The Eiffel Tower, one of the most famous monuments in the world, was erected in 1889 for the World’s Fair of Paris the same year and designed and executed by Gustave Eiffel. The mighty tower, nicknamed the “Iron Lady,” was an architectural and engineering wonder, and at the time it was built, it was the tallest structure in the world, measuring 1,063 feet high. It was finally outdone by the Chrysler building built in New York City in 1929.
The tower was only meant to be temporary, with a 20-year lease, but Eiffel wanted his name to live on along with his legacy, so he installed radio towers at the top, now making it more useful, and the city let it stand indefinitely. Today the Eiffel Tower is the most visited, paid monument in the world, with approximately 7,000,000 people visiting annually.
The Eiffel Tower is located on the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) and the two closest zip codes to the Eiffel Tower are 75015 — 15th arrondissement, and 75007 — 7th arrondissement. Both neighborhoods are mostly residential with upscale apartment buildings dating from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The neighborhoods also have a vast range of accommodations, from small, family-owned establishments, to chain hotels and five-star luxury hotels. The other zip code nearest to the Eiffel Tower, but on the Right Bank, is 75016 — the 16th arrondissement. Here are our top choices for accommodations from the three different neighborhoods.
Pro Tip: Be sure to buy your Eiffel Tower tickets way in advance (they sell tickets two months in advance) directly on the Eiffel Tower site, where you pay the lowest price. Other websites offering tickets to the Eiffel Tower are reselling tickets at a much higher price, usually 20 to 30 percent more than on the official site.
1. Pullman Eiffel Tower
Probably the closest hotel to the entrance of the Eiffel Tower, the Pullman Eiffel Tower, is a large scale, modern four-star hotel with 430 ample size rooms, starting at almost 300 square feet to a 495 square foot suite with a separate living room and a couch. Many of the rooms have Eiffel Tower views and amenities include free WiFi, 42-inch plasma TV, air conditioning, in room coffeemaker, mini-bar, room service, and free bottled water. There’s also a business center, parking garage, gym, concierge services, restaurant, and bar.
2. Hotel Eiffel Rive Gauche
Located on a tiny, quiet street just a 10-minute walk from the tower, Eiffel Rive Gauche is a small, three-star hotel with excellent rates, starting at under $180 per night for a double room. The 29 cozy rooms include double beds or two single beds, free Wi-Fi, large screen TV, and a complimentary buffet breakfast.
One unique amenity is the hotel’s free wine tastings paired with a cheese platter decorated with fresh fruit and nuts. The hotel is also pet friendly, so bring your pooch to visit Paris.
3. Peninsula Paris Hotel
The Peninsula Paris, a branch of the prestigious, worldwide luxury brand Peninsula, is one of the most luxurious hotels in all of Paris. Located on the Right Bank, close to the Trocadero square, which has the best views of the Eiffel Tower, the Peninsula Paris caters to sophisticated, international clients who are accustomed to unbridled luxury and service. The rooms are some of the largest in Paris, starting at 375 square feet for the Deluxe Room, to the extravagant Peninsula Suite, measuring almost 3,500 square feet. Designed more like a chic Paris apartment rather than a hotel room, the suite has a grand piano, living room, dining room, two dressing rooms, two full bathrooms, and a fireplace.
Le Rooftop, is a rooftop, outdoor bar, and lounge area in a tranquil garden setting, serving cocktails, wine, and small plates of light fare. Enjoy the amazing views of the Eiffel Tower (go at night when the sparkle lights go off every hour on the hour after dark), the Arc de Triomphe, and other nearby Paris landmarks.
L’Oiseau Blanc is a Michelin one-star restaurant on the top floor of the hotel, a terrific dining experience not only for the exceptional food but also for the fantastic views.
The hotel is close to the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and Avenue Montaigne, home to top fashion designer boutiques.
4. Le Derby Alma
A four-star hotel that’s undeniably Parisian, Le Derby Alma, features décor inspired by French courtiers. Located on the elegant Avenue Rapp, lined with Art Nouveau-style architecture from the early 1900s, the hotel is less than 10 minutes by foot from the Eiffel Tower. All rooms have air conditioning, safes, vanity mirrors, mini bar with free soft drinks, espresso machine and tea kettle, bathrobes and slippers, and hairdryers. Executive rooms have terraces, some with views of the tower, and the romantic Eiffel Tower suite on the top floor, measuring 335 square feet, has Art Deco touches in shades of blue and gray.
Other services the hotel offers include laundry service, a concierge desk, limousine service, babysitting, and massages.
The hotel website is currently offering a 30 percent discount if you book a room for three nights or more.
5. Shangri-La
Another fabulous five-star extravaganza is the Shangri La Hotel Paris, located close to Place Trocadero. A superb, 19th-century mansion once owned by Prince Roland Bonaparte, a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, it was converted in 2011 to the Shangri La and still retains many of the rich, original architectural details and structures.
Standard features in each room include a king size bed, goose down quilts and pillows, toiletries from the legendary House of Guerlain, marble bathroom with bathtub and separate shower stall, unlimited access to over 2,000 digital newspapers and magazines, thick terrycloth robe with slippers, and an iron with ironing board.
A private garden on the grounds of the hotel borders the Seine and has close-up views of the Eiffel Tower.
Dining options include the Shang Palace, which serves exquisite Cantonese cuisine and is the only Chinese restaurant in Paris with a Michelin star, and La Bauhinia, an airy, two-story dining room, has a versatile menu of French delicacies and Southeast Asian culinary delights. The restaurant has an extended outside terrace in the garden.
The Shangri-La also has an afternoon, high tea service which exclusively serves vegan-prepared pastries and tea sandwiches in the intimate lounges and seating areas of the front portion of the lobby.
From the first week of June until the end of September, the Shangri-La opens a pop-up champagne bar on the terrace of its most prestigious suite. Partnering with Krug Champagne, a highly revered champagne house from 1843, the hotel offers an exclusive vintage each year. In addition to the champagne, you can order small food plates and snacks. While you are sipping your flute of champagne, savor the fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower and other remarkable Paris sites. The intimate terrace only holds 24 people, so make sure you reserve your place in advance.
6. Hotel Passy Eiffel
Slightly further away from the Eiffel Tower than the other hotel listings here, we have included Hotel Passy Eiffel because of its unique charm and surprisingly affordable rates, starting at $138 per night.
Located on the ultra-chic rue de Passy, an upscale shopping street with trendy home and fashion boutiques, the Hotel Passy Eiffel is just a 20-minute stroll or a 4-minute taxi ride to the Eiffel Tower. Each room has its own individual design with attractive, contemporary décor. There are five categories of rooms, ranging from a single room to a deluxe triple with a double bed and an additional single bed. Amenities include comfortable double beds, desk/computer tables, air conditioning, mini bar, safe, wall-to-wall carpeting, free Wi-Fi, soundproof windows, and TV with premium channels.
A complimentary breakfast buffet is served in the quiet garden area along with free daily newspapers. There’s also a lounge and bar room, laundry service, and a business area.
Hotel Passy Eiffel offers discounts on stays of three nights or more and on extended stays.
Pro Tip: Always check the official hotel website for the best rates. Even if rates are lower on other sites, it’s still best to book through the hotel website because you have a better chance of getting a free upgrade or services and amenities, including free breakfast or a complimentary bottle of champagne or wine in your room.
The Eiffel Tower, while one of the most recognizable of Paris landmarks, is but one of many attractions that brings visitors to this world-class city: