Eiffel Tower - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

nitrous_burner · 03-23-2005, 03:41 PM

I'm going to europe august 10th and was told you need to be 18 to go up the Eiffel Tower. Is that true???? Is so what are the possibilities of going up. I'm only 17, but am travelling with my best friend and my cousin (both 18). Will they be ok or do I need a parent or something. Cause if I have to miss the Eiffel Tower, i'm gonna be pissed to say the least. Thank you

**space virgin** · 03-23-2005, 04:23 PM

Huh. I've never heard this before, and it seems like a very, very strange rule. I'm pretty sure I remember there were kids around when I went. I doubt you'll have any problems.

And even if that bizarre rule turns out to be true, it's not like there aren't plenty of other things to see in Paris. The Arc du Triomphe and the Notre Dame both have AMAZING views, you'll just have to climb a few hundred stairs to see them.

Ryder · 03-23-2005, 04:28 PM

no no no no no, that's not true. i've seen 4-5 year olds up there, plus, i when i was 13 went up. haha my favroite part of it was the german boy(age 4) in front of me in line who kept choking on his german accent and wouldnt stop talking, haha.

nitrous_burner · 03-23-2005, 04:56 PM

Yeah, when you were 13 did you go up by yourself??? (without any adults??) and those kids that were 3-4 were probably with their parents

nitrous_burner · 03-23-2005, 05:02 PM

Here's the rule

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/prati..._generales.html

**space virgin** · 03-23-2005, 05:10 PM

Well, that answers your question then: if "children" under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by an adult (and by this rule you can assume that someone aged 18 or over is considered an adult), then being with your friends will allow you access. It doesn't say "parent", it just says adult.

You'll be fine.

**omisan** · 03-23-2005, 11:30 PM

You'll have no problems whatsoever.

Here's a tip: Go at NIGHT. First off, Paris is freakin' gorgeous from above at night - instead of sprawl, you see zillions of little lights - the place didn't get the "City of Lights" nickname for nothing. On top of that, tourists arrive by the busload during the day, so you could very likely end up in a queue 3,000 people deep - and that's just in the winter. At night, the wait can be as little as 15-20 minutes. Just remember that getting to each stage of the tower takes time. There are only so many elevators going up and down, so it can take a while. Don't plan on going anywhere else for a while.

Also, the site linked here states a rule about no picnics. Hah! My buddies and I had ourselves a nice picnic of baguettes, cheese, and wine that we snuck up there in our daypacks. The cafe up there is a RIP-OFF.

**d_fresh** · 03-24-2005, 02:55 AM

you wanna get there (in the queue) around 6 and stay for the amazing sunset over paris.
and yeah, bring a lunch with you. everything in that area is expensive.

**elfmaiden** · 03-25-2005, 08:10 AM

That is such a great idea that I never would have thought of! I'll have to shop around for a nice little lunch and pop up there in the dusk! Ooooo, can't think too much on it yet...don't want to get too excited. ha ha.

Jenn

**simply_angelic** · 03-25-2005, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan@Mar 24 2005, 03:29 AM
On top of that, tourists arrive by the busload during the day, so you could very likely end up in a queue 3,000 people deep - and that's just in the winter.

Ugh, reminds me of when i went to the empire state building last may on a saturday. It was rediculous, I went at night but holy shit, you have to stand in this HUGE line while you wait to go up along the tiniest corridor with no ventilation and like one fan w/ a line that goes down this fricken looooooooooong hallway then back through the same loooooooooong hallway. It was brutal. So gross and humid from everybody's sweat The body heat must have raised the temperature to at least 35 degrees celsius. hottest day of my life. yuck!

**omisan** · 03-25-2005, 10:10 AM

Speaking of sunset and the Arc de Triomphe - I suggest going up to the top of the Arc right around evening rush hour. Not only is there a specTACular view of the sunset through the square arch of the Defense at the west end of the city from there, but you can watch the utter insanity of the huge roundabout beneath you... And also watch a lot of dumb tourists try to play "frogger" across the roundabout, apparently not figuring out that there are underground tunnels. It's pretty damn entertaining!