how do avoid lines at eiffel tower??
 

i have read that you can climb the stairs to the 2nd level of the eiffel tower to avoid the lines at the bottom, and then you can buy tickets on the second floor to go to the top. is this true? for those who have done it, how long does it take to climb to the second floor?

Yes, you can climb, but the line for this was really long also 2 weeks ago. It is pretty far, though how long it would take depends on your fitness level. At least 15 minutes, I would say.

we were there around 4:30-5PM, and the lines for the elevator were very short. It was also a bit overcast, but it was still a great view, and we didn't have to wait more than 10 minutes. just a suggestion, you might find the late afternoon a good time to try it.

The lines are usually thinned out around 4 to 5 PM but there is still a crush when descending in the elevator.

We arrived around 9:30am and the line was very short. We had no trouble getting to the elevators within a few minutes.

For what it is worth, I didn't feel that the trip up the tower was really worth it. It wasn't bad, just wasn't that special.

If the lines are long, I would enjoy some other part of Paris.

Keith

I think the lines at the tower are pretty much always fairly long - but late afternoon is probably best.

One thing I noticed when I was there (last week) was the enormous amount of GRAFFITTI on the tower - and on other Paris sights (Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame) . I was there 10 years ago, and I don' t remember seeing this much vandalism. It really made me sick. I even saw some teenagers (Italian, I think) writing in marker on the tower. I started to say something to them - even though there was a language barrier, I could tell that I got a fairly "profane" response!

What's up with this? Don't the French care about preserving their monuments??? Just wondering.

EMT, that is really a shame!!

I like seeing the exterior of the Tour Eiffel up close (the almost lacy quality of the metalwork, etc.), but vote for the roof of La Samaritaine for a view which includes the Tower and has much shorter lines, if any.

http://www.atkielski.com/inlink.php?...RoofSmall.html