Returning from Eiffel Tower at night

Where in the 5th arrondissement are you going? Bus and metro are perfectly safe at that time if you don't want to walk. You could also take a taxi.

Paris sidewalks do not roll up at night. There will be a lot of people out and about.

I agree with Jean that it would be helpful to know which Metro station you are headed to in the 5th. I would probably not get on the Metro at the Bir Hakeem stop just because I've seen some things on various FB pages (including Les Frenchies) about issues there. I'd walk to either Ecole Militaire Metro although that might not get you in the direction you want to be or to La Motte-Picquet Grenelle Metro which might get you more in the right direction.

There also will likely be taxis at the foot of the ET where there is a taxi rank if you are tired.

11:30 is not super late in Paris and the streets are full people coming back from late dinner or the opera or a show. I'd take the metro which is what we do when we get out of the Opera at 11:30 or later and then go clear across to where we are staying.

I would walk.

What is the best way

This is a classic "depends on you" and the current situation.

I'm definitely in the "walk" column, but in Paris (and many cities in general), we're 90% walk and 10% other ways to get around.

If you're not a walker, then the other options like a taxi or ride share come into play, and perhaps even a direct bus - depending upon the route and the times of service.

But for me, wandering the core of the city at 11:30pm is often a "magical" time and a totally different experience than walking at 11:30 am.

Walking in Paris at night is delightful. We often walk from a friend's place near the Barbes metro in Montmartre to a place we rent in Batignolles. It is a little over a mile and magical at night on a temperate evening. If weather is bad, we take the 2 metro or when the metro has been down a bus.

Take a look at the walking route from the ET to your hotel and see if it looks doable -- This is all an area where walking at night would be safe and probably quite scenic especially if you could do much of it along the river. Paris is surprisingly small and very walkable. And 11:30 is not late.

Thank you. Hotel is on Rue Monge, and I am big walker. Sounds like that is a safe plan.

Thanks for the extra information. On Rue Monge you may be near the Cardinal Lemoine Metro stop which is on Line 10. You can get there easily from La Motte Picquet - Grenelle station or Ecole Militaire (take line 8 toward Balard one stop and change to Line 10). It it is a beautiful night you might opt to do your walk! It's good to have choices in your back pocket!

Well, Rue Monge is a long street. Are you nearer Blvd. Saint Germain? If so, pick up the 63 bus at the Bosquet-Rapp stop to the Maubert-Mutualité stop.

I love to see the city lit up at night.