Wherever you’re in Paris, a metro stop is never far away. Add a superb RER and bus network, and it really doesn’t matter where you choose to stay. Whether you’re in a budget-friendly arrondissement or a suburb, you can be in the center of Paris with, at most, one changeover.
The Eiffel Tower is arguably the most important sight to search out for visitors to the City of Light. While you can stay in a nearby hotel or even get a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower, chances are that you’ll stay in a different arrondissement.
Luckily, Paris has a fabulous public transport system, with reliable buses, very regular metro lines, and fast RER trains that connect you with the suburbs. Here are the best and fastest ways to get to the Eiffel Tower from wherever you are staying inside or just outside of Paris.
Pro tip: If you’re a first-timer in Paris, don’t try to maneuver through Châtelet station. While it offers many options and great connections, it’s vast and confusing. You’ll likely end up spending more time getting between lines than you’ll save using one of the options avoiding Châtelet.
From the 1st arrondissement to the Eiffel Tower
If you’re lucky enough to stay in the 1st arrondissement, then you’re right in the heart of Paris. You’re close to the Louvre with access to all the best connections across the city.
While you could easily walk along the Seine to the tower, you can also hop on the bus 72 at Louvre-Rivoli, toward Parc de Saint-Cloud, and exit at Pont Bir-Hakeim, at the foot of Trocadéro, and walk across the bridge.
Or take metro 1, toward La Défense, and change at Franklin D. Roosevelt into the metro 9 toward Point de Sèvres and exit at Trocadéro to walk down to the Eiffel Tower, along one of the most iconic approaches.
2éme, the Fashionable Sentier
From the 2nd arrondissement, the easiest and direct way to get to the Eiffel Tower is by metro line 9, from Grand Boulevards direction Pont de Sèvres, and exciting at Iéna. From there it is a lovely 7 minute walk along the Seine, or you can hop onto bus 82 toward Luxembourg and get out at Tour Eiffel.
3éme, the hip Haut Marais
The lovely old quarter of the Haut Marais is a hugely popular quarter to stay in. With the station République in the northern part, you have plenty of options. The metro line 8, direction Balard, takes you to Ecole Militaire at the bottom of the Champ de Mars, with a nice approach. Line 9, direction Pont de Sèvres, allows you to walk down from Trocadéro.
For a bus ride, take the 69 toward Champ de Mars and exit at RAPP- La Bourdonnais, basically in the middle of the Champ de Mars.
4éme, Marais and Saint-Paul
This little arrondissement is spread between the Haut Marais and the Seine. You have Saint-Paul in the north, where metro 1, direction La Défense takes you to Franklin D. Roosevelt. From here, you change into the metro 9 toward Point de Sèvres, and exit at Trocadéro.
Or take the 69 from Saint Paul toward Champ de Mars and exit at RAPP- La Bourdonnais. You could also take the 72 from Pont Marie in the direction of Parc de Saint Cloud, and exit at Le Notre, at the bottom of Trocadéro.
5éme, the Latin Quarter
From the Latin Quarter, on the same side as the Eiffel Tower, you can, if you are staying near the Seine, hop into the RER C at Saint-Michel Notre Dame, heading westwards, either in direction Versailles or Pontoise. Both stop at Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel, after just four stations.
For a ride with a view, take the 86 bus from Rue de l’École de Médecine just off Odéon, which takes you to Rapp La Bourdonnais by the Champ de Mars.
6éme, Saint-Germain-de-Prés and Luxembourg
Metro line 10 meanders through this quarter around Saint-Germain-de-Prés and you can take it from stations such as Odéon, Sevrés-Babylon or Duroc toward Boulogne Pont Saint Cloud. From here, either change onto line 6 toward Charles de Gaulle Étoile to Bir-Hakeim, at La Motte Picquet Grenelle, or walk — it’s not far.
7éme, Home of the Eiffel Tower
Congratulations, you are staying in the same arrondissement as the Eiffel Tower, and it is perfectly walkable from anywhere. The furthest away point would be Sevrés Babylon, where you could always catch bus 86, coming from the 6th arrondissement.
8éme, Champs Élysées and Beyond
If you’re staying in the swanky south of the 8éme arrondissement, chances are you can just walk the few steps along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower. If you’re closer to the Champs Élysées in the north of the area, take the 42 bus from either Champs Élysées Clemenceau or Champs Elysées Rond Point direction Cours de l’Île Seguin, and get off at Champ de Mars – Suffren.
9éme, Theatreland
The hip 9éme arrondissement with its many beautiful covered passages stretches from the top of the 2éme to the south of Montmartre. It’s crisscrossed by various metro and bus lines.
The fastest and easiest way to get straight to the Eiffel Tower is by taking metro line 8 toward Balard from Chaussée d’Antin La Fayette or Opéra to École Militaire. If you’re closer to Pigalle, take bus 30 from Pigalle, direction Hôpital Européen George Pompidou, and get off at Tour Eiffel.
10éme, Canal Saint-Martin and More
Handy for the national and international train connections from Paris, it’s a little harder to get to the Eiffel Tower from the 10éme than other arrondissements.
Metro line 4 direction Bagneaux Lucie Aubrac takes you to Odéon, where you can hop on bus 86 from Rue de l’École de Médecine to Rapp La Bourdonnais. You can also take metro 5 toward Place d’Italie, change at République into line 9 toward Pont de Sèvres, and exit at Trocadéro.
11éme, From Oberkampf to Bastille
Quite spread out, the 11éme has the handy République in the north, and Bastille in the south, both excellent hubs.
