I've narrowed it down to two hotels in my price range. Hotel Eiffel Trocadero and Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel. Both have rooms with tower views on their higher floors. Trocadero is a farther walk but I maybe the better all over views? Pullman of course is closer but are the views obstructed? I'm a solo traveler and don't usually go out at night by myself, so safety is a concern. I've been to Paris solo before but never saw the "twinkle" and I want the best views as its my last trip to Paris and thats my main focus. Going in the early fall.
Advice please?
Thanks
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1891 posts
Sparkle schedule is here: https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/visit/what-time-does-eiffel-tower-light-and-sparkle
The tower is visible from many places in Paris the best views IMHO are from the Palais de Chaillot - the large elevated area with the views from there you will recognize immediately because it is such a good vantage point. This is a two minute walk from Hôtel Eiffel Trocadéro.
Also long Champ de Mars park on the opposite side is a common place for people to put out blankets and enjoy the evening and the view. This is close to Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel.
You might also think about a nighttime Seine cruise from Vedettes du Pont Neuf. Yes, it's touristy but it's also a great way to see the city at night and the post sunset cruises will time your view of the tower to coincide with the light display. We did it last year for the first time and it was fun and I have 1,000 pictures of the tower since you first see it and the view just keeps getting better as the cruise goes on.
Everyone's comfort level is different but I haven't been anywhere in the center of Paris that I would feel is unsafe - even for someone walking alone. And with restaurants open until well into the evening the city lively well into the late evening. Aside from pickpocketing - which you can protect yourself against - tourist Paris is safe from most violent crime. If you're hesitant I think walking along the Siene and in the busy, core areas with Parisians and tourists out until well after midnight would be understandable but safe.
Enjoy Paris,
=Tod
Posted by
Duluth, MN🌲
11235 posts
You might also think about a nighttime Seine cruise from Vedettes du Pont Neuf. Yes, it's touristy but it's also a great way to see the city at night and the post sunset cruises will time your view of the tower to coincide with the light display.
I agree with this. My two grandkids and I took the nighttime Seine cruise from Vedettes du Pont Neuf, and they really loved it. For that matter, so did I. As Tod mentioned, they time it to coincide with the light display and sparkles, so you're definitely going to get to see it. When I was there, sunset was at 8:30 p.m. (we were there in early April) so we took the 8:15 p.m. cruise and got to the Eiffel Tower around 8:45 p.m. It was dark enough by then to be able to really enjoy the beautiful lights.
Posted by
Chicagoland
1745 posts
Another agreement to a nighttime Seine Cruise. There are many to choose from, but like the previous posters, I like Vedettes du Pont Neuf with their smaller boats and live English commentary.
Regarding safety, I'm female and usually travel solo to Paris. I have never felt uncomfortable using the metro or the buses in the late evening. I also walk and just make sure I stay on well lit streets.
Getting back to your hotel choices. I have not stayed in either hotel, but I don't care for the neighborhood of the Pullman. It doesn't have the type of vibe that I enjoy when staying in Paris.
If you stay at the Hotel Eiffel Trocadero, you're just a couple minute walk to the Esplanade du Trocadero for the most magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16626 posts
I've not stayed in either of your choices although I do stay in the Rue Cler area and have a couple of hotels that have views of the top third or so of the tower. Enough so that I can see it sparkle, lol. IF you want a smaller hotel, I'm happy to give you the names.
I am a solo, female traveler. I'd not feel bad about walking back to my hotels in the Rue Cler area alone at night. I am NOT much of a night person so staying out after about 930 is not something I'd do anyway, hahaha! I usually book a more expensive ET view room for at least my last few nights in Paris. Just my way of saying "goodbye"!!
I don't know if you watch Les Frenchies on Youtube but they did a review of the Pullman recently. I'm not crazy about them but I think they were pretty upfront about this review with specific things they liked and did not like and they talk about the view.
https://youtu.be/uH9r_7GPQ8I?si=9fyeo8K5tX_xNG7r
(What I mostly don't like about them is they show too many pictures of them chewing food, hahaha. Yuck.)