Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron tower that stands 1,063 ft (324 m) tall. It was designed for the Exposition Universelle, a world fair held in Paris in 1889. It's currently the most famous symbol of Paris.

Origin

Two senior engineers working for the architect and engineer Gustave Eiffel designed the Tower, which was then approved by Eiffel and proposed as the centerpiece for the world fair held in France’s capital, the Exposition Universelle in 1889. Once approved, 250 builders were hired to build the monument, which took over two years to finish.

Initially, the Eiffel Tower was the subject of controversy. The artists of the period thought the monument to be monstrous, and given its poor profitability, it was suggested on several occasions that they should demolish it.

During World War I, enemy messages were intercepted thanks to the tower radiotelegraphy center.

Currently, the Eiffel Tower is the most-visited monument in the world with over 7 million visitors a year. This is partly due to the popularity of Paris as a tourist destination.   

Visiting the Eiffel Tower

If it’s your first time in Paris, going up the Eiffel Tower is a must. Visitors can choose to go up using the Tower lift or the stairs. However, before making your mind up on how you want to visit the monument, it's important to keep in mind that there are 1,665 steps to the top.

If you decide to take the stairs, you can only visit the second floor. Although the stairs admission ticket is cheaper, the difference is not worthwhile and we recommend taking the elevator.

The best moment to enjoy the breathtaking views of Paris is early in the morning to avoid the lines or at dusk, when visitors will see Paris lit up.

The Eiffel Tower restaurant

If you want to have a very special experience, you can have lunch or dinner at the Eiffel Tower to enjoy the view while tasting delicious French recipes.

On the 1st floor of the tower, at a height of 57 meters (187 feet), is Madame Brasserie, one of the most exclusive restaurants in Paris.

You can make your reservation through the website by clicking on the following links:

Lunch at Madame Brasserie, the Eiffel Tower's restaurant.

Eiffel Tower Tickets

If you want to avoid the long lines at the Eiffel tower ticket office, the best option is to buy your tickets online. You can buy tickets via the official website (best price) or reserve our guided tour which also lets you skip the queues and has more availability:

• Ticket to the 3rd Floor of the Eiffel Tower
• Ticket to the 2nd Floor of the Eiffel Tower
• Eiffel Tower Guided Tour + Climb