The Eiffel Tower is one of the few monuments to stay open until late in the evening, every day. Make the most of it! Visiting the Eiffel Tower at night is an unforgettable experience, where you can admire one of the world’s most iconic landmarks from a unique perspective and stunning views over the so-called ‘City of Light’. This ultimate guide will help you to plan your evening visit and to take full advantage of this magical moment.
Is it possible to visit the Eiffel Tower at night?
Yes, the Eiffel Tower stays open to the public throughout the day until late in the evening, which means visitors can experience Paris from an entirely different perspective and see the monument all lit up at close range. The opening times vary depending on the season, but you can generally access the Eiffel Tower until 11.00 pm, and even midnight over the summer months.
You are advised to check the times on the official website before planning your visit.
Why does the Eiffel Tower merit an evening visit?
Visiting the Eiffel Tower in the evening has countless merits :
- You get an entirely different perspective! If you’ve already visited the monument in the daytime, why not come back one evening to appreciate a completely transformed setting, enhanced by the coppery lighting of the Tower, the sparkles and the lights of the City.
- It’s less busy: in the evening, there tend to be fewer visitors from 8.00 pm onward, so you can soak up the views in a quieter atmosphere. The final hour before closing is even quieter. Outside of the ‘high’ summer season and French school holiday periods, you’ll even have the magical feeling of having the Tower all to yourself!
- Night-time panoramic views: the views over Paris all lit up are quite simply breathtaking, from the top and from the second floor alike. You’ll be able to pinpoint the iconic landmarks lit up like the Arc de Triomphe and Sacré-Cœur, make out the Champs-Elysées and Place de la Concorde and watch the mesmerizing movements of boats along the River Seine or vehicles down the avenues.
- A romantic atmosphere in the glow of the lights: the Eiffel Tower at night is bathed in a unique atmosphere thanks to its golden lighting, perfect for contemplation. This is also a blissfully romantic moment, ideal for couples to experience together. The magic of Paris comes fully alive under the stars.
Book your time-stamped tickets beforehand on the Eiffel Tower’s official website for an even smoother visitor experience.
When does the Eiffel Tower light up? When can I see the sparkles ?
The Eiffel Tower lights up every evening at nightfall : its golden lighting comes on automatically every day thanks to light sensors, along with the beacon at the top that shines out across Paris. The eagerly awaited sparkles happen at the start of every hour, once the Tower’s lighting has come on. The monument sparkles for five minutes thanks to its 20,000 sparkling lights. This sparkling display is repeated every hour until 11.00 pm and the Tower’s lights switch off at 11.45 pm, when the last visitors leave and it is closed. Since the Tower closes at 12.45 am in the summer, the lighting stays on until 1.00 am, when a final special sparkling display is put on. If you visit the Eiffel Tower at night, you’re in for a magical experience at the heart of a structure bathed in coppery light!
All the key practical information about the Tower and its lighting
Tip: how can you get the best experience of the sparkles ?
The second floor is the place to be: we therefore recommend waiting for them to come on exactly on the hour (9.00 pm, 10.00 pm or even earlier in wintertime), from the level just below or above the second floor. Gaze up to admire the Tower spire all asparkle! The magic will be out of this world!
Our tips for a successful evening visit
- Book your tickets in advance (up to 60 days in advance for elevator-access tickets): for minimum waiting time and maximum enjoyment, we recommend that you book your tickets online. This will also enable you to choose the time of your visit.
- Bear in mind how long your visit will take to select a time for your visit depending on the monument’s closing time : at least 90 minutes for a visit to the top (as you need to factor in the time it takes to change lifts on the second floor), or 60 minutes for a visit up to the second floor. If you opt for a ticket with stair access to the second floor, bear in mind the time it will take to climb them: at a leisurely, relaxed pace, allow 15 to 20 minutes per floor.
- Always start your visit via the highest floor for your visit: top (or third floor) or second floor.
- Check the weather forecast: the evenings can be cool in Paris, even in summertime. And the temperature drops by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius on the second and third floors of the Tower. Be sure to wear warm, comfortable clothes plus a windproof jacket.
- If you have enough time, take the stairs back down from the second floor to the ground. At the heart of the structure all lit up, you’ll be treated to a truly unforgettable sight.
Is it possible to dine or have a drink on the Eiffel Tower in the evening?
Yes, you can eat, have a drink or enjoy appetizers on the Eiffel Tower. In fact, it’s heartily recommended to combine your visit with appetizers or dinner at the Tower come evening! There is a range of refreshments options, whether seated at a table or on the go, with or without booking.
- Celebrate your visit looking down over the City of Light the classic way, with a glass of champagne, available at the champagne bar at the top, on the second floor, as well as at the bar on the first-floor terrace (when it is open, season-depending). You don't have to book, or you can buy a ticket online combining a visit with a glass of champagne.
- If you like the idea of relaxing without being officially seated at a table, why not head to the invitingly comfortable lounge in the restaurant Madame Brasserie on the first floor for appetizers, a cocktail or dinner (seasonal menus championing local produce) in a cozy setting, with captivating views over the Trocadéro and the River Seine. No booking required, subject to availability.
- Food options on the go are available at the second-floor buffet and the first-floor Bistro in the Pavillon Ferrié, where there are tables for you to eat at with stunning views over west Paris. Sandwiches, snacks, hot and cold drinks. No booking required.
- In the summer, the themed terrace on the first floor serves drinks and snacks to enjoy in a rooftop setting, including pizzas, burgers, ice creams and crepes. Seasonal service, no booking required.
- On a final note, you can also dine in one of the Tower’s two restaurants, Le Jules Verne and Madame Brasserie (booking is required for both). Note that the visitor ticket for the Tower does not include bookings for these restaurants, only the elevator ticket up to them. For a timeless fine dining experience, 125 meters above ground: Frédéric Anton’s two-Michelin-starred venue, Le Jules Verne, is located on the second floor. Booking is required, as far in advance as possible (bookings open 90 days in advance). To rediscover inventive, brasserie-style Parisian cuisine that is constantly evolving in step with the seasons, guests have a choice of two evening slots at Madame Brasserie, the restaurant run by Chef Thierry Marx. Booking is recommended, although you can also try your luck by turning up at the first-floor restaurant at the start of one of the two services: 6.30 pm or 9.00 pm.
Everything you need to know about the Eiffel Tower restaurants
What time does the Tower close at night?
The Eiffel Tower generally closes at 11.45 pm, except between late June and early September, when it closes even later: 12.45 am. Which gives you plenty of time to enjoy an evening visit! We start asking visitors to leave the top of the Tower 45 minutes before closing time and the second floor 30 minutes before.
See the Eiffel Tower’s opening and closing times
Is it possible to sleep at the top of the Tower at night?
The Eiffel Tower does not accommodate any guests for an overnight stay. There are no bedrooms or hotel services at the top or on the lower levels. Except when we play an April Fool’s Day joke on our visitors!
Read more here:
- About the Eiffel Tower’s lights
- Admire the panoramic views from the Eiffel Tower in the daytime and at night: from the second floor and from the top.
- Explore each floor of the Eiffel Tower
