What is the best time to tour Eiffel Tower?

Attendance over the course of the day depends on the period of the year, weather conditions, as well as the day of the week. In general, to feel more comfortable, start your visit early in the morning (before 10:30am) or at the end of the day after 5 PM, or even in the evening.



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We advise you to visit the Eiffel Tower at off-peak times. The number of visitors depends on the time of the year, the weather conditions and the day of the week but queues are usually shorter in the mornings and in the evenings. You can choose to visit the Eiffel tower during the day or at night.

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What time does the Eiffel Tower light up? You'll be able to see the well known Iron Lady lit up every day from sunset to 1AM. During summer, it turns of one hour later at 2AM.

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Visiting time to the Eiffel Tower is not limited. However we recommend that you plan sufficient visiting time at the end of the evening (i.e. around 1 1/2 hours for a visit to the 2nd floor and 1st floor and 2 1/2 hours for a full visit up to the top).

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We advise you to visit the Eiffel Tower at off-peak times. The number of visitors depends on the time of the year, the weather conditions and the day of the week but queues are usually shorter in the mornings and in the evenings. You can choose to visit the Eiffel tower during the day or at night.

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As the Eiffel Tower is an unmissable tourist attraction, lines are usually massive. You may get there early, but it is highly likely that most tourists will have done the same. The waiting time can be 30 minutes to an hour, but during peak tourist season, wait time can go up to three hours.

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We recommend visiting between October and April — sidestepping the jam-packed holiday season in December — if your main objective is to avoid crowds. Go at the beginning or end of that window, October or April, for temperatures still comfortable enough to sit outside at one of the quintessentially Parisian cafe tables.

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It takes anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes to walk up the Eiffel Tower stairs, and about 20 minutes to walk down the stairs.

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Yes, it takes climbing 1665 steps to reach from the esplanade up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Expect an average climb time of 30-45 minutes.

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One of the best places and definitely a popular spot to view the Eiffel Tower is from Trocadero. Located just across the Seine river, the Trocadero offers a stunning panoramic view of the tower, and is especially beautiful at night when the tower is illuminated.

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Since the year 2000, the lights have sparkled on the hour for five minutes from nightfall until 1am (if night falls at 7.40pm, the lights sparkle first at 8pm). The last sparkle at 1am had a special feature: the golden lighting and the beacons were switched off, leaving only the sparkling lights for five minutes.

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The paint wears off with time and rain, so it has to be redone to guarantee continued protection. For this reason, the Tower has been repainted on average every seven years, according to a cycle laid out by Gustave Eiffel himself.

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We strongly recommend a visit to the 1st floor where there is a great visitor experience with cultural and entertaining displays to deepen and enhance your experience at the Eiffel Tower. There is also a children's play area, and a terrace where seasonal entertainment is proposed.

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“I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Paris. It's definitely worth the climb. Most people look up and think there's no way I can climb that many stairs, but let me tell you, it's not that much. Climbing is a way better experience that the elevator just won't give you.

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To see the city's top tourist attractions with fewer people around, aim to visit on weekday mornings. Avoid booking with major tour companies, buy tickets that allow you to skip the line, and walk instead of squeezing onto public transportation. Paris is best enjoyed on foot anyway.

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You must have Eiffel Tower reservations such as a ticket (or a tour voucher, or Eiffel Tower restaurant reservation confirmation) to enter the Eiffel Tower. Four types of tickets are available based on which floors you want to explore, and whether you want to ride or climb.

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A ticket is required to access the 1st and 2nd Levels. Several types of tickets are offered, based on whether you want to take the elevator and/or stairs.

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Visitors without tickets should join the queues for the ticket office (yellow flag). Ticket offices are generally open at both pillars. Visitors wishing to take the stairs should head for the SOUTH pillar, where they can buy tickets for the stairs up to the 2nd floor, or stair + lift tickets to the top (blue flag).

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It will take you around 15 to 20 minutes to climb one floor. Those keen for a sports challenge can try to make it in under 10 minutes per floor! Did you know? Great athletes can climb the stairs all the way from the ground to the top in less than 10 minutes!

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Visiting the Eiffel Tower on foot: how many stairs, how long does it take and how far up can you go? While the Tower has a total of 1,665 steps from the ground to the top, you can only climb 674 of them, from the ground to the second floor (327, then 347 steps).

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It will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to reach the top of the Eiffel Tower from the ground floor, without any crowds. If it's a busy day, it may take up to 2.5 hours in total to reach the top.

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Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest days of the week. When it is not peak season, school vacation or a public holiday, attendance is usually lowest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Eiffel Tower is open on Tuesdays, unlike museums in Paris.

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Planning Your Trip to Paris A trip to the French capital is likely to be an excellent experience. First-time travelers should try and plan around 4-5 days—ample time to enjoy some classic Parisian highlights and visit a few of the 20 arrondissements (neighborhoods).

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