The Best View From The Eiffel Tower Is Not At The Top, According To Rick Steves

The Eiffel Tower is synonymous with France and is arguably its capital's most must-see attraction, even if you only have one day in Paris. Despite the original builders only intending for it to be a temporary structure, it soon became a centerpiece for the City of Light. Experiencing Paris can mean spotting the tower from afar if you go to a place with a wide view, but countless tourists choose to get up close or even take its elevators all the way to the top.

The Eiffel Tower has three floors with amazing views at each one. The convenient thing about an Eiffel Tower visit is that you can pick one floor or stop at all three, and travel expert Rick Steves can help you choose. "The peak experience is halfway down. By all means, go to the top if you have the time (skip it if your schedule's tight)," he explains on his website. "But I prefer to linger on the second floor: For me, the best views are from this middle level — high enough to see all of Paris, but low enough to pick out distinguishing landmarks."

The first floor of the Eiffel Tower features shops, scannable QR codes that reveal the history of the tower, and a section of glass floor for the brave, while the third floor is all the way at the top with a champagne bar and an exhibit on architect Gustave Eiffel. There is plenty to enjoy at the bottom and on the top, but even the Eiffel Tower's official website points out how perfect of a view you can get on the second floor, stating, "You will enjoy clear views of all of the French capital's monuments: the Louvre, Grand Palais, the bends in the Seine, Montmartre, Invalides, Notre Dame, etc."

The second floor also has restaurants and souvenir shops. After looking at the views of Paris from the second floor, you can stick around for some delicious French cuisine. Try some macarons, eat at the buffet, or even dine at the Michelin-starred restaurant Jules Verne (be sure to book in advance). If you want to pick a memento to take home, this is the best place to grab a souvenir, so peruse the Eiffel Tower's exclusive choices (only sold here) and get ready to spend those euros. There is also a virtual experience showing how the Eiffel Tower has changed over time, accessible via QR code. 

No matter which floor has piqued your interest, there are plenty of things to know before you visit the Eiffel Tower. Rick Steves recommends booking tickets in advance (tickets for each day become available 60 days ahead of time) as the tower does have a maximum capacity. Advance tickets can get you into a quicker line and can also ease crowds, one of many ways that can help prevent Europe from becoming 'anti-tourist' in general. Steves also encourages travelers to be mindful of the tower's busiest times, like summer and weekends. When you book, check out the different floor options included with each ticket type because some could sell out.

If getting a fabulous view of Paris is more important to you than the place from which you get that vista, plenty of other spots in the city provide just that. There are amazing views of the City of Lights from the top floor of Galeries Lafayette, the Panthéon (from April to October), or the Ferris wheel at Place de la Concorde. It is especially magical to see the Eiffel Tower's sparkling light show that occurs every hour on the hour from a bit of distance. The second floor might provide the best views from the Eiffel Tower, but there are plenty of ways to get a fantastic view of the iconic structure itself.