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12 Interesting Facts and Secrets About the Eiffel Tower

Explore the history, science, and secrets of Paris' most famous landmark.

The Eiffel Tower — or, la Tour Eiffel — has long been one of the world's most recognizable landmarks, symbolizing the romance and ingenuity of the City of Light . 

Designed as the centerpiece of the 1889 World's Fair, the Tower was meant to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution and to show off France's modern industrial prowess on a world stage. 

And that it did. The tower's construction, finished after two years, two months, and five days, was considered a marvel of precision and speed. Gustave Eiffel's civil engineering firm used 7,300 tons of iron and 2.5 million rivets , and the result stood triumphant over the Champs de Mars, receiving more than two million visitors during the fair. 

The Tower’s now-famous silhouette has been  emulated around the world  in places like Las Vegas, Prague, Tianducheng, China, and, of course, Paris, Texas. The design wasn’t without its detractors , however — a "Protest against the Tower of Monsieur Eiffel,” signed by the likes of Guy de Maupassant, Alexandre Dumas fils , and other well-known artists, was published in the newspaper Le Temps before the project’s completion. The letter argued that the tower would be “a gigantic black factory chimney, its barbarous mass overwhelming and humiliating all our monuments and belittling our works of architecture, which will just disappear before this stupefying folly.”

In defiance of such protests, the Eiffel Tower did see the light of day and has stood the test of time. It remains one of the most visited monuments in the world, welcoming almost seven million visitors a year and more than 300 million people since its debut. It has changed over the years, with the addition of lighting, fresh coats of paint, and numerous installations that have come and gone. 

And there’s still more to this landmark than meets the eye. Despite the incredible number of people who have visited since it opened, La Dame de Fer still has a few secrets to share.  

There’s a penthouse apartment at the top.

Gustave Eiffel reserved the uppermost level of the tower for himself, where he hosted famous guests like Thomas Edison in a private apartment that he designed. The space has since been transformed into a recreation of Eiffel's office, complete with wax figures of himself, his daughter, and Edison, and it's open for the public to tour.

Gustave Eiffel didn’t design the tower.

While the tower is named for Eiffel, it was actually Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier — two engineers who worked for his company — who designed the structure. They also commissioned French architect Stephen Sauvestre to work on the appearance of the project in order to quell public concerns about the harsh, utilitarian nature of the original design. They ultimately beat out more than 100 other projects in a contest to choose the main attraction of the World's Fair.  

The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be torn down after 20 years.

The tower was built with the intent of showing off France's industrial prowess during the World's Fair, but the plan was to tear it down after 20 years. However, Eiffel cleverly put a radio antenna and wireless telegraph transmitter in the tower. After proving radio’s usefulness to the government in 1910, Eiffel was granted a 70-year extension to his lease. By 1980, of course, the tower had become an indelible symbol of both Paris and France, and it was in no danger of demolition.

The Eiffel Tower was almost destroyed during World War II.

In August 1944, as the Nazis were losing control of occupied Paris, Adolf Hitler commanded his generals to level the city. Plans were drawn up to mine the Eiffel Tower with explosives. Thankfully, Allied troops swooped in before the order could be carried out. Subsequent air raids over Paris caused significant damage, but the Eiffel Tower survived the war intact.

The Eiffel Tower is a cousin of sorts to the Statue of Liberty.

As sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi was designing “Liberty Enlightening the World”, he called upon his mentor, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, to design the statue’s internal framework. After Viollet-le-Duc died in 1879, Bartholdi turned to Eiffel and Koechlin. They proved their iron expertise with Lady Liberty before moving on to the Iron Lady.

The Eiffel Tower has been home to both a post office and a theater. 

The tower has been home to several businesses throughout the years, many of which are now gone. These include the newspaper “Le Figaro”, which had an office on the second floor for six months during the 1889 World's Fair, a post office tucked into the first floor, and a wooden theater on the first floor designed by Sauvestre. 

Gim42/Getty Images

The Eiffel Tower doubled as a scientific laboratory.

Eiffel, an avid scientist, housed a meteorology lab on the tower's third floor. He was known to perform studies in physics and aerodynamics there, even building a wind tunnel at the foot of the structure. Eiffel opened the doors of the laboratory for other scientists to use for their experiments as well.

