What time does the Eiffel Tower light up? Enjoy the sparkle

The Eiffel Tower is more than just a monument. It’s a symbol of France and even the world.

The Tower becomes even more mesmerizing every night during its light show. I still get so excited to see the Eiffel Tower Light up when I visit Paris.

If you’ve never seen it before, or even if you’ve seen it a million times before, seeing the Eiffel Tower Sparkle really is a sight to behold.

The light show begins at sundown every night. Depending on the season, this usually occurs between 5:00 pm and 10:30 pm (local time).

The 20,000 light bulbs spread across the tower are switched on and glow at that point.

The light show happens every hour after dusk and lasts for five minutes, after which the tower is lit up for the rest of the night.

It often changes depending on the season and special occasions. For instance, during Christmas, they light up the tower in red and green to celebrate.

Similarly, they also use different colours on Bastille Day (July 14th) or to mark certain days such as pink for Breast Cancer Awareness.

When did the Eiffel towel begin to sparkle at night? Where is the best place to see the Eiffel Tower lights? Check out the guide below to help you plan the best night in Paris.

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What Time Does the Eiffel Tower Sparkle?

Every evening from dusk until 11:45pm the Eiffel Tower lights up and sparkles.

The Eiffel Tower has twilight sensors which are sensitive to light. These sensors cause the Eiffel Tower’s lights to switch on 10 minutes after dusk when the city becomes dark and allows the tower to Sparkle.

A short history of the Eiffel Tower Illuminations

Gustave Eiffel, a renowned civil engineer, designed this iconic landmark for the World’s Fair in Paris.

Initially deemed ugly by Parisians, it’s now one of the most recognized structures worldwide.

Each night, except in rare cases, the Iron Lady dazzles with a stunning light show. The current display, designed by Pierre Bideau in 1985, features 336 projectors with orange sodium lamps.

The sparkling effect, added in 1999 for the millennium celebration, uses 20,000 lamps.

In recent years, energy-saving bulbs were installed.

The tower’s illuminations have symbolized hope, lighting up in red, white, and blue after the 2015 Paris attacks, and blue for its 130th birthday in 2019.

On New Year’s Eve, a special show rings in the new year.

Today, over 7 million people annually visit the Eiffel Tower, taking in breathtaking views of Paris from the top.

How to enjoy the Eiffel Tower’s sparkle

Every night, the Eiffel Tower lights up at sundown, with its last show at 11:45pm.

Previously, the lights stayed on until 1am, but to conserve energy, Paris decided to end the show earlier in September 2022.

The show kicks off every hour on the hour, lasting 5 minutes. But the final show of the day is truly magical and a must-see when in Paris.

During this last show, the tower’s usual yellow lights go dark, leaving just the white lights to sparkle against the night sky.

And, as a bonus, this final show doubles in length to 10 minutes!

The Best views of the Eiffel Tower Sparkling Lights

There are many beautiful places to enjoy the light show including from the grass in front of the Tower, grab a picnic and enjoy the show with a glass of champagne.

Take a night cruise down the Seine and watch the lights glisten as you move down the river, the banks of the river are another beautiful place to watch the show.

If you’re lucky enough to be staying at a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the show.

In the summer you might like to grab a drink at Le Perchoir Le Marais and watch the lights sparkle from the rooftop.

The view of the Tower from the Montparnasse tower is also beautiful and I highly recommend this.

Best tours for climbing the Eiffel Tower

If you’re looking for the best climbing experience, there are a few tours that we recommend:

– The Eiffel Tower Summit Experience: This tour includes a visit to the top of the tower, as a guided tour to the second floor with anecdotes behind the history of the Eiffel Tower

– The Night Tour: This tour includes a visit to the top of the tower at night, when you’ll have a front row seat to the incredible light show that takes place every hour on the hour as well as night cruise down the Seine River

No matter which tour you choose, climbing the Eiffel Tower is an experience you’ll never forget.

Check out the best Eiffel Tower Tours

Final Thoughts: What Time Do the Eiffel Tower Lights Shine?

With beginnings as far back as 1889, the Eiffel Tower light show has become a bucket list item for many visitors to the city.

The Eiffel Tower has been a symbol of hope and solidarity for many years, with people from all over the world coming to visit it.

The tower is illuminated in different colors to celebrate different occasions, with the most beautiful show being at the end of the night.

There are many places to see the light show, but my favorite spot is either on the banks of the Seine or from a rooftop bar in Paris.

Do you want to take the scenic route and climb the Eiffel Tower? Check out everything you need to know about climbing the Eiffel Tower.

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