History remark
When people are visiting Paris, the most important thing to do while in Paris is obviously to see the Eiffel Tower, the greatest landmarks of the City of Lights. It is not by chance that this monument is so remarkable. 250 million people have visited the iron structure since its opening and over 7 million people visit it annually making this the most visited monument in Europe. Come meet our Iron Lady.
The Eiffel Tower was built in 1888 by architect Gustave Eiffel and stands since the Paris World Exhibition in 1889. Once you are face to face with the most iconic monument of Paris, you will be impressed by its size and greatness, it even might bring tears to your eyes.
The Eiffel Tower is 324 metres tall, 125 metres wide and weights over ten thousand tonnes! It has 1665 stairs. Climb them if you are brave enough. But you can do what most people do and just take the lift.
Since you’ll be visiting this awesome Paris landmark (Learn about our free Landmarks Tour here), you should know a few things you can do inside of it and around it. That is why I’m sharing with you things to do around the Eiffel Tower!
Where is the Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower is located at the Champs de Mars on Avenue Anatole,5 in the seventh arrondissement in Paris. There’s no way you will miss seeing this gigantic monument when you visit Paris. When you will be landing in Paris, you will see the Iron Lady from the airplane even on a cloudy day.
There are plenty of ways to get to the Eiffel Tower, but I will let you know the best ones! The easiest way to get to Eiffel Tower is obviously by taking the RER C train to Champ de Mars/Tour Eiffel station but if I were you I would take one of the other options I’m about to share with you.
Although it is the closest metro station to the tower, it usually is very crowded and since you may not be used to the Parisian public transports you might get lost and confused.
An alternative way is to get on the metro line 8 and take the exit at Ecole Militaire or the metro line 6 and take the exit at Bir-Hakeim. By taking this route, you will avoid having the trouble to wait for a direct metro to Champ de Mars/Tour Eiffel and you will also be closer to the Champs de Mars gardens. You will be able to take a walk until you reach the Eiffel Tower, which in my opinion is one of the most beautiful ways to visit all the area around the Eiffel Tower.
The option I prefer is to take the Trocadero metro exit on metro line 9 or 6 and from there visit the Trocadéro first and then head to the Eiffel Tower. By doing this, you will also have the best view possible from afar of the Eiffel Tower, because the Trocadéro is on higher ground than the Champs de Mars. This way you will also have the possibility to visit a lot more things around the Eiffel Tower, while still being near it.
Climb the stairs and learn its history
Climb the stairs and reach the second floor! Wander around the center of the tower’s metallic structure at your own pace and contemplate the fantastic iron piece of art and its history.
Another thing to do in the Eiffel Tower would be of course a guided tour to learn everything about the most famous monument of Paris.
Otherwise, you can stay a little while on the first floor to enjoy an overview of its history through different illustrations of the Eiffel Tower evolution, photographs, engravings, drawings, films and interactive activities.
You don’t want to miss the panoramic view from the second floor, with Paris at your feet. From the right bank to the left bank (Learn more about right bank vs left bank), the Eiffel Tower offers you the most unique view over the major landmarks of the city of lights.
However, be prepared to queue (read tips for your visit here) : it can take up to 4 hours to access to the Eiffel Tower. Even if you arrive early in the morning or at the end of the day, you won’t be alone ! Our advice would be to visit the Eiffel Tower with a local guide (more informaton and tickets here). These tickets are more expensive than normal tickets, but the Eiffel Tower is a must-see in Paris and you don’t want to spend the whole day waiting in a line.
Inside the Eiffel Tower, there are actually many things to see and experience. As you go up the tower, you will find out everything you want to know about the Eiffel Tower: from its origins and history to the construction evolution and all the renovations it went through all these years.
Enjoy the Eiffel Tower at night
Some say the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower is at night when you can appreciate a calmer atmosphere as well as the incredible illuminations. After sunset, the Eiffel Tower sparkles with thousands of lights and it’s open til midnight!
If you’re looking for a chic experience, you can enjoy a glass of champagne at the very top of the Eiffel Tower! Nestling into the very structure of the tower, the bar offers you a choice of a glass of either rosé or white champagne, served as chilled as you like. The bar is open until 10 pm and serves drinks for a cost between €12 and €21.
And finally, for the gourmet among you, on the first floor, there’s a restaurant called Restaurant 58 that serves lunches and dinners high in the sky! Its meals start at 39 euros and children’s menu at 15 euros. The food and atmosphere are extremely pleasant!
Enjoy wine and cheese at the foot of the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is surrounded by big lawns where Parisians love to sit during spring and summer. One of the best things to do around the Eiffel Tower is to have a French picnic with cheese, wine and a baguette. Just next to the Eiffel Tower is one of the best streets in Paris to buy food. It’s called rue Cler (read more about food shops in Rue Cler). In this street, you will find the best products Paris has to offer. Then just bring all your purchases to those lawns of le Champs de Mars and you’ll have the most Parisian evening ever.
Enjoy the Rodin Museum
The Rodin museum is one of the most celebrated sculpture museum of Europe. Rodin was one of the last masters of classical sculpture of its time. He revolutionized art. He made some of the most famous sculptures ever. We all know his most famous piece of art: the Thinker. His work is full of feelings and I can assure you it is a quite moving experience to discover Rodin’s art for the first time.
Have a boat cruise
The Eiffel Tower is located just by the river. So one of the things to do around the Eiffel Tower is to get into a boat cruise. Boat cruises are not a tourist trap. They are a touristic activity but it’s definitely worth your money. It’s an amazing way to look at Paris. To see Notre Dame, the Islands, the bridges and hundreds of other details that will make you love Paris even more is one of the best experiences you’ll enjoy while in Paris.
You should also know that at the end of each of our free Paris walking tours, you’ll be handed a Perks Package. Inside the package, you’ll find many discounts that will make your visit to Paris even more special and unique, including discounts for the Vedettes du Pont-Neuf boat cruises.
This article based on https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/things-to-do-around-the-eiffel-tower/. All rights reserved by www.discoverwalks.com