The Eiffel Tower moves.

The massive iron structure is wind resistant and will sway during a storm. Wind isn't the only thing that can make the enormous tower move, though — the heat of the sun causes the iron to expand , making the Tower grow a few centimeters during the summer months. The tower will also lean an average of six inches away from the sun, as the one side facing the direct light heats up faster than the other three sides.

The Eiffel Tower is covered in the names of scientists.

The names of French scientists and engineers working in the 19th century were not forgotten by history — not only are they attached to several Parisian streets, but 72 of them are also engraved on the Eiffel Tower. The tributes were painted over in the early 20th century, but thanks to a restoration effort in the late 1980s, they are once again visible. Eagle-eyed visitors can see names like Foucault, Dumas, and Perrier cut into the iron surrounding the tower's first floor.

It takes a lot of work to keep the Eiffel Tower looking good.

Every seven years, workers apply around 60 tons of paint to the tower. This not only keeps La Dame de Fer looking good, but it also helps keep the iron from rusting.

The Eiffel Tower’s sparkling lights are copyrighted art. 

The Tower’s first light show coincided with the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in 1925. Automaker Andre Citröen financed a 200,000-bulb show that featured a shower of stars, alternating Zodiac symbols, comets, and (naturally) his car brand’s name at the finale. Another show, featuring 336 yellow-orange spotlights, came sixty years later , but the now-famous sparkling light show, consisting of 20,000 bulbs, first lit up the night sky New Year’s Eve 1999 to ring in the new millennium. While the Tower itself is in the public domain , its illumination is protected by copyright under French law . However, don’t call your lawyer just yet — this only applies to pictures taken for professional use. You’re free to share any personal pictures of the Eiffel Tower and its lights as you please.  

There’s a Champagne bar at the top.

If you're brave enough to climb the stairs to the top of the tower, reward yourself with a glass of Champagne from the Champagne Bar . There's nothing like a glass of bubbly with a spectacular view.

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Eiffel Tower

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 7, 2019 | Original: June 13, 2011

When Gustave Eiffel’s company built Paris’ most recognizable monument for the 1889 World’s Fair, many regarded the massive iron structure with skepticism. Today, the Eiffel Tower, which continues to serve an important role in television and radio broadcasts, is considered an architectural wonder and attracts more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction in the world.

Designing and Building the Eiffel Tower

In 1889, Paris hosted an Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) to mark the 100-year anniversary of the French Revolution . More than 100 artists submitted competing plans for a monument to be built on the Champ-de-Mars, located in central Paris, and serve as the exposition’s entrance. The commission was granted to Eiffel et Compagnie, a consulting and construction firm owned by the acclaimed bridge builder, architect and metals expert Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. While Eiffel himself often receives full credit for the monument that bears his name, it was one of his employees—a structural engineer named Maurice Koechlin—who came up with and fine-tuned the concept. Several years earlier, the pair had collaborated on the Statue of Liberty’s metal armature.

Did you know? The base pillars of the Eiffel Tower are oriented with the four points of the compass.

Eiffel reportedly rejected Koechlin’s original plan for the tower, instructing him to add more ornate flourishes. The final design called for more than 18,000 pieces of puddle iron, a type of wrought iron used in construction, and 2.5 million rivets. Several hundred workers spent two years assembling the framework of the iconic lattice tower, which at its inauguration in March 1889 stood nearly 1,000 feet high and was the tallest structure in the world—a distinction it held until the completion of New York City’s Chrysler Building in 1930. (In 1957, an antenna was added that increased the structure’s height by 65 feet, making it taller than the Chrysler Building but not the Empire State Building, which had surpassed its neighbor in 1931.) Initially, only the Eiffel Tower’s second-floor platform was open to the public; later, all three levels, two of which now feature restaurants, would be reachable by stairway or one of eight elevators.

Millions of visitors during and after the World’s Fair marveled at Paris’ newly erected architectural wonder. Not all of the city’s inhabitants were as enthusiastic, however: Many Parisians either feared it was structurally unsound or considered it an eyesore. The novelist Guy de Maupassant, for example, allegedly hated the tower so much that he often ate lunch in the restaurant at its base, the only vantage point from which he could completely avoid glimpsing its looming silhouette.

