halloween tour eiffel

Paris Halloween Walking Tour Through the Dark Secrets

• A Local Guide
• Intimate Group (6 people max or private)
• Fun and Spooky Walking Tour
• Tips to navigate the city after
• Hotel Pickup or Drop-Off
• Tips/Gratuities
• Pl. de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris, France Meet your guide in front of the Olympic rings.
• Salle Richelieu, 1 Place Colette, 75001 Paris, France
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This tour is wheelchair accessible only with the private option
• This tour will take place rain or shine
• This tour may be canceled if the minimum of 2 people in the group is not met
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
• Louvre Museum
• Hôtel de Ville
• Square du Vert-Galant
• Fontaine des Innocents

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Hôtel de Ville Pl. de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris, France Meet your guide in front of the Olympic rings. See address & details
• 1 Hotel de Ville Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 2 Hotel-Dieu de Paris Stop: 5 minutes See details
• 3 Rue Chanoinesse Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 4 Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris Stop: 10 minutes See details Pass by Tour Saint-Jacques
• 5 Fontaine des Innocents Stop: 20 minutes See details
• 6 Louvre Museum Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 7 Conciergerie Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 8 Square du Vert-Galant Stop: 10 minutes See details
• You'll end at Salle Richelieu 1 Place Colette, 75001 Paris, France See address & details

