The tower does an electric dance for five minutes every hour on the hour until 1 AM, with 20,000 lights making a breathtaking display - if you’re nearby at night, make sure you have a look.
You might be surprised to hear that a lot of Parisians — including arbiters of taste Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas — didn’t like it when it was built.
French engineer Gustave Eiffel, famous for his viaducts and bridges, spent two years designing and building the iconic tower for the World Exhibition in 1889, a huge fair to celebrate industry and trade from around the world. Looking at the structure, it’s quite clear the architect usually did bridges.
Despite its industrial design, there’s no denying the tower is one of the most recognisable landmarks the world over. Gradually it has became part of the city's topography, entering the hearts and souls of residents and visitors alike.
Like the London Eye, it has exceeded its initial charter of ten years which expired in 1909. Thankfully, the city realised it could be used as a radio antenna.
In 2012, a transparent floor 57 metres above the esplanade was added alongside an interactive educational area. As part of French efforts to send an ecological message, a mini turbine plant, four vertical turbine windmills, and eco-friendly solar panels minimize the tower's carbon footprint.
The energetic visitor can stride up 1,700 steps as far as the third floor, but going to the top requires the elevator. At 180 metres up, the view is incredibly romantic. Come in the late evening after the crowds have dispersed, and beat the queues by reserving your ticket online.
Experience the highlights of Paris, the City of Lights and romance on this fabulous half-day private driving tour in a vintage 2CV with your expert driver guide.
On your private tour, you will:
Paris – the city of lights! What better way to tour this most romantic of cities than on a driving tour in a vintage 2CV!
On this half tour of Parisian highlights, you’ll be picked up and dropped off at locations of your choice, then begin with a drive up the Champs Elysees. Paris’s famous shopping avenue, named for the Elysian Fields, culminates with the iconic Arc de Triomphe, a monument to those who fought and died during the Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and World Wars.
Drive to Opera Garnier (site of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ for more snaps, and then the stunning Place Vendôme, home of the Paris Ritz, featuring a monument to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz in 1805. You’ll drive around Place de la Concorde (the largest square in the city), with its obelisk marking the location of the guillotine, under which King Louis XVI was executed.
Drive along the river Seine and see the beautiful Musée d’Orsay, a former train station turned art gallery, and of course, stop by the Louvre. The former royal palace of the French royals, with its modern glass pyramid and largest, is the grandest museum in Paris.
Explore the wonders of the Latin Quarter, where Hemingway lived, and be famed for its university and the Paris Pantheon. Stand in awe at the gothic masterpiece that is Notre Dame Cathedral – still standing despite the raging fire of 2019. See also the Conciergerie – a former palace, turned jail of the Revolution and today it is still the Paris judiciary.
Take in the outside beauty of Sainte Chappelle (featuring the most impressive stained glass windows in the world). Then, visit the quintessentially French Trocadero where you will have the opportunity to snap some beautiful photos and catch some great views of the world-famous Eiffel Tower.
To conclude this epic tour of the great city of Paris you will head up the hill to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur Basilica that looks over the city. Here, you’ll be able to stroll along the cobbled streets of this most colourful and bohemian of neighbourhoods, where you will learn more about the fascinating life and works of Renoir, Picasso, Gauguin, and Van Gogh, all of whom lived and worked here. The perfect way to experience the city if you have limited time, and also a great way to find out what to focus on for the rest of your trip.
Tours can be adapted to suit your needs and interests – just get in contact with us!
Uncover the history and art of the quintessentially Parisian neighbourhoods on this tour, your all-inclusive tour includes tickets to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and a river cruise.
On your full-day private tour, you will:
Originally one of France’s most lavish royal palaces, and home to some of the most ostentatious Kings of France, the Louvre has fast become the world's most impressive and influential museum of art in the world and is an absolute must for anyone with an interest in art. Your private licensed guide will take you through one of the most expansive and beautiful art collections in the world, where you will see some of the museum’s greatest works that span from 450 BCE to the 19th century, along with several of its lesser-known treasures.
From the museum, your guide will take you to a neighbourhood which truly evokes the ‘je ne sais quoi’ of Parisian nostalgia, where you will see the magnificent Hotel De Ville – the city’s seat of government for over 600 years. Enjoy lunch at your own pace in Le Marais, with recommendations from your guide on the best place to indulge in the local cuisine of your choosing.
Step onto a riverboat to enjoy the magic of the city from the Seine – the geography around which the entire city has been built for thousands of years.
Learn more about the city’s modernization efforts in the 19th century, which brought gas lanterns, parks, sewage systems, schools, and hospitals to the city. Your tour concludes at the city’s most iconic site: the Eiffel Tower, where you will enjoy lift tickets to the second story. Your guide will be sure to give you dinner recommendations before leaving you to marvel at the spectacular panoramic views of the city.
Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
Enjoy the best of the Parisian skyline with views over the entire city from one of the world’s most iconic buildings where your private tour guide will accompany you every step of the way, providing invaluable insights and personalized attention.
In your experience, you will enjoy:
The Eiffel tower was built in 1889 as part of the World’s Fair in Paris. Though it’s a spectacular feat of engineering, the project was completed in just two and a half years, amidst a sea of controversy from those who believed it was an insult and an eye-sore (one signatory was famed author Alexander Dumas!).
