Visiting the Eiffel Tower

When you get to Paris the first stop you're going to want to make is at the Eiffel Tower.  I recommend this for the following reasons:  

• It's the most iconic spot in Paris and the perfect place to take pictures while you are still fresh and not too jet lagged.  
• It's close to the Seine
• It's a great place to get orientated and get a sense of where everything is. 
• It's where all the sightseeing buses hang out and you can decide which one you want to jump on. 
• It's where you'll see lots of souvenir shops so you can start thinking about what you might want to bring home. 

The first time I went to Paris by the time I made it over to the Eiffel tower, it was in the middle of a hot humid day in July.  My husband and I got the required picture of us with the tower in the background, and then I saw the line long wrapped around underneath the tower to get in and said, "Forget it."  I'm not much for climbing up big buildings and looking down anyway.  (I live about a 5-minute walk from the Freedom tower and still haven't gone up.)  

The next time I went to Paris, my husband's personal assistant booked us "skip-the-line" tickets from Fat Tire Tours for the day after we landed.

I can't say enough about Fat Tire Tours.  They are wonderful.  Their office is located close to the Eiffel.  Not only do they offer guided tours in English, but by Americans so you don't have to try to understand a thick accent and get information from our country's perspective.  Fat Tire has bathrooms that you can use (a rare thing in Paris) and place to just relax and feel at home for a few minutes.  

I can't imagine going up the Eiffel Tower without skipping the line.  It's shocking to me that people would fly all the way to Paris and then save a few dollars by standing in line for 2 to 3 hours.  You can do a lot in 2 to 3 hours in Paris.

Fat Tire's guide will walk the group from their office to the base of the tower.  They'll explain what will happen on the tower and answer any questions you might have.

Skip-the-line tickets don't mean you won't be in any lines, it just means you'll be skipping THE line, meaning the really long line that everyone else is in.

The first thing you'll have to do is go through security just to be able to get under the tower.  As you can imagine security is pretty tight in Paris.  To help speed up the line, be sure to have all the zippers in your purse/backpack open so they can easily look inside. Remember that nail clippers and scissors are not allowed.  If you have those, leave them at the tour guide office and pick it up later.  

 

After you get through security, you get to skip the line to approach the tower, but you'll still have to get in line to go up the elevator.  I've gone up the tower twice, and I think both times the wait was under half an hour.  

It's at this point I like to stand as close to the tour guide as I can.  Invariably there will be people who like to ask the guide questions, I like to listen in.  I'm not much of a question asker myself, but I like hearing what other people want to know.  So my advice is take advantage of this wait so that you can glean as much from the guide as possible.  

Once you go up the elevator you'll get off on what is known as the 2nd level.  This gives a pretty good view of Paris.  Some tour tickets include a ticket to the very top, but not all of them.  This is where you can buy a ticket for 6 Euro to get to the very top of the Eiffel.  This is where it's popular to drink a glass of champagne.  (Since I'm Mormon I forgo that tradition.)  

When on the second level, be sure to take advantage of walking all the way around.  Your guide should point out to you all the different sightseeing spots.  This is a great way to decide in advance what you want to see up close and what is fine to see from a distance. 

It's at this point that most tour guides leave the group.  If you want, ask the guide for recommendations for a good place to eat crepes or drink good wine.  Be sure to tip your guide as well.  

Once you've gotten your feel of the views from the Eiffel tower, you'll want to go down to the first level.  You can do this by waiting for an elevator or just walking down multiple flights of stairs.  

The first level has a place to eat, go to the restroom, watch a film about the Eiffel tower, buy souvenirs and even has a free WiFi spot thanks to Orange.  It also had glass floors so you can look down at the people waiting to go up the tower.

When you are ready, you can then wait in line again to descend back to the floor.  Keep in mind that the elvators are two stacked on top of each other, so if lots of people are waiting, looking to see if anyone is waiting on the upper level.  

Once you are back down, you'll probably want to get a good selfie with the tower in the background.  This can be frustrating since thousands of other people are trying to do the same.  

Here are three places I recommend to get a good selfie.  

Trocodero  - This is across the Seine.  It's a huge plaza and famous for having live performances and lots of steps.  It provides a clear unobstructed view of the tower and you'll be able to get a picture without people in the background.  

Champs De Mars - Most people stand on the Avenue Joseph Bouvard in the Champs De Mars for their Facebook selfie.  But it's hard to fit the tower in and you'll have lots of people in the background.  If you walk all the way to the other end to Place Joffrie where the Military School is, you'll get the tower without all the people.

Avenue de la Bourdonnais - most likely your tour will start from this street.  It's the avenue that has lots of souvenir shops and restaurants.  If you walk away from this avenue and towards Avenue Rapp, you'll find some side streets that has cool French architecture with the tower peeking through in the background.  Try Rue de Monttessuy, Rue du General Camou, or others close by for a perfect angle.

Note:  Skip the Line tours sell out fast.  Be sure to book your tickets the same time you book your flight.  We got ours too late this last time and had to go with a different company.  They were no near as good as Fat Tire Tours is.  I have definitely learned not to postpone booking my tour.