The Eiffel Tower isn’t just Paris’s most photographed monument. It’s the world’s most visited paid attraction, drawing nearly seven million visitors annually. Yet most travelers experience it as tourists, not travelers. They queue for hours, snap the obvious photo from the base, and leave without understanding why this iron lattice structure fundamentally changed how we build, design, and dream.
After years of exploring Europe’s grandest monuments, I’ve learned that the Eiffel Tower reveals its magic only when you know what you’re actually looking at.
About the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower stands 330 meters (1,083 feet) tall on the Champ de Mars, a sprawling public green space in the 7th arrondissement. Built in 1889 for the World’s Fair, it was originally intended to be temporary, demolished after the exhibition ended. Instead, it became the defining symbol of Paris and French ingenuity.
What surprises most visitors: the tower sways. In strong winds, the top can move up to 15 centimeters. The iron also expands and contracts with temperature, meaning the tower is 15 centimeters taller on hot days than in winter. It’s not a static monument; it’s a living structure.
The tower receives more visitors than the Statue of Liberty, Christ the Redeemer, and the Great Wall of China combined. This isn’t because it’s the tallest iron structure anymore, but because it represents something universal: the audacity to build something that shouldn’t exist, in a location where people could actually reach it.
Architecture of the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower represents a triumph of 19th-century engineering. Its open-lattice iron framework creates an incredibly strong yet lightweight structure. Gustave Eiffel and his team designed the tower to withstand wind pressure using precise mathematical calculations, making it remarkably stable despite its height.
The structure consists of four massive curved legs that meet at the first platform, 57 meters above ground. These legs sit on concrete foundations that are surprisingly modest in depth, only 15 meters for the river-side pillars and 9 meters for the others. The tower’s curve was calculated to ensure each section experiences primarily compression forces rather than bending, maximizing structural efficiency.
The tower has three public levels. The first floor sits at 57 meters with a surface area of 4,200 square meters. The second floor reaches 115 meters and covers 1,650 square meters. The third and highest public floor stands at 276 meters, offering a 900 square meter observation deck. A private apartment where Gustave Eiffel entertained guests sits near the top, now restored and open for viewing.
The iron framework contains 7,300 tons of puddled iron, chosen for its rust resistance. Every seven years, 60 tons of paint are applied in a three-layer process, protecting the metal from corrosion. The tower has been painted various shades throughout its history, currently wearing “Eiffel Tower Brown” in three progressively lighter shades from bottom to top, creating an optical illusion of uniform color against the sky.
Wind resistance was a primary concern during design. The tower’s lattice construction allows wind to pass through rather than pushing against a solid surface. On particularly windy days, the top can sway up to 12 centimeters. Lightning strikes the tower approximately five times per year, but its iron framework safely conducts electricity to the ground through a sophisticated lightning rod system.
How to Reach the Eiffel Tower
By Metro: Take Line 6 (Bir Hakeim station) or Line 8 (École Militaire or La Motte Picquet-Grenelle stations). Bir Hakeim station puts you directly at the tower’s entrance with a 5-minute walk. The walk from other stations takes 10-15 minutes.
By Train: The RER C line stops at Pont d’Alma station, a 10-minute walk from the tower. This is useful if you’re arriving from the airport or other districts.
By Bus: Lines 42, 69, and 87 stop near the tower. Bus travel is economical and gives you views of Paris’s neighborhoods en route.
By Walking: If you’re staying in central Paris (Marais, Latin Quarter, central arrondissements), the walk is actually enjoyable. The tower appears unexpectedly as you cross the Seine or walk through residential areas. Many experienced travelers walk to avoid crowds, and because the journey itself reveals Paris.
By Car: Avoid this. Parking near the tower is expensive (€3-5 per hour), and finding a spot takes time you’ll never recover. Public transit is faster and less frustrating.
Insider Travel Tips
Don’t arrive exactly at your ticket time. Arrive 30 minutes early to move through security and maximize your visit without rushing.
The surrounding Champ de Mars park is free and often overlooked. Bring a picnic, sit on the grass, and experience the tower from below while Parisians and locals do the same. This is how Parisians experience the monument.
If you visit the second-floor restaurant, make reservations in advance rather than walking in. You’ll have a guaranteed table, and the experience of eating while looking out over Paris is genuinely romantic, even solo.
Download the official Eiffel Tower app before arriving. It provides detailed information about each floor and helps you navigate the structure efficiently without constantly asking other tourists for directions.
The tower’s official gift shop is surprisingly good quality, actually. Unlike many monument shops, the merchandise isn’t entirely cheap souvenirs. You’ll find genuine Parisian design items.
Skip the Eiffel Tower at sunrise unless you’re photographing it from a distance. The golden hour is best appreciated from ground level or from the Seine’s bridges, not from inside the tower itself.
Why This Monument Matters
The Eiffel Tower represents a moment when humans decided to build something utterly impractical just to prove they could. It was commercial ambition, artistic audacity, and engineering innovation combined into one iron structure. It failed to impress critics initially because it was too radical, too modern, too foreign to how people expected monuments to look.
Now it’s beloved precisely because it dared to be different. Every time you see the tower glowing against a Paris night, you’re seeing proof that radical ideas, when executed brilliantly, become immortal.
