I am going to Paris Aug 5-8 so looking to book Eiffel Tower tix just before sunset so we can then go down and see it at night twinkle (9 pm). If I have this timeline correct, which time would be better, 5:30 or 8 pm? And why do none of the times slots offer a 6, 7, etc? Earlier in the day entry times are offered every half hour (11:30, 12 noon, 1 pm, 1:30 until 5:30 but then it jumps to 8 pm even for days not open for sale yet so I know they are not taken).
Thanks
Sunset will be at about 9:20 PM when you want to visit the tower. So 8 PM should be your time slot. The view of Paris and the Seine is delightful at sunset. You should cross over the Seine and watch the lights come on from the Trocadero.
Take the 8 o'clock , they won't put the lights on till 10 , it's not dark enough before then .
Can you still see the rest of Paris at 8 p.m.? It will most likely be dark by the time we get to the 2nd level (waiting in line, etc.). Also, just wondering why they don't offer any tix between 5:30 and 8 p.m.?
This was asked about a year ago and someone emailed the ET customer service. Here is the reply:
Thanks. I just received a reply today, and this is what they said. It appears that the 5:30 to 7:30 pm time slots can only be purchased in person:
"Good morning,
You intend to visit the Eiffel tower and we look forward to welcoming you.
Further to your message which held our attention, you are asking us why the web site does not offer any entrance times between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm.
We inform you that those time slot are never on sale in order to allow an easy access to the clients of the restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel at the time of their dinner.
If your wish is to come around sunset, we invite you to buy your tickets at the cash desk at the time you are interested in. But if you prefer to purchase your tickets online in advance, we invite you to buy the tickets for 05:00 pm."
Great, thanks! That solves the mystery:) I guess we will reserve for 5:30, have dinner nearby, and then go back to see it light up at 9 ( assuming there wont be much daylight after 8:30).
If you're coming the first week of August, there will be plenty of daylight left.
The sun normally sets after 21h30.
Most restaurants do not start dinner service till 7 or 7:30 , there are some brasseries that have continuous service however , I can recommend La Couple which is in the 14 th.
It will still be light out at 8 pm , actually later than that , have you looked up sunset times for your date ? Sunset will be between 9:17 and 9:22 for your dates . You are not at home , things are different .
Another option for Paris sunset viewing is from the Arc de Triomphe. You can stay to see the Eiffel Tower light up and twinkle.
We chose to see the tower at sunset from the Arc and view the city in the daylight from the Eiffel at the 5:30 timeslot. Then saw the tower lit up from Champs de Mars and Place du Trocadero.
Erin: You may be surprised how late it gets dark in Paris. Remember it's farther north than we are. We were there in early June and it was plenty light well past 9 p.m. If I recall, they didn't do the first "twinkle" until 10 p.m. and you didn't get the full effect until 11 p.m. Early August will probably be very comparable.
Thank you everyone! This is great feedback:)
