Eiffel Tower by Night

If daytime is an amazing experience, having the chance to climb the Eiffel Tower and see the city illuminated at night is an even more impressive experience if possible. You will have a totally different image of Paris, being able to see the main monuments with the particular night light that illuminates them.

In addition, the Eiffel Tower at night, under the illumination of hundreds of projectors is a real wonder, and every hour on the hour you will have the opportunity to enjoy a light show starring a total of 20,000 bulbs that will shine on the building.

If you are looking for other plans in the city of Paris, visit the post what to see and do in Paris.

Regardless of the time of the year you travel to Paris you will have the opportunity to visit the Eiffel Tower at night. A magical and unique experience. The monument is open every day until 22:45 pm at night and from mid-June to early September, plus some bridges that coincide with spring or Easter, the building extends its hours until midnight, except if there is a security restriction or adverse weather conditions.

So do not hesitate, whenever you go, do not hesitate to live this experience that has its charm throughout the year. Thus, in the summer you will be accompanied by a pleasant weather and in the month of December is a truly spectacular visit, since, coinciding with Christmas in Paris, the city is filled with even more light and color.

Ticket prices

The price of tickets at night is the same as during the day and there are different types of tickets, depending on whether the climb is done on foot or by elevator, or if the climb takes place up to the second floor of the building or to the top. The cost of the tickets ranges from 10 € to 27 €.

Tickets for the evening hours can be purchased online. However, I recommend that you book them as far in advance as possible because there is a possibility that they may sell out. You can get more information in the post of ticket prices for the Eiffel Tower.

Climbing the Eiffel Tower at night is always recommended and you will have the opportunity to rediscover the city of Paris from a completely different perspective to your daytime visit to see the main monuments and sites of the city illuminated. In addition, at the beginning of each hour there is a light show. If you bring a tripod and a good camera you can make some dreamy pictures.

Another of the main advantages of going up the Eiffel Tower at night is that it is one of the Parisian monuments that closes later. Therefore, you can take advantage of this time of the day, when you no longer have the opportunity to visit any other monument, to make your visit and thus make the most of the day. In fact, many tourists choose to visit it as soon as they land.

And if you want to make a special celebration, climbing the Eiffel Tower at night is the most romantic plan to go with your partner.

Restaurants for dinner at the Eiffel Tower

If you want your experience to be as complete as possible you can take the opportunity to eat at one of the restaurants in the building. The Eiffel Tower offers options for all budgets and spectacular views of the city of Paris.

• Le Jules Verne: It is located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and is known for being one of the best restaurants in Paris, reaping over the years a Michelin star. It is ideal for special dinners offering French signature cuisine. It has a total of three rooms with a height of 125 meters. The chef is Frédéric Anton and dinner service is available from 7 pm to 9 pm. It is highly recommended, but don't hesitate to check prices in advance as you may be in for a disappointment.
• Les Buffets: This restaurant offers the opportunity for diners to dine on the esplanade as well as on the first and second floors of the Eiffel Tower. They offer a light catering service both to eat in and take away that includes salads, pizzas, cakes, pastries, sandwiches ... in a schedule throughout the year until 23:30 at night.
• Bar à Champagne: It is located at the top of the Iron Lady and you will have the opportunity to enjoy a glass of champagne from 10 to 20 € until 22 h. while enjoying the view of the illuminated city of Paris. And if you go with the little ones of the house, don't worry! They also offer non-alcoholic drinks.

If you want more information on where to dine in the vicinity see the post about restaurants near the Eiffel Tower.

Traveler's tip

I recommend you complete your experience by dining at one of the restaurants in the building. Le Jules Verne has a Michelin star and offers a tasty tasting of dishes designed by chef Frédéric Anton. Another option is to have a glass of champagne at Bar à Champagne, which is located at the top of the building.

From sunset onwards, the Eiffel Tower turns a golden color thanks to the illumination of 336 projectors with sodium lamps of a yellow-orange color that are placed on the monument's joists and offer visitors a totally different and unparalleled image to the one they have had throughout the day.

