The Eiffel Tower is the iconic wrought-iron landmark of Paris, rising about 330 metres above the Champ de Mars beside the Seine. Built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair, it was the tallest structure on earth for four decades and is now one of the most visited paid monuments in the world.
It has three levels: the first floor with its glass floor and exhibits, the second floor with the best wide views and the Le Jules Verne restaurant, and the summit for sweeping 360-degree panoramas of the city.
Book timed tickets online in advance, especially for the summit, and visit early morning or evening to shorten the queues. Allow about 1.5 hours for the lower floors or 2.5 hours including the top; taking the stairs between the lower levels is a quick way to skip the elevator lines.