We purchased our tickets for Easter Sunday at 5:30 pm, with access to all levels. We need to book a dinner reservation somewhere that evening, too. I am trying to determine how much time we should expect to spend in line with our tickets, going through security, going up, viewing, and coming down. Is there a specific amount of time you are allowed to stay up and take in the views?
If anyone has a restaurant close to the Eiffel Tower they'd like to recommend, that would be great, too!
Thank you!
I'd give yourself two hours -- you should be up quickly to the first leg to level 2 right after 5:30 but you will have to queue to get to the very top and you will want to linger a bit on levels 2 and 3 for pictures. And I'd want another hour to stroll across the bridge to Trocadero for a great view back. I'd book a late dinner not too far from there, but alas I have no specific recommendation.
As the previous poster said, a lot of it will depend on the line on Level 2. We were on a tour and it was a about two hours for us overall at sunset (with the majority of the time waiting to go to the summit).
And there's no specific time limit for your visit. Once you're up there no one will force you to leave. There are many restaurants dotted around so either get a recommendation or go look at TripAdvisor and find a good one. There are several restaurants located on and around the rue Cler if you don't mind mixing with mostly tourists and their Rick Steves book :-)
Give yourself time to take pictures also, it's so iconic you want to be able to find a good vantage point. We did not allow enough time for this and the great part across the street with the small pool of water. There was also some street performers that we watched for about 20 min.
Last year from getting in line for our appointment time and reaching the summit, it took 1 hour & 15 minutes. The majority of the wait was at the second level waiting for the summit elevator. The plus is the line wraps around the outer edge of the second level allowing you to take great photos of Paris. Then you hit the standard Disneyland/Amusement park zig-zag line just before the elevator.
WE did this in October on a rainy day and had little wait for that elevator to the top -- it sounds like an additional hour might not be amiss here i.e. 3 hours for the tower -- perhaps move the view from Trocadero to before the ascent on the tower so you have time for dinner after. The view from Trocadero is particularly wonderful at night because of the horizontal spotlights on the tower -- spectacular picture particularly on foggy nights -- but you don't have to do that the same day you do the climb or you can come back by after dinner.
I'd suggest allowing 2-3 hours, just to provide a bit of a "cushion" in case of unexpected delays. Since you may not return there for awhile, you'll also want to have enough time to get some good photos and just enjoy "being there".
Cafe Constant. They don't take reservations but you don't know what time you'll get there and won't be rushed. There will probably be a wait but see the bartender to get on the list and have a drink while you wait. Ate there twice and enjoyed it very much.
Thank you for all of the helpful replies! We will plan 2-3 hours at least and I will check out Cafe Constant that was recommended.
