Make the Most of Le Tour Eiffel

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous buildings in the world, and an icon of France. (I've been there twice.) This post will detail the best way to spend your time at the Tour de Eiffel, and where to approach it from.

The first year I went to the Eiffel Tower, I came from the Champ de Mars side. If you come from this side, I recommend getting off at the Ecole Militare metro station and finding your way towards the gardens. It's quite beautiful (and huge!), but unless you're very far away from it, you have to crane your neck to see the whole thing because you're right at ground level. There are lots of people here, but it's still a nice way to walk to the tower (and a great picnic location).





The second year, I got off at the Trocadero metro station and walked from there to Palais de Challiot, where you'll find a huge esplanade with better views of the tower. (This is where you take all the dramatic photos.) Then, walk toward la Seine river and the Eiffel Tower. You'll pass some nice gardens after you take the stairs down from the esplanade. After the gardens, you'll cross the Seine on a bridge (beware of pickpockets) and end up at the Eiffel Tower. It's more urban than the Champ de Mars gardens, but lots of fun.

Once you arrive at the Eiffel Tower, get into line right away. There's going to be plenty of time to look around. These lines can be ghastly, and it can get quite congested. If you're travelling with more than one person, trade off the line waiting. Make the most of your time, because you'll have a lot of it.
 (A year ago they had this really funny sign with warnings about the Eiffel Tower telling people not to parachute off of it. I'm not sure if it's still there, but you could try to find it.) Although rainy days might keep the crowds away, it's way more interesting to walk to the tower on a sunny morning instead of getting a taxi to take you right to it.
Tourist Tip: Do NOT pull out your phone and start looking for good restaurants on Tripadvisor, or opening Google Maps. The pickpockets that hang around the tower will find you and start trying to sell you plastic Eiffel Tower keychains and other junk, all while trying to steal your money. Try to look very purposeful, and research the area ahead of time so you know where to go. 

Once you get to the Eiffel Tower...
Skip the tourist shops on the first and second floors of the Eiffel Tower. Everything is ridiculously expensive (four Euros for a bottled water? I don't think so). The best souvenirs of the tower are photos and your own memories. The views are absolutely fabulous, and if possible, bring a small pair of binoculars with you. You will get some beautiful pictures, especially on the second level.

View of the Champ de Mars from the Eiffel Tower.

A lot of people who haven't been to the Eiffel Tower think that they have to go all the way to the top.
Reasons to go to top of the tower:
• You get to brag to all your friends
• The lift is sorta fun... I guess
• You get to feel the wind on your face as you look down upon the majesticness of The City of Lights in all its splendour et cetera et cetera.
Reasons not to:
• It's more expensive
• It means more line waiting (for the lift)
• The view is similar to the one on the second level, but everything looks smaller.

 View from below the Eiffel Tower.

 I can honestly say that there is very little difference between going to the second level or taking a lift to the third (top) level of the Eiffel Tower. I'd highly recommend spending less money and just going to the second level, because the only reason I went to the top (one year) was for bragging rights.

This guide should give you a good idea of how to make the most of your few hours at the Eiffel Tower. (You should probably give yourself a morning to do this, there's no way you can enjoy the tower in an hour. Start early, and allow lots of time for a picnic lunch at the Champ de Mars if you want.)

I hope you go to the Eiffel Tower the next time you find yourself in Paris, or at least enjoyed reading this!