Hotels near Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel's 330-metre iron tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair and has since become the single most recognisable structure in France. Three observation levels offer progressively more dramatic views of the city. The second floor, at 116 metres, provides the clearest sightlines toward the Trocadero gardens, the Seine, and Montparnasse. The summit, at 276 metres, puts all of Paris beneath you on clear days - you can see as far as 70 kilometres to the horizon.

Tickets to the summit by lift cost EUR 26.80 for adults. Choosing the stairs to the second floor and then the lift to the top reduces the price to EUR 20.40 and skips the longest queue. The tower is open daily from 09:30 to 23:45 in summer and 09:30 to 22:30 in winter, though hours shift seasonally. Book your time slot on the official website at least two weeks ahead during peak season - slots for the summit sell out fast. The light show runs for five minutes on the hour after dark, best viewed from the Trocadero esplanade across the river.

Pro Tip: Take the stairs to the second floor (674 steps) for a shorter wait and a more physical sense of the tower's scale. Once at the second floor, buy a summit lift ticket on the spot if availability remains - this two-step approach often saves 30 to 45 minutes compared to queuing for the full lift from ground level.