INSIDE: Roam the Gnome’s Guide to the Eiffel Tower for Kids.
What do we think about the Eiffel Tower for Kids?
Is it worth the expense?
The hassle?
The queues?
If you are looking for things to do in Paris with kids, we vote YES!
Here’s a few helpful tips to make your visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids a success.
Read on…
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9 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO THE PARIS EIFFEL TOWER WITH KIDS
No.1: Buy your Paris Eiffel Tower Tickets in Advance
The quickest way into the Eiffel Tower is to buy Skip-the-Line tickets in advance.
OR visit at night when the queues are likely to be less crowded.
Last trip, we visited at 8pm and only waited around 15 minutes in the queue before heading up.
BOOK NOW: Eiffel Tower Summit Tour by Elevator (Get your Guide rating:: 4.5 stars. NB: Likely to sell out)
Image credit: Beata Poznań CC BY-SA 3.0
No.2: Visit the First Floor of the Eiffel Tower
Kids will love the transparent floor where they can look 57m down to the ground and experience the unique sensation of stepping out into the void.
It’s a breath-taking view any time of the day!
There’s also:
- screens
- touch screens
- displays
- digital albums
- reproductions of items, etc.
All of this is perfect to help modern day kids learn about all aspects of the Eiffel Tower, many little known.
On the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, be sure to take a closer look at one of the remaining pieces of this historic staircase.
It measures 4.30 metres in height!
Image credit: WiLPrZ from Rabat, Maroc (CC BY-SA 2.0)
No.3: Book an Eiffel Tower Tour to the Second Floor of the Eiffel Tower.
The view from the Eiffel Tower 2nd floor is spectacular.
Walk all the way around to see:
- the Louvre (read our Louvre with Kids guide)
- Grand Palais
- Notre Dame
- Montemarte, and
- the Seine river.
Source: Public domain
Hot tip: Shopping at the Eiffel Tower
On the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower, check out the souvenir shop (the Chaillot Gift shop).
Pick up a postcard or two for your family travel adventure book.
They also sell:
- Eiffel Tower t shirts
- Eiffel Tower caps
- French scarves
- handbags
- Eiffel Tower statues
- Eiffel tower mugs, and more.
Looking for a unique souvenir of Paris?
Stop by the Seine gift shop to explore the range of laser engraved souvenirs.
Source: Public domain
Book THIS Cool Eiffel Tower Tour!
If you are fit, and the kids are game, you can take the challenge of climbing 704 steps to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower on this tour.
It’s definitely one of those family travel adventures to write home about!
No.4: Take an Eiffel Tower Summit Tour for Kids
Head to the top!
The really spectacular way up the Eiffel Tower is in the glass lifts which offer you a panoramic view over the extraordinary example of audacious architecture that this monument is.
At the end of the 180 metre trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of Paris and its monuments.
Families who visit the Eiffel Tower for kids can wander about the two levels to enjoy the view.
It’s possible to step outside and take in the view from the open air!
Plus, kids can:
- measure themselves against the height of the Eiffel Tower
- use the panoramic maps which can be found at various points at the top of the Tower
- locate their position, and
- get an idea of the directions and distances to major world cities!
For an Eiffel Tower experience with a difference, go up at night too!
No.5: FUN Eiffel Tower Activities for Kids
The Eiffel Tower for Kids offers a special FREE tour called “Follow Gus”.
It’s one of the best kids activities in Paris.
The little Gus character, dressed in the style of Gustave Eiffel, accompanies children on a fun and educational experience dedicated to children aged 6 to 10.
Equipped with a bilingual French-English booklet-game and a little pencil provided for them, young visitors learn a thousand aspects of the history of the Eiffel Tower, about its creator but also about the landscape of Paris seen from that level.
Signs bearing the Gus character guide children through each stage of the tour.
There’s also online games to play before you go.
