Every evening, the Eiffel Tower becomes a luminous star in the Parisian sky. It begins to light up as soon as the sun disappears behind the horizon. In winter, the sun sets earlier, so the Tower lights up at around 5.30pm. In summer, it sometimes waits until 10pm before lighting up.
This first light is a continuous golden glow, soft and warm. It envelops the Tower from the ground to the top, making it visible from a great distance across Paris. This illumination lends a fairy-tale quality to the city, which is also known as the City of Light.
âš The glitter that makes dreams come true
In addition to this golden illumination, a magical twinkle occurs every hour on the dot. For five minutes, thousands of white bulbs flash, like dancing stars. The show lasts only a short time, but it’s awe-inspiring every time.
The twinkling begins as soon as night falls. If the sun sets at 9pm, then the first flicker is at 10pm. It then returns at 11pm, midnight and 1am. However, since October 2022, the timetable has changed slightly to reduce electricity consumption.
đ How long does the light show last?
In the past, the Tower remained illuminated until 1am. The last flicker, at 1am on the dot, remained a very special moment: at that point, the golden light went out, and only the flicker continued for 5 minutes, in total contrast.
Today, however, the lights are switched off earlier, often at 11.45pm. This is part of an ecological effort by the City of Paris to conserve energy. As a result, the last flicker of the evening is at 11pm. If you want to see it, don’t be too late!
đ Every evening, free magic
The beauty of this show is that it’s entirely free and can be seen from many different locations in the capital. For example, you can set up at the Trocadero, on the Champ de Mars, or even from certain bridges like the Pont de Bir-Hakeim.
Even if you don’t climb the Eiffel Tower, you can still experience this magical moment in your own way. Many people come as a couple, with friends or family, just to see the sparkle. It often marks the end of a beautiful day in Paris.
đž So me tips to make the most of it
To make sure you don’t miss a thing, arrive a few minutes early. That way, you can choose the best viewing angle. Take your camera or phone with you, as the flicker only lasts 5 minutes. If you really want to get a good shot, use a tripod or wedge your camera to avoid blurring.
What’s more, if you want to avoid the crowds, you can position yourself a little further away, on the quays of the Seine or in less touristy streets. You’ll see, the charm always works, whatever the distance.
đ Why these times?
These times aren’t chosen at random. They depend on sunset, because the Eiffel Tower doesn’t need to be lit as long as it’s daylight. The City of Paris therefore regularly adjusts the illumination times to respect the season and the natural hours of the night. This also reduces the energy impact, while preserving the magic.
đïž The history of lighting
We have to go back to the year 1985 to see the golden lighting of the Eiffel Tower, as we know it today. Electrician Pierre Bideau imagined the lighting scheme that would transform the Iron Lady into the queen of the Parisian night. Then, in the year 2000, the famous twinkle was added to mark the passage to the year 2000. Since then, it has become a ritual not to be missed.
đĄ A more responsible Eiffel Tower
For some years now, Paris has been committed to the environment. And so has the Eiffel Tower. In addition to the early switch-off at 11:45pm, all its installations are gradually moving towards more sustainable solutions. For example, the lamps used for the flickering lights are energy-efficient and consume less than you might think: around 0.1% of all Parisian street lighting.
đŻ To conclude
To witness the illumination of the Eiffel Tower is to experience a moment of poetry in the heart of the capital. Whatever the day, the moment remains magical. So if you’re in Paris, don’t miss this luminous rendezvous… and remember: on the dot, the wonder begins âš