• Trip15956698322 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Le Marais and then some Our tour was guided by Andrea He isn't just a tour guide, he is passionate about Paris architecture and street art. He thoughtfully explained the history of the community's art, pointing out lessor seen works of art. He led us through quiet "private" gardens. Our tour was 2.5 hours at Andrea's request. He wanted to make sure we saw everything! Overall great tour. Read more Written March 26, 2024
• shaunnay2024 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Shaunna's Review The tour was amazing. Our guide showed us all the the places we requested and he was so knowlegeable about history. He was able to answer all of my questions. He was well prepared and friendly. Read more Written March 1, 2024
• racheloQ5604XK 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Latin Quarter Tour Amazing! Walid has so much knowledge and passion for the city. Even though it was raining, we loved the morning we spent walking around the Latin Quarter and learning about historical Paris. Can't recommend enough! Read more Written February 26, 2024
• Westley Lee J 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Has to be the BEST Considering the queues due to the eiffel tower was closed on this day, walid knew all the secrets of the louvre to make this a once in a lifetime experience. As I would consider myself knowledgeable in travel don't book or look at any other tour. This has to be booked and through this company. All credit to Walid and please forward this exemplary review. Read more Written February 22, 2024
• racheloQ5604XK 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Louvre / Passageways / Latin Quarter Tours with Walid My parents were visiting from the US and our tours with Walid were one of the highlights of their trip. We booked the Louvre and the Passageways tours to start, and ended up booking the Latin Quarter for the last day of my parents' visit. His knowledge of history is unparalleled and his passion for sharing his knowledge is clear. Walid was a gracious guide; extremely accommodating with my father, who has mobility issues, and very flexible with scheduling. We will definitely be recommending Dayin to anyone looking to explore Paris :) Read more Written February 12, 2024
• W7334QLjasonm 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent guided tour and tour guide Hamish was most excellent as a guide. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining as he explained the key aspects of the tour to us. He handled the insane crowd and the terrible heat and didn’t miss a beat. I would recommend him and this guided tour to anyone. Read more Written January 20, 2024
• williamsT3998KW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Tour: Our guide, Walid, was great! This was an exceptionally tour of the Louvre. Our guide, Walid, was very knowledgeable, and guided us to not only the hotspots of the Louvre, but also to other interesting exhibits. It was a lot of fun, going chronologically from the ancient times all the way up to more recent times. It was really the highlight of our trip. Highly recommended. Read more Written January 15, 2024
• Mariya_22 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing tour! Must do if you want to see Paris like parisian. This was such an amazing tour. Clara is so nice and knowledgeable . She showed us a Paris that we would never have found ourselves. Hidden streets, beautiful passages with fascinating history, small shops and cafes. Was really a highlight of the whole weekend in Paris. Would recommend it to everyone!!! Read more Written January 7, 2024
• Marianne D 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great walking tour! The Christmas lights were spectacular! We thoroughly enjoyed this tour! Our guide Walid was very knowledgeable and he knew his history well! The tour was well organised and Walid was very patient and friendly! Merci! Read more Written January 4, 2024
• 495jacquir 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles One of the best tours in Paris! We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Wei. My kids, aged 15, 13 and 10 were utterly engaged the whole time. Wei was so knowledgeable and he told us so many interesting facts. This tour was absolutely one of our highlights in Paris. Thank you so much Wei! Read more Written January 4, 2024
• lvrh8me 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Start off Paris the right way! Being first timers in Paris, we took this private four hour tour the day after we arrived in Paris. Before our arrival, Clara was quick to communicate via WhatsApp inquiring our interests on what we would like to see. We decided to skip on the touristy museum stuff and picked Montmarte area to explore. She took us to some main spots and gave us interesting history on the area. Clara is very personable and we HIGHLY recommend choosing this tour! It was a great kickstart to our stay in Paris! Read more Written December 27, 2023
• Dreamer16059962343 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great tour of the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France. On Halloween Day (October 31, 2023), I took a private tour to stroll through the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France. I was fortunate to have Clara as my tour guide. Clara is a well informed tour guide and she did an excellent job taking me through the cemetery stopping at various notable gravestones along the way. She is very familiar with the history of this cemetery and I was fortunate to have her as my personal tour guide. I opted for a private tour because I didn't want to be part of a huge tour group. I know that Clara's company does do group tours as well opting instead for smaller groups instead of huge numbers which I think is much more practical in smaller numbers. Either a private tour or a small group visit through this historical cemetery is more personable as well. I had wanted to visit this cemetery to see the final resting place of Jim Morrison of the Doors. It was the last grave site that I visited and I was pleased to have visited his grave site. The next time I'm in Paris I will make arrangements to visit this cemetery again and to arrange to have Clara as my tour guide. Read more Written November 19, 2023
• Tour16909252262 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience with the team ! I wanted to plan a surprise for my girlfriend since it was her first time in Paris, and a picnic was the perfect idea! The team was incredible to plan everything and on the day our guide took us to some lovely shop for cheese and wine. Would recommend a nice break like this while you are in Paris! Read more Written November 18, 2023
• 573shinjin 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The best tour I’ve ever had We were quite satisfied with this tour. We can’t imagine that we could have memorable experiences at the Louvre museum. Our guide who is Walid is so nice and friendly guy. Also, he is quite knowledgeable about art and history. He can give us an effective and enjoyable content of your like a story telling. Also, he recommended some great spots, some restaurants and tourism places. I believe everyone could have a great moment at the tour. Merci! Read more Written October 25, 2023
• dawnbC3712GC 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The Louvre in October 2023 Wei was a great tour guide. We saw all the major attractions we were hoping to see at the Louvre in just a short 2 hours. The nice thing is there was only one other couple with us, so it became a private tour. Highly recommend. Read more Written October 17, 2023

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Paris Halloween Walking Tour Through the Dark Secrets provided by Dayin Paris

Halloween in Paris, top events and spooky activities

Want to have a scary but fun halloween party paris offers a wide range of activities to do: visits, workshops, festivals, animations and other festivities... take the opportunity to get on board a tootbus hop-on hop-off tour to visit paris..

Tootbus Kids Tour

On 29, 30, 31 October and 1 November, discover Paris with the special Halloween Kids Tour . During this 1h30 tour on board a decorated bus, our guide, dressed up for the occasion, will tell you scary stories. You will be able to admire Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Palais Garnier and the Louvre Museum.

Paris Zoological Park

For family moments rich in sensations, come and take part in the Rendez-vous Sauvages organised by the Paris Zoological Park from 23 September to 6 November 2022. Strange is in the spotlight with fantastic creatures and chimaeras. You will also be able to discover other surprising and disturbing animals of the zoo thanks to the words of experts to better understand the meanings of creatures such as snakes and spiders.

