skipping Eiffel tower lines?

There are expensive tours, or you could make reservations for a meal at the restaurants.

thanks. Do you have any idea of tour prices versus dining costs? Can you recommend a tour? I have seen the long lines before but I never took the time to get in line, but thought the next time I go to Paris it would be good to do something new, and I have never been on the Eiffel Tower. Thanks.

It helps going on a weekday, at night, off season is best. I went in February on a Saturday afternoon and waited quite a while in line, then last month, I took my parents on a Wednesday night around 7 (still daylight) and the line was non-existant, we literally walked up to the counter and bought our tickets

I echo the suggestion that you go at night. Over Christmas, I literally walked straight up to the ticket counter, and I only had to wait for the next elevator. As for the view at night... well, there's a reason Paris is called the "City of Lights".

Sorry I would never take any tour in Paris( but the Fat Tire Bike tour, that was fun) . Waste of money and only for rich folks, or those who don't like to do their own research, I am neither of those! LOL

I think you just get in the line, go first thing, say 1/2 hour before opening( which I think is around 9) and wait. I have also taken the stairs as the line up for the stairs is usaully alot shorter( waited TWENTY minutes in august, when lines for elevators were about 1 1/2 hours long)

If ones schedule is so tight that 20 minutes makes a difference to your day,then well, what can I say, too sad.

I actually like standing in line for 10-15 minutes, reviewing maps , listening to others in line speaking other foriegn languages, and rereading guide books.

I only schedule one or two big sites a day, so the whole experience is not about rushing about for me. I also never have gone for less then 9 days at a time, so I suppose those who only allow " 2 days in Paris" are rushed

Take the stairs. It takes only a few minutes, is reasonably fun, and has opportunities for dozens of artsy photographic angles.

Last time I was in Paris, we faced a 45 minute wait for the elevator or a 5 minute wait for the stairs, so that's what we chose. The line for the stairs is in the south pillar (near left side as you're standing on the Champ de Mars).

The Tower is touristy but something you really do need to do. The view of the city is awesome. I love the idea of visiting it at night. I'll bet it has a whole different feel to it.

Twice I skipped the tower because I thought it was too touristy... well third time's a charm.. I decided to splurge and go for it plus lunch at the restaurant.

Albie, if you're looking to bypass the line, splurge at the restaurant, or work those calves and stair it.
Touristy or not, its the Eiffel Tower!! LOL

Albie: I showed up about an hour prior to the opening and still waited in line for over an hour (this was in the summer). By the time I got to the ticket booth, they had sold out of tickets for the 3rd floor observation (not a big deal, the views are pretty good on the 2nd floor).

I was in the vicinity of the Tower at night several times that week and noticed the lines were still really long one night, but then non-existent on another. I think it just depends what day of the week you are trying to go and if it is tourist season or off-season.

When approaching the Tower, I noticed several long lines at what appeared to be the ticket booths. When walking around toward the other side of the base, I noticed a MUCH shorter line. I had my now wife stand in that line while I went up to the front and asked an attendant what the shorter line was for. He responded that it was to go up the Tower. I asked him why all the other lines were so long while this line was so short to which he replied something like "I gave up trying to figure out tourists long ago!" Do look around.

Charles, when I was at the Eiffel Tower a month ago and I did notice the different lines too, some shorter than the others. I checked them out, and I am pretty sure they are not the same lines. One of the queue is for the elevator, another for stair, and another for something else...

Usually one line is for stairs only, so beware. I accidentally ended up in that line, becuase it was the shortest one, only found out when I went I got to the ticket agent oops. Normally not a big deal, but I had already climbed Sacer Couer and Notre Dame that day...

We went about 45 minutes before closing and it was dead. The views at night are awesome.

We went just before sundown on a Monday evening, and the line was not long at all.