Paris Travel Guide:

Best Places to Visit in Paris - The Eiffel Tower

This section of our Paris Travel Guide describes the best places to visit in the Eiffel Tower Area of the city. Click the links below to go directly to a specific place or just continue reading to explore this section of Paris.

Eiffel Tower  Parc du Champ de Mars  Palais de Chaillot  Musée Marmottan Monet  Musee du Quai Branly

We provide brief descriptions of the leading attractions and link these to detailed maps of the areas described. The blue numbered location symbolized on the map are linked back to the descriptions of the attractions so you can click them and return to the feature's description on this page.

• If you are looking for the best view of the Eiffel Tower, approach it from the Palais de Chaillot , as the view from here is spectacular  (you can take the Metro to either Trocadero or Passy). The line to ascend the Tower can be long in summer, but the view is worth the wait.  If you have good weather and have a little extra time, return to the Eiffel Tower at sunset for a spectacular scene.

• The Marmottan Monet museum will likely be of interest only to die-hard Monet fans.  It is a lovely place, but, as one would expect, focused, almost exclusively, on Monet.

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• In addition to our "print-style" maps of Paris, we have added a more detailed version using Google maps.  To see a satellite view of  the attractions  click the airplane symbols that accompany most attractions. 
  •  The symbol looks like this 

• You can also view the map as a street map or as a terrain map by using the buttons at the top right of the map display.

• Eiffel Tower and surrounding attractions

Parc du Champ de Mars  (7 ém) (L) -  map symbol 20 

This large rectangular park stretches east from the Eiffel Tower on the pathway to the Invalides. The Parc, which is centered on the Place Jacques Rueff, is a good location for viewing the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower2   (7 ém) (L) - map symbol 21

Constructed between 1887-1889 by Gustav Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is a world landmark known for its graceful structure and wonderful views. Access to the viewing floors is possible by elevators, for a fee that escalates as you aspire to see Paris from greater heights. A look at the Eiffel Tower from the Jardins du Trocadero (below the Palais de Chaillot) is a delight for the first-timer. The Eiffel tower is even more impressive at night when it is illuminated. Just looking at it resplendent in the night sky is an uplifting experience and assures you that you are not in Kansas (or Las Vegas) anymore.  The official website for the Eiffel Tower can be accessed here .

• The Eiffel Tower has two restaurants.  On the first floor is the more casual Altitude 95 (95 meters above sea level). The Altitude 95 has been decorated to give on the feeling of viewing Paris from a dirigible and includes a ground floor bar. The famous Le Jules Verne restaurant on the second floor has earned a Michelin Star and has the prices to prove it. The Jules Verne is accessible by its private elevator. Reservations are required for the Jules Verne and suggested for Altitude 95. Information on contact numbers for reservations can be found here .
• A recent survey of travelers in Britain ranked a visit to the Eiffel Tower as one of the most disappointing tourist traps ever.  Our advice is to disregard the report as sour grapes.  We can't imagine visiting Paris for the first time and missing the incredible journey to the top viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower.  Paris surrounds you and the views of the city are spectacular.  The elevator ride is a thrill and, at least for us, ascending the Eiffel Tower is a  signal that you have finally arrived in Paris

Palais de Chaillot       (16 ém) (L) -  map symbol 22

Located on the top of the Trocadero hill facing the Seine and the Eiffel Tower, the Palais offers great views. Constructed in the 1930s for the World Exhibition, it is also known for its excellent Musée de l'Homme, as well as the Musée de la Marine, and the new and impressive Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimone, which is focused on the art and architecture of Paris.

• The website of the Cité can be found here , but is only provided in French.  If you do not read French, the translation service provided by Google does an excellent job in rendering the page into English.

Regardless of its impressive museums (there are several others in addition to those described above), the Palais De Chaillot is not on the list of major attractions in Paris because of its museums, but for its view of the Eiffel Tower. The gardens and fountains of the Jardins du Trocadero,  which lie below the Palais, provide a wonderful background for a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. The museums are closed on Tuesdays.

Musée Marmottan Monet         (16 ém) (R) 2, rue Louis-Boilly   - map symbol 23

The Marmottan is a small museum located in another of the upscale neighborhoods of Paris, near the La Muette Metro station. The Museum possesses the world's largest collection of works by Claude Monet but, arguably, only a small portion of his best works (it does include his keynote painting “Sunrise”). The Marmottan has arranged Monet’s works in stages that follow the development of his techniques. The Marmottan is a must see if you are a fan of Monet. Visit the museum's web site  for details on visiting.  Closed Mondays with late openings (and closings) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Musée du quai Branly   (7 ém) (L) rue de l'Université or via quai Branly - map symbol 24.

Opened to the public on June 23rd, 2006, the Musée du quai Branly, near the Eiffel Tower, celebrates the tribal-indigenous cultures of Africa, Oceania, Asia and America. The museum's architecture is splashy but symbolic.  The museum's collections are extremely interesting.  For more information on this new museum, visit the official website.  Closed Mondays.

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The Best Places to Visit in Paris Champs Elysées Louvre  Marais Latin Quarter -Île de la Cité Invalides Montmarte Or consider Daytrips to Versailles Fontainebleau   Giverny Chantilly Or return to Our Paris home page