To begin these Eiffel Tower activities for kids, go up to the first level of the Tower, by the stairs or the lift, and collect a booklet-game (or download it here) and a pencil from the Ferrié pavilion.
The tour is FREE.
Access it by following the signs featuring the Gus character.
Image credit: Juanedc via Flickr CC BY-2.0
No. 6: Picnic at the Champ De Mars
Pack lunch or buy food en route, and after your visit, head to the beautiful Paris park, the Champ de Mars, below the Eiffel Tower.
Champ de Mars park is known as one of the best parks in Paris.
Locals agree it’s one of the most famous parks in Paris city too.
It’s the perfect family vacation picnic spot if you are visiting Eiffel Tower for kids.
Image credit: Nicolas Halftermeyer CC BY-SA 3.0
Hot tip: Where to eat at the Eiffel Tower?
- Book a table at the Jules Verne Restaurant if you are game, or
- Grab a snack at the buffet.
Here’s a very French thing to do: Buy a sweet French macaroon from the Eiffel Tower macaron bar!
No.7: Visit Eiffel Tower at Night
For a extra magical twinkly trip, take the kids at night.
This is what we did.
Right up until 11 in the evening you can scale the heights and admire Paris by night !
After sunset, on the hour, the Eiffel tower puts on her gown and sparkles with hundreds of thousands of twinkly lights!
This sight of golden Eiffel Tower lights is a special treat, welcoming night time visitors to this popular Paris attraction.
Just be sure to hold onto the kid’s hands as you arrive.
It’s dark, and there’s lots of action with street sellers hawking their goods below the tower.
Is it illegal to take a video of the Eiffel Tower at night?
Here’s an interesting piece of info.
It IS actually ILLEGAL to take photos or video of the Eiffel Tower at night!
The light display is actually a copyrighted art installation created in 1985 and is still owned by artist Pierre Bideau.
Image credit: Xavier Vieras via Flickr CC BY-2.0
No. 8: Take a Virtual Tour of the Eiffel Tower with Kids
Yes, you can take a Virtual Tour before you go.
Show the kids the sights.
Go on, take a peek!
No.9. Learn Eiffel Tower Fun Facts
Do you know there are plenty more Eiffel tower facts for kids?
You can learn information about:
- the Eiffel tower structure and construction
- how it’s related to the French revolution
- why is the Eiffel Tower called Eiffel, and
- what purpose does the Eiffel Tower serve today.
Click here to read them all.
Who knew the Eiffel Tower was so tall, or so old?
Share these facts about Eiffel Tower with your kids before you go, or at least on your way up, to help them engage with the story and the people behind this wondrous sight.
Hot tip: The Eiffel Tower App
Download the Eiffel Tower App before you go.
It’s a great interactive tool to help you get the most out of your visit.
Image credit: Neil Willsey via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
THE INSIDE SCOOP: EIFFEL TOWER TIPS
Correct at time of publication on Roam the Gnome. Please check with venue for updates. We apologise in advance if there have been any changes we are unaware of. All prices in Euro, unless otherwise stated
Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Telephone: Contact our customer services for individuals : 33 (0)8 92 70 12 39 (Audiotel).
- Open from Monday to Saturday. 9:00am to 7:00pm.
- Call cost : 0.35€ TTC/min. from a landline.
Image credit: Chris Yunker via Flickr CC BY-2.0
Eiffel Tower Opening Times
The Eiffel Tower is open every single day of the year:
- from 9 a.m. to midnight from mid-June to early September,
- from 9:30 a.m. to 11.45 p.m. during the rest of the year,
At Easter weekend and during the Spring holidays : extended opening hours to midnight.
Lift operates from the mid-June to early September from 9:00am to 12:45am*.
- Last lift admission – Midnight.
- Last stairs admission – Midnight*.
Lift operates the rest of the year from 9:30am to 11:45pm.
- Last lift admission – 11pm*. (10.30pm for the top.)
