No matter who you talk to worldwide, the most recognizable landmark of Paris is definitely the Eiffel Tower! It is a destination to which everyone must go, and be checked off the list of must-see places in Paris along with the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées, and the Louvre. And while some might visit Le Tour Eiffel once and never return, moving on to other must-see attractions, every time you return to Paris, its magnetism will always bring you back!
This majestic tower is 1,063 ft tall, over 3 times as high as the Statue of Liberty. In fact, for over 40 years the Eiffel Tower was the tallest man-made structure in the world. That was, of course, until 1930 when the Chrysler Building in New York City was completed. Build to be the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, construction of Le Tour Eiffel began in 1887 and was finally completed in 1889.
But surprisingly, it wasn’t always meant to be in Paris permanently. (Remember it was designed to be a World Expo exhibit, right?) According to interviews, in 1967, Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau negotiated a secret agreement with President Charles de Gaulle for the Eiffel Tower to be dismantled and temporarily relocated to Montreal to serve as a landmark and tourist attraction during Expo 67. The plan was allegedly vetoed by the company operating the tower out of fear that the French government could refuse permission for the tower to be restored to its original location in Paris. So to this day, it’s never moved, but that’s crazy, right?
One of the best places to photograph the Eiffel Tower is the Pont de Bir Hakeim. Located right across the river, Pont de Bir Hakeim gives you a direct view of the Tower and there are usually some gorgeous houseboats tied up along the river to add something extra to your photoshoots. The bridge itself has some shiny black railings that are great for creating reflections and making little puddles! There’s a central section of the bridge that has ornate arches that repeat along the railway. The bridge is a great subject for framing the Eiffel Tower and also for capturing images of people passing by on their bicycles. If you go, definitely take along some water bottles with you to create puddles on the railings, it’s so perfect for creating reflections, no rain is needed! Extremely popular at sunset, it’s a great place for avoiding the crowds of Trocadero and also just a really romantic-looking place for getting a perfect perspective for watching the sky changing colors!
The Eiffel Tower, just like most famous landmarks, is more popular at certain times of the year than others. The busiest time of year is in summer from mid-July to late-August and the easiest times to visit are weekdays during the winter. It’s highly suggested that you visit in the late afternoon from the palace steps directly to the West of the tower. The view is stunning and the sun is perfect for Instagram snaps!
