What Time Does the Eiffel Tower Light Up? Sparkle Times & Info

Last updated on February 28th, 2025 at 04:44 pm

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Everything you need to know about seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night

Seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up at night is a magical experience and one you won’t want to miss.

As the sun sets over Paris, the City of Lights prepares to live up to its name in a spectacular fashion.

More than just a feat of engineering, the Tower transforms into a dazzling display of lights as darkness falls, which can be seen from numerous spots all over the city.

This tradition dates back to 1925, when André Citroën used the tower as a gigantic advertising billboard, setting a precedent for the Eiffel Tower as a canvas for light.

Now, as the structure sparkles each night, it connects the past with the present.

So, let’s answer that question. What time does the Eiffel Tower light up each day?

Night view of the Eiffel Tower illuminated with golden lights, with the cityscape and dark sky in the background. The surrounding area is lit with streetlights and the Seine River is faintly visible, reflecting some lights.

What time does the Eiffel Tower Sparkle?

The Eiffel Tower lights up at dusk every day and finishes at 11.45 pm. The lights are controlled by a sensor that automatically triggers as night falls.

But what about the sparkles? Well, for the first five minutes, every hour, once it gets dark, the Eiffel Tower puts on a light show, with the last sparkle extravaganza being at 11 pm.

The last show is undoubtedly the best as it lasts for ten minutes instead of five. Plus, the main tower lights are switched off so all you see is the sparkle. It’s absolutely stunning and such a romantic sight.

Two smiling individuals holding umbrellas on a wet promenade with the Eiffel Tower rising in the misty background.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw it sparkle. It was on New Year’s Eve, 2011. My daughter was only thirteen, and we had just two nights in Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower was top of our list.

We saw it from so many different places, including the top of the Arc de Triomphe, but seeing it sparkle at night was the icing on the cake.

The Eiffel Tower stands tall against the night sky, bathed in vibrant purple lighting. Below, an event with purple illuminated fountains adds to the festive atmosphere. The surrounding park and streets are dotted with the warm glow of streetlights.

The Iron Lady and Special Events

Sometimes, the Eiffel Tower changes its colours to reflect a particular event. In 2004, the Eiffel Tower was lit in red to commemorate the Chinese New Year.

This was followed in 2006 by a change to blue lighting in celebration of the 20th Fête de l’Europe.

For the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the Tower featured a unique lighting design: one side was illuminated in green to represent a rugby field, and goalpost lights were added.

Most recently, in support of breast cancer awareness, the Tower was illuminated in pink. For the Olympics, the Eiffel Tower will be getting a facelift and painted gold.

The Eiffel Tower captured at night, glowing with golden light, framed symmetrically by two modern buildings on either side. The pathway leading to the tower is lined with lights, enhancing the geometric beauty of the scene.

The 7 Best Eiffel Tower Views

I was lucky enough to stay at the gorgeous Hotel Pont Royal Paris, and the view from the balcony of the Eiffel Tower is nothing short of spectacular.

We had a deluxe room with a balcony and view of the tower specified. It really was rather special waking up to that view.

But that view aside, I’ve highlighted my top 7 places for getting the best view of the Eiffel Tower that doesn’t involve staying in a hotel.

A rooftop view at night from a hotel balcony overlooking Paris, with the Eiffel Tower illuminated in the distance. The city's historic architecture is visible under a dusky sky, with scattered lights from buildings adding to the urban ambiance.

Place Du Trocadero: Located directly across from the Eiffel Tower, it’s the most famous spot for Eiffel Tower views, and it’s where we went in 2011 on New Year’s Eve to see if sparkle.
The Champ De Mars: Right next to the Tower, it offers diverse angles and is particularly beautiful in spring with cherry blossoms.
The Bir-Hakeim Bridge: A classic spot for views, offering perspectives from the pedestrian level or from Ile Aux Cygnes
Seine River Near Trocadero: Offers unobstructed views of the Tower along the Seine near Trocadero
Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck: At 56 floors high, it offers a panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower and other historic monuments
Rue Saint-Dominique: Walking this street in the 7th arrondissement reveals surprising views of the Tower amid cafes and bookstores,
Avenue De Camoens: A quiet, short dead-end street leading to a balcony with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower, especially popular for photographers. You’ll recognise it as soon as you see it.

Map Of The Best Views Of The Eiffel Tower

Google Maps interface displaying the best photo spots for capturing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It shows a list on the left with specific locations, such as "Place du Trocadéro" and "Champ de Mars," each marked with a green pin on the map. The map itself highlights central Paris, with the Eiffel Tower area prominently featured and several surrounding landmarks and streets visible.

Best Eiffel Tower Photo Spots

And now for some lesser-known photo spots for capturing the Eiffel Tower to help fill your Instagram feed.

Rue St. Dominique: Known for its shopping boutiques, this street offers views of the Eiffel Tower peeking through the urban landscape. A key spot is near ‘Le Recrutement’ café
Pont de l’Alma: Located near the better-known Pont Alexandre III, it offers similar views but is less crowded. This makes it an ideal alternative for capturing the Eiffel Tower.
Place de Mexico: The Eiffel Tower strikingly pops up between the beautiful French architecture, offering a quintessential Parisian street view.

The Eiffel Tower rises into a misty sky, framed by the elegant Haussmann-style buildings of Paris on either side. Autumn-colored trees line the foreground, and the wet cobblestone street reflects the soft, diffuse light of an overcast day.

