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How to Enjoy the Eiffel Tower Light Show? | Timings, Best View Points & More

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The Eiffel Tower light show: The Iron Lady's sparkly cloak

The Eiffel Tower as a symbol of Paris is one thing, but the Iron Lady in her glittering dress (Paris is the City of Fashion, too, after all!) is another. If your day tour of the City of Love was a walk to remember, the perfect way to end your trip to the City of Lights would be to gaze at the tower shining bright in a golden hue, with magical sparkles illuminating the structure for 5 minutes every hour: it’s the stuff of the core memories, we promise.

What’s special about the Eiffel Tower light show

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A view, tailor-made for you

You can experience 20,000 light bulbs sparkle in an almost synchronized manner, as the arrangement spans the 330-meter-high tower.

A thing of bucket lists

Catch the dazzling Eiffel Tower light show without spending a cent. No need for reservations or tickets — just step outside and look up! Starting at 8pm, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for 5 magical minutes every hour as it lights up the Parisian skyline. The grand finale at 1am lasts for a full 10 minutes, making it the perfect way to end your night.

One for the books

Did you know that capturing the images of a lit-up Eiffel Tower for professional purposes is illegal? Because the night time illumination is protected by copyright, you won’t be able to experience the show in the same way as you would do in real life, even if you scout the whole of Google!

Reflections of the past

The Eiffel Tower light show is a historical documentary in itself, as it has reflected the technological advancements of each era since it was inaugurated in 1889. Imagine the leaps and bounds in the tower's lighting system over the years, from its early gas lights to the current computerized system, each upgrade more sophisticated than the last.

When do the Eiffel Tower lights go up

The lights and the beacon are turned on only after sunset, but you can visit the tower from 8:45am. 

Structural lights

The Eiffel Tower's lights come on automatically after 10 minutes of sunset, thanks to the light-sensitive twilight sensors that can sense the fading light. The system that lights up the tower's main structure has been around since 1985 and uses 336 1kW high-pressure sodium lamps. These lamps are replaced every four years to keep the tower shining bright.

The beacon

Just like a lighthouse of the land, the tower shines its beacon on the rest of Paris, including some other historical landmarks. Made of four marine-type projectors, it is like a super strong flashlight, each on one side of the tower, creating an illusion of a 360° sweeping beam. On a clear night, this light can travel up to 80 kilometers.

The sparkles

All said and done, the light exhibit, when the Eiffel Tower sparkles, steals the show. With the golden glow in the background, the tower twinkles for five minutes at the beginning of every hour, starting at 8pm. This dazzling display continues until 1am, when the show goes on for 10 minutes as 20,000 tiny bulbs blink on and off really fast.

How to enjoy the Eiffel Tower light show

✨ There’s no doubt that the Iron Lady is gorgeous by the day, but at night, it truly comes alive with lights. While you get the best views of Paris atop the tower, you will have to climb down to admire the Eiffel in its full glory.

✨ Owing to its sensors, the Eiffel Tower lights up automatically after sunset, bathing it in a warm, golden glow. But the real magic happens every hour on the hour, from 8pm to 1am, when for five whole minutes, the tower sparkles with thousands of white lights.

✨ Moreover, the grand finale is the most phenomenal, as at 1am, the usual yellow lights and the beacon turn off, leaving only the sparkling white lights against the dark silhouette of the tower. The best part? This lasts for a whole ten minutes!

Where to catch the best views of the Eiffel Tower light show?

You can either head to the Trocadero, a popular spot with a wide platform right across the Seine River from the tower, or grab a drink or a meal at a rooftop restaurant or bar in Paris that offers Eiffel Tower views. A stroll along the Seine's banks can also be a beautiful way to experience the sparkling tower. But even if you’re nowhere near these spots, the Iron Lady has a way of charming all of Paris, so you can watch from anywhere in the city and still be mesmerized as much.

📷 Is taking photos of the Eiffel Tower light show illegal?

Want to snap photos of the twinkling wonder called the Eiffel Tower for ‘the gram’? Go for it! While clicking pictures of the Iron Lady at night for personal use is allowed, it is not the case for professional photographers. As the light show is copyrighted, you can’t use the photos for commercial purposes. In Europe, copyright lasts 70 years after the creator dies, and these lights are under protection. So, if you're a pro using the night-time Eiffel Tower pictures for business, you'll need permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (or SETE for short), and you might even have to pay a fee for using the image.

