Eiffel Tower at Night

LEFT: A night view from beneath the Eiffel Tower.

Most tourists visit the Eiffel Tower in daylight. That's reason enough to delay your climb until the late evening, when smaller crowds and shorter lines make an ascent more pleasant. But an even better reason is to enjoy the tower's nighttime ambience.

After dark, the entire tower is cloaked in the warm glow of 336 light projectors and 20,000 sparkling strobe lights (see video clips). And from the tower's observation decks, you can enjoy cool evening breezes as you view floodlit bridges, churches, and other landmarks in the glittering Parisian lightscape.

Planning your nighttime visit

The Eiffel Tower is open until 11:45 p.m or 12:45 a.m., depending on the time of year. Entrance fees vary, depending on whether you're climbing the steps or taking the elevator. (In 2005, the minimum ticket price for an adult over 25 is €3,80 to the first and second levels on the stairs; if you go all the way to the top by elevator, you'll pay €10,70.)

Officially, the steps close at 6:30 p.m. (last admission 6 p.m.) except from mid-June until late August, when they're open to 12:30 a.m. In practice, my family and I were able to climb the stairs at dusk in early April, so call 01 44 11 23 23 on the day of your visit to double-check the times if you prefer the stairs to the elevators.

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