It is impossible to think of Paris without thinking of the Eiffel Tower. Standing tall in the heart of Paris, the majestic iron-wrought tower is a cultural icon for the City of Love. People from around the world come to Paris just to see this beautiful monument.
Built over the span of two years, the Eiffel Tower was officially inaugurated in 1889. It is named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built it. Constructed for the Exposition Universelle of 1889, it was opened to the public in May of that year. As one of Europe’s biggest tourist attractions, the Eiffel Tower is visited by over 7 million people each year - that’s nearly 20,000 people a day! As you might expect, with such a large number of people visiting daily, the lines to enter can get quite long. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do eliminate tedious hours of waiting. From the best time to visit to how to get Eiffel Tower skip-the-line tickets, here’s your guide to making the most of your time with the Iron Lady.
Wait Times - What to Expect
The Eiffel Tower is 324 metres high, and consists of three levels that are open to the public: the first level, second level, and the summit. The first and second levels are accessible via stairs or elevators from the ground level. The summit level is only accessible via elevators from the second level.
The line to buy tickets to enter the tower are incredibly long - in peak season, your wait can be as long as two hours. And once you’re on the second floor, the line to get to the summit is also quite long, with waiting times going up to 90 minutes. Thus, it’s important to save as much time as you can, which can be done by getting a skip-the-line ticket, which will let you skip the line to purchase tickets.
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.
While you can take the stairs to the second floor, you still have to wait in a line. However, the waiting time for this line is approximately 30 minutes, a far cry from the elevator line. The stairs aren’t very crowded, and you can climb at your own pace. The only downside to taking the stairs is that to get to the second level, you’ll need to climb over 700 steps!
How to Beat the Crowd
Now that you know how long the lines to get tickets are, you also know how important it is to plan in advance. Here are four ways you can skip the ticket line and make your Eiffel experience a memorable one:
1. Book in Advance
Given that the Eiffel Tower is Paris’ most famous landmark, it is not a surprise that tickets sell out very quickly - sometimes months in advance! While you can buy tickets directly to the summit, it is also possible to get tickets to the second level. Once at the second level, you can decide whether or not you want to go to the summit. If you choose to go to the summit, it is possible to buy tickets in the second floor itself. And if you are late by more than 30 minutes, you lose your spot. If you decide to go and purchase tickets to the tower, you will have to wait in a long queue, and that can take up over an hour.
By booking in advance, after getting through security, you can skip the line to buy tickets, saving you a lot of time. This way, you can directly head to the tower, and soak in the beauty of Paris. The tickets that are booked in advance save your spot, so you can just head to the tower.
When entering the tower, you need to show a valid ticket, with the barcode. You can either print it out, or show it on your mobile phone, as long as it is compatible with barcode systems.
The entrances to the Eiffel Tower are at the ground floor, at the legs of the tower. To reach the tower through stairs, you have to enter through the south corner leg. Those going to the restaurant, Le Jules Verne, can access the tower through a separate entrance. Once you’ve passed security, you can show your tickets and enter the tower.
2. Take the Stairs
You can choose to take the stairs to climb the Eiffel Tower as well. While it may take about 15 minutes to reach one level, it is a cheaper ticket and you won’t have to wait in a queue. There are 330 steps to the first level, and another 339 to the second, so if you do not mind climbing stairs, you can avoid the crowd. Climbing the stairs will also give you incredible views of the city you would have missed otherwise.
You can choose to book even these tickets in advance, so you can avoid the ticket line. Once you book this ticket and get to the second floor, you can decide whether or not you want to go to the summit. If you do, you can buy a ticket at the tower itself, right next to the elevator on the second level that goes to the summit.
This is a good option in case summit tickets are sold out for the day you want. You can pre-book your second floor tickets, and once you’re there, just buy the summit tickets from the tower, as summit tickets are offered when space is available.
If walking up the stairs isn’t your cup of tea, you can even take the elevator to the second level, and then walk down to the first level. The first level has a glass floor zone, which will make you feel like you are walking on air.
3. Have Lunch or Dinner at the Tower
There are two dining outlets in the Eiffel Tower - 58 Tour Eiffel on the first level, and Le Jules Verne on the second floor (only dinner). If you choose to have a meal at either of these restaurants, you can enter the tower through a separate entrance, away from the crowd.
One of the best ways to make the most of your visit to the Eiffel Tower is to combine it with a meal. You can choose to have lunch or dinner at the tower, and then see the tower. Not only will you get to see the tower after your meal, you will have a meal with the best view the city can offer.
4. Visit it at Night
The waiting lines for the Eiffel Tower during the day are massive, especially during summer. With tourists and families thronging the lines, it’s easier to see the tower at night. The Eiffel Tower closes late in the night, so you can go later, and experience the City of Lights in all its glory.
Not just that, after sunset, the tower is lit up hour after hour for five minutes. The feeling of being on the tower at the time is indescribable. Moreover, as you leave the tower, you can look back and watch the tower come alive.
Nothing can match Paris’ picturesque view at night from the Eiffel Tower, as the city glitters at your feet.
Practical Information
Open Hours
Mid-June to early September
9 AM - 12:45 AM, last elevator ride to the top leaves at 11 PM
Similar stair access timings
Rest of the year
9:30 AM - 11:45 PM, last elevator ride to the top leaves at 10:30 PM
Stair access timings: 9:30 AM - 6 PM
Getting There
There is no shortage of ways to get to the Eiffel Tower. The Metro has two lines that have stops in close proximity to the Eiffel Tower i.e Line 6 and 9. Additionally, you can use the RER Train and get off at the Champs de Mars station.
Buses 82, 42, 87, and 69 operate to the Eiffel Tower. You could also get to the Tower by using any of the Batobus boats. This means of transport gives you a different view of the Tower from the water.
The post How to Skip the Lines at the Eiffel Tower – Your Guide to Bypassing the Long Queues appeared first on Headout Blog.
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