The landmark of Paris! The Eiffel Tower. It suits yet doesn’t suit the antique Paris. The Eiffel Tower, once opposed by citizens, has become a beloved must-visit for Parisians and people worldwide. Ten years ago I only hung around near the Eiffel Tower without going up (the line was too long), but this time I went up. Still, the Eiffel Tower looked prettiest from Trocadéro. If you take Eiffel Tower photos in Paris, take them from Trocadéro. We couldn’t go to Trocadéro this time, so I was sad not to show my mom the Eiffel Tower from there. That’s package tours for you.
Right after getting off the Bateaux-Mouches, we headed to the Eiffel Tower. As expected for a popular spot, it was packed with people going up. We waited in line nearly an hour. Past 10 pm, Paris was still bright, and the Eiffel Tower lights weren’t on yet.
The Eiffel Tower seen through the iron structure wasn’t bad either. Ten years ago there weren’t many vendors around, but recently it got more crowded with rose and bracelet sellers. The tip here: never show interest. Just ignore them cleanly. While waiting in the long line, the Eiffel Tower lights came on.
Wow, the Eiffel Tower is all about the lights! After the long wait, we took the elevator up and looked down on Paris. They say you can see where Versailles is, where the Champs-Élysées is, where the Louvre is, but honestly I couldn’t see a thing, it was too dark to tell what was what.
Still, my mom liked it, so that was enough. At midnight, the Eiffel Tower started sparkling. Right, this is what we came for.
The Eiffel Tower seen from below was pretty. The fatigue of staying awake over 24 hours with jet lag seemed forgotten. It was past midnight even in Paris time. We got separated from our group at the elevator, and after some twists and turns, arrived at the Paris hotel late. The room’s air conditioner was broken, making for a tough first day in many ways.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in September 2016 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.