On 31 October, from 10am to 5pm, attend Shivers Day , where there are special activities to challenge all the senses. Throughout the day, fantastic creatures, dragons, fauns, witches and giant insects invade the park. Come and take part in challenges and escort the creatures out of the park during their big parade at 4pm. Don't forget your costume (full dress), which will give you a discount on your entrance ticket.

Escapes Games Team Break

Discover the different escape game scenarios offered at Team Break in La Défense . With friends or family (from 8 years old), immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter, Fort Boyard, Prison Break, Lost, Jurassic Park or Koh-Lanta.

Choco-Story Paris

For Halloween, come and visit the Choco-Story chocolate museum and make your own treats! Create original chocolates with garlic, camembert and anchovy flavours to joke around with your friends or family. You can also leave with dark, milk and white chocolate treats that will delight your taste buds!

Même pas peur at the Ménagerie of the Jardin des Plantes

The Ménagerie, the zoo of the Jardin des Plantes welcomes the spirit of Halloween with its "Même pas peur" event. Discover the mysteries of the most disturbing animals. Snakes, spiders, insects, rats and vultures will no longer hold any secrets for you!

Pumpkin carving

Decorate your home with Jack-o'-lantern thanks to Ferme de Viltain . Children are invited to a pumpkin carving activity . They can choose their pumpkin from the garden and learn to carve it into a pumpkin lantern.

Wizarding school at the Bergerie Nationale

The Bergerie Nationale farm becomes a wizard school from 22 October to 6 November 2022. Choose one of the 4 classes that correspond to you - Onglondor, Sabotard, Serredecoq or Verredelait - to play and learn thanks to numerous activities and become wizards, scientific magicians or agri-enchanters. You can visit the maze of horrors and discover all the animals on the farm on your own.

Fear on the Park at Parc Asterix

Get scared at the Parc Asterix with crazy attractions, haunted houses, evil creatures and fantastic monsters. Incredible animations and shows will make young and old shiver at the 12th edition of Fear on the Park . In addition, the park is offering 6 night-time events this year, until 1am.

The Disney Halloween Festival

From 1 October to 6 November 2022, come to Disneyland Paris where terrifying activities await young and old alike. The park is decorated in a typical Halloween style with pumpkins, lanterns and other lights. This year, you will find "Mickey's Halloween Celebration" and watch a drone ballet with the Disney D-Light.

The Halloween Nights feature all the Disney villains, such as Jafar, Maleficent, Captain Hook and Cruella, on 29 and 31 October 2022 until 2am.

Take advantage of the Paris by Night tour to visit the City of Light in all its splendour while contemplating the monuments of Paris.

• Museums and Exhibits
• Shows and Comedy
• Concert and Music
• Movies and Tv Shows
• History and Heritage

Candlelight, candlelit concerts on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower

Fancying a candlelit concert ? After the main courtyard of the Palais-Royal , Candlelight   shows are stepping up by taking over the first floor of the Eiffel Tower , a fabulous venue for a timeless moment, perfect for a date or with friends. This winter , whilst enjoying panoramic views on the city, from the Salon Gustave Eiffel , renown musicians will pay tribute to music history icons, lit by thousands of candles.

• Tips for the week of April 1 to 7, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings
• What to do in Paris and the Ile-de-France region in April 2024? Our good plans and ideas to discover

On the menu, Elvis Prelsey, Queen, The Doors, or even Christophe – depending on what you like – are covered by talented musicians for a genuine musical and sensory experience . Candlelight looks for incredible venues in Paris to offer uncommon piano or string quartet concerts. This is also the occasion to visit the first floor of this Parisian landmark – included in the ticket fees. These premium music events over one hour are not to be missed!

More venues in Paris regularly house magical moments to experience at least once in our life. Prices are usually cheaper at the  Maison de l'Océan – for a tribute to Hans Zimmer or hip-hop classics – or at the  Musée Grévin to celebrate Elton John or Muse and more.

