We will be in Paris for 3 days, 4 nights in June. Any advice on seeing the Eiffel Tower? Worth the wait in line? Pre buy tickets on the website? Go all the way up the tower or only to level 2? Climb the stairs to level 2 and then pay to go up to the top? Best time to go? We will arrive on a Sunday and leave on a Thursday morning.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
The best time to go is a couple hours after dark when the lines are shorter and the smog has burned off. Ride the whole way. If you're not going to the top, don't bother.
If you want an equally great view (and of the ET as well) go to the top of the Montparnasse tower, which is higher than the ET.
Don't buy advance tickets since the weather might be so horrible that you don't want to go up and you will have blown the cost of the tickets.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
As Ed said, go at night. Lines are generally shorter, to non-existant. Just realize that the higher the humidity, the more obscurred the view from the top.
Posted by
Ontario
62 posts
Hi Debbie!
For sure go at night, the views are gorgeous! The pictures I got of the sights at night were breathtaking. However, we only went to level two, and my biggest regret of our trip to Paris was not taking the trip all the way up to the top. Go to the the very top! Enjoy your trip to Paris!
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
I would go to the ET when the weather is best. Probably will be good in June -- though I have never been to the ET when the view was not spectacular. Be sure to see the light show that goes on every hour when it gets dark. Even in June at night lines might be long, particularly the line to get to the very top. The top platform is quite small. Rick says level 2 is fine, and I agree. The elevator ride up is part of the fun, in my opinion, a once in a lifetime treat. Walking up to it would be unthinkable to me... I have walked down from it though and it went on forever! Have fun, whatever you do.
Posted by
Washington, DC
180 posts
I stood in line to get a ticket to level 2 -I didn't have time to get in another line to get to the top but it was fine - had a great view and scenery from level 2
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2778 posts
I had no plans to go up the Eiffel Tower, not wanting to waste any time in line. But one night (in September), we walked over at around 10:30 to see the light show and decided on a whim to see if there was a line. There wasn't; we just walked right on. You could only go up to the second level that late, but it seemed plenty high to me. We really enjoyed the view at night. I would not stand it line for more than 15 minutes to do it.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Having been to Paris and the Eiffel Tower several times, I just can't imagine not going all the way to the top...unless of course there are huge crowds which prevent you from doing so.
One year we were with friends and it was so crowded the friends decided only to go to level 2. Their teenagers were HORRIBLY disappointed and talk to this day of "almost going to the top".
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2787 posts
Been to the ET twice - both time during the day - will have to try night time - first time I noticed that one ticket line was much shorter than the others so went over and asked an attendant why and was told most tourists get in the first line they come to (usually closest to the water) and so we got in the short line for about a 15 minute wait and went to the top - second visit we again picked the shortest line and waited about 20 minutes to get to the ticket booth - when we were 2 couples back from the ticket booth the ticket seller inserted a sign in the window that you could only go the level 2 since the top was over capacity - we bought tickets to level 2 went there and hung around the ticket booth on 2 which eventually opened and sold tickets to the top - very confusing but worth the trouble. I will have to try night time next time.