2019 - September - Paris - Eiffel Tower

If you travel to Paris as a tourist, you will definitely not be alone. But there are a few tips that I would like to share with you.

Let's start with the number one attraction in Paris, the Eiffel Tower.

We also dedicated our highest attention to the tower during our short trip. After all, it is hardly possible not to do so. After all, the iron tower is 324 meters high! It surpasses everything in its surroundings and is always present. By the way, it is now 130 years old, as it was completed in 1889.

However, we were not on the tower ourselves. The reasons for this were the price and the time we would have had to wait in several queues. Nowadays, you have to queue up for the first time to pass through the security check. To protect the monument, the Eiffel Tower was surrounded by glass walls.

This is how you get under the tower and can admire it up close for free. But if you want to go up high, you need a ticket. You can buy it in advance (often through more expensive agencies, be careful!) or have to wait in line. By the way, climbing stairs is also possible here. It's cheaper and the waiting time is usually shorter.

This is how you get to the second level. But only those who wait and pay can reach the top. Here is the link with all the prices:

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/tickets-prices-opening-times/

Now let's move on to my tips for great views and photos of the Eiffel Tower.
The number ONE tip is to take the elevator to the terrace of the Tour Montparnasse skyscraper. Here you really have a breathtaking view. The skyscraper is 210 meters high, which is over 100 meters smaller than the Eiffel Tower. But due to the ideal distance, the effect is perfect.
Another advantage is that it is not so crowded here. We didn't wait at all and were at the top within a very short time, despite the security check at the entrance. The fastest elevator in Europe takes you to the 56th floor in 38 seconds. But you have to climb two more floors yourself. By the way, there is a combination ticket that costs 25 euros, but you can come twice within 48 hours. It's best to visit during the day and in the evening. Both are worth it. For the daytime visit, the morning is recommended. Then the sun shines in the right direction from Tour Montparnasse. And in the evening, it's worth waiting for a while. This way, the colors of the sunset are already very beautiful, and at night, the Eiffel Tower and the whole city light up.
Pay attention: Secure a place at the photo slots shortly before the full hour. Because at that time, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated for a few minutes. A jacket is also recommended on the windy tower.

TIP NUMBER TWO: The ascent to the Arc de Triomphe. We didn't have to wait here either. Although the ascent costs, but the view from a height of almost 50 meters is really worth it! By the way, you can only reach the Arc de Triomphe through an underpass, as there is a busy roundabout surrounding the gate, from which 12 roads radiate.

TIP NUMBER THREE: The rooftop terrace of the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann department store. There are several Lafayette stores in Paris, but this one is the most beautiful and worth a visit because of its interior design. The Art Nouveau building was practically built into it, and its splendor can only be assessed when you enter the building. Here, you can mainly buy expensive brand products, but if you can't afford them, just enjoy the interior.

TIP NUMBER FOUR: The vicinity of the Eiffel Tower. For example, the axis of view from the Ecole militaire to the Eiffel Tower is recommended. This lawn area is also used by many for picnics, which is why business-savvy vendors also serve drinks in buckets here. They even offer wine and champagne on ice! 

The view from the other bank of the Seine is also beautiful, as my pictures show. Here, you can also find various wedding photographers with their clients. It seems quite funny for us, because no cliché is spared for the perfect photo. The assistants of the photographers always carry a bag with equipment. This always includes two baguettes and a sunflower, for example. The couples, mostly from Asia or Arabia, must spend a lot of money on the photos. Not only are they styled and photographed perfectly, there is always a large limousine waiting in the background as well. By the way, the photo shoots take place in completely public places, such as bicycle paths. The cyclist has to ride around them. By the way, weddings are usually held at home, in Paris only the photo shoot takes place.

In the next report, I will take you underground, literally. Stay tuned!