- Last admission stairs – 6pm*. (Stairs close at 6:30pm)
* This time may be brought forward depending on visitor numbers.
Eiffel Tower Tickets Prices
- Lift Entrance Ticket (valid to 2nd floor): Adults €16,30; 12-24 years €8,10, Children 4 – 11 years €4,10*
- Summit Lift Entrance Ticket (to top): Adults €25,50; 12-24 years €12,70, Children 4 – 11 years €6,40*
- Stairs Entrance Ticket (valid to 2nd floor): Adults €10,20; 12-24 years €5,10, Children 4 – 11 years €2,50*
- Summit ticket by stairs and lift: Adults €19,40; 12-24 years €9,70, Children 4 – 11 years €4,90*
Children under 4 years visit the Eiffel Tower free, but must have a free ticket available when buying online or on site.
Accompanying adults are charged the individual adult rate.
*The reduced rate applies to persons accompanying disabled people also.
Buy your Eiffel Tower Tickets online before you go.
Buy Skip-the-Line tickets here
Best time to go to Paris Eiffel Tower
We visited in the first week of April and the crowds were bearable.
Locals suggest visiting anytime in Spring from April through to early June, and again in Autumn from late September through to the beginning of November, if you want to avoid huge summer crowds.
At both these times, you avoid most of the busy school vacation times, there’s little rainfall, mild weather and clear skies.
It’s so much easier to tolerate queues when you are not hot and bothered.
We also suggest going early, arriving at least half an hour before opening, or going during the dinner time hour.
If I was taking kids at night again, I’d be sure to give them a nap in the afternoon.
As you can see by his sleepy face in the pic above, Ned had almost had it by the time we reached the summit!
Image credit: Pxhere via CC BY 1.0
How to get to the Eiffel Tower
By Metro
- Line no.9, Trocadéro station, the best way to discover the Eiffel Tower, with the most awesome perspective!
- Line no.6, Bir-Hakeim Metro station
- At the exit from the métro, allow a few minutes’ walk to get to the Eiffel Tower.
- Prices, métro times and additional information
By RER
- Line C : Champs de Mars – Tour Eiffel station. When you come out of the RER station, allow a few minutes’ walk to get to the Eiffel Tower :
- Prices, RER times and additional information
By Bus
- Bus 82, stops Tour Eiffel or Champ de Mars
- Bus 42, stops Tour Eiffel
- Bus 87, stops Champ de Mars
- Bus 69, stops Champ de Mars
- Prices, BUS times and additional information.
By Bike
- Self-hire bikes are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at any of the Vélib’ stations. A pleasant way of exploring the Parisian streets by bike on your way to the Eiffel Tower !
By Taxi or Uber
- The Eiffel Tower is easily accessible by taxi or uber.
By boat
- Did you know that you can also get to the Eiffel Tower by boat?
- It’s an original and pleasant way of exploring the heart of Paris with all the magic of the Seine River on your way to the Eiffel Tower.
- Prices, Batobus times and additional information
By car
- If you wish to come to the Eiffel Tower by car, we recommend you park in any of the nearest underground car parks to the Eiffel Tower.
- A good choice is the Quai Branly car park located less than 300 metres from the Tower.
Location Map of Eiffel Tower in Paris
Where to stay in Paris near the Eiffel Tower
We stayed at the Novotel Paris les Halles and we highly recommend it. It’s just across the river from the Louvre museum in Paris.
The Eiffel Tower is a quick 30 minutes from the Novotel hotel on the RER, but don’t bother with the train unless it’s night time.
Wander your way there instead, and take in all the Paris sights and sounds.
If you are visiting Paris with children, we definitely recommend booking a stay at the safe and clean Novotel Paris les Halles.
Toadstool Rating: Paris Bucket List
Definitely worth facing the crowds at least once in your lifetime.
Looking for MORE SUPER DOOPER FUN things to do with Kids in Paris?
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