Best time to tour the Eiffel Tower

We loved it getting a ticket just before sunset so we went up in the daylight got a great sunset and then saw the night lights. We were there in November so it wasn't as late though. But once you are up there you can stay as long as you like, at least until closing.

I was of the mindset to get up there early, before the crowds, and 10 am in late May was perfect.

When I went up the first week of June I had my reservation time just over an hour before sunset. From the time I got in line on the ground level (about 10 mins. before my reservation time), up the elevator, in line again on the 2nd floor for the elevator to the top, it was an hour process before setting foot on the top level. The majority of the waiting took place on the 2nd floor where everyone waits in the same line to catch the elevator to the top. The plus was the line wrapped along the outer edge and I got great pictures of the city and the main landmarks (Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe & more).
Enjoy your trip.

The best time is right before sunset so you can view the sites while it is still light and then stay and watch the lights come on in the city.

Hi Carolyn, I agree that purchasing tickets for an hour before sunset is good. We did just that in September and we were on the Tower when it lit up. I've been to the top many times but that was the first time I was there when it lit up and started twinkling (it twinkles on the hour for 5 minutes). Very cool. We took pictures and walked around for a bit then got to see it light up again from the Champs de Mars. Very nice evening. Hope you enjoy your trip!

Carolyn,

I asked a similar question last year when I was getting ready to book our Eiffel Tower tickets for our June visit.

I agree that watching the sunset from the tower is amazing, however, there are no guarantees that the weather will cooperate on the day you plan to go up the tower. We experienced some cloudy and rainy days last June.

I booked our tickets (summit) for 12:30pm, and the day was nice and sunny, so we were able to see the whole city below us ;-)

Sunset was at 10pm, so we made our way to the Trocadéro, one beautiful cloudless night and watched the tower "twinkle"

Enjoy your visit!

Thank you for all the advice!

Further questions: in Rick Steve's Paris book, he says you could do the ET in 90 minutes (quickest) but plan 4 hours for your visit. Since the sun sets at 10pm, would you suggest buying a ticket at 6pm?

Also, I'm a little leary of being out until 10pm at night with the pickpockets and sales people, getting home in the dark etc. Thoughts??

1st time in Paris.

I never had any problem being out in Paris after 10:00 pm. There are a lot of people out at that time of night so it is not like you are by yourself. If you wear a moneybelt, you have nothing to worry about with regards to pickpockets.

Carolyn,

in Rick Steve's Paris book, he says you could do the ET in 90 minutes
(quickest) but plan 4 hours for your visit. Since the sun sets at
10pm, would you suggest buying a ticket at 6pm?

Also, I'm a little leary of being out until 10pm at night with the
pickpockets and sales people, getting home in the dark etc. Thoughts??

1st time in Paris.

Personally, I don't think we were on the tower more than 60-90 minutes, so I wouldn't want to be on the tower for 4 hours just so I can see the sunset at 10pm.

My daughter & I took a bus to the Trocadéro at around 9:30pm and there was a large crowd there, so we didn't feel unsafe.

There were street vendors trying to sell trinkets but we just ignored them and they didn't bother us.
Once we took a bunch of photos while the tower was illuminated, and while it "twinkled", we walked back to the bus stop and took the bus back to our hotel. We never felt unsafe.

If you don't feel comfortable being out so late, you could always take a taxi to the Trocadéro, or wherever you choose to watch the tower at sunset, then schedule a taxi to pick you up and drive you back-- your hotel would be more than happy to arrange a taxi for you.

I don't think I know anybody who's spent more than 2 hours ascending and exploring the tower, unless they dined up there. If you're not buying your ticket in advance and may have to spend quite a while waiting in lines to go up and down, then you might want to set aside 3-4 hours of your time just in case.