The Eiffel Tower Becomes a Permanent Feature of the Paris Skyline

Originally intended as a temporary exhibit, the Eiffel Tower was almost torn down and scrapped in 1909. City officials opted to save it after recognizing its value as a radiotelegraph station. Several years later, during World War I , the Eiffel Tower intercepted enemy radio communications, relayed zeppelin alerts and was used to dispatch emergency troop reinforcements. It escaped destruction a second time during World War II : Hitler initially ordered the demolition of the city’s most cherished symbol, but the command was never carried out. Also during the German occupation of Paris, French resistance fighters famously cut the Eiffel Tower’s elevator cables so that the Nazis had to climb the stairs.

Over the years, the Eiffel Tower has been the site of numerous high-profile stunts, ceremonial events and even scientific experiments. In 1911, for instance, the German physicist Theodor Wulf used an electrometer to detect higher levels of radiation at its top than at its base, observing the effects of what are now called cosmic rays. The Eiffel Tower has also inspired more than 30 replicas and similar structures in various cities around the world.

Now one of the most recognizable structures on the planet, the Eiffel Tower underwent a major facelift in 1986 and is repainted every seven years. It welcomes more visitors than any other paid monument in the world—an estimated 7 million people per year. Some 500 employees are responsible for its daily operations, working in its restaurants, manning its elevators, ensuring its security and directing the eager crowds flocking the tower’s platforms to enjoy panoramic views of the City of Lights.

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Eiffel Tower

Top choice in Paris

Lonely Planet's Ultimate Guide

Explore insider tips, fascinating history and surprising secrets to make the most of your experience.

There are different ways to experience the Eiffel Tower, from a daytime trip or an evening ascent amid twinkling lights, to a meal in one of its restaurants. And even though some seven million people come annually, few would dispute that each visit is unique – and something that simply has to be done when in Paris.

Named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel, the Tour Eiffel was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World's Fair). It took 300 workers, 2.5 million rivets and two years of nonstop labor to assemble. Upon completion, the tower became the tallest human-made structure in the world (324m) – a record held until the 1930 completion of New York's Chrysler Building. A symbol of the modern age, it faced opposition from Paris’ artistic and literary elite, and the ‘metal asparagus’, as some snidely called it, was originally slated to be torn down in 1909. It was spared only because it proved an ideal platform for the transmitting antennas needed for the newfangled science of radiotelegraphy.

Sporting six different colors throughout its lifetime, the tower has been painted red and bronze since 1968. Work is underway to strip the previous 19 coats and apply the yellow-brown shade originally conceived by Gustave Eiffel, giving it a new golden hue in time for the 2024 Olympics.

First floor: cafe and souvenir shop

Of the tower's three floors, the 1st (57m) has the most space but least impressive views. The glass-enclosed Pavillon Ferrié houses an immersion film along with a small cafe and souvenir shop, while the outer walkway features a discovery circuit to help visitors learn more about the tower’s ingenious design. Check out the sections of glass flooring that provide a dizzying view of the ant-like people walking on the ground far below. This level also hosts the restaurant  58 Tour Eiffel . The 1st floor's commercial areas are powered by two sleek wind turbines within the tower.

Second floor: Le Jules Verne restaurant

Views from the 2nd floor (115m) are the best – impressively high but still close enough to see the city below. Telescopes and panoramic maps pinpoint locations in Paris and beyond. Story windows give an overview of the lifts’ mechanics, and the vision well allows you to gaze through glass panels to the ground. Also up here are toilets, a souvenir shop, a macaron bar, and Michelin-starred restaurant  Le Jules Verne .

Top floor: Champagne bar and 'secret apartment'

Views from the wind-buffeted top floor (276m) stretch up to 60km on a clear day, though at this height the panoramas are more sweeping than detailed. Celebrate your ascent with a glass of bubbly (€13 to €22) from the Champagne bar (open 10.15am to 10.15pm). Afterwards peep into Gustave Eiffel’s restored top-level office, otherwise known as the 'secret apartment', where lifelike wax models of Eiffel and his daughter Claire greet Thomas Edison. 