Complete Tour Guide: Floor by Floor
Ground Level and Ticket Areas
Your journey begins at the base, where you’ll find four pillars named after cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. The South Pillar houses the main entrance and ticket offices. The East and West Pillars contain elevator access, while the North Pillar offers stair access for the adventurous.
I always recommend arriving early, ideally before 9:00 AM, to avoid the longest queues. Security screening occurs at the perimeter gates before you even reach the ticket booths, so plan for this additional time.
First Floor (57 meters)
The first floor underwent major renovation and reopened in 2014 with dramatic improvements. The glass floor section is the star attraction here, offering a vertigo-inducing view straight down to the ground. Walking on it feels surreal, especially watching people far below looking like moving dots.
The Gustave Eiffel Room presents the tower’s history through multimedia displays and historical documents. You’ll find fascinating details about the construction workers, engineering challenges, and early critics. The interactive screens let you explore different eras of the tower’s life.
The first floor also features Madame Brasserie, a refined French restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows. Even if you’re not dining, the buffet area offers local products if you want a quick snack with a view. The souvenir shop here is less crowded than the ground-level store, perfect for picking up quality mementos.
Outside, a section of the original spiral staircase from the 19th century remains on display, letting you appreciate the engineering of the era.
Second Floor (115 meters)
Most visitors consider the second floor the sweet spot for views. You’re high enough for spectacular panoramas but still close enough to recognize streets, buildings, and people below. The outdoor galleries offer 360-degree views, and I’ve spent hours here identifying Paris landmarks.
From this level, you can spot Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides, and the entire sweep of the Seine River. Viewing telescopes help you zoom in on specific monuments, though they’re often occupied during peak hours.
Le Jules Verne restaurant occupies the second floor, accessed by a private elevator. This Michelin-starred establishment offers exceptional cuisine with incredible views, though reservations are essential months in advance.
The gift shop on this level carries exclusive items not available at ground level. I particularly appreciate the selection of books about Parisian architecture and French history.
Third Floor (276 meters)
The summit represents the Eiffel Tower’s crown. Reaching this level requires an elevator change at the second floor. The viewing galleries here provide unmatched perspectives of Paris extending up to 70 kilometers on clear days.
The indoor viewing area features informational panels pointing out landmarks in all directions. Maps show what you’re seeing, helping orient yourself to Paris’s layout. The outdoor terrace, one level below the very top, lets you feel the wind and experience the height more viscerally.
Gustave Eiffel’s restored apartment sits at this level, preserved as it appeared when he used it for entertaining distinguished guests and conducting scientific experiments. Wax figures show Eiffel greeting Thomas Edison, one of his famous visitors. Peering through the windows into this private space offers intimate insight into the tower’s creator.
A champagne bar operates at the summit, offering sparkling wine at premium prices. Despite the cost, toasting with champagne while overlooking Paris creates an unforgettable moment worth the splurge.
How to Reach the Eiffel Tower
By Metro
Bir-Hakeim Station (Line 6): My preferred option. This elevated metro line provides spectacular tower views as you approach. Exit the station and walk five minutes across Pont de Bir-Hakeim for dramatic views. The walk takes you directly to the tower’s base.
Trocadéro Station (Lines 6 and 9): Lands you at the gardens with the best frontal views. Cross the Seine via Pont d’Iéna to reach the tower entrance, about a 10-minute walk. This route lets you photograph the tower during your approach.
École Militaire Station (Line 8): Places you at the southern end of Champ de Mars. Walk through the entire park toward the tower, approximately 10 minutes. This approach offers the classic straight-on view.
By RER Train
Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel Station (RER C): The closest station, literally at the tower’s feet. Trains connect from Versailles, Charles de Gaulle Airport (with transfers), and various Paris neighborhoods. Exit and you’re immediately at the tower’s base.
By Bus
Multiple bus lines stop near the tower:
- Line 82: Stops at Champ de Mars
- Line 42: Stops at Tour Eiffel
- Line 69: Stops at Champ de Mars
- Line 87: Stops at Champ de Mars
Buses let you see Paris at street level during your journey, providing context for the city’s layout.
By Batobus (River Shuttle)
This hop-on-hop-off boat service stops at Port de la Bourdonnais near the tower. Day passes allow unlimited stops at nine locations along the Seine, making it an excellent way to visit multiple monuments. The boat ride itself offers unique perspectives of Paris’s architecture.
By Bicycle
Paris’s Vélib’ bike-share stations surround the tower. Cycling gives you the flexibility to explore nearby areas. Designated bike lanes make cycling relatively safe, though Paris traffic requires attention. Stations rarely fill completely, so finding a dock to return your bike is usually easy.
By Taxi or Rideshare
Taxis and Uber work well for direct transport, especially with luggage or in bad weather. However, traffic near the tower can be heavy, potentially making the journey slower and more expensive than the metro. Drop-off occurs on Avenue Gustave Eiffel or nearby streets since direct tower access is pedestrian-only.
Walking
If staying in central Paris neighborhoods like the 7th arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, or the Latin Quarter, walking to the tower takes 20 to 40 minutes. The route along the Seine is particularly pleasant, passing beautiful Haussmann buildings and historic bridges.
