Eiffel Tower

It is impossible for you to travel to Paris and do not visit the well-known Eiffel Tower. It is definitely the symbol of this magic city. Many things will surprise you including its height, its illumination and of course the historical background.

Its construction begins in 1889 during the first centenary of the French Revolution. A very important date for the French people is the 31st of March of this year that is the day of the inauguration of the tower. It all got started in 1884 but it was not finished until 1889.

After the exposition the tower was going to be demolished but thanks to some tests taken by the French Army before the demolition date the tower was saved. The piece was built by Gustave Eiffel who was helped by the engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier and the architect Stephen Sauvestre. Around 200 workers helped them. Gustave Eiffel also proposed to build the project in some other cities such as Barcelona but he was turned down.

Height of the Eiffel Tower

Surprising every person who observes it, this masterpiece measures 324 meters.

When it was built it had 312 meters but due to the installation of some radio antennas it reached the actual height. The height is not minor detail considering that it is the tallest building of Paris. It was not easy to paint such structure. Using around 50 tons of painting, every 7 years the tower has to be painted by workers specialized in acrobatic climbing. The actual colour is brown but it was yellow before. If you want to decide the colour you should go the first floor of the tower and vote.
Nowadays it weights 10 thousand tons.
The ideal access to the tower is the Champ de Mars, a place where you can be dazzled by the immensity of the Eiffel Tower.

The tower has 3 levels open to public. If you are not into walking do not worry because elevators will take you to the platforms. The first platform is 57 meters, the second is 115 meters and the third one 276 meters. Generally elevators are slow that is why there is always a queue. If you decide to take the stairs you will have access only till the third floor. During the night the illumination of the tower is a show that has to be seen. Thanks to the thousand of lamps, including 20 thousand lamps and 300 floodlights, this tower has an absolute distinction. There is a regular illumination not less important that takes place the first 10 minutes of every hour.

Between 6 and 7 millions of people visit the tower per year. That is a clear proof of the importance of this masterpiece. It is the most visited monument worldwide. The prices to visit the tower vary according to what we chose.

Prices of the Eiffel Tower
There are two types of prices, the regular for older than 12 years old and the one for children between 3 and 12 years old. If you decide to take the elevator till the first floor the ticket costs 4.50 euros for older than 12 an 2.50 euros for underage. To reach the second floor again by the elevator costs 7.70 euros for grownups and 4.40 euros for underage. Reaching the top costs 11.60 euros for grownups and 6.40 for underage.

If you decide to take the stairs you can only reach the first or second floor. It costs 4 euros for older than 25 years old and 3 euros for people under the age of 25.
Groups made up of at least 10 people will be able to get a discount as well as disabled people and people who join them.
The tower has 1.665 steps if you can use them. Otherwise there are transparent elevators that go until the second floor where you will find many souvenir stores.

Eiffel Tower Restaurants
As long as you advance you will find the so famous restaurants Altitude 95 and Jules Verne. There are also stores right next to the wonderful landscape. The place is ideal to observe and appreciate the beauty of many Paris attractions. You will be dazzled by the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and the Notre Dame Cathedral. This piece has won the absolute admiration of those who had visited it and is definitely the unlosable for those who have not been there before.
If we say Paris we are saying Eiffel Tower. If we say Eiffel Tower we mean Paris.

Although not everything was pink coloured for this tower. At first Parisians did not like it. The construction of such a tower in the middle of a city was not well welcome. But it did not take long till they love it!

Times
Elevators work from 9:30 to 23:00 from September to middle June; from 9:00 to 00:00 from middle June till August.
Stairs are available from 9:30 to 18:30 from September till middle June; from 9:00 till 00:00 from middle June till August.

Transport

Metro:
Bir Hakeim (line 6)
Ecole Militaire (line 8)
Trocadero (lines 6 and 9)
RER: station Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel from line C.
Public buses: lines 22, 30, 32, 42, 63, 69, 72, 80, 82 and 87.
Batobus: every 20 minutes a boat arrives to load and unload passengers.
Taxi: there is a taxi stop in the pillar of the tower.
You can also ride a car but it is not advisable due to the heavy traffic.