Tours, tickets and other practicalities

Visitors must pass through security at the bullet-proof glass barriers surrounding the tower's base. The two entrances to the glass enclosure are on avenue Gustave Eiffel; the two exits are on quai Branly.

Ascend as far as the 2nd floor (either on foot or by lift), from where there's a separate lift to the top floor (closed during heavy winds). Pushchairs must be folded in lifts and bags or backpacks larger than aeroplane-cabin size aren't allowed. Note that the top floor and stairs aren't accessible to people with limited mobility.

Pre-purchasing tickets online gives you an allocated time slot and means you only have to queue for security. Print your ticket or show it on your phone. If you can’t reserve your tickets ahead of time, expect lengthy waits for tickets in high season.

Stair tickets can't be reserved online. Buy them at the south pillar, where the staircase can also be accessed: the climb consists of 360 steps to the 1st floor and another 360 steps to the 2nd floor.

If you have reservations for either restaurant, you're granted direct post-security access to the lifts.

For the best view of the light show, head across the Seine to the Jardins du Trocadéro.

How to get there

The nearest Metro stop is Bir Hakeim, while the nearest train station is Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel (RER C).

Champ de Mars, 5 av Anatole France, 7e

Get In Touch

08 92 70 12 39

https://www.toureiffel.paris

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Beautiful Brown Adventures - Families of Color Travel Inspiration and Tips

Tips on How to Visit La Tour Eiffel with Your Kids (Eiffel Tower)

Catching a glimpse of La tour Eiffel was always a source of joy and excitement for me during our family trip to Paris. I loved the way that the iconic tower could be seen from so many points in the city. It was a bit like an Easter egg 🙂 Funny because we happened to be in Paris for Easter! There are a number of ways to experience the Eiffel Tower, and I hope you take the opportunity to revel in each one with your family (or even without!). From feasting on a picnic lunch on the gardens, to marveling at the sweeping views from the top of the landmark, to catching a glimpse of the glittering tower at night, there is really no wrong way to appreciate the tower. See below for our personal tips and tricks for visiting with your kids!

• Trip Purpose & Details
• Before You Go & What We Packed

History of the Eiffel Tower

How to visit the eiffel tower, getting there, how to get the best photos of the eiffel tower, wishlist for our next visit.

We acknowledge France’s history as a colonizer of many lands. The oldest known inhabitants of Paris were of the Gallic tribe Parisii.

Trip purpose.

See the Eiffel Tower from as may angles as possible, and capture a family photo with the tower in the background!

AGES OF THE KIDS : 20 months & 7 years

SUGGESTED LENGTH OF VISIT : 3+ hours

TIME OF YEAR : We visited on a Monday afternoon in mid-April.

• €11-27 for adults
• €6-14 for disabled people and young adults (ages 12-24)
• €3-7 for children (ages 4-11)
• Free for children under 4
• Metro/public transportation

Add-Ons : Food/drinks & souvenirs

Before You Go

All optional, if you'd rather play it by ear:

• Purchase your lift tickets for the tower (up to two months in advance, and no less than three hours prior to your desired visit time)
• Visit the Eiffel Tower website to prepare for your visit

What We Packed

• Standard diaper bag essentials
• Ergobaby or soft baby carrier
• Umbrella stroller
• Packed meal and snacks

Construction of the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The tower is named after Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. In the century that has since followed, the tower has become a Parisian and French cultural icon, boasting 7 million visitors a year. According to the Eiffel Tower’s official website , it is the most-visited pay-to-enter monument in the world.

You can get to the Eiffel Tower by multiple means, even by boat along the Seine (maybe on our next trip…)!

We preferred to walk or take the Metro, either to Trocadero, Bir-Hakeim, or Ecole militaire stations.

Visiting the Base/Esplanade of the Eiffel Tower

You can visit the base of the tower without purchasing a ticket. To get there (and ultimately to the lift entrances), you have to go through at least two security gates. Entrance 2, or the East Entrance, is often the less-crowded entrance.

