My wife Heidi wanted to climb the Eiffel Tower for her birthday, so of course the answer was, “Yes, dear,” but I have to say that entire experience was somewhat overrated…
Climbing To The Top Of The Eiffel Tower: A Review
We walked over from our hotel near the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower not really knowing what to expect. It was a beautiful afternoon and we figured we’d check it out and see if we could climb it.
We noticed the huge lines immediately upon arrival. Earlier, we had tried to buy tickets to the top, but they were sold out online:
Upon entering the grounds, there was an airport-style security check with metal detector.
Once inside, we found a long line to purchase tickets at the base of the tower. The line moved slowly, but at least it moved…we entered the line at 7:30 pm and by 8:30 pm were holding tickets. Annoyingly, there was a couple in front of us in line making out French style for most of the hour. I’m really not into PDAs and wish people like that would just get a room and leave everyone else out of it…
It was finally our turn. Tickets are not cheap…the kids were only €8.90 each, but adults were €35.30. The four of us were €88.40.
Next came another security check, even more intensive than the first one.
We got into a crowded elevator and headed up to the second level, where we found very nice views of the city.
We then got into another elevator and went up to the top. There, it was quite windy and we were inside a cage (sadly, I guess, to prevent people from jumping).
You could buy Champagne on the top…€24 for a regular glass and €27 for a rosé or €70 for two glasses with caviar.
We took the elevator back to the second floor, took in the views for a few more minutes, then took the stairs down (a journey of roughly 10 minutes). I had to carry my daughter…
CONCLUSION
I was not happy about the long waiting time (and that was on us for doing this spur-of-the-moment instead of planning in advance) and found the whole experience underwhelming.
However, it was a fun family activity and something I am glad I did at least once. I don’t think I’ll ever do it again…and my wife and kids agree…but the views were gorgeous and it’s probably something you want to try at least once. Just reserve your tickets in advance and note that it is a tourist trap, if there ever was one…
Going to Paris just isn’t completed without a selfie with the tall pointy thing. I agree with you, though; once was enough for the climb.
It was two elevator rides , and a partial descent down some stairs .
You seem to be in a rather pissy mood that day. If you don’t like people making out, don’t look at them. Perhaps you have forgotten that customs are different in other countries. You appear to be a huge proponent of capitalism, yet when an icon of French people wants to make a profit you complain about it. I hope you are able to enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Trashy people petting and groping and throat-in-throat kissing in front of others have no class.
I agree, like the tourists do with kids in those Asian countries you seem to enjoy so much.
Out of sight, out of mind, right? Or is it, “I don’t do it so it’s not my problem”?
You keep going on about that. I really don’t get why you are fixated on this, especially when you have no actual context because you have never visited these regions. It’s like the gay thing…you have to wonder sometimes, Dave.
I totally agree with you and your children do not need to see that for a minute or an hour!!!!!!!!
I was at a Cubs game recently and 2 people were doing that in the concession area. It’s just uncouth in places like that.
@Joe … “… customs are different in other countries .”
Actually , anywhere in the world , Females demonstrate unrestrained wild affectionate body hunger .
If @Matthew had cautioned them , the female would have ferociously turned on @Matthew . He was very wise to remain silent .
Geez Joe & Dave.
It’s just an article and an opinion.
Chill out. I don’t think the Eiffel tower is overrated but… to each their own
Paris is never overrated. Doing the Tower doesn’t need to happen on every visit but more than once in a lifetime is not enough.
I bet they like “our” Statue too.
@Tim … Agree fully . When I did the elevators to the top , I was fortunate to meet some very interesting French people , who were also doing the elevators to the top .
It is an amazing edifice , well engineered .
Hell has frozen over twice lately.
Tim loves the 787 and I agree with him.
Perhaps a snowball does have a chance in hell.
I personally like watching the Bellagio Fountains from the top.
I personally never had the desire to go up there. I find the views from Sacré-Cœur beautiful enough for me. And it is free. It was never about the price to go up but really never found I needed it.
@Santastico … Do you climb the stairways to the top of Montmartre ?
Frequently there are bistros where one can drink wine . That’s how Graham Hill won the Grand Prix de Monaco , by drinking wine before the race .
You can climb the stairs, take roads or the funicular. That is a place I go every time I visit Paris.
Next time just book a table for lunch or dinner at Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. Private entrance, private elevator, no lines, no waiting, decent food. You can explore the tower before or after meal and then take private elevator back down.
This is an excellent suggestion.
It´s a 2-star Michelin restaurant, so it doesn´t come cheap
That was exactly what we did when we took our 3 daughters there.
I wish I would have thought of this.
We did have advance tickets and it was still a long and frustrating process.
However we did love it.