Timeline of the Eiffel Tower illumination

  • 1889: For the grand opening, the Eiffel Tower shines with gaslights, and even has the colors of the French flag.
  • 1900: Lights get an upgrade, as instead of gas, electricity is to be used now– a better alternative.
  • 1907: A giant clock with lit-up numbers is added to the second floor.
  • 1925-1936: Colored lights spell out "Citroën" on the Eiffel Tower as part of an ad campaign for the French car manufacturer.
  • 1933-1934: The clock gets fancier, as now beams of light are used for its hands.
  • 1937: For the 1937 Arts and Techniques Exhibition, the tower is decorated by André Granet with a chandelier made of fluorescent tubes and spotlights.
  • 1958: In 1958, they start putting lights on the ground to illuminate the Eiffel Tower from a different angle.
  • 1978: The Eiffel Tower gets a festive touch with a dazzling display of Christmas lights!
  • 1985: The tower's lighting gets a permanent upgrade with warm yellow-orange lights that bathe it in a beautiful golden glow.
  • 1997: A special light display starts a timer, counting down the days until the year 2000 millennium celebrations.
  • 2000: To celebrate the new millennium, the Eiffel Tower is fitted with 20,000 light bulbs at a cost of €4.5 million to create a new sparkling light display.
  • 2001: The beloved twinkling lights on the Eiffel Tower are taken down after 18 months of installation.
  • 2003: The sparkling lights are then turned on again on June 21, 2003 and are planned to last for 10 years before needing replacement.

Prominent Eiffel Tower light shows

For years, the Eiffel Tower has been a giant spotlight for special occasions, changing colors to celebrate all sorts of things, using extra lights on the tower itself or shining brightly from across the river at Pont d'Iena. Here's a peek at some of the light shows over the years:

January 24-29, 2004: To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Eiffel Tower shines red.

May 9, 2006: Marking the 20th anniversary of Europe Day, the tower turns blue.

September 7 - October 20, 2007: France hosts the Rugby World Cup, and the tower sports the colors of the sport.

June 30 - December 31, 2008: During France's Presidency of the European Union, the Eiffel Tower displays the blue light with 12 yellow stars, mirroring the European flag.

October 22 - December 31, 2009: A special light show runs every evening to celebrate the tower's 120th anniversary.

May 28-June 2, 2013 & June 15-16, 2013: Honoring Nelson Mandela International Day, the tower dons the colors of South Africa.

September 30, 2015: Paris Fashion Week 2015 is marked with a nightly light show themed "Fashion loves Paris."

June 13, 2016: Following the Orlando Nightclub shooting, the Eiffel Tower displays the colors of the rainbow flag in solidarity.

June - July 2016: Throughout the 2016 European Football Championship held in France, the tower changes colors to match the team with the most social media support for each match.

July 19, 2016: Paying tribute to the victims of the Nice truck attack, the tower displays the colors of the French flag.

November 4, 2016: Green lights mark the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement.

February 3, 2017: Paris' successful bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games is celebrated with a light display featuring the colors of the games and the inscription "Paris 2024."

September 28, 2017: The Eiffel Tower celebrates welcoming its 300 millionth visitor.

May 15-17, 2019: Bruno Seiller's special show marks the 130th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower.

October (every year): During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Eiffel Tower turns pink.

Did you know? In the event of a tragic incident, the lights on the Eiffel Tower are turned off in mourning and to show solidarity, spreading a powerful message that humanity comes first, no matter what.

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Frequently asked questions about the Eiffel Tower lights

Why does the Eiffel Tower light up?

The Eiffel Tower lights up not just for its beauty, but also to enhance safety and security. The sparkling display illuminates the surrounding area, making it safer for visitors at night, while the lighting system helps keep the tower itself well-visible and monitored after dark. Plus, it adds a magical touch to the Paris skyline, making it an unforgettable sight for all who see it.

How much energy do the Eiffel Tower lights consume?

Even though it might seem otherwise, the tower's lights only use up about 4% of its energy for the whole year. They've been working hard to be more eco-friendly: in 2004, they made their spotlights use less energy, and in 2008, they shortened the time the tower twinkles each hour. All that effort means the sparkling lights now only use about 0.4% of the tower's energy each year.

Why is there a beacon at the top of the Eiffel Tower?

At first, the spotlight illuminated Paris's monuments. However, by 1947, it became useful for air navigation as well.

Can you experience the sparkling lights when you're inside the Eiffel Tower?

Sadly, no. For the best view of the Eiffel Tower sparkling all over, you should reach the lower level of the second floor just before the light show begins, that is after sunset.

Do I need to buy tickets to see the light show?

No, the light show is free and visible from many public areas around the Eiffel Tower.

What happens if it's raining during the light show?

The light show goes on rain or shine! You might just need to adjust your viewing spot for better visibility under an umbrella.

When did the Eiffel Tower's lights first appear?

The tower was first illuminated with gas lamps in 1889 during the World's Fair.