Under the base of the tower you’ll get a sense of just how large and tall the structure is. Before we joined the queue to ascend the tower, our 20-month-old had a great time running through the grounds and gaping at the height of the tower. There are also some gardens and greenery (including the 200-year-old sycamore tree ), as well as food kiosks.

Ascending the Eiffel Tower

The top of the Tour d’Eiffel boasts some of the best and most expansive views of the city, and is definitely worth at least one visit. Ideally you will have purchased your admission/lift tickets ahead of time, or no less than three hours before your visit time. You can ascend and visit the tower itself between 9 a.m. and 11:45 p.m.

We found that it was a bit of an art to find the right timing, especially since we hadn’t bought our tickets ahead of time. The crowd ebbs and flows during the day, and unfortunately when we got to the head of the line to ascend (following a 30-minute wait in the queue), we were told we would not be allowed entry to the top level of the tower because it was at-capacity. By the time we returned to the bottom of the tower, we saw that people were again being admitted to the top level!

My advice would be to hold your place at the front of the line while letting folks behind you pass until capacity opens up again. We went during the afternoon, but I’d love to try to ascend 1-2 hours before sunset to catch golden hour and get a taste of both daylight and evening views.

*Note: if you worry about being in close proximity to crowds, you might feel safe knowing that most of the attractions and views from the Eiffel Tower are open air. However, the lifts are enclosed and hold multiple parties at a time, so you may want to opt for the open-air stairs, at least up to the second floor.

First Floor

The wide, airy, open-air first floor features transparent walls and floors that give you a glimpse of the crowds and gardens below. 

We stopped at one of the first-floor cafeterias to enjoy a drink before our final descent back to the base of the tower.

Second Floor

There is another lift or staircase that will take you to the second floor, which stands at a height of 377 feet. Short of getting to the top floor, this is where to take in expansive views of the city from a gated 360-degree balcony with two levels. Tower viewers stationed throughout the perimeter can, for the cost of a Euro or two per view, provide a closer look at the surrounding scenes.

Third (Top) Floor

We sadly didn’t make it to the top of the Eiffel Tower during our visit, but did someone say champagne bar ?! I’m there.

The top floor features both an indoor and outdoor area, as well as a historical display that replicates Gustave Eiffel’s office, complete with wax models!

Descending the Eiffel Tower

You can opt for the lifts or the stairs, depending on the crowds and how you feel.

Our kid enjoyed crawling up the metal staircase even as we made our descent, though you should keep an eye on them in the stairwell. Crowds of people move in both directions.

Descending the staircase was a great option to keep out of the stuffy lifts and to experience the tower in a different way!

Have a daytime picnic at the Jardin de la Tour Eiffel

I highly recommend packing a picnic lunch or pre-dinner snack to enjoy on the lawns at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. It feels very Parisienne. We brought and devoured popsicles from a nearby Franprix supermarket. I liked to sit at the far ends of the Jardin de la Tour Eiffel to people-watch while admiring the view, all without having to crane our necks (or camera!)!

Enjoy the Evening Light Shows

As if it were even possible for the tower to be even more magical, the evening light shows do just that. The lights on the Tour shine intermittently, making it a glowing, glittery, magical beacon in the sky that can be enjoyed from many points throughout the city!

The top of the tower isn’t necessarily the best place to get photos of the tower itself–you’ll need to be further removed to get it in perspective of most camera lenses. Here are some great options for catching the Eiffel Tower in your family portraits!

Palais de Chaillot/Trocadero

Cross the Seine from the Eiffel Tower (or take the Metro directly to Trocadero station) and you’ll arrive at the Palais de Chaillot and the Place du Trocadero. This is an awesome spot to catch the Eiffel Tower in the background of your portraits, and provides a paved and expansive open space. The only thing is it can get crowded, so do your best to visit during an off-peak hour. Take time to explore this area, as you can get some great shots of the tower from the Esplanade and the staircase, among other spots!

Trocadero is also where our child decided to lay on the floor, so my partner decided it was a great opportunity to put her in a breakdancing pose.

Quai Branly

I couldn’t resist this shot while we were walking from the Eiffel Tower to the Pont de Bir-Hakeim. Just goes to show that you should explore your subject from the streets that surround it to find your favorite angle.

