Trocadéro Paris: Eiffel Tower Views, Best Photo Spots and Access

Tips

• On the esplanade and in the gardens, keep an eye on your belongings: pickpockets are active here, as are street hawkers and fake petitioners who approach tourists. Don't sign anything, keep your wallet out of sight and carry your bag closed in front of you. If you plan to go up the Eiffel Tower, a weekday late afternoon is the best bet. In case of theft or lost documents, keep our list of useful phone numbers in Paris at hand. Our complete guide to the Trocadéro suggests a detailed itinerary between the esplanade, the gardens and the Chaillot museums. The three museums in the Palais de Chaillot are closed on Tuesdays. The Musée national de la Marine is open 11:00 to 19:00 on other days (last entry one hour before closing), with late opening until 22:00 on the first Thursday of the month; it closes on 1 January, 1 May, 14 July and 25 December (ticket €15, €12 reduced, free for under-26s, October 2026). The terrace and gardens are free: no ticket is needed to enjoy the view. The Aquarium de Paris is not one of the Chaillot museums, so check its hours on its own website. The three museums in the Palais de Chaillot are closed on Tuesdays. The Musée national de la Marine is open 11:00 to 19:00 on other days (last entry one hour before closing), with late opening until 22:00 on the first Thursday of the month; it closes on 1 January, 1 May, 14 July and 25 December (ticket €15, €12 reduced, free for under-26s, October 2026). The terrace and gardens are free: no ticket is needed to enjoy the view. The Aquarium de Paris is not one of the Chaillot museums, so check its hours on its own website.
• Where to stand for the photo: in the middle of the esplanade to frame the tower head-on, on the upper terrace of the gardens near the Warsaw fountain to include the water jets, and on the Pont d'Iéna to get the Seine in the frame. Best times: sunrise, when the esplanade is almost empty, and late afternoon, when the western light falls on the tower.