Eiffel Tower or London Eye?
 

Which do you prefer?

London eye Pros:
it moves! and its more of an engineering marvel

Tour Eiffel Pros:
it's higher, more history behind it, and it's more world famous.

"more of an engineering marvel" - Well when the Eiffel Tower was built it was definitely an engineering marvel.

"more history behind it" - Give the Eye a few years and it will also have history behind it.

The backgrounds are so very similar - hated and opposed by nearly everyone before they were built - but becoming icons and very popular afterwards.

Only time will tell if the Eye has the same staying power (It was originally only planned to be up for 5 years but that was thrown out the window after it was opened to the public) -- but I love them both.

I'm resisting being vulgar and saying "do you prefer **** or ****?"

What a daft question, the two can't be compared.

mk2, what's with the attitude.

why are people so rude on this board?

Ball buster my dear, if you think this board is rude, what world are you living in? This is civil and mannered debate.

"civil and mannered debate" includes comments to a poster like "what a daft question"? My there certainly is a language barrier here isn't there?

alright let's get back on topic. To those who have done both, which one did you like more?

The Eiffel Tower is an eyesore.

The London Eye is an abomination.

Both afford you great views. It's easier to get off of the London Eye.

if it was a first timer and u have to pick...then the eiffel. everybody associates that landmark w/ paris. ok, even as a second and third timer, still the eiffel...especially after dark...oh the romance.

As far as views, they both offer a spectacular vantage point. But I prefer a bird's eye view of Paris to a bird's eye view of London any day, from any location.

I'd also never sit on the grass after dark and admire the London Eye. ;)

I wouldn't like to see the Eye gotten rid of, but if I had to choose the Eiffel Tower would get my vote every time. It's my first Parisian love. :)

The Eye is more of an engineering marvel?

Let me ask you something: if the Eiffel Tower were reduced in size by a factor of 1,000, how much would it weigh?

Answer: .eceip tnec evif-ytnewt a naht ssel elttil A

I, too, prefer the Eiffel Tower and I must say that one who chooses the screen name <b>ballbuster</b>, has nothing to say about rude.

ballbuster,

Why do you ask?

Keith

Both are fabulous experiences not to be missed - regardless of what feelings they may evoke among jaded travelers who consider them to be tacky and forget what it's like to o to Paris for the first time and just glimpse the Tour Eiffel - it's the first thing i looked for on the horizon, and going up it for the first time was a surrealistically giddy experience. Ditto for the London Eye, the first glimpse of it and then going up in it was so exciting. The first thing on my list as a first-time tourist would be to go up each - if for no reason than you get to orient yourself to the city laid out below you. (Lines to get in Eiffel are shortest in late afternoon; mornings in season can mean a long wait; London Eye lines are rarely very long.Where to go in day or at night is the question - both Paris (and London) appear so majestic after dark with the bridges and monuments floodlit. But in daytime you see a 360 degree panorams for miles around.)

What are we not allowed to ask questions here?

stop being childish Kate, what's wrong with my username, you were the one who was clearly being rude, all I did was ask a quetion.

I would like to personally thank PalQ
for a nice informative response

HI

My vote goes to the Eiffel Tower. Built so long ago it is really a engineering marvel :-)...and it is much higher then the London Eye

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com

When the Eiffel Tower was first built a lot of Parisians insisted that it be torn down, literally.

Everyone seems to have seen at least a picture of it BUT when you actually GET THERE and look up at it, much less GO UP to the top, you can see why, despite the limited vision of some, it has remained and become THE symbol of Paris.

Hard to compare it to the &quot;Eye&quot; which I also enjoy. But I suspect the &quot;eye&quot; will not be the &quot;symbol&quot; of London as is the tower which contains the clock and &quot;Big Ben.&quot;

As to your screenname..well, you have to understand, there are a few here who are severely gender and role insecure..and probably pissed off because they didn't think of the screenname before you did.

Gosh, Ira--I guess you're not an Objectivist or fan of Ayn Rand.

&gt;...regardless of what feelings they may evoke among jaded travelers who consider them to be tacky and forget what it's like to go to Paris for the first time and just glimpse the Tour Eiffel -....&lt;

Didn't like it the first time, didn't like it the last time (30 some years later).

It's a blot on the skyline. The only things worse are the Tour Montparnasse and that monster out at La Defense.

Especially don't care for the blinking lights.

I've said this before: if one does not like the topic of a posting then why bother opening it and commenting, unless life is really that boring.

Now to the question- To me this is like comparing Venice to Buffalo. I love viewing the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero, especially at sunset and then after dark when the lights go on and the fountains are lit. It is a very fitting symbol of a great city.

&gt;What are we not allowed to ask questions here?

I guess not, you ignored answering mine.

Keith

Keith, confusing comment?- that's what this site is about, asking and answering questions!?

Well I have a stupid first time travel question. I am going to London (1st time) and excited to the the Eye. I have heard that you can take a train for the day to go to Paris? Is this true because if so then I so want to see both. Though this is my first time out of the country I think that they will both be awesome.

Yes, there are one-day tours of Paris that leave early in the morning and return late at night. Look on page 12 of the catalog:

http://www.britrail.com/doc/Britrail...4_brochure.pdf

Robespierre, I have a question ( again I apologize for the off topic) I looked at page 12 and it shows the unescorted pass and the escorted one. Is the unescorted one a roundtrip one like the escorted one. Also are the prices in $ or in GBP. Sorry for my ignorance.