Passerelle Debilly

This footbridge along the River Seine is not far from the Eiffel Tower and has a magnificent view of both the tower and the river. Passerby have also left love locks along the bridge walls, which add to its charm.

• See the Eiffel Tower by boat
• Make it to the top floor (and to that champagne bar!)
• See how many photos we can get of the Eiffel Tower without actually being in the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower

It’s hard to imagine a visit to Paris without the Eiffel Tower, but you don’t need to ascend it in order to enjoy it fully!

Thanks to my familia (Lenny, Andro, Shelby, and Leila) for sharing their photos!

Check us out on Pinterest!

Angelica (she/her) is of Cebuano(Pilipinx)-descent and was born and raised in Huchiun Ohlone territory (the East Bay Area--pay your Shuumi Land Tax!), where she also now resides with her partner and their toddler. She loves to spend her time sipping on boba and dirty chai lattes (sometimes together), and eating pescetarian goodies at BIPOC-owned cafes and restaurants.

• Angelica https://beautifulbrownadventures.com/author/jellyeatsfishy/ Traveling Tokyo with Kids: 12 Family-Friendly Activities for a 3-Day Itinerary
• Angelica https://beautifulbrownadventures.com/author/jellyeatsfishy/ BBA's Top Blogs of 2023
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Gustave Eiffel’s social life at the Tower

Taking stock of the 1889 World's Fair

What was Gustave Eiffel’s daughter Claire’s role?

Why was the Eiffel Tower kept?

Was the Eiffel Tower responsible for the birth of television in France?

Everything you need to know about the Eiffel Tower at night

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What to see around the Eiffel Tower ?

The Eiffel Tower’s historic rivets: a true collector’s item to offer!

The Eiffel Tower as seen by its employees

How the Eiffel Tower was a science lab?

Did Gustave Eiffel live in the Tower?

The construction of the Eiffel Tower: an exemplary project!

What colors has the Tower sported over the years?

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The Eiffel Tower in 1900

Eiffel tower.

In 1900, when the Eiffel Tower celebrated its 11th anniversary, it was no longer really a novelty. But the World's Fair held in Paris that year provided the perfect opportunity to modernise the monument, and make it the City of Light’s main attraction once again.

Opened on 14 April 1900 by French President Emile Loubet, the 1900 World's Fair spread over 216 hectares and welcomed more than 50 million visitors over 212 days.

The Fair bequeathed several buildings to Paris, the most iconic undoubtedly being the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais.

The 1900 World's Fair was an opportunity to revitalise the Eiffel Tower's declining appeal.

Projet de Stephen Sauvestre d'aménagement de la Tour Eiffel pour l'exposition de 1900 - Collection tour Eiffel by Collection tour Eiffel - SETE Eiffel Tower

Several plans for modifying the monument were suggested. One of the more daring was put forward by Stephen Sauvestre, an architect who had taken part in building the Tower.

His idea was to add two lateral towers to the monument, so that extra elevators to the second floor could be installed.

Although none of the plans devised for the World's Fair came to anything, the Eiffel Tower still underwent numerous improvements. The Tower notably capitalised on the period's technological advances to move into the modern era.

On the first floor, the internal passageway was widened by pushing back the building façades, which took on a brighter, more cheerful look. Four restaurants (Russian French, English and Dutch) were set up.  

The second floor platform was enlarged with an external gallery.

Illuminations de la tour Eiffel en 1900 - Copyright SETE by Copyright SETE Eiffel Tower

The 1900 World's Fair also marked the advent of 'the magic of electricity'.

The 10,000 gas lamps providing light up till then were replaced by 5,000 electric light bulbs.

But the greatest modernisation work carried out on the monument involved the complete overhaul of the elevators servicing the Eiffel Tower's first and second floors.

In June 1889, five hydraulic elevators were installed for the use of visitors. 

They were a formidable feat of technical engineering for the period, as never before had engineers tackled such heights, or such loads. From the time they were brought into service, these elevators enabled hundreds of thousands of visitors to safely ascend to a great height and gaze out over the entire city of Paris.

