Paris Essentials: The Louvre and Eiffel Tower
No Paris visit is complete without the “Louvre Museum” and “Eiffel Tower”—the city's most iconic monuments that can be experienced together in one memorable day with proper planning.
“The Louvre”, the world's largest art museum, houses over 35,000 artworks including the “Mona Lisa”, “Venus de Milo”, “Winged Victory of Samothrace”, and “The Wedding at Canaan”. A comprehensive visit requires 2.5-3 hours minimum, though art enthusiasts could spend days. The museum offers multiple entrances: the main Pyramid entrance, “Galerie du Carrousel” (underground via shopping centre), and “Porte des Lions” (often less crowded). Metro access via “Palais-Royal/Musée du Louvre” (lines 1 and 7) or “Pyramides” (line 14) provides easy access.
Skip-the-line tickets (€17-22) purchased online are essential—regular entry queues can extend hours during peak season. The museum opens 9:00 AM-6:00 PM (closed Tuesdays), with the first Sunday of each month offering free admission to permanent collections.
“The Eiffel Tower”, built in 1889 by engineer Gustave Eiffel for the World Expo, stands 330 meters (1,083 feet) tall with three visitor levels. The second floor at 115 meters offers optimal views without summit crowds, while the top floor at 276 meters provides the highest accessible viewpoint. Tower hours run 9:30 AM-11:45 PM daily, with the famous five-minute light show occurring on the hour after sunset—golden lights reflected in the Seine creating a magical atmosphere.
Skip-the-line elevator tickets to the second floor cost approximately €28, summit access €35 (book weeks ahead online). The stairway entrance (South pillar) offers cheaper access to the second floor for the physically capable. The best visiting times are early morning or late evening to avoid midday crowds.
Combined tours linking both attractions via “Seine River cruise” offer comprehensive experiences: Louvre morning visits, lunch break, river shuttle to Eiffel Tower, and afternoon tower ascent. This itinerary provides seamless transitions between monuments while experiencing Paris's riverscape.