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Dates and Opening Time From December 17th, 2022 to January 29th, 2023

Location Eiffel Tower 5, avenue Anatole-France 75007 Paris 7

Accessibility info

Access Metro and RER: Line 6 or 9 "Trocadéro" station Line 6 "Bir-Hakeim" station RER C "Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel" station

Prices À partir de : €65

Official website feverup.com

Guided tour to the Top

The most comprehensive tour.

Enjoy a thrilling trip to the Top and visit the entire Eiffel Tower accompanied by a guide

A tour of the Eiffel Tower is a thrilling and emotional experience. Accompanied by a member of the Eiffel Tower family who is enamored with the monument, you will hear about momentous and everyday moments in its history, and learn more about the life of the Tower and the company that operates it, while visiting all three levels of the Tower.

An unforgettable tour, available in French or English and lasting around 90 minutes, in groups of no more than 12 people! Your Official Eiffel Tower Guide will ensure that everything goes smoothly on your visit while helping you access the different levels, especially the elevators. And to enhance this experience, the Eiffel Tower can offer you outstanding 10% discounts on a selection of products available in the stores (Exclusive Eiffel Tower Collection) and certain restaurants (bistro on the First Floor and the buffet on the esplanade).

Advantages of the guided tour

The tour experience

01: See you on the Esplanade

Meet your guide 15 minutes before the start of the tour at the Official Guided Tours meeting point (don't forget the security checks at the site entrances, which may take 10 to 20 minutes). Your guide will take care of you, and you will benefit from easier access to the Top.

02: Discover how the historic elevators work

From an exceptional and perfectly preserved vantage point over the hydraulic elevator shaft dating from 1899, you will gain a complete insight into the workings of this machinery found nowhere else in the world.

03: The magic of the ascent and the Top

You can then savor the thrills of the ascent to the Top. Throughout the visit, your Official Guide will be happy to share tales of momentous and everyday moments in the Tower's history with you, from the monument to the company, and from the past to the present.

04: Back down to the heart of the structure

After regaining the Second Floor (by elevator), you will take the stairs to the First Floor, at the heart of the structure. Your Guide will tell you more about the structure of the monument and the history of its construction.

05: Don't leave us without obtaining your privileges!

Once you reach the First Floor, it will be time to say goodbye to your Guide, but you can extend your visit and explore this floor a little longer, where you can take advantage of the benefits on offer by presenting your guided tour tickets. For a bite to eat, you will receive a 10% discount on a special menu served at the first-floor bistro (located in the Ferrié Pavilion) depending on the time of your visit (breakfast, lunch/snack or afternoon snack). This offer also applies to the buffet on the Esplanade! You will also benefit from an exceptional 10% discount in our official gift shops on all products in the exclusive Eiffel Tower Collection, which promotes French expertise.

Also available

Guided tour to the Second Floor

Official and exclusive guided tours of the Eiffel Tower. Get an easy access to the Second floor then visit the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower with an Official Eiffel Tower Guide.

Please be on time to meet us on the Esplanade near the Information Point, 15 minutes before the time stated on your ticket.

Before reaching the Esplanade, security checks are carried out at the entrance to the site. But you are authorized to use an entrance specially reserved for "Official Guided Tours". Allow 10 to 20 minutes to complete these checks.

This tour is not accessible for people with reduced mobility and not recommended for people with baby strollers.

Your guided tour ticket entitles you to an exceptional 10% discount on items in the exclusive Eiffel Tower Collection in our gift shops and on special menus at the buffets located on the First Floor and on the Esplanade.

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PARIS BOAT HALLOWEEN PARTY 22 BATEAU CLUB HANTÉ TOUR EIFFEL

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Paris: 6 ghosts you can visit this Halloween

Oct 31, 2011

Theadora Brack

Snuggle tight, because it’s high time to throw a few ghost tales your way. It is, after all, Halloween today in the United States. So I thought we’d spend a minute discussing some of the women and men who haunt the most famous sights in Paris .