L'ascenseur système Fives-Lille montant les visiteurs du sol au 2e étage by © Collection tour Eiffel Eiffel Tower

But as they were based on a technology still in its infancy, Gustave Eiffel modernised the elevators for the 1900 World's Fair.

The Roux-Combaluzier elevators were replaced by two hydraulic press elevators built by Fives-Lille. Each consisted of two cabins with a 50-person capacity.

The elevators, vital components of the monument, were put under severe strain. Their annual journeys combined equalled two and half trips around the world – more than 103,000 kilometres. 

Today, a testament to the extraordinary technical engineering of the period, two of the elevators are still operating with the hydraulic technology of 1900, in the Eiffel Tower's East and West Pillars.

Créateur—Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel

The birth of the Eiffel tower

The eiffel tower's inauguration and first visitors, the construction of the eiffel tower.

• La Tour Eiffel
• Plan d'accès
• Mes billets

  Billetterie officielle de la tour Eiffel

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Quand souhaitez-vous visiter la tour Eiffel ?

De combien de billets avez-vous besoin .

Jeune (12-24 ans)

Enfant (4-11 ans)

Petit enfant (moins de 4 ans)

Personne en situation de handicap

Bénéficiaire du RSA

Une commande peut contenir au maximum 9 billets

Une commande peut contenir au maximum 5 billets de –4ans

Une commande peut contenir au maximum 2 billets RSA

Vous ne pouvez pas commander des billets –4ans et 4-11ans uniquement

"Adulte" : Tarif normal pour les adultes à partir de 25 ans.

"Jeune (12-24 ans)" : Tarif pour les jeunes entre 12 et 24 ans inclus, justificatif d'âge requis.

"Enfant (4-11 ans)": Tarif pour les enfants entre 4 et 11 ans inclus, justificatif d'âge requis. Achat d'un billet adulte ou jeune obligatoire.

"Petit enfant (moins de 4 ans)": Tarif gratuit pour enfants de moins de 4 ans, billet et justificatif d'âge requis. Pas de consignes disponibles, notamment pour les poussettes.

"Bénéficiaire du RSA" : Les billets RSA -gratuits- sont disponibles uniquement sur place sur présentation d'une attestation de la CAF ou MSA datant de moins de 6 mois et des pièces d'identité du bénéficiaire ainsi que celles de ses ayant-droits mentionnés dans le justificatif.

"Personne en situation de handicap": Tarif pour les personnes en situation de handicap sur présentation d’un justificatif. L'accès au Sommet et par les escaliers ne sont pas autorisés pour les personnes à mobilité réduite.

Questions fréquemment posées

Quels sont les tarifs pour visiter la tour eiffel .

Voir tous les tarifs

Vous achetez des billets pour le 2ème étage ? Notez que vous ne pourrez ni échanger vos billets, ni acheter de billet complémentaire pour le sommet sur place. Pour consulter l’ensemble des tarifs de la tour Eiffel, veuillez consulter cette page sur le site officiel de la tour Eiffel . La billetterie en ligne de la tour Eiffel propose les tarifs officiels. Le tarif adulte s’applique pour un adulte de 25 ans et plus.  Il existe des tarifs réduits pour les jeunes (12-24 ans), les enfants (4-11 ans) et les personnes handicapées. La gratuité est appliquée pour les jeunes enfants de moins de 4 ans (billet nécessaire, sélectionnez billet "petit enfant"), ainsi que pour les bénéficiaires du RSA en France (billet nécessaire et disponible uniquement aux caisses de la tour Eiffel sur justificatif). Le prix du billet varie selon le mode d’ascension (ascenseur et/ou escalier) et la destination (2e étage ou sommet) choisis. 

La date de visite souhaitée n’est pas disponible, comment faire ?