There are tourist attractions that disappoint you when you see them in person. The Eiffel Tower is the complete opposite; it’s much taller and more impressive when you see it in person.
I completely disagree when Mattew say it’s a tourist trap, but I agree that you only have to go up there once.
But you always have to return to Paris; along with Rio de Janeiro, they are the most beautiful cities in the world.
Everything is fantastic in Paris, from the food, the wine, the elegant women, the fantastic museums, the charming neighborhoods, the markets….La flânerie!
Don’t get me wrong, other than London, there’s not a major city in Europe I’ve visited more often than Paris…I love the city. But I do think it was a tourist trap.
Interesting … I assumed your most visited city in Europe was in Germany.
I don’t count Frankfurt, because I lived here (wasn’t visiting), and don’t count my in-laws’ place, because that is like a second home.
Of course!
Another recommendation for beautiful views in Paris is the observatory deck of the abominable Montparnasse Tower. It’s the only Paris view from which you can’t see the ugly skyscraper.
They have a restaurant on the top floors, Le Ciel de Paris, with incredible views and much more convenient than the Jules Verne at the Eiffel Tower.
Latest check on google Le Ciel de Paris says Permanently closed.Maybe it is just a ruse.
if you are trying to include some of the most naturally beautiful cities, then Hong Kong and Cape Town have to be included.
Paris is one of the most incredible cities because of what humans have built.
Is true!
@Tim: if you are talking about the most naturally beautiful cities, Rio de Janeiro has to be in that list. As far as human built, I find Rome to be the most amazing of all. In my view, it is an “open air museum” as you see history in almost every corner of that city as you walk around it. Europe has amazing cities but in my view, Rome is the crown jewel of them all.
Is it a tourist trap? Maybe. But it is an architectural wonder and the views from up top are amazing.
Why go up the Eiffel Tower when you can look at it from the Regency Club at the Hyatt Etoile while guzzling wine on tap during happy hour?
No one “guzzles ” whilst tap dancing .
I couldn’t talk my then wife out of the climb on our honeymoon. It was my second time in Paris, her first. It was clear to me it wasn’t a good idea, and I hadn’t done it on the first trip. She pushed; I agreed. She later admitted I was right; it was not a good idea. I look back fondly on that day. It was the last time she ever admitted I had been right about something.
I used to like to go up tall towers but found it’s better to look at them most of the time. The view from the Eiffel Tower may be too high. I enjoyed the view from the Arc de Triomphe.
As far as the cage, it didn’t prevent Grace Jones from jumping when she was running away from James Bond 007 in View to a Kill.
I went up the Eiffel Tower in 1995 and didn’t think it was a tourist trap. I think it is cool. I also went up the Tour Montparnasse, Arc de Triumph and Le Grand Arch. I recommend all of them. Also, the view from Printemps dept store
Going to the top of St Peters in Rome is cool and well as St Pauls in London. Also, Westminster Cathedral in London has a good view, which is different than Westminster Abbey. I read Winston Churchill always liked to go to the top of the highest place in a city the first time he got there.
Should you go to Berlin, you can climb to the top of the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) on Museum Island. Approximately 270 steps, no elevator, better be in shape!
However, specular views of the heart of old Berlin and Spree River.
This is why my wife and I just have lunch reservations at Jules Verne next Monday the 21st.
je veux le caviar! i did the eiffel tower first thing in the am – no crowds. my ex planned the trip and he was a very skilled planner. Go up in early am. Return to nearby plaza at night to photograph. in fact the photo i took of him is still his fb picture 10 years later
Yes it’s pricey and crowded this time of year, but it is so iconic. My high school aged kids loved it and they still love looking back in pictures. Even though your kids are quite a bit younger, and it can be tough on them with the wait, they will remember it and anytime there’s a picture of Paris it will feature the tower and you can remind them they were there, and they will remember they were there with you and their mom and the incredible view, the little annoyances at the time will be forgotten. They may even ask to see the pics you took with them. It will be a fond memory, and when you look back at some point in the future it will become one for you too.
It’s obligatory to climb the Eiffel Tower on your visits to Paris, especially if you have kids in tow! Gives them something to brag about when they get back to the school yard.
Same as visiting the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Full of tour guides; student groups; people taking selfies; every one speaking a language you are not familiar with; but you go!
“climb” seems to be a generous description of what you did at the eiffel tower…perhpas rode an elevator up is more apt? as i recall, there is (or was) an option to actually take the stairs all the way up.
Everyone has their likes/dislikes. I didn’t care for Paris. Now if I spoke French I would love to explore the countryside but seeing Paris again isn’t high on my list. My brother and his wife loved it.
We did the pre planned tourist thing complete with lunch in the restaurant. It was surprisingly good with excellent service. A tourist trap, yes. But a very good one.