 72 – Eiffel Tower
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The Best Time of Year to Visit the Eiffel Tower
Of course, it will be an incredible experience to see the Eiffel Tower at ANY time of year, but there are a few things to consider when you are trying to decide what is the best time of year for you.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower in the Summer
SUMMER:
The summer months are the busiest time of year for tourists. Particularly June, July, and August are each considered high season and you can expect to spend a long time at the tower just to get in and out. It will be hot so keep that in mind if you book tickets that involve taking the stairs.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower in the Spring
SPRING:
In the spring the flowers are in bloom and there are fewer tourists. The weather is great. It’s the best season for visiting the Eiffel Tower with fewer crowds and getting beautiful pictures!
Visiting the Eiffel Tower in the Winter
WINTER:
Winter is very cold in Paris. You will definitely need to bundle up to visit the Eiffel Tower at this time of the year. There are the least amount of tourists in the winter months. There’s also a possibility of snow, which would make for an incredibly unique picture of you and the tower.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower in the Fall
FALL:
Fall is a great time to visit because of the unique opportunity to see the leaves changing. The weather is cool enough to comfortably climb the stairs and there are much fewer tourists.
Getting Your Eiffel Tower Tickets
There are a ton of different ticket options for the famous tourist attraction. Of course, you can buy them directly from the Eiffel Tower website. The official website has a lot of great information like the rates and the hours of operation.
Basically, you can get tickets for the first level, second level, and/or the top of the tower.
Personally, I like to get my tickets from Get Your Guide because I can purchase them now and pay later. I like having all my event tickets in one app on my phone for convenience.
They also let you cancel up to 24 hours prior to the day of your visit for FREE. This is great if the weather changes your plans at the last minute. Get Your Guide has around 120 different ticket options for your Eiffel Tower visit!
No matter what you decide, please make sure you get your tickets in advance so you can avoid the long lines at the ticket office.
The Best Time of Day to See the Eiffel Tower
Seeing the Eiffel Tower has probably been on your “bucket list” for a long time. When you’re planning your visit to the Eiffel Tower, you want to weigh your options of seeing it in the daytime or at night. I’d recommend BOTH if you can! I know it really depends on how much time you have in Paris.
There are certainly unique benefits to each option. No matter what time you visit, you are sure to have a good time and see the most breathtaking views of Paris if you go to the top floor.
Are you planning to see the “I Love You” wall mural in Paris? In the post How to Say I Love You in Different Languages I share some details about the I Love You Wall.
Seeing the Eiffel Tower During the Day
If you want to get an incredible picture of yourself in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower, then it is a good idea to go in the early morning before it fills up with large crowds.
I’m talking about getting there before 10:30 am if you want to see it during the day and avoid the crowds. This is especially true if you go during peak season. Don’t forget, there are almost 6 million visitors per year!
Dining at the Eiffel Tower During the Day
If you decide to visit during the day you can enhance your visit with a picnic in the grassy areas near the base of the tower at the Champs de Mars or Trocadero. You can even order a picnic lunch and have it DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOU. It comes in a traditional wicker basket from Love Picnic Paris. They have four different picnic choices and a champagne add-on option.
Paris is the city of love. Your day can’t be any better than having a romantic picnic lunch at the Eiffel Tower!
Are you hungry for delicious French cuisine? Check out some Restaurants in Paris You will Fall in Love With!
Seeing the Eiffel Tower at Night
There is nothing in the world quite like the view of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower at night! If you are visiting in the evening then you want to go between 8:00 – 10:30 pm. The last entry is at 11:45 pm, but I don’t suggest waiting that late to go.
If you are there after sunset, then you are in for a special surprise because the entire tower sparkles with lights. There are 20,000 light bulbs that sparkle like nothing you’ve ever seen. The light show lasts for 10 minutes, and takes place every hour, on the hour, until 1:00 am.
Tip: I want to warn you from experience to make sure you schedule ample time for entering and exiting the tower if you want to catch the light show. Without a doubt, it seems to take less time to go up than it does to come down. It’s because they have several ways to get to the top, but only two ways down. We were there very late and literally RUNNING down the stairs to try and catch the last light show of the night.
Dining at the Eiffel Tower at Night
If you’re planning to visit at night you can have a romantic dinner experience at the Eiffel Tower restaurant, Le Jules Verne – at the top of the Eiffel Tower. It is located on the 2nd floor inside of the tower.
This amazing dining experience, with a view of the city of lights, is sure to be a favorite memory. (Make sure to check their limited hours before you go.)
Again, no matter what time of day, or time of year, that you decide to visit the Eiffel Tower I encourage you to get priority tickets in advance so you can skip the line. That way you don’t have to worry about them selling out and you don’t waste precious time waiting in a long ticket line.
I truly hope you love visiting Paris as much as I do. Au revoir travel buddy!
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