France wanted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its celebration that took place in 1889. Gustave Eiffel won the contest for creating some sort of landmark. The building didn't have any specific purpose, except that it would tower over the rest of the man-made objects in the world.
It worked. The building checked in at more than 1,000 feet, and was an instant attraction that remains that way to this day. And it remains beautiful. The design is classic, and it is set in a park with plenty of flowers and green space. You go to Paris, you must see the Eiffel Tower (or if you prefer, La Tour Eiffel).
If you do plan on a visit, one good tip is to buy tickets ahead of time. You can pick a time that way and beat the lines; there's a separate entrance for those people. Make your purchase well in advance if you plan to go in prime months.
When you do buy those tickets, be sure to pay the extra money and go to the top. There are three viewing areas in the tower, and you need to see all of them. Head for the highest level first, and then work your way down to the other two spots. The bottom one doesn't offer much for visitors, but a glass floor in one area gives you a straight-down look at the ground from 18 stories up.
Security is tight. The area around the tower is "walled off" with bulletproof clear material so that you'll need a ticket and must pass a security check to get into the immediate area. The place is famous for its pickpockets, so be careful in that sense.
We went in the afternoon, so we didn't see the tower at night. YouTube came to the rescue:
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