Eiffel Tower & Trocadéro: the view and best photo spots.

The Eiffel Tower with the JARI community.

Best time slot, secret photo spot, restaurant with a view: ask the community and JARI pros before you go.

At a glance.

324 metres, 1889, the ultimate icon. But going up is only half the fun — the real magic is watching it sparkle from the right spot. Here’s how to do it without losing two hours in a queue.

Going up: stairs or lift?

Two options, two vibes. The lift to the summit (276 m, 360° view): €28.30 adult (25+), €14.10 (12–24), €7.10 (4–11). Smarter and cheaper: the stairs to the 2nd floor, €14.80 — 674 steps, but you skip the big queue and see the ironwork up close. From the 2nd floor you can take the lift to the summit. Free under 4. Book online on the official site: in summer, slots sell out days ahead. Open daily from 9:30am, until 11pm (midnight from mid-June to early September). From 29 September 2026, stair access will also require a booking.

The photo spots (the real secret).

• Trocadéro (métro Trocadéro, lines 6 & 9): THE postcard viewpoint from the Human Rights esplanade. Come at sunrise: empty square, perfect light.
• Pont de Bir-Hakeim: the double-deck bridge from “Inception” and “Emily in Paris.” Frame the tower between the metal arches.
• Rue de l’Université (at no. 5) and rue Saint-Dominique: the tower pops up at the end of the street between the buildings — a feed classic without the crowd.
• Champ-de-Mars: perfect for a picnic facing the tower (keep your things close, watch for street vendors).

The sparkle.

After dark, the tower sparkles for 5 minutes at the start of every hour. Get to Trocadéro or the Champ-de-Mars 10 minutes before. It’s free, and it’s the best memory you’ll take home.

Eating with a view.

Two restaurants inside the tower: Madame Brasserie (1st floor) and the fine-dining Jules Verne (2nd floor, book well ahead). Otherwise, a Champ-de-Mars picnic does the job beautifully.

JARI tip.

The north-east side (Trocadéro) is best in the morning; the south-west (Champ-de-Mars) at sunset. And to skip the queue: stairs + online booking, always.