Top 10 Things to do Around the Eiffel Tower

Updated by Farah in April 2022

When people are visiting Paris, the most important thing to do while in Paris is obviously to see the Eiffel Tower, the greatest landmarks of the City of Lights. It is not by chance that this monument is so remarkable. 250 million people have visited the iron structure since its opening and over 7 million people visit it annually making this the most visited monument in Europe. Come meet our Iron Lady.

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1888 by architect Gustave Eiffel and stands since the Paris World Exhibition in 1889. Once you are face to face with the most iconic monument of Paris, you will be impressed by its size and greatness, it even might bring tears to your eyes.

The Eiffel Tower is 324 metres tall, 125 metres wide and weights over ten thousand tonnes! It has 1665 stairs. Climb them if you are brave enough. But you can do what most people do and just take the lift.

Since you’ll be visiting this awesome Paris landmark (Learn about our free Landmarks Tour here), you should know a few things you can do inside of it and around it. That is why I’m sharing with you things to do around the Eiffel Tower!

Where is the Eiffel Tower & How to Get there?

The Eiffel Tower is located in the 7th district of Paris, also known as Palais-Bourbon, and is very accessible. There are plenty of ways to get to the tower, but I will let you know the best ones!

The easiest way to get to Eiffel Tower is obviously by taking the RER C train to Champ de Mars/Tour Eiffel station but if I were you I would take one of the other options I’m about to share with you. Although it is the closest metro station to the tower, it usually is very crowded and since you may not be used to the Parisian public transports, you might get lost and confused.

An alternative way is to get on the metro line 8 and take the exit at Ecole Militaire or the metro line 6 and take the exit at Bir-Hakeim. By taking this route, you will avoid having the trouble to wait for a direct metro to Champ de Mars/Tour Eiffel and you will also be closer to the Champs de Mars gardens. You will be able to take a walk until you reach the Eiffel Tower, which in my opinion is one of the most beautiful ways to visit all the area around the Eiffel Tower.

The option I prefer is to take the Trocadero metro exit on metro line 9 or 6 and from there visit the Trocadéro first and then head to the Eiffel Tower. By doing this, you will also have the best view possible from afar of the Eiffel Tower, because the Trocadéro is on higher ground than the Champs de Mars. This way you will also have the possibility to visit a lot more things around the Eiffel Tower, while still being near it.

Avoid taking a taxi! This area is so frequented by tourists that it will nearly be impossible to get there by car. But if you really must do so, be prepared for long queues in traffic, taking about forty minutes or more to get to the Eiffel Tower, depending on where you are located in Paris.

Where is the Eiffel Tower Located?

The Eiffel Tower is located at the Champs de Mars on Avenue Anatole 5 in the seventh arrondissement in Paris. There’s no way you will miss seeing this gigantic monument when you visit Paris!

When you will be landing in Paris, you will see the Iron Lady from the airplane even on a cloudy day. Located in the 7th arrondissement, the Tower sits beside the river Seine, the Carousel of the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars park.

1. Climb the Stairs and Learn about its History

Climb the stairs and reach the second floor! Wander around the center of the tower’s metallic structure at your own pace and contemplate the fantastic iron piece of art and its history.

Another thing to do in the Eiffel Tower would be of course a guided tour to learn everything about the most famous monument of Paris.

Otherwise, you can stay a little while on the first floor to enjoy an overview of its history through different illustrations of the Eiffel Tower evolution, photographs, engravings, drawings, films and interactive activities.

You don’t want to miss the panoramic view from the second floor, with Paris at your feet. From the right bank to the left bank (Learn more about right bank vs left bank), the Eiffel Tower offers you the most unique view over the major landmarks of the city of lights.

However, be prepared to queue (read tips for your visit here) : it can take up to 4 hours to access to the Eiffel Tower. Even if you arrive early in the morning or at the end of the day, you won’t be alone ! Our advice would be to visit the Eiffel Tower with a local guide (more informaton and tickets here). These tickets are more expensive than normal tickets, but the Eiffel Tower is a must-see in Paris and you don’t want to spend the whole day waiting in a line.

Inside the Eiffel Tower, there are actually many things to see and experience. As you go up the tower, you will find out everything you want to know about the Eiffel Tower: from its origins and history to the construction evolution and all the renovations it went through all these years.

2. Enjoy the Eiffel Tower at Night

Some say the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower is at night when you can appreciate a calmer atmosphere as well as the incredible illuminations. After sunset, the Eiffel Tower sparkles with thousands of lights and it’s open til midnight!

3. Have a Fancy Night on the Eiffel Tower

If you’re looking for a chic experience, you can enjoy a glass of champagne at the very top of the Eiffel Tower! Nestling into the very structure of the tower, the bar offers you a choice of a glass of either rosé or white champagne, served as chilled as you like. The bar is open until 10 pm and serves drinks for a cost between €12 and €21.

And finally, for the gourmet among you, on the first floor, there’s a restaurant called Restaurant 58 that serves lunches and dinners high in the sky! Its meals start at 39 euros and children’s menu at 15 euros. The food and atmosphere are extremely pleasant!