The time of illumination depends on each day because it is produced by light-sensitive sensors. In addition, the Eiffel Tower offers a light show every hour on the hour and the building is illuminated with 20,000 light bulbs that produce flashes on the entire structure of the building.

Moreover, at the top of the Tower there is also a lighthouse that works from dusk, reaching a distance of 80 kilometers on clear days. A curious fact is that the lighting of the Eiffel Tower accounts for less than 4% of the monument's energy expenditure throughout the year.

Throughout history, the Eiffel Tower has been specially illuminated to coincide with specific events.

• 2004: Year of France in China (red)
• 2007: Rugby World Cup (green)
• 2008: French Presidency of the European Union (blue).
• 2016: COP 21 (green)
• 2016: After the Nice attacks (blue, white and red)

And every year in October, it lights up pink to coincide with the Day against breast cancer...

The night views from the Eiffel Tower are really amazing and you will have the opportunity to rediscover the main monuments of Paris that you have known during the day as the Opera Garnier, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Louvre Museum or the Champs Elysees, among other places, from a totally different perspective, characterized by the beautiful lighting that identifies them. A magical and ideal moment if you go with your partner!

If you want more details, read the post post views from the Eiffel Tower.

The areas of the Eiffel Tower

When visiting the Eiffel Tower and buying your ticket it is important to keep in mind that it is divided into several zones that, below, I detail, as some tickets include access to the top and others do not. Undoubtedly, I recommend that you buy a ticket that also includes a visit to this section.

• The atrium: From here you will have spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower. On the four pillars located to the east, north, south and west of the building are the stairs and elevators that allow you to go up to the second floor and that are illuminated from sunset.
• The second floor: The second floor impresses all those who have the opportunity to walk through it for its transparent structure and glass floor giving visitors the opportunity to contemplate the city of Paris under our feet, an experience that multiplies its value at night. On this level you will find The Great Terrace and the Buffet where you will have the opportunity to have a drink after sunset. In this area you can also discover all kinds of details about the history and architecture of the monument from the tactile floors, screens, reprographics, showcases... In addition, you can see a section of the helical staircase that originally connected the second floor with the top of the building where Gustave Eiffel's office was located.
• The second floor: From the second floor you will have the opportunity to see the Louvre Museum, the Grand Palais, Montmatre, Les Invalides, Notre Dame and the Seine River, among other sites. In addition, on this level is the Jules Verne Restaurant which, recognized with a Michelin star, is located at a height of 125 meters and offers wonderful views of the Champ de Mars, the Quai Branly and the Place du Trocadéro. An ideal place to dine.
• The top: To get to the top you will have to go up from the second floor in a glass elevator from which you can see the immensity of Paris. It is 276 meters high and the views at night are spectacular. This area is divided into two levels, one that is covered and the other open air. Here you will find the Bar à Champagne, where you can have a glass of champagne to round off the day.

If you go to the Eiffel Tower at night I recommend you to follow this series of tips to have an experience of 10:

• If you want to avoid queues at the ticket office do not hesitate to buy your ticket online.
• Note that for the experience to be as complete as possible you should arrive at least 45 - 60 minutes before closing time (22:45 h.).
• One of the quietest times of the day to see the Eiffel Tower is from 20 h., so do not hesitate to make a night visit.
• If you have the opportunity, take the opportunity to dine at the monument. Of course, check the prices in advance because you can get bad surprises.
• The least crowded days to visit the Eiffel Tower are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On the contrary, the days with the highest number of visitors coincide with the weekend, Saturdays and Sundays. So, if you have the opportunity, make the visit during the week.
• I recommend that you take a camera with a good lens and tripod to capture the best snapshots during your visit.
• Finally, don't forget that on January 3 and 4 the attraction will be closed for maintenance and renovation work.
• The official website recommends visitors to review the rules and regulations so that they are clear about all the details before their visit.
• In case you visit several floors, you must start the tour on the top floor.

For more tips on the visit, read the post tips for visiting the Eiffel Tower.