Everything you need to know about the Eiffel Tower at night

Dusk transforms the Eiffel Tower! In this article we offer you a unique immersion into everything related to the Eiffel Tower at nighttime: lighting, image rights, tour experience, and more.

When the sun sets and darkness falls over Paris, the City of Lights awakens. And so does the Eiffel Tower! It switches on its lights. It shines, it sparkles, and it can be seen from dozens of miles away. The Iron Lady puts on her most beautiful golden gown and sparks the entire world’s imagination. We’ve assembled your most frequently asked questions and answered them here. You’ll know all there is to know about Eiffel Tower after dark!

The Tower’s lights and sparkles

The Iron Lady first donned her golden raiment on 31 December 1985, and it was an instant success. The 336 yellow-orange spotlights it encompasses are integrated into the structure itself and serve two purposes: they highlight the Eiffel Tower’s elegant structure and ensure its safe night-time operation.

Previously, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated by many more external projectors. It has always been lit up after dark, by gas lighting before electricity took over.

When are the lights and sparkles turned on?
The projectors are triggered automatically by nightfall sensors. The sparkling lights are superimposed over the golden lights for 5 minutes.

The last sparkle occurs at 11pm, and the Eiffel Tower lighting is switched off completely at 11.45pm, as soon as it has been evacuated (lighting and beacons).

How much energy do all these lights consume?
In 2004, the Tower took control of its ecological footprint by reducing the electrical consumption of its spotlights by 40% while preserving the beauty of its illuminations. Three years later, the lighting was renewed to the same specifications. 

Is it illegal to photograph the Tower at night? 
Photographing the Eiffel Tower at night is not illegal at all. Any individual can take photos and share them on social networks.

But the situation is different for professionals. The Eiffel Tower’s lighting and sparkling lights are protected by copyright, so professional use of images of the Eiffel Tower at night require prior authorization and may be subject to a fee. Professionals should therefore contact the Eiffel Tower’s management company to learn about conditions for using the images depending on the case.