Grab the flashlights, marshmallows and sleeping bags while I light the fire. Boo la la! Who’s there?!

1. Eiffel Tower 16th arrondissement (Metro: École Militaire or Champ de Mars)

The Eiffel Tower is a virtual magnet for suicides. From the get-go, folks have been jumping off it like there’s no tomorrow. In fact, it’s one of the most popular spots to commit suicide in all of Europe.

She may not have been the first to say it, but perhaps she was the most memorable: “So sorry to rain on your parade,” Princess Anna Troubetzkoy shouted, as she fell from the top on Bastille Day in July 1931. At first it was ruled accidental, but a farewell note was soon found in her bag.

Turned out that back in May, Anna had married a certain Prince Serge in New York. They kicked off their European honeymoon in June and were set to renew their four-month vows in August when they reached Russia.

So what happened? Was the prince really Mr. Wrong or was she already envisioning endless crash diets and yet another round of dress fittings? Nobody knows for sure, but obviously something had already gone astray between the lovebirds to make her decide to fly the coop so dramatically.

2. Arc de Triomphe Place Charles-de-Gaulle, 17th arrondissement (Metro: Charles-de-Gaulle)

Almost immediately after it was completed, desperate women began heaving themselves off its rooftop parapet, after climbing all 284 steps to get there. Occasionally their skirts tangle and catch on a cornice, leaving the poor women dangling a few long moments above the horrified crowds below, before the seams give way and they plunge to their deaths.

Figuring out which police station to contact after one of these unfortunate incidents is always a major source of confusion because the monument sits at the juncture of four arrondissements and they’ve never clearly settled whether it’s the departure spot or the point of arrival (i.e., the sidewalk) that should be the proper determining factor in establishing jurisdiction.

Atop the Arc , keep your eyes peeled for a particular spirit named Rose. After quarreling with her beau on Bastille Day in 1914, Rose jumped, narrowly missing throngs of tourists in her tumble. She is said to repeat this every time a parade goes by.

Is it uniforms? The music? Just what is it about Bastille Day that makes folks want to make a real splash?

3. Notre Dame 4th arrondissement (Metro: Cité or Saint-Michel)

A young woman known only by the initials “M.J.” appeared at the cathedral on a cold and rainy October day in 1882, begging to climb the tower. She was refused, because back then women weren’t allowed to ascend without a chaperone.

What to do? She quickly spotted an elderly lady who was also touring the church and decided to make friends. After buying her breakfast at a nearby café, M.J. asked the old lady to tour the tower with her. The lady agreed and they headed back to the church.

By the time they reached the upper parapets, rain had started to pour. While the elderly woman sheltered in the bell-ringer’s room, the young woman screamed and apparently jumped. According to witnesses, she fell onto the spiked railings below and was neatly severed in two.

No identification was found in her bag, but her kerchief was marked with the initials “M.J.” As for the elderly lady who agreed to escort her, she seems to have disappeared into thin air. If you happen to be up on Notre Dame , keep an eye peeled for either one—they’ve both been seen flitting between the gargoyles.

4. Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, The Grave of Allan Kardec 20th arrondissement (Metro: Père-Lachaise or Philippe Auguste)

In Pere Lachaise Cemetery, you’ll not only find the graves of famous folks like Chopin, Balzac, Modigliani, Proust, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and, some say, Jim Morrison, but a few final resting places that are even more interesting because of the behaviors they induce. It’s worth buying a map at the entrance to help you locate them. The best time to catch the action is early in the morning.

One of my favorites is the grave of Allan Kardec in section 44. Here you can discreetly watch as true believers in spiritualism not only come to caress the shoulders of the bronze bust glaring from its niche (under what looks to be a crude prehistoric dolmen), and to whisper messages to their dead loved ones in his ear, but often also to put in requests for winning lottery numbers.

On the backside of the tomb is an official warning from the city of Paris (akin to the surgeon-general’s warning on a pack of cigarettes) that the municipal government can’t be sued if the numbers don’t win.