4. Enjoy Wine and Cheese at the foot of the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is surrounded by big lawns where Parisians love to sit during spring and summer. One of the best things to do around the Eiffel Tower is to have a French picnic with cheese, wine and a baguette.

Just next to the Eiffel Tower is one of the best streets in Paris to buy food. It’s called rue Cler (read more about food shops in Rue Cler). In this street, you will find the best products Paris has to offer. Then just bring all your purchases to those lawns of le Champs de Mars and you’ll have the most Parisian evening ever.

5. Be a Kid again at the Carousel de Eiffel

Seeing and climbing the most iconic tower in the world is worth it but wouldn’t it be great to top off your day with a fun ride at the adjacent carousel called the Carousel de Eiffel?! 

Carousels are fun everywhere but in Paris, they’re so popular that you’ll find at least a dozen or more scattered around the city. The Eiffel’s carousel, particularly carousel is called Carousel XI and spins clockwise! It has wooden horses, carriages and beautifully decorated in gold, red and blue! It’s the perfect photo opportunity and it’s also not very expensive! Plus, it’s great for the kids and even for those on a date perhaps!

6. Stroll across to Trocadéro

Trocadero – by Gianluca Cosetta – Wikimedia Commons

Take a walk across the Seine on Pont d’léna to Trocadero and its gardens, fountains and of course, the amazing views of the Eiffel from Place du Trocadero. If you want to admire the Eiffel Tower from a gorgeous angle, then head here to Trocadéro and its gardens. There’s also an aquarium and an ice skating rink in the area.

The gardens were created in 1937 and are famous for their Warsaw Fountain, sculptures & a central fountain featuring 20 water jets. The gardens are punctuated by statues and the waters and lights make a wonderful scenery in the evening. Some statues are really famous such as the “Man” by Traverse and the “Woman” by Bacqué, which overlook the pools, and they shouldn’t be missed. The gardens are near the Palais de Chaillot that have architectural, naval & ethnographic exhibits from around the world.

7. Enjoy the Rodin Museum

The Rodin museum is one of the most celebrated sculpture museum of Europe. Rodin was one of the last masters of classical sculpture of its time. He revolutionized art. He made some of the most famous sculptures ever. We all know his most famous piece of art: the Thinker. His work is full of feelings and I can assure you it is a quite moving experience to discover Rodin’s art for the first time.

The Rodin museum is in a walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, only about 15 minutes. The museum also has one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris. It is definitely a must-do around the Eiffel Tower.

8. Do a Boat Cruise

The Eiffel Tower is located just by the river. So one of the things to do around the Eiffel Tower is to get into a boat cruise. Boat cruises are not a tourist trap. They are a touristic activity but it’s definitely worth your money. It’s an amazing way to look at Paris. To see Notre Dame, the Islands, the bridges and hundreds of other details that will make you love Paris even more is one of the best experiences you’ll enjoy while in Paris.

Plus you get to be seated during the whole trip, enjoying the Seine River, the landmarks and taking the best photos of your stay in Paris!

9. Visit Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Not far from the Eiffel, you’ll find the Quai Branly Museum, created by former French President Jacques Chirac. The museum opened in 2006 and is one of the newest contemporary museums in Paris. It features indigenous art, tribal exhibits and exhibits of the cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.

While there is some controversy and speculation about the musuem’s content and role in France, you get to see some rare and beautiful indigenous artifacts and anthropological objects from around the world. Its gardens are gorgeous and there’s a beautiful vertical garden on the walls of the museum by botanist Patrick Blanc. It includes 15,000 plants of 150 different varieties, coming from Japan, China, the Americas and Central Europe.

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

DESIGN YOUR PRIVATE PARIS TOUR NOW   »

Winding paths in the garden offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, blocking traffic and allowing you to relax. A few restaurants and cafes and even a media library and a botanic library/bookshop will make your experience here memorable.

10. Do a Free Walking Tour

Discover Walks walking tour, image sourced from The Savvy Backpacker

You should also know that at the end of each of our free Paris walking tours, you’ll be handed a Perks Package. Inside the package, you’ll find many discounts that will make your visit to Paris even more special and unique, including discounts for the Vedettes du Pont-Neuf boat cruises.

Our Paris landmarks walking tour includes photo ops at many different places such as the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre and of course, the Eiffel Tower. You also get to enjoy world famous museums including the Orsay and the Orangerie. All this and more can be explored on this 90 minute, tip-supported free tour by our born and bred Parisian guide!

Now you know some of the things to do around the Eiffel Tower. Seeing and visiting the gigantic iron structure will bring many different kinds of feelings and emotions to you. The Eiffel Tower will remind you how little you actually are in this world. You will understand how important it is to live for the moment.

A bonus fun fact about the Eiffel Tower

During cold weather, the tower shrinks about six inches due to the type of metal it is made of. During summer, it grows again but never more than those six inches!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article! If you want to know a little more about our Iron Lady, read this article which is about some of the best fun facts about this iconic Parisian monument! I hope to see you soon in one of our tours! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need further information about anything!

Discover Walks