The world’s most popular paid attraction is the Eiffel Tower. Understandably, seeing the Eiffel Tower is on many people’s travel bucket list. While some may be content with having the tower as the backdrop in selfies and family photos, many also choose to go up the iconic structure. Here are some tips for visiting the Eiffel Tower with kids (or without too) to ensure a pleasant experience.
History of the Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel’s company originally built the Eiffel Tower, also called the “Iron Lady”, for the 1889 World’s Fair to honor the French revolution’s 100th anniversary. At that time, it was the world’s tallest structure. The builders meant its construction as a temporary installation.
French artists, particularly, considered the wrought iron structure an eyesore and received it with skepticism. In 1909, there was almost a plan to take it down, but officials decided to save it by repurposing it as a radiotelegraph station and radio antennae tower for the military.
Getting the Tickets
Buy your tickets early online. Once you know your itinerary and you’ve set a day to go up the Eiffel Tower, book your tickets online quickly with available time slots. This is especially important if you’re traveling during the holidays and summer.
We booked our tickets two months before our June visit. Many time slots in the morning and around sunset were already gone. It’s an easy and straightforward process to buy tickets online.
Visitors’ tickets are based on the start time of their visits and have time stamps to minimize waiting times- issued electronically with a bar code. So, it’s important for visitors to have these tickets on hand either on their mobile devices or printed out on letter-size paper.
There was a separate line for “Visitors with Reservations”.
Buying Tickets in Person. While online tickets have limited availability, visitors can still purchase tickets for same-day visits at the ticket offices located on the ground level of the Eiffel Tower. Though, lines can get very long.
Know the Different Ticket Options
There are several types of ticket options and prices depending on how high you want to go up the Eiffel Tower.
- Ticket access to the second floor – This gives access to the 1st, 2nd and summit floors via the lift/elevator.
- Ticket access to the summit – This gives access to the 1st, 2nd and summit floors via the lift/elevator.
- Tickets to 2nd floor by stairs. This requires climbing 704 steps.
Discounted tickets are available for children 5-11 years old; Children ages 4 and under are Free; Youngsters aged 12-24 years old also receive discounts.
Admire from below. Visitors must check in at least 30 minutes before their access time or risk being denied entry. So, go early and spend some time to admire this engineering marvel from below. It’s worth the neck strain to look up and the views are also incredible.
Every seven years, the Eiffel Tower undergoes repainting to maintain its appearance and prevent rust. This process requires about 60 tons of paint and a lot of manpower. It was originally reddish brown and even went through a yellow look.
But, it’s been a special paint of “Eiffel Tower Brown” for many years afterwards. It is painted darker at the bottom and lighter to the top to ensure it complements the Paris sky as its backdrop.
Going Up or Climbing the Eiffel Tower
As we were waiting in lines for the lifts, we could see some of the iron pieces that made up the Eiffel Tower. There are 18,000 wrought iron pieces connected by 2.5 million rivets. It took two years and two months to build this remarkable structure.
The Eiffel Tower welcomes an estimated 7 million visitors every year. About 75% of them hailing from countries outside of France. So, what does each access level of the tower offer
Going up requires switching elevators. The first elevator took us to the second level. We recommend stopping here for awhile to look around and see this vantage point of the Parisian skyline. Then, we switched elevators to the top level and this was where we waited the longest (about 45 minutes on a weekday). There are multiple elevators so don’t just go on the first line you see. Have someone in your party look at the other lines/queues to see if it’s shorter.
The Second Floor
We captured some of these views from the second floor. We were lucky enough to be here on a sunny and clear day so we could see for miles. You can also look through the telescopes set up here.
Paris is pretty flat for the most part and it was interesting to see the city’s layout and streets and the River Seine winding through it. What a great city to admire from above.
It was great to spot landmarks and attractions from above. If you look close enough here, you can see the Sacre Coeur church high above the Montmarte hill in the center of the photo.
The Hotel National des Invalides’ gold dome was hard not to miss from the panorama. This complex still houses the disabled and seriously injured war veterans much like its original purpose centuries ago. It is also home to several museums, two churches and the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.