5. Dalida At the dead end of rue d’Orchampt, 18th arrondissement (Metro: Abbesses)

Not all spirits are from the days of yore. On May 3, 1987, Yolanda Gigliotti, better known as the great pop idol Dalida, took a handful of pills, put on her sunglasses and “left our world for another,” as the official fan website puts it.

Ever since, the house has never quite felt the same. Though no one lives there anymore, sometimes a shadowy figure appears at the window as if to greet her fans—and she certainly still has them by the millions.

In addition to the house, the late diva’s grave is in the Cimetière de Montmartre, while her bust is at rues Girardon and Abreuvoir. Pilgrims still visit all three shrines to the “female Elvis” of France.

6. Pont-de l’Alma, Princess Di 7th arrondissement (Metro: Pont de l’Alma)

One more for the road. Just outside the Pont de l’Alma Métro station is the “Flamme de la Liberté” memorial, which now serves double duty as the unofficial Princess Di shrine, where pilgrims still leave poems, flowers, and love letters there.

According to my friend Ghislaine, who worked on two documentary films about the crash that killed her, “there are definitely ghosts in the Alma tunnel. After many nights spent filming there, I can tell you it’s eerie. It was as if Diana’s ghost was trying to urge us to find the truth. And I was certainly not the only one to feel this.”

Cheapos, do you have a tale to tell?

About the author

About the author: Theadora Brack is a writer working in Paris. Her fiction has appeared in more than 30 literary publications, including 3AM International, The Smoking Poet, Beloit Fiction Journal, Mid-American Review, and the Haight-Ashbury Literary Journal.

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Eiffel tower costume.

• October 15, 2012

This Eiffel Tower Costume is really simple and you probably have everything you need to make it at home right now. You could even add battery operated lights to make it sparkle if you wanted to get fancy. (This little costume makes me miss my old apartment .) You can see all of our Homemade Halloween series right here .

Keep reading for full instructions and photos.

Materials Needed: Large Cardboard Box, Box Cutter, Tape, Tin Foil, Tacky Glue

Step 1: Find a picture of the Eiffel Tower that you like and draw it on the box. Make the bottom of the Eiffel Tower the same width as the shoulders of the person wearing it.  It is important that the Eiffel Tower is symmetrical so that when you tape it together it isn’t crooked. Cut out four pieces. Step 2: Tape the corners together by bending the pieces so they meet at the top. Step 3:  Cut out a square the same size as the base of the Eiffel Tower and cut out 4 strips to tape to each side. Cut out a hole for the head. Step 4: Cover both pieces in foil and glue the Eiffel Tower to the base with tacky glue. Et voila! You’ve got yourself an Eiffel Tower Costume.

Credits and our Talented Contributors: All photography by Sarah Hebenstreit of  Modern Kids Photography for Oh Happy Day Art Directed by Jordan Ferney Produced by Ashley Rose Kirschling Styling by  Milan Shimono Lee “Homemade Halloween” Type by  Angela Hardison Thanks to little E for modeling.

•  Inspiration Edition No. 18:...
•  Call for Stylists + Crafters 

October 15, 2012 8:34 am

Love this! This might be The One for more daughter this year.

Maria @ Cheeky Pink Tulip

October 15, 2012 8:43 am

Hah! With the baguette and the beret if someone were to ask her at a party what she’s dressed as she can say ‘France’.

Maria xx http://www.cheekypinktulip.blogspot.com

whitney @ thecurtiscasa

October 15, 2012 8:44 am

How precious… I think I might make an adult version of this 🙂

Tamara's Blend

October 15, 2012 9:13 am

Haha this is SO cute, I might think about it as a costume for myself. 😉 Thanks for sharing!

http://www.tamarasblend.com/

Et tu, tutu?

October 15, 2012 9:17 am

This cracks me up. How cute!