Imauakupanda: Yes Eurostar train takes 2.75 hours between Paris and London and special fare of $94 return applies, but can be hard to book on the spot so reserve here thru RailEurope to be guaranteed such a great fare.

Ira: I appreciate your view but for the average traveler still think that this is what they come to Paris for - research says that the Tour Eiffel is i think the top single thing in Europe that tourists want to see, no doubt because they only know of it, and for the typical travler it's the first thing they want to see. I don't want to damper that enthusiasm that may lead them later to discover perhaps the types of things that turn you on in Paris. without the lure of the Eiffel maybe some folks wouldn't even come here, and it is a great orientation place. Would you actually want the Eiffel Tower torn down? Sounds like it. I greatly respect your posts in general but this slant is atypically myopic. Hopefully this is taken in the belief that neither of us can be declared right as it's realy a subjective belief. I respectfully disagree.

Hi Pal,
I am sure that there are millions of people who think that the ET is terrific.

However, if I had my way, the Tour Montparnasse, the Eiffel Tower and the Arch at La Defense would come down.

However, I know that they won't.

Just my own opinion.

Hi Panda,

&gt;I have heard that you can take a train for the day to go to Paris?&lt;

Yes. The cheapest tickets are at www.eurostaar.com.

If you choose your country as the UK, the fares (in GBP) are often lower than if you choose US (in $).

The cheapest tickets are the one-day round-trip ones.

You don't need a tour.

See the minigude to Paris under &quot;destinations&quot; at www.fodors.com.

For me there is little comparison. I like London and went to the London Eye the first time I visited after it was erected. It was a pleasant enough experience but I wouldn't go again. It makes a minimal impression on the London landscape.
I love Paris and love to see the Eiffel Tower from so many vantage points. It is beautiful at night with the lights and wonderful during the day from distance or close up. I have been to Paris 8 times, hope to return many more and love the first time I see the ET on each trip.

Cheapest fare on eurostar.com i can find is 69 pounds return, which at even an optimal exchange rate of $1.90=1 pound would be about $131 if bought in UK online vs $94 day return through RailEurope in US - and the 69 pound fare was good only on train leaving London at 6:30am - all other trains were 10 pounds, or $19 more whilst RailEurope's fare can be used on any train - all are subject to availability so reserve early. Even with RailEurope's $15 booking fee you, or especially two travelers can save plenty by buying here and being guaranteed seats which may be problematic once in London. Ira's right that it's often cheaper to buy in UK prices but that was several months ago before the decline of the dollar.
Ira: I agree with you about Monparnasse and Grande Arche de la Defense - that's why they say the best view of Paris is from Monparnasse Tower because from there you can't see it. I just read that a referendum i think of Parisians decided to not allow anymoore violations of the traditional five or so story building limit even though experts say this will stagnant the city's economy. Monparnasse is certainly an abomination. But the Eiffel? The first time I took my young French son to Paris the first thing he wanted to see and climb was the Tour Eiffel (Elle est Belle!). As for London's Wheel - nothing could possible degredate that city's skyline anymore than it is with all the tacky 60s blah buildings.

If cost is a primary consideration, here is the rock-bottom cheapest day tour of Paris from London:

Eurostar Leisure Day Trip: &pound;59
Paris Mobilis bus/M&eacute;tro pass: &euro;5.30
A map of sights: $0 download the <b>Bus touristique*</b> from

http://www.citefutee.com/orienter/tous_plans_pdf.php

It shows a lot of the highlights and the bus lines that serve them. Get on the #42 bus at Gare du Nord, and ride it all the way to the Eiffel Tower. Get off and on as much as you like; just show your Mobilis to the driver. After you've seen the Eiffel tower, go down to the river and get on the <b>Balabus</b>. It will take you past many sights all the way up the river to Notre Dame cathedral. Again, jump off any time to take a closer look, then get back on and continue. From Notre Dame, take the #85 bus to Jules Joffrin, then get on the <b>Montmartrobus</b> and ride it around Montmartre until you get to Sacre Coeur. When you're ready to leave, take the <i>Funiculaire</i> down the hill, then either walk to Anvers M&eacute;tro or get back on the Balabus to Pigalle. From either of those stops, a #54 bus will get you to within a short walk of Gare du Nord. Of course you could also take the M&eacute;tro direct to the train station, but the bus involves much less climbing. The <b>Bus Paris (avec rues)</b> map shows all the routes.

Enjoy!

<b>*</b> The items in <b>bold</b> are other maps on that same page.

Hi Pal,

Fr a random date, Feb 7, I get 29.5 GBP on the 08:12 train out and 29.5 GBP on the 20:43 return. At todays rate of $1.94 thats $114.

Looks like RailEurope has a good price at this time.

Can't say my opinion counts, as I've never seen the Eye in person, but from pictures - it looks like the Fair/Circus is in town in London year round. &quot;Ooh, Dad, stop the car!&quot; It's a Ferris Wheel - a carnival ride - albeit a very big one. Doesn't have that same monument quality as the Eiffel Tower.

And I do like the twinkling lights.

I like them both, but I must vote for the Eiffel Tower. There's something romantic about it that just isn't found in the London Eye.

Eiffel Tower, which (IMHO) looks good from the ground and the air. The Eye is interesting to ride, but appears (again in my opinion) from the ground to be a traveling carnival ride on steroids.