# Eiffel Tower, Paris > The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris and France, a 330-metre iron tower on the Champ de Mars by the Seine. Gustave Eiffel's company built it for the 1889 World's Fair, and for 41 years it was the tallest structure in the world. Visitors can explore three levels with restaurants and viewing decks, the top platform 276 metres up. Entry is on a timed ticket; allow 2–3 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/paris/eiffel-tower - City: [Paris](https://yesgo.io/france/paris), France - YesGo score: 65/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 2 h 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Timed ticket, lift or stairs - Hours: Daily, until late evening - Time needed: 2–3 hours - Height: 330 m, top platform 276 m - UNESCO: Banks of the Seine, since 1991 - Location: Champ de Mars, 7th arrondissement - Coordinates: 48.85830, 2.29448 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **330 m** — height of the tower (source: English Wikipedia) - **1889** — opened for the World's Fair (source: English Wikipedia) - **41 years** — as the world's tallest structure (source: English Wikipedia) - **276 m** — height of the top viewing platform (source: English Wikipedia) ## About the Eiffel Tower The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the **Champ de Mars** by the Seine, named after engineer **Gustave Eiffel**, whose company designed and built it from **1887 to 1889**. It was the centrepiece of the **1889** World's Fair. Many leading artists and writers criticised it at first, but the Iron Lady became the symbol of Paris and one of the most recognisable structures on Earth. It stands **330 metres** tall, about the height of an 81-storey building, on a square base **125 metres** a side. When built, it became the world's tallest structure, a title it held for **41 years** until 1930. Since **1991** it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Paris, Banks of the Seine. ## What to see on the tower - **The first floor** — a glass floor above the square below. - **The second floor** — the best view of Paris and the Seine. - **The summit** — a platform at 276 metres and Eiffel's office. - **Restaurants** — on the first and second floors. - **Evening lights** — the tower sparkles on the hour. - **The view from Trocadéro** — the classic shot across the river. ## The levels and the climb There are **three levels** for visitors. The **first** has viewing decks with a partly glass floor and restaurants; the **second** has the most rewarding view, with roofs, bridges and domes clearly visible; the **summit** has an open platform **276 metres** up and Gustave Eiffel's restored office. You can go up by **lift** or by **stairs**. Over **300 steps** lead to the first floor, and as many again to the second. The summit is reached only by lift. Walking is cheaper and lets you see the iron structure up close, but it takes some stamina. > **Buying tickets** Buy timed tickets ahead on the official website: in season, lift tickets to the summit sell out weeks in advance. Early morning and late evening slots are calmer. There's a security check at the entrance, so leave large bags at your hotel. ## The tower by night and the best views After dark the tower glows gold, and at the start of every hour it **sparkles** with thousands of lights for a few minutes. It's one of the most popular sights in Paris, and many people head to the Champ de Mars or the Seine in the evening just to see it. The best views of the tower itself are from **Trocadéro** across the Seine, the lawns of the **Champ de Mars**, the Bir-Hakeim bridge and boats on the river. Trocadéro is almost empty early in the morning, the best time for photos. ## How to get there 1. Metro line 6 to **Bir-Hakeim**, a 5-minute walk. 2. Metro lines 9 or 6 to **Trocadéro**, across the Pont d'Iéna. 3. RER C to **Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel**. 4. The Batobus river shuttle stops by the tower. ## Tips for your visit Arrive early for your slot, as security queues can be long even with a ticket. Morning or late evening is best, with fewer people and lovely light. It's windy and cool at the summit even in summer, so bring a light layer. To see Paris by day and by night, book a slot an hour before sunset and watch the city light up. Dinner at one of the tower's restaurants needs booking well ahead. Souvenir sellers and petition scammers gather around the tower, so keep your belongings close. Children love the lift ride and the glass floor on the first level. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Book tickets on the official website - [ ] Bring a layer for the summit - [ ] Stand on the first-floor glass floor - [ ] See the tower sparkle at night - [ ] Photograph it from Trocadéro ## Places in Paris: compare and choose Places in Paris rated by YesGo. - [Eiffel Tower](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/eiffel-tower) — YesGo score 65/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h 30 min · Timed ticket, lift or stairs - [Arc de Triomphe](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/arc-de-triomphe) — YesGo score 62/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Roof on a ticket - [Sacré-Cœur Basilica](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/sacre-coeur) — YesGo score 62/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Basilica free - [Montmartre](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/montmartre) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h · Free - [Tour Montparnasse](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/tour-montparnasse) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Observation deck ticket - [Pont Alexandre III](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/pont-alexandre-iii) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free - [Galeries Lafayette](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/galeries-lafayette) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free, rooftop terrace too - [Trocadéro](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/trocadero) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Esplanade and gardens free - [La Défense](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/la-defense) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 40 min · Esplanade free, arch rooftop ticketed - [Champ de Mars](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/champ-de-mars) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Fondation Louis Vuitton](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/fondation-louis-vuitton) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Timed ticket, book ahead - [Seine river cruise](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/seine-cruise) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 1-hour cruise, dinner costs more ## Don't mix it up The Eiffel Tower stands on the Champ de Mars; Trocadéro, with the best view of it, is across the Seine. ## Tips - Book timed tickets ahead. - Morning or late evening. - It sparkles on the hour. - A layer for the summit. ## Questions ### How much does it cost to go up the Eiffel Tower? It depends on the level and on lift or stairs; buy on the official website. ### How tall is the Eiffel Tower? 330 metres, with the top platform 276 metres up. ### How many steps does the Eiffel Tower have? Over 300 to the first floor and as many to the second; the summit is by lift only. ### When does the Eiffel Tower sparkle? In the evening, for a few minutes at the start of every hour. ### How long do you need at the tower? 2–3 hours including the queue and the summit. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Hours and prices weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Eiffel Tower - Official website, toureiffel.paris --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.