October 15, 2012 9:23 am

OMG that is the cutest!!!! Wish I had a little one just so I could put them in that costume : )

October 15, 2012 11:28 am

That is tres magnifique!! I was the Eiffel Tower for Halloween back in 2005.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11268172@N04/8090905122/in/photostream/

October 15, 2012 11:42 am

Oh my how cute!!!!! And what a cute little model too!!!! Bravo!

– Sarah agirlintransit.blogspot.com

October 15, 2012 12:35 pm

This is an adorable idea but it’s hard to imagine a child wearing something like this for more than a photo-op moment. It’s seems a little unruly for trick-or-treating.

October 15, 2012 12:45 pm

All of these costume ideas are totally cute from an adults perspective, I just don’t see how another kid would appreciate it though. Like every 5 year old knows who Spiderman is but Frida Khalo is just a colorfully dressed person with bad eyebrows. Or the cute french way this little girl is dressed is totally lost on most 5 year olds. I can see possibly a few knowing what the Eiffel tower is and even less knowing where it is, and then comes the question “why are you wearing it on your head?”

October 15, 2012 1:03 pm

wow, i love it. makes me miss paris as well. i used to live in the marais for a while <3

October 15, 2012 4:12 pm

This is way too cute! I’m loving this series 🙂

October 15, 2012 4:32 pm

Adorable! and so creative!

October 15, 2012 5:19 pm

So adorable!

October 15, 2012 6:35 pm

http://www.ra-re.org/eiffel-tower-interesting-history-and-unknown-facts/lightning-sttriked-eiffel_tower/

this is one best photos of eiffel tower

October 15, 2012 7:41 pm

Adorable! The little model is so adorable, the eiffel tower is adorable!

OMG this is awesome. Making this right now with my Eiffel Tower obsessed 3 year old!!!

October 15, 2012 7:47 pm

Okay, this is so cute I might just dress up like this for Halloween – and I’m not a kid! I love this!

October 15, 2012 9:52 pm

These costumes that you have been posting are adorable. I almost don’t want to share so I can stash these for myself. But I will be cool and share em anyways. I especially love this cute eiffel- tower costume.

October 15, 2012 10:41 pm

The child cannot see his/her feet while walking. That would be a beyond tragic fall if he/she trips and falls forward, that cardboard is right at their neck. This idea needs a safer solution.

October 16, 2012 10:16 am

Adorable. It’s sweet it is a recognizable costume with the Eiffel Tower on or not. Creative and innovative.

Victoria Smith

October 16, 2012 2:18 pm

this one too! wow!!! so cute!

October 16, 2012 3:09 pm

so cute. it is however, one of those I’d have to “make” my daughter wear as most of the little girls I know would not choose this kind of thing for their Halloween costume. I think it’s adorable though.

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• Eiffel Tower Tickets

Fastest & Easiest Ways to Visit

• See & Do

Eiffel Tower Tickets:  8 Easy Ways to Get Them & Avoid Long Lines

The Eiffel Tower - Le Tour Eiffel  - symbolizes the city of Paris to the world.  The 7+ million visitors who visit each year prove its enduring popularity!

If you are planning to be among them during your trip to Paris, you've probably heard horror stories about long waits in the ticket lines - up to 4 hours and even longer  during the busiest (and often the hottest) times.

Unfortunately, these stories are true. 

Especially if you visit during the summer or on a sunny weekend without a reservation that lets you skip the ticket line, you'll swear at least half of those 7 million visitors are waiting to buy tickets on the same day you are.  

Book Your Eiffel Tower Tickets Now: Our Top Picks

• Eiffel Tower Entry TIcket with Optional Summit Access - Skip the ticket line
• Eiffel Tower Stairs Tickets - Skip the ticket line and the elevator lines (unless you select the option to take the elevator to the Summit at the top
• Madame Brasserie - Enjoy a wonderful lunch or dinner while enjoying views of the Paris skyline from the 1st Level

But don't worry - this is where our list of eight easy ways to see the Eiffel Tower comes in. 