The tower was named after the engineer, Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Statue of Liberty, worked on several railroad projects, and was a master builder of bridges.
Learn about all of this and more on your private tour of the Eiffel tower, where your guide will give you the history of the tower, before taking you past the line to visit the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. After your guide points out the highlights of the skyline and orients you around the tower, you will have free time to explore the views on your own.
Embark on a private introductory tour of Paris and explore the Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter, two iconic Parisian neighbourhoods and enjoy a Seine Cruise for amazing views of the city from the water.
On your private tour, you will:
This is a fascinating introduction and orientation tour of Paris. The Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine is where the story of Paris, and the history of France truly begins.
Begin the walking portion of your tour at the statue of Henry IV on the Pont Neuf - the oldest bridge in Paris, that crosses onto the Île de la Cité and discover the history of the French Kings as you walk around their medieval castle, the Conciergerie - and learn how it became their brutal prison during the dark days of the Revolution.
Learn all about the French Revolution and its most infamous execution machine, the Guillotine as you stand outside the gates of the Palais du Justice, the courts where all the trials took place.
Admire the Gothic front of Notre Dame - and learn about its incredible 900-year history - as well as its survival during the fire of 2019, before walking off the island, into the Latin Quarter, an historical and vibrant area famed for its gothic churches, the Sorbonne university, and its fun nightlife, with a plethora of jazz bars and eateries.
Visit historical bookshops, once frequented by the likes of Hemingway and Orwell, and explore an area that is renowned for being the starting point of the May 68' Revolution as well as the home of French intellectual thought.
Next, take in the amazing sights of Paris on a return cruise down the River Seine. See the famous landmarks of Paris from the river like the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, and the Eiffel Tower to name just a few! Your one-hour cruise ends back at the Pont Neuf.
Important: This tour includes a 2-hour private guided walking tour followed by a 1-hour river cruise with onboard commentary on your own. Your tour guide will walk you to the cruise docking point where they will part ways with you. You can choose to take the cruise at the end of the tour or later during your stay.
Experience the magic of the City of Lights with an evening walk through the most romantic areas of Paris: the medieval Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter. Take a relaxing and scenic cruise ride along the River Seine with fabulous photo opportunities of famous Parisian landmarks including the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.
On your private tour you will:
Enjoy a magical tour of central medieval Paris lit up at night! Begin by the statue of Good King Henry on the Pont Neuf and follow your expert private guide around the Île de la Cité.
This island, in the middle of the Seine, holds the founding history of Paris and France itself: it is where a Celtic tribe called the Parisi first settled, and later Clovis King of the Franks won after the fall of Rome. Learn the history of the French Kings and Queens as you gaze across to the Louvre Palace, beautifully lit at night, and walk through Place Dauphine.
Admire some Napoleonic decorations to the Palais du Justice, and hear about some of his greatest achievements, and epic losses. As you walk around this stunning beautifully lighted medieval castle, you'll learn that it was once the home of the French Kings - and later became their prison during the Revolution. Hear about the trials, both fair and foul, and decide for yourself if Marie Antoinette was as guilty as she is painted.
Admire the exquisite Gothic facade of Notre Dame - always stunningly lit up at night and hear of its extraordinary history -and survival.
Walk around the trendy, artsy and vibrant Latin Quarter - famous for its plethora of Gothic churches, the Sorbonne University - which gives it its name as Latin was the language of Academia in the middle ages! Pass by famous the Jazz clubs on Rue de la Huchette, and the bars and cafes and bookshops - like Shakespeare and Co - that were frequented by members of the Lost Generation like Hemingway, Orwell and Gertrude Stein.
Finally, return to the Pont Neuf where your guide will leave you to enjoy a romantic evening river cruise along the Seine. This is a wonderful way to see the great monuments of Paris lit up - including the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, and of course the piece de resistance: the Eiffel Tower!
Important: This tour includes a 2-hour private guided walking tour followed by a 1-hour river cruise with onboard commentary on your own. Your tour guide will walk you to the cruise docking point where they will part ways with you. You can choose to take the cruise at the end of the tour or later during your stay.
Enjoy the best of the Parisian skyline with views over the entire city from one of the world’s most iconic buildings with a private guide, who will tailor the experience to your preferences and interests. Whether you're interested in the history of the tower, its construction and engineering, or simply marvel at the stunning views from the top, your guide will be able to cater to your specific needs.
On your private tour to the top floor of the Eiffel Tower, you will enjoy:
The Eiffel tower was built in 1889 as part of the World’s Fair in Paris. Though it’s a spectacular feat of engineering, the project was completed in just two and a half years, amidst a sea of controversy from those who believed it was an insult and an eye-sore (one signatory was famed author Alexander Dumas!).
The tower was named after the engineer, Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Statue of Liberty, worked on several railroad projects, and was a master builder of bridges.
Learn about all of this and more on your small group tour of the Eiffel tower, where your guide will give you the history of the tower, before taking you past the line to visit the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.
After your guide points out the highlights of the skyline and orients you around the tower, they will navigate you to the queue for the summit of the Eiffel Tower, where you will visit the summit of the Eiffel Tower for the truly iconic Parisian experience.
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