Eiffel Tower sparkle: times, how long it lasts and the best places to watch it
The Eiffel Tower sparkles for 5 minutes at the top of every hour once it is dark: about 20,000 lamps flash gold over the whole structure. It is free and visible from far away, no ticket needed. According to a source updated in January 2026 it stops when the monument closes; we found no official 2026 last-show time, so check the Eiffel Tower website before planning your evening. The lights were installed for the year-2000 celebrations.
Highlights
The sparkle at night
The flashes start at the top and run over the whole tower for 5 minutes; arrive 5 minutes before the hour so you do not miss it.
The best distance: the Trocadéro
The gardens and esplanade give the classic free view with the whole tower in frame.
Practical info
Tips
- Three good viewpoints, all free: the Trocadéro esplanade, the Champ-de-Mars at the foot of the tower (closer, more crowded) and the Bir-Hakeim bridge (fewer people, the tower seen from the side). To see it from the water, an evening Seine cruise works if you time it to a full hour. For more ideas, see our guide to Paris by night. Watch your belongings in the evening crowd.
How to get there
Metro Trocadéro (lines 6 and 9), Bir-Hakeim (line 6) or RER C Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
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