Eiffel Tower by Night

If it is an amazing experience by day, having the chance to climb the Eiffel Tower and see the city illuminated at night is an even more impressive experience. 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 true marvel, and every hour on the hour you will have the opportunity to enjoy a light show featuring a total of 20,000 light bulbs shining 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.

No matter what 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 10.45pm at night and from mid-June to the beginning of September, as well as on some long weekends that coincide with spring or Easter, the building extends its opening hours until midnight, unless there are security restrictions or adverse weather conditions.

So don't hesitate, whenever you go, don't hesitate to experience this enchanting experience all year round. In the summer you will be accompanied by pleasant weather and in December it is a truly spectacular visit, since, coinciding with Christmas in Paris, the city fills even more with light and colour.

Ticket prices

The price of tickets during the night is the same as during the day, and there are different types of tickets, depending on whether you go up on foot or by lift, or whether you go up to the first floor of the building or to the top. Ticket prices range 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 they may sell out. You can find more information in the Eiffel Tower ticket prices post.

Climbing the Eiffel Tower at night is always recommended. You will have the opportunity to rediscover the city of Paris from a totally different perspective to your daytime visit, as you can 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 take some dream photographs.

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 in the evening. Therefore, you can take advantage of this time of the day, when you don't have the chance to visit any other monument, to visit it and make the most of the day. In fact, many tourists choose to visit it as soon as they land.

And if you want to celebrate something special, going up the Eiffel Tower at night is the most romantic way 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: Located on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, it is known for being one of the best restaurants in Paris and has been awarded a Michelin star over the years. It is ideal for special dinners offering French signature cuisine. It has a total of three rooms with a height of 125 metres. The chef is Frédéric Anton and dinner service is available from 7pm to 9pm. Highly recommended, but don't hesitate to check the 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 first floors of the Eiffel Tower. They offer a light catering service both on-site and take-away, including salads, pizzas, cakes, pastries, sandwiches... with opening hours throughout the year until 23:30 at night.
• Bar à Champagne: Located at the top of the Iron Lady, you can enjoy a glass of champagne from €10 to €20 until 10pm while enjoying the view of the illuminated city of Paris. And if you're going with the little ones in the house, don't worry, they also offer non-alcoholic drinks.

For more information on where to dine nearby, see the post on restaurants near the Eiffel Tower.

Traveller'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. Alternatively, you can 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 colour thanks to the illumination of 336 projectors with yellow-orange sodium lamps that are placed on the monument's beams and offer visitors a totally different and unique image to the one they have seen during the day.

The time of illumination depends on the 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 by 20,000 light bulbs that flash over the entire structure of the building.

There is also a lighthouse at the top of the Tower which operates from dusk onwards, reaching a distance of 80 kilometres 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 lit 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 is lit up pink to coincide with Breast Cancer Day...

The night views from the Eiffel Tower are truly amazing. You will have the opportunity to rediscover the main monuments of Paris that you have seen during the day, such as the Opéra Garnier, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Louvre Museum or the Champs Elysées, among other places, from a totally different perspective, characterised 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 Eiffel Tower views.

The areas of the Eiffel Tower

When visiting the Eiffel Tower and buying your ticket, it is important to take into account that it is divided into several zones, which I will detail below, as some tickets include access to the top and others do not. Without a doubt, I recommend 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 to the east, north, south and west of the building are the staircases and lifts that take you up to the first floor, which are illuminated at sunset.
• The first floor: The first floor impresses all those who have the opportunity to walk through it with its transparent structure and glass floor, giving visitors the chance to contemplate the city of Paris beneath 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... You can also see a section of the spiral staircase that originally linked the first floor to the top of the building where Gustave Eiffel's office was located.
• The first floor: From the first 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. Also on this level is the Michelin-starred Jules Verne Restaurant, which is 125 metres above sea level 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 first floor in a glass lift from which you can see the immensity of Paris. It is 276 metres high and the views at night are spectacular. This area is divided into two levels, one which 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 these tips to have a great experience:

• If you want to avoid queues at the ticket office do not hesitate to buy your ticket online.
• Keep in mind 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 after 20:00 h., so don't hesitate to make a night visit.
• If you have the opportunity, take the opportunity to dine at the monument. Check the prices in advance as you may be in for a bad surprise.
• The busiest days to visit the Eiffel Tower are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On the other hand, the busiest days are at the weekend, on 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 3 and 4 January the attraction will be closed for maintenance and renovation work.
• The official website recommends visitors to check the rules and regulations so that they are clear about all the details before their visit.
• If you are visiting several floors, you should start your visit on the top floor.

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