We loved this view of Palais de Chaillot and the Trocadero gardens. This is our favorite spot to take a photo of the Eiffel Tower from afar. There’s a large platform that serves as a fantastic lookout and view of the Eiffel Tower. The complex has several buildings and gardens that were built for the 1937 Universal Exhibition.
On the other side of the tower is the Champ de Mars. This 2,574 ft. (780 m) long green space is very popular for tourists and locals to hang out and take photos. It’s also a concert and exhibition venue.
The Top/Summit Floor
We thought it was worth going all the way to the top. You might as well see what’s up there! Though, it’s not for anyone who suffers from vertigo or fear of heights.
There’s a slight variation of the views between the second and the summit floors. Here’s one of the Champ-de-Mars as a comparison. The top is from the second floor and the bottom is the summit.
Of course, views from the top were more expansive but I actually prefer the second floor views better since it allowed us to see some of the attractions a bit closer.
Wander around and see Paris from all sides while you’re at the summit. Sure, you don’t get to see the iconic Eiffel Tower in this panorama but it’s still beautiful views. During our visit, we caught a glimpse of the numerous antennae that are still used today for radio and television broadcasts.
It was interesting to find Gustave Eiffel’s office. At one time, he had a small apartment at top of the tower where he entertained guests and hosted small receptions. There was once a laboratory here too used by Eiffel and scientists to study astronomy, meteorology, etc. and conduct experiments.
The scene depicted here was during Thomas Edison’s visit on September 10, 1889. He gave Mr. Eiffel a model of his phonograph presented at the 1889 Universal Exposition. There were wax figures of Eiffel, Edison and Eiffel’s daughter in the background.
We also found a Champagne bar at the summit. The glass was about 12 euros. And for the romantics, there is a spot adjacent to the bar designated as a “Place to Kiss”.
The First Floor
Many visitors bypass the first level of the tower since the elevator goes directly to the second floor. Walk down to the first floor and see some interesting things. It’s the biggest of all the floors and offers free exhibits, restaurant, gift shop and even a glass floor.
Dining Options
There are several places to eat at the various tower levels.
- The Buffet Tour Eiffel snack bars on the first and second floors sell meals and snacks including sandwiches, pizza, pastries and beverages.
- 58 tour Eiffel (58TE) is located on the first floor. It also offers panoramic windows looking out into Trocadero. It is family-friendly and open for lunch and dinner. Kids menus for children 12 and under are available. You can reserve your table online.
- The Jules Verne is a Michelin-starred restaurant located on the 2nd floor that has a private lift. It requires reservations and best for those romantic and expensive dining options.
- It is Paris after all so there is actually a Macaron bar located on the 2nd floor.
More Tips for Visiting the Eiffel Tower
Use the Toilets. Public restrooms are located on the second and third floors. There are also some on the east and west pillars at the ground level. Try to use them before you go up.
Bring some snacks. If you’re here especially during busy season, pack your patience while waiting in line for the lifts/elevators. Bring enough water and snacks to keep everyone hydrated and fed.
Check on Seasonal Events. Depending on when you’re visiting, there may be various events happening in or around the tower. This could affect the crowds visiting too. There is a rooftop garden in the summer, themed terraces and an ice rink in Winter.
Get the Kids’ Booklet. Kids can do the free Follow Gus tour specifically for children ages 6-10. I wish they had this when we first visited Paris during my kids’ elementary school years.
This activity helps entertain and educate the kids as they go around the tower. Go to the first floor and get an activity book from the Ferrie pavilion or you can also download the activity booklet.
Security Check. Minimize items you’re bringing. We went through two security checkpoints even with tickets on hand. We had a small tote and small backpack with us.
Only foldable strollers are allowed. It was reassuring to see many armed guards patrolling the area.
There is no baggage check at the tower. Lines can get quite long so arrive at the tower earlier than your scheduled entry time.