For République connections, see 10éme, and from Bastille, take metro line 5, direction Place d’Italie, and change into RER C at Gare d’Austerlitz, into direction Versailles or Pontoise, and exit at Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel.
Alternatively, take the metro line 1 toward La Défense, and change at Charles de Gaulle-Étoile into metro line 6 (direction Nation) to either Trocadéro or Bir-Hakeim.
12éme, Around Gare de Lyon
Although it’s at the other end of Paris, the 12éme has a couple of direct connections to the Eiffel Tower, even if they take time.
If you’re taking the bus, estimate about an hour. However, you’ll get to indulge in plenty of sightseeing along the way. Bus 72 (direction Saint Cloud, takes you all the way from Gare de Lyon to Pont d’Iéna, all along the Seine.
If you’d rather ride the metro, take line 6, direction Charles de Gaulle Étoile, to either Bir-Hakeim or Trocadéro.
13éme, Modern Architecture and Floating Restaurants
From this often wrongly over-looked arrondissement, you can take the RER C from Bibliothèque François Mitterrand toward Versailles or Pontoise, and exit at Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel.
You can also take the fast metro line 14 from Bibliothèque François Mitterrand or Olympiades (direction Saint-Denis) to Madeleine and change into the 8 (direction Balard) to École Militaire.
14éme, Observatory and Catacombs
Throughout the Montparnasse neighborhood, you’ll not only spot the Eiffel Tower, but can also grab some great connections.
Take metro line 6 across the arrondissement, which will drop you right at Bir-Hakeim (direction Charles de Gaulle Étoile) to bus 82 from Montparnasse Cinémas (direction Hôpital Américain). This lets you get to stop Champ de Mars — Suffren within 20 minutes.
15éme, Many Hidden Treasures
This arrondissement either sees you staying within steps from the Eiffel Tower, or right down at the outer south-western edge of the city.
If you’re near the Seine and don’t fancy the stroll, catch the RER C from Pont du Garigliano to Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. Alternatively take metro line 8, which traverses the arrondissement in the direction of Créteil, and emerge at École Militaire, after a few short stops.
16éme, Passy and Fine Living
This arrondissement is the largest in Paris, made up of two merged arrondissements and encompassing the Bois de Boulogne.
If you’re near the Seine, or anywhere in Passy, the Eiffel Tower is just steps away. If you’re closer to the Arc de Triomphe, then trusty metro line 6, direction Nation, will take you to La Dame de Fer, the Iron Lady.
17éme, Parks and Cafés
The 17th has various ways to get to the Eiffel Tower. If you’re near Pereire or Porte Maillot in the north of the arrondissement, then the RER C (into direction Saint Martin d’Étampes) takes you straight to Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel.
If you’re near Avenue de Ternes, hop onto metro line 6, direction Nation at Charles de Gaulle Étoile and get out at Bir-Hakeim.
Or take Bus 30 from Place de Ternes toward Hôpital Européen George Pompidou, and get off at Tour Eiffel. The bus option is the most scenic of the lot.
18éme, Montmartre and Beyond
If you’re staying in the north of Montmartre, there’s a nearly one-hour long bus route, number 80 (direction Porte de Versailles), that takes you from Lamarck Caulaincourt to Bosquet Rapp on the Seine, or a bit further to École Militaire.
If you’re on the western side of the neighborhood, metro line 13, direction Châtillon-Montrouge from Guy Môquet or La Fourche, will take you to Invalides. From here, you can easily walk or change into the 8 to Balard, and get out at École Militaire.
19éme, Urban Art and Canals
On the outer north-eastern edge of Paris, this arrondissement might look far away from the Eiffel Tower, but you’re just one change away.
From Ourcq take metro line 5 toward Place d’Italie, and change at Oberkampf into the 9 to Pont de Sèvres. Then exit at Alma-Marceau for a brief walk along the Seine.
You could also continue on the 5 to Place d’Italie and change there into the 6, in the direction of Charles de Gaulle Étoile and exit at Bir-Hakeim. The 6 is overground so you’ll get a chance to see Paris on your ride.
20éme, Home of Père Lachaise
The hip 20éme spreads along the outer eastern edge of Paris. If you’re staying closer to Nation, it’s an easy hop onto metro line 6, direction Charles de Gaulle Étoile, for a lovely ride to Bir-Hakeim.
If you’re closer to Père Lachaise, catch metro line 9 (direction Pont de Sèvres) at Voltaires and exit at Alma-Marceau for a brief walk. Or hop on the bus 72 direction Parc de Saint-Cloud for one or two stops.
Disneyland Paris
If you are doing Euro Disney and staying at the Disneyland Paris resort, it’ll take just over an hour to get to the Eiffel Tower. Get onto RER A toward Poissy and change at Charles de Gaulle-Étoile onto metro line 6 toward Nation and exit at Bir-Hakeim.
Versailles
From both the Versailles train stations, Versailles Chantier, and Versailles Château Rive Gauche, you can take RER C (the merge after a couple of stations) toward Paris and exit at Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. The exit closest to the Eiffel Tower is clearly marked.
It’s easy to get to the Eiffel Tower
Paris is very much about walking and taking public transport. Unless you’re low on time, I recommend you take buses or metro line 6 to get the beautiful views of the city.
Whatever your method of transport, be sure to enjoy the Eiffel Tower and everything else the city has to offer. If you want to make the most of your time at the Eiffel Tower, be sure to sign up for one of our guided tours. They’re the best way to see the Iron Lady.
