Things to do near the Eiffel Tower
Around the Eiffel Tower, everything is walkable, on both banks of the Seine. Rather than a list, here is a practical plan: a half-day for the essentials, then enough to fill a whole day. Each stop is less than a 15-minute walk from the previous one.
In half a day: the photo at the Trocadéro, across the Pont d'Iéna (10 minutes), up the Tower on a booked time slot, then a break on the Champ de Mars lawns. For a full day, add a Seine cruise at the foot of the Tower, a museum in the Palais de Chaillot and sunset at the Trocadéro.
The half-day plan (about 4 hours)
Book your Eiffel Tower time slot first, then build the rest around it. Walking times are approximate.
| Stop | What | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Trocadéro square: the whole Tower in one shot, straight on | 20 min |
| 2 | Down through the gardens and fountains, then across the car-free Pont d'Iéna | 10 min walk |
| 3 | Up the Eiffel Tower on your booked time slot (2nd floor or top) | 1h30 to 2h |
| 4 | Break in the Eiffel Tower garden, then the Champ de Mars lawns | 30 to 45 min |
| 5 | Back to the Seine for a one-hour cruise, boarding at the foot of the Tower | 1h |
Tip: if you go up in the evening, reverse the plan. Cruise and Champ de Mars in the afternoon, the ascent at dusk, then back to the Trocadéro to watch the Tower sparkle.
For a full day: the extras
A museum facing the Tower. The Palais de Chaillot, at the Trocadéro, houses the Musée de l'Homme, the Cité de l'Architecture and the Musée de la Marine. They close on Tuesdays. With children, the Aquarium de Paris is in the Trocadéro gardens.
The Pont de Bir-Hakeim and the Île aux Cygnes. A few minutes downstream, the Pont de Bir-Hakeim gives another angle on the Tower. Walk down the Allée des Cygnes to reach the Paris Statue of Liberty.
On the Left Bank. The Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac is a few minutes' walk from the Tower along the Seine. A little further, on Avenue Rapp, the Art Nouveau façade of the Lavirotte Building is worth the detour.
In the evening. Come back to the Trocadéro for sunset, or dine with a view: see dining at the Eiffel Tower.
What is worth booking
Things to do nearby
Getting there
Source (checked on 25/09/2026): toureiffel.paris, prices and opening times. Some links to ticket sites are affiliate links (see Transparency).
Frequently asked questions
What can you do near the Eiffel Tower in half a day?
Start with the photo at the Trocadéro, cross the Pont d'Iéna (10 minutes), go up the Tower on a booked time slot, then take a break on the Champ de Mars. Add a one-hour cruise if you have time.
Is the Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower?
Yes, right opposite, across the Seine: about 10 minutes on foot through the Trocadéro gardens and over the Pont d'Iéna.
What is free near the Eiffel Tower?
The Trocadéro square, its gardens and fountains, the Pont d'Iéna, the garden at the foot of the Tower, the Champ de Mars and the Pont de Bir-Hakeim. Only going up and the cruises are paid.
Which museums are near the Eiffel Tower?
At the Trocadéro, the Palais de Chaillot houses the Musée de l'Homme, the Cité de l'Architecture and the Musée de la Marine. On the Left Bank, the Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac is a few minutes' walk from the Tower.
Should you book the Eiffel Tower in advance?
It is wise, especially for the top in high season, which often sells out. Booking a time slot also means no queue at the ticket desk.
Book the essentials, walk the rest
A time slot for the Tower, a cruise at its foot: everything else is free and less than a 15-minute walk away.