Avenue de New York: Close to Pont de Bir-Hakeim, this avenue along the Seine River offers stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.
Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel: Located at the foot of Pont d’Iena, right by the Eiffel Tower, this spot allows for creative shots incorporating the carousel and the Tower.
Rue de Buenos Aires: Offering a view similar to Rue de L’Université but with fewer crowds, this quaint dead-end street is lined with classic buildings and ends with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
Av. Rapp: Walking down Avenue Rapp reveals multiple places where you’ll see beautiful street views of the Eiffel Tower.

Sunset view of the Eiffel Tower with the Seine River in the foreground. A metro train crosses the Pont de Bir-Hakeim bridge, while the sky above is adorned with streaks of airplane contrails. The warm glow of the setting sun bathes the scene in soft light.

Best Eiffel Tower Tours at Night

There are plenty of tours to choose from when it comes to going up the tower, but I’ve highlighted a couple of the most popular ones to do at night.

Skip The Line Eiffel Tower Tour and Summit Access

Nobody likes queuing, and if you’re going to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, you want to do it in style with full summit access.

This ‘Skip the Line Eiffel Tower Tour’ includes a guide who can tell you all about the history of the tower and its memorable moments, as well as help you jump to the front of the line.

This one sells out fast, so reserve your tickets early to choose your time.

Absolutely great 😊. The host was very friendly and very knowledgeable. The views are spectacular from the top. I will recommend this to family and friends 🙏
JORGE

⭐️ BOOK YOUR SKIP THE LINE TICKETS >>>

Eiffel Tower’s Madame Brasserie Dinner

It doesn’t get much better than dinner in the Eiffel Tower with panoramic views of Paris.

At Madame Brasserie you’re treated to food by Michelin Star Chef, Thierry Marx. Depending on the time of year, you can watch the sun set over the city of lights and wait for it to start sparkling as you enjoy a three-course meal.

Everything EXCELLENT! The quality of the food, the wines they offered us and the attention of the waiter. This is an experience not to be missed. It is worth more than it costs.
MANUEL

⭐️ RESERVE YOUR DINNER AT THE EIFFEL TOWER >>>

A Quick History of the Eiffel Tower’s Light Show

The Eiffel Tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Construction started in 1887, so it would be ready for the 1889 Paris Exposition, commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution.

Initially, it was lit using gas lights, so there was just enough illumination for visitors, but over the years, it has evolved significantly.

For the 1900 World Exhibition, the Tower transitioned entirely to electric lighting, and a multicoloured globe was added under its first floor in 1937.

A panoramic nighttime view from the Montparnasse Tower observation deck, showcasing the Eiffel Tower radiating light amidst the Parisian cityscape. The sky transitions from twilight blues to deep sunset reds, while the urban grid below sparkles with streetlights.

In 1958, the lighting was enhanced with powerful searchlights around the Tower. The current lighting system dates from 1985 and features 336 high-pressure sodium projectors installed in the Tower’s structure.

These projectors were updated in 2007, 2011, and 2015.

But the sparkling effect it’s so famous for is something else entirely. It was first introduced, on December 31, 1999, for the new millennium.

Originally intended to be temporary, it was so popular that the powers that be decided to make it a permanent thing.

The Eiffel Tower at night, with its golden illumination casting a warm glow against the dark sky. The tower's beacon shines brightly, sending vertical beams of light into the sky, while the surrounding area is subtly lit with ambient streetlights.

There are a staggering 20,000 bulbs, each 6 watts, resulting in a total of 120,000 watts. However, the actual energy consumption is lower as each bulb is not constantly lit.

This sparkling effect only lasts for five minutes, and in a recent energy conservation effort, Paris officials, led by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, announced that starting September 23, the Eiffel Tower’s lights would be turned off at 11:45 pm.

This was more than an hour earlier than the previous schedule of 1 am.

This change aligns with the Tower’s closing time and is part of a broader initiative to reduce energy consumption across the city by about 10 per cent, in line with goals set by France’s President Emmanuel Macron.

FAQS About Seeing the Eiffel Tower at Night

What time does the Eiffel Tower sparkle?

The Eiffel Tower sparkles every night, starting at dusk and continuing until 11.45 pm. Each sparkling session lasts for 5 minutes at the start of each hour, with a special final display at 11 pm.

Does the Eiffel Tower light up on New Year’s Eve?

Yes, the Eiffel Tower lights up on New Year’s Eve. It typically features a special light show or illumination in celebration of the new year.

Does the Eiffel Tower light up every hour at night?

Yes, the Eiffel Tower lights up every hour on the hour during the night. This illumination lasts for five minutes and is visible until 11pm, at which point the final display of lights occurs.

Does the Eiffel Tower light up at 6pm?

No the Eiffel Tower doesn’t light up specifically at 6pm as it’s set to come on at sunset and this can change depending on the time of year.

Final thoughts on when the Eiffel Tower Sparkles

As you’ve probably realized by now, there is no set time for when the Eiffel Tower lights up and puts on a sparkling show. It all depends on the time of year you’re visiting Paris, as the tower’s lights are on sensors set to come on as soon as it gets to dusk.

And that changes depending on the season. In the winter, it happens earlier than in the summer, so you need to look up the time that the sun sets for the exact time.

And remember, the most spectacular show happens at 11 pm as it lasts longer and it’s all about the sparkle and putting on a show. It’s as magical as Disneyland, although it’s often reminded me of the ballroom tower at Blackpool. That’s another attraction worth a visit as there are plenty of things to do in Blackpool.