The Eiffel Tower

Before You Start the Eiffel Tower Tour

The Eiffel Tower is lovely just to look at, but it gets far more interesting once you know its history and hidden storie…

Place du Trocadéro and the Palais de Chaillot

Our tour begins at the Palais de Chaillot terrace, where the Eiffel Tower stands clear in the distance. This is the firs…

Jardins du Trocadéro

Once you've got your fill of photos at the Palais de Chaillot, head down the hill toward the Eiffel Tower. Take the stai…

When and Why Was the Eiffel Tower Built?

Nicknamed the "Iron Lady," the Eiffel Tower broke ground on January 28, 1887, and was completed in 1889. Until the Chrys…

Pont d'Iéna and the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower

Standing at the entrance to the Pont d'Iéna, you have the Seine flowing on both sides and the Eiffel Tower rising straig…

The Eiffel Tower Carousel

It's easy to miss but hard to skip: the carousel at the end of the Pont d'Iéna. It's pretty by day, and when the lights…

Tickets and Floor-by-Floor Guide

The Eiffel Tower looks great from afar, but up close its ironwork is a work of art in itself. Pause here for a moment, l…

Gustave Eiffel and the Making of the Tower

The tower takes its name from French architect Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. Yet he didn't draw up its design himself. That…

Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower at Night

The Champ de Mars takes its name from Mars, the god of war in Greek mythology. This stretch of green between the Eiffel…

More Photo Spots: Pont de Bir-Hakeim and Rue de Camoëns

Wandering around Paris to see the Eiffel Tower from different angles is a joy even when you're not right next to it. Her…