S’il n’y a plus de disponibilité en ligne, sachez que tous les billets pour visiter la tour Eiffel sont également vendus sur place, aux caisses du monument. Vous achetez des billets pour le 2ème étage ? Notez que vous ne pourrez ni échanger vos billets, ni acheter de billet complémentaire pour le sommet sur place. Certaines journées (les week-ends, les journées en haute saison entre juillet et août) sont très demandées et nos stocks en ligne s’épuisent vite, surtout en ce qui concerne les e-billets pour le Sommet, qui sont les plus demandés. Si vous pouvez être flexible, sélectionnez une autre date qui est affichée comme disponible. Les dates marquées d’une pastille orange indiquent que 9 ou moins de 9 billets sont disponibles pour cet horaire. Les dates rayées ou grisées ne sont plus ou pas encore disponibles. Dans tous les cas, nous mettons en vente nos billets en ligne généralement plusieurs semaines à l’avance (billets ascenseurs). Si vous le pouvez, anticipez votre visite longtemps à l’avance, et ainsi vous aurez le choix de la date, de la destination et de l’horaire. Les billets escaliers 2ème étage sont disponibles en ligne 14 jours avant la date de visite. Attention, si vous optez pour la destination 2ème étage (par ascenseur ou escalier), il ne sera pas possible d'acheter sur place un billet complémentaire pour le sommet. Les billets escaliers + ascenseur pour le sommet sont en vente uniquement sur place, aux caisses du monument (en fonction de l'affluence, il peut arriver que les caisses arrêtent temporairement les ventes pour le sommet).

Combien de billets puis-je acheter ?

Sur la billetterie en ligne pour les particuliers, vous pouvez acheter jusqu’à 9 billets pour une même commande. Les professionnels souhaitant acheter des billets, quel que soit leur nombre, doivent utiliser la billetterie dédiée aux professionnels.

La billetterie en ligne de la Tour Eiffel vous permet d'acheter en ligne votre billet pour le 2ème étage ou le sommet de la tour Eiffel au tarif officiel, et ce, jusqu'à plusieurs semaines en avance. Vous pouvez acheter des billets individuels jusqu'à 9 personnes. Avec le système e-billet, pas de file d'attente aux caisses, vous recevez directement votre billet par e-mail pour l'imprimer chez vous ou le conserver sur votre smartphone. Si vous ne trouvez pas de disponibilité en ligne, il est toujours possible d'acheter en caisse le jour de votre visite.  Attention : avec un billet 2ème étage il n'est pas possible d'accéder au sommet ou d'acheter un supplément pour le sommet sur place. Les contrôles de sécurité à l'entrée de la tour Eiffel et avant de pénétrer dans un pilier sont obligatoires.

Professionnels du tourisme, établissements scolaires, associations, administrations Jeunesse et Sport, CSE :   notre billetterie professionnelle .

Destination sommet

Le sommet de la tour Eiffel

« Une expérience vertigineuse »

La plus belle vue de Paris

En vous rendant au sommet de la tour Eiffel, profitez de la plus haute vue sur Paris et ses alentours ! Grâce aux 2 niveaux, l’un en plein air, l’autre abrité, découvrez la majesté de la cité sous tous les angles : ses plus belles constructions, ses monuments et son fleuve qui la traverse.

Le bureau de Gustave Eiffel

Découvrez au sommet de la Tour la reconstitution du bureau de Gustave Eiffel, le constructeur de la Tour. Composé de personnages de cire, cet espace évoque le constructeur de la Tour et sa fille Claire recevant le célèbre inventeur américain Thomas Edison.

Destination 2éme étage

Le 2ème étage de la tour Eiffel : :

« « Au cœur de la Tour » »

Une belle expérience au cœur de la Tour

L’arrivée au 2e étage démarre par un éblouissement : Paris et ses monuments offrent leur splendeur à vos yeux ébahis, aidés par les nombreuses longues-vues situées sur les 2 niveaux. Vous profitez d’un large choix d’animations, de boutiques et des espaces de restauration pour toute la famille.

Aux premières loges pour les scintillements

Lors des visites en soirée, le 2e étage est la meilleure destination pour profiter de la Tour et de sa structure illuminées, ainsi que de la « Cité des lumières ». Au 2e étage, vous vous trouverez aux premières loges pour profiter des émotions du scintillement toutes les heures !

Infobulle 8 Un justificatif obligatoire est à présenter sur place

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Ces billets seront mis en vente à partir du

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Si vous désirez poursuivre votre commande, vous avez la possibilité de profiter de 5 minutes supplémentaires pour valider votre commande. Sans action de votre part dans la prochaine minute, votre panier sera vidé.

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