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8 Tips for Visiting the Eiffel Tower at Night
You’ve seen it in films, and probably printed in a few magazines, now it’s your turn to see the Iron Lady in all her glory under the cover of the Parisian night sky.
The Eiffel Tower as a tourist attraction, stays open until close to 12 midnight each day, allowing as many night visits as they do day ones. It is lit up from dusk until 2 a.m. (only 1 a.m. during winter season).
While venturing up the tower is an unforgettable experience, both day and night, one doesn’t have to splurge on the cost of a ticket to have the iconic experience. This structure is visible from across the city; whether you’re in it or simply near to it matters not.
by Paul Gaudriault – Unsplash
Plus, you can also climb the Eiffel Tower at night. The first two levels are accessible via the stairs and this option will save you a bit of money! Imagine what Paris looks like from the tower itself and you can stop as often as you want to take in the magnificent views of the city of love!
Depending on what time of year you visit Paris, you can get to see some fireworks or witness the tower glowing in bright colours. But no matter when you visit, you can always witness the magic of the Eiffel Tower at night!
When visiting the Eiffel Tower at night, there are a few ways one can optimize one’s experience. Keep the following 8 tips in mind and you’re on your way to something breathtaking.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday — 9am to 11.30 pm
ADDRESS: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Metro STATION: Champ de Metro – Tour Eiffel
1. Visit the Eiffel Tower Close to the Hour at Night
by Stephen Leonardi – Unsplash
Seeing the Eiffel Tower light show is almost as popular an experience as seeing the Eiffel Tower in general.
After sunset, the Eiffel Tower light show will take place every hour, on the hour. The display lasts about five minutes in total, and will repeat through until sunrise. The tower sparkles with the light of 20,000 lightbulbs! Also, the summit’s searchlight scans the Parisian skyline making for a magical scene!
Back in 1999, the Eiffel Tower was fitted with that many lightbulbs to celebrate the new year. It took 25 mountain climbers just over five months to install 20,000 light bulbs on the tower and it cost €4.5 million! Only meant to last for that one event, it later became a permanent fixture since 2003. And thank god for that!
Eiffel Tower – by Cameron Barnes – Unsplash
It’s one of Paris’ most reliable and most calming attractions. Something one can count on to be there no matter the day or weather.
If you’re visiting at night, you’ll want to be around when the clock strikes the top.
2. If it’s Winter, Layer Up!
This is a tip that is not emphasized enough. The Eiffel Tower sits in the north western region of Paris, in the lower end of a hillside that summits at Invalides. It’s a bowl-like valley, if you will, and in the winter the temperatures can drop below freezing at night. It also snows but depending on the severity of the weather, that won’t deter people from enjoying the views of the tower.
Nonetheless, layer up, and prepare to face mist and/or rain at the best of times. An umbrella is always a good idea when visiting the Eiffel Tower at night in the winter months.
3. Buy Your Tickets in Advance
by Chris Coudron – Unsplash
Summer, winter, night, day… standing in line for Eiffel Tower tickets is not something anyone should ever have to go through. If you’ve visited the Champ de Mars prior, you’ll understand why – there’s a long queue to go to the top! The winding queues of people beneath the tower all waiting to get inside is enough to turn anyone off of the experience of going inside the structure.
The trick? Buy your Eiffel Tower tickets online!
If you purchase them directly from the Eiffel Tower website, you’ll be entitled to their fast-track privilege. There will still be a line, but it won’t be nearly as long as the one for tickets on arrival and hours of waiting around.
4. Bring Blankets and Snacks to the Champ de Mars
Photo credit: Nicolas Martin
If going inside of the tower and to the top of the tower isn’t something that interests you, and you’re happy to view her from the ground, then the Champ de Mars is where you want to be.
Visiting at night, especially in the summer, is what many groups of travelers do. The experience is different than the day and more calm.
These grounds surrounding the tower are open to the public and usually always have lush, green grass to offer. Bring along anything that will make your time under the tower more comfortable: blankets, cushions and perhaps even a picnic!
5. The Later the Better
During peak season in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is crowded from morning until night. As with any attraction of this nature, the later you arrive, the better.
This tip is for anyone who would prefer not to brave excessive crowds, and who would enjoy some sort of intimacy during their evening tower visit.
The quietest time to do a walk by the Eiffel Tower are the early hours of the morning. Even then, you’ll find party-goers have had the same idea after being kicked out of the bar they were in at 2 AM.
6. Go For Dinner Near the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower Dinner Cruise
Depending on where you are staying while in Paris, visiting the Eiffel Tower isn’t always a case of simply strolling down the road.
Venturing into the 7th arrondissement might be a journey for you, so make a full evening out of it.
There are a lot of great places to eat around the Eiffel Tower. If you click here I’ll give you a list of ten! Book for dinner and once you’re done, you’ll be within walking distance of the Champ de Mars and the tower itself. Or how about a dinner cruise on the Seine?
7. You Don’t have to go all the way to the Actual Tower
by Karina – Unsplash
Contrary to popular belief, one doesn’t have to go right up to the Eiffel Tower to properly experience it by night.
In fact, the lights of the tower make her far more visible in darkness from different parts of the city than she usually is during the day. Her long neck poking up in the skyline is viewable from many parts of the city.
Trocadero by night – by ThePromenader – Wikimedia Commons
I love seeing the Eiffel Tower from the Louvre Gardens at night. Strolling the banks of the Seine between the 8th and 7th arrondissement also gives you great glimpses of the structure, and few views beat the one at the Jardins du Trocadero.
8. Don’t Just Visit the Eiffel Tower at Night
by Rafael Kellermann Streit – Unsplash
You must see the Eiffel Tower under the cover of darkness, this is a given. But it’s equally as important to visit this structure by day, too.
The Eiffel Tower at night is sheer whimsey. It’s like smoke and mirrors; a carefully curated display of lights that make you feel all kinds of things about the city and your place in it. It’s escapism, charm and wanderlust.
Eiffel Tower – by Taxiarchos228 – Wikimedia Commons
The Eiffel Tower by day, is the opposite. It’s realism and architectural brilliance.
It’s a historic monument with a story between each piece of iron that forms the incredible body, and these features are lost the minute darkness falls over the city.
Make time for both experiences while in Paris. And make time for our free guided walking tour while you’re at it! Don’t miss out!
Updated by Farah in July 2022.
