What Is The Best Time to Visit the Eiffel Tower? (Day vs. Night)

I recently took my third trip to Paris, France, and this time I was accompanied by several first-time European travelers. At the top of their Paris bucket list was a trip to the world-famous Eiffel Tower, and of course they asked me about the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower. Should we go up first thing in the morning? Or wait until dark? Or something in the middle?

The best time to go up the Eiffel Tower depends on a few things, including the weather,  your tolerance for crowds and what you hope to see from the top.  Below, I’ll explain the difference between visiting the Eiffel Tower at different times of day, and ultimately what I think is the #1 best time to visit the Eiffel Tower.

Going Up the Eiffel Tower in the Morning

In my opinion, the worst time to go up the Eiffel Tower is in the morning.  In the morning, fog often rises off the Seine River and obscures your view of the city, especially in cooler weather. I would never book Eiffel Tower tickets online for a morning spot, simply because your view will be so dependent on the weather.

However, if you wake up early in Paris and you find it’s a beautiful, clear day, mornings are one of the less-busy times at the Eiffel Tower (particularly from 9:00 am to 11:00 am).  You might be able to book a last-minute ticket online, or arrive early at the ticket office to snag one of the small number of tickets they hold back for walk-up visitors (the number of these tickets varies from day to day, and lines can be long, so go early!).

Going Up the Eiffel Tower in the Afternoon

I would also try to avoid visiting the Eiffel Tower in the afternoon.  The hours from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm are the busiest, and they are most popular with large tour bus groups and groups of schoolchildren.  The morning fog may have lifted, but now your view will be obscured by dozens of selfie sticks.

If you do have to visit during the afternoon, aim for around 12:00 to 1:00, as that is when the large groups are most likely stopping elsewhere for lunch. On my first trip to Paris this was about when we went up, and there was definitely a noticeable decrease in crowds around the prime lunch hour.

(Yes, at publication time in March 2024 selfie sticks are allowed at the Eiffel Tower!)

Going Up the Eiffel Tower at Sunset

Personally, I think the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower is at sunset. You can use a website like this one to see when the sun will set during your stay in Paris.  If you schedule your ascent for about an hour before sunset and stay an hour or two, then you’ll get to see three different views of Paris:

• Paris by day, with views to Montmartre’s Sacre Coeur and beyond
• Paris by sunset, as the sky turns gold and the street lights begin to twinkle
• Paris by night, with monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and the Palais Garnier aglow

A sunset visit to the Eiffel Tower also positions you perfectly to descend the tower (I recommend going down using the stairs!), cross the Seine and head to the Trocadero for the best views of the nighttime light show that illuminates the tower hourly when darkness falls.

Going Up the Eiffel Tower at Night

When most people think of the Eiffel Tower at night, they think of the hourly light show that can be seen from around the city. Few people think about going up the Eiffel Tower after nightfall, making it the ideal time to ascend the tower and escape the crowds. When the whole city pauses to watch the lights, they’ll actually be watching you!

Visiting the Eiffel Tower at night is a great option for return visitors who have already seen the city once, or for anyone planning a romantic night on the town in Paris.  For a truly special experience, consider combining your nighttime visit with dinner at the Michelin-starred Jules Verne restaurant on the tower’s second floor, or at Madame Brasserie, a more-affordable restaurant on the first floor.

On my most recent trip to Paris (March 2024) I went up the Eiffel Tower at night, and it was a lovely experience.  It wasn’t very crowded, and the city sparkled beneath us.  We approached from the Bir-Hakeim metro station and had a gorgeous view of the hourly light show from the Promenade Marie de Roumanie before going across the street to ascend the tower.

So what is the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower?

In order, I would rank the best times to visit the Eiffel Tower as follows:

1. Sunset 🌇 – You’ll get to experience the tower by day and by night.
2. Morning (as long as it’s not foggy) 🌁 – If you get lucky you’ll get gorgeous views and fewer crowds.
3. Night 🌃 – Imagine the Belle Époque as the city glows beneath you.
4. Afternoon 🏙️ – It’s crowded but doable if it’s the only thing that works with your schedule.
5. Morning (if it’s foggy) 🌁 – Not worth the €20 ticket for views like this. 😂

What if tickets are sold out for the time I want to go up the Eiffel Tower?

If there’s a particular time when you want to visit the Eiffel Tower but no tickets are available on the official site, joining a guided tour may be an alternative. Tour companies buy blocks of Eiffel Tower tickets, meaning that they may have availability even if the official site doesn’t.  Here are a few to check out:

• Eiffel Tower Summit or Second Floor Tour – Meet across the street from the tower and join your guide on a tour to either the second floor or the summit.
• Eiffel Tower Entry Ticket with Optional Summit Access – Don’t want to wait around with a tour group?  This Eiffel Tower experience has a host who will take you up to the second floor, point you towards the summit elevator (if selected) and then leave you to visit on your own. Ideal for independent travelers.
• Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator (With Optional Seine River Cruise) – Cross two must-do activities off your Paris itinerary with this Eiffel Tower tour followed by a one-hour boat cruise along the Seine that you can do any time after you come down from the tower (the boat quay is near the base of the tower).

The Eiffel Tower is one of the few attractions in Paris that isn’t included in the Paris Museum Pass.  I still recommend getting this official city card that includes admission to other once-in-a-lifetime sights like The Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe.

If you’re still in your trip-planning stage, check out my guide to where to stay in Paris, including hotels near the Eiffel Tower and alternatives in more authentic and affordable neighborhoods.

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