The Hopeful Traveler: Eiffel Tower Experience at the Paris Las Vegas

Eiffel Tower viewed from the front of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.

The observation deck 46 stories above the Las Vegas Strip.
(above photos: TheHopefulTraveler)

One of the most dominating structures on the Las Vegas Strip has to be the Eiffel Tower half-replica that is the centerpiece of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Staggering in size, it weighs 7 million pounds and stands 540 feet tall. The tower's foot print is so large that three of its four gigantic legs sits on the casino floor inside the hotel.

Strong enough to withstand earthquakes, the tower is welded together in lieu of being riveted like the original but designers painstakingly included rivets to ensure of an authentic appearance. Even the lighting that was added to the real Eiffel Tower for its 100th anniversary in 1989 was duplicated for the Las Vegas version when it was completed in 1999.

Though 50-stories tall with the viewing deck situated around 46 stories high, it ranks as the 12th tallest structure in Las Vegas. The view is incredible anytime of day but due to the popularity of the attraction in the evening, the admission price is higher at night (tickets range in cost from $7.50 to $22). The attraction opens at 9:30am daily. Click HERE for more info.

The real Eiffel Tower in Paris, France was completed in 1889 and named after Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Originally erected as part of the 1889 World's Fair, it became a cultural icon and a recognizable feature of the Paris skyline that it remained after the end of the fair. Called "La Tour Eiffel" in France, the tower stands 1,050 feet tall (about the height of an 81-story building). It was the tallest man-made structure in the world until the Chrysler Building in New York City surpassed it in 1930. Over 7.1 million visited the real Eiffel Tower in 2011.

Eiffel Tower at the Paris Las Vegas.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The real Eiffel Tower in Paris, France
(photo: Tognopop)

Main entrance to the Eiffel Tower Gift in the Paris Las Vegas casino
where tickets to the Eiffel Tower are available.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The ticket office for the Eiffel Tower Experience (also dubbed 'The Ride') is located in the Paris Las Vegas casino. Look for the replica Pont Alexandre III bridge. At one end of the bridge is the elevators to the tower. On the ground floor below the other end of the bridge is the Eiffel Tower gift shop where tickets are sold for the attraction. After purchasing your ticket exit the gift shop and take the escalators located left of the of the shop entrance. This leads visitors to cross the Pont Alexandre III bridge that lead the second level entrance to the elevators. If you see a line it means it may mean the observation deck is at capacity and guests will be allowed in as other guests exit the attraction. There are photographers at this point wanting to take your picture before you enter the elevators in hopes you purchase a photograph after the end of your experience. It should be noted the elevators on the ground floor are used for guests of the hotel's Eiffel Tower Restaurant which is only eleven stories above the Las Vegas Strip.

The knowledgeable elevator guides will offer a quick story about the Eiffel Tower replica. Then you're free to roam the observation deck which is caged in for obvious reasons but offers a spectacular 360 degree view of Las Vegas Valley. Reports indicate that up to 80 people are allowed on deck at the same time. The deck is not large so at capacity it could feel claustrophobic. Squares cut into the grate gives visitors the opportunity for grill-free photographs.

The quality of your experience will depend of if you wish to visit day or evening and will largely depend if you're fighting crowds waiting in line or at the observation deck. If you feel it may be an overpriced attraction, see it in the daytime when the admission is least expensive. Below are photos taken from the observation deck (photos: TheHopefulTraveler).