The Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes every hour after dark — from sunset until 1 am (2 am on Fridays & Saturdays). 20,000 bulbs, every night of the year.
Book a Paris night experienceThe Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes at the start of every hour after dark, from sunset until 1 AM (2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays). The exact first show shifts with the seasons — as early as 6 PM in December, as late as 10 PM in June.
Each twinkle lasts exactly five minutes, once per hour, on the hour. The last show is at 1 AM most nights and 2 AM on weekends.
Yes — every single night of the year, weather permitting. Rain or shine, the 20,000 bulbs light up on schedule.
The Trocadéro esplanade gives you the perfect front-on view. The Champ de Mars lawn is ideal for a picnic under the stars. Both are free and open at night.
Completely free. Find any clear line of sight to the tower — from the Trocadéro, the Seine riverbanks, Montparnasse, or almost anywhere in central Paris.
The twinkle effect uses 20,000 light bulbs installed across the tower's iron lattice. They were added in 1985 and have been upgraded over the years to be more energy efficient.