Few structures are as inseparable from their city as the Eiffel Tower is from Paris. Built for the 1889 World's Fair, Gustave Eiffel's iron lattice tower was fiercely criticised by some artists and writers before becoming a global landmark. Its usefulness for radio transmission helped save it from planned demolition, and today it rises 330 metres above the city, antenna included.
The views unfold in stages. The first floor has a glass floor section, while the second, 115 metres up, offers a particularly satisfying panorama of the Seine, Parisian rooftops and grand boulevards. From the summit at 276 metres, reached by a separate lift, the city takes on a different scale: look for Sacré-Cœur to the northeast and La Défense to the west. At dusk, the changing light makes the ascent especially memorable.
Book timed tickets online ahead of your visit, particularly if you want to reach the summit, and allow time for security checks and queues. If you're up for a climb, taking the stairs to the second floor offers a close look at the ironwork; choose a ticket that includes the summit lift if you want to continue upward. After dark, head to the Champ de Mars for an outside view of the tower sparkling on the hour.