Know Before You Go
Download the instructions. Still not sure what’s expected of you when visiting the Eiffel Tower? Their website has an 8-page visitor instructions booklet for you to download and read.
Look into Tour Companies. You can also spend a little more and look into Skip the Line tours offered by several companies like Viator, Get Your Guide (see tours below) and Fat Tire Bike Tours (read about our bike ride through Paris). These tours are sometimes combined with a cruise along the Seine. But, there will still be some lining up from the 2nd floor elevators to the summit and also coming down.
Don’t miss the light show. The Eiffel Tower puts on a nightly light show. From sunset until 1 AM, this dazzling spectacle brightens up the night sky, made up of 20,000 high-efficiency bulbs, with 5,000 bulbs on each side of the tower. The tower twinkles for five minutes at the beginning of each hour but the last show goes on for about 10 minutes.
Find some great places to enjoy the lights. The first time we saw this years ago was while cruising on the Seine and it was amazing.
The Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly the symbol of Paris and France. While it may have taken us multiple visits to finally go up, it was worth the wait. Go up at least once for the wonderful experience to see Paris from above.
Sure, you can take hundreds of photos of it from different angles and vantage points but it’s also a fantastic feeling to be within the iron lattice. I hope these tips can help with your visit to this iconic landmark.
*Have you gone up the Eiffel Tower?
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Great tips! The last time I visited the Eiffel Tower we didn’t prepare in advance and the lines were so long I decided to sit below while my family climbed to the second level. I did enjoy the light show though!
These are detailed and clear tips. I’ve been up in the Eiffel Tower 3 times and it’s my favorite of all of Paris. The last time we went up, the weather was SO cold that people weren’t even looking at the view, just complaining. Seeing it sparkle at night is a highlight of any trip to Paris :).
Great tips. We will surely book tickets in advance and bring snacks and water.
By far the mos thorough guide I’ve ever come across for the Eiffel Tower! I definitely don’t remember the champagne bar and the macarons! But it’s also been 10 years since I last visited! Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard!
I have been to the Eiffel tower three times now. Last time I went to Paris we did not book enough ahead so we had to go through a tour company and pay more. I won’t do that again. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
I visited Paris in October and got really lucky. Knowing that we hadn’t booked in advance we weren’t even going to try to go up after seeing the ridiculous lines in the day time. We ventured back over at night shortly before closing and got a chance to go right up no lines. It probably helped that it was freezing out. Lol these are great tips. Thanks for sharing,
Interesting, I had no idea that the Eiffel Tower is also called the “Iron Lady.” It’s been more than 10 years since we’ve been up there. I can’t remember any of the snack bars, but I still remember the long lines at the ticket booth. It’s a good idea to purchase the tickets online to avoid the crowds. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Thanks for sharing. I have searched and longed for something like this, I now know what to do and expect when I visit La Tour Eiffel. I am going to Paris for a day, a quick trip on the Eurostar and this will help me a lot.
#theweeklypostcard
Loved this complete post about the Eiffel Tower. I heard that in person tickets will disappear soon and it will be only possible to buy online. And you took very nice panoramic pictures, I especially like the one showing Palais Chaillot, so impressive! Thanks for sharing
Very thorough and helpful post about visiting the Eiffel Tower with kids! Pinned!
Great tips! I think the Eiffel Tower is just a must-do, even with those long lines. I agree with you about pre booking your tickets as it does save time.
#TravelPhotoThursday
We took the same picture of the Macaron Eiffel Tower – would love to have taken that home as a souvenir! ;) Great tips for enjoying what really is THE iconic attraction of Paris. #TheWeeklyPostcard
If I visit Paris again, I will like to revisit the Eiffel Tower. I know it may be touristic but it is one of those things that makes you feel good. I am a bit confused by the ticket options. The summit and second-floor access seem the same to me. Am I missing something?
We were confused too. The second floor, though, is just a little above the first floor. It’s where the restaurant Jules Verne is. There are two ticket options now: Second Floor, and Summit. Both also stop at the First Floor. The Summit ticket gets you to all three floors.