Once you know all the ways to avoid waiting in line for tickets , you can choose the best strategy for your visit, and spend your time enjoying the views as you create priceless memories. 

Because after all, there's nothing else quite like the thrill of experiencing the Eiffel Tower!

Book your Eiffel Tower tickets now:

Top photo: The Eiffel Tower, seen from Trocadero Gardens, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

Paris Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication.  When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost for you.  Learn more

Eiffel Tower Ticket Requirements:  A Quick Overview

Let's start with a quick refresher of what you can experience inside the Eiffel Tower, how to get to each of the three floors above ground level, and available ticket types.

As you may already know, the Eiffel Tower offers visits to three platforms, or floors, above ground level for you to visit.  Each level about the ground offers unique amenities and of course, its spectacular 360 degree views of Paris - and beyond, if you go up to the Summit level on top.

You can reach the 1st and 2nd Levels by either stairs or elevators.  Going up, elevators stop only at the 2nd Level, but do stop at the 1st Level on the way down.  You must have a ticket to access the 1st and 2nd Levels.  Several types of tickets are offered, based on whether you want to take the elevator and/or stairs. 

You can go up to the Summit (3rd and highest) Level by elevator only - but because it is a separate elevator from those going from the Ground Level to the 2nd Level, you always have to change elevators and must have a separate ticket  if you plan to go to the Summit.

If you visited in the past, you may remember how you could buy Eiffel Tower Summit tickets from yellow ticket machines on the 2nd Level - but they have been removed. 

Now, if you want to visit the 3rd Level , you must purchase a Summit ticket in advance.

You can also choose to join a guided tour to the 2nd Level (which also allows you to visit the 1st Level) or to the Summit (which includes access to the 1st and 2nd Levels. 

If you want to go only to the 1st Level, you can get priority entry to that platform by making a reservation at the Madame Brasserie restaurant or by getting tickets to one of the relatively rare Eiffel Tower concerts (more about that in a moment).

Popular Eiffel Tower Experiences:

Eiffel ticket types.

You must have Eiffel Tower reservations such as a ticket (or a tour voucher, or Eiffel Tower restaurant reservation confirmation or concert ticket) to enter the Eiffel Tower.

Four basic types of tickets are available (in addition to 1st Level-only access provided by restaurant reservations or concert tickets) based on which floors you want to explore, and whether you want to ride or climb. 

Here are your ticket choices to access Levels 2 and 3:

1.  Ticket to 2nd Level by elevator (elevator stops at the 1st Level on the way down)

2.  Ticket to the 3rd Level, the Summit (Top) by elevator (elevator goes to the 2nd Level; you change to another elevator to go to the top ; on the way down, you get off the elevator on the 2nd Level and change to another that also stops at the 1st Level on the way down)

3.  Ticket to the 1st and 2nd Level by stairs

4.  Ticket to the 1st and 2nd Levels by stairs, and to the Summit (Top) Level by elevator; coming down, you get off the elevator at Level 2 and take the stairs down to the Ground Level (and no, you can't sneak onto the other elevator).

So how do our 8 easy ways to avoid the Eiffel Tower ticket lines help you?  Well, they all let you get your ticket without standing in long lines. 

We'll show you the pros and cons of each option - including a couple of lesser-known ways to experience the Eiffel Tower without regular tickets. 

Option 1:  Buy Your Eiffel Tower Entrance Tickets in Advance

You can choose from 2 ways to buy your tickets in advance online:

Buy Your Tickets on the Eiffel Tower Website

Go to the Eiffel Tower's website and make your Eiffel Tower reservations by buying your tickets online for a specific date and time, and print it on your home printer. 

You'll pay the same price as you would at the Eiffel Tower's ticket window. 

When you arrive at the Eiffel Tower, you skip the ticket line, although you'll still need to go through a couple of security checks and perhaps wait for the elevator to the 2nd Level. 

Sounds good, right?  It is - but be aware of these 3 "catches":

Catch #1:  Only a limited number of tickets are offered online.  They become available 60 days in advance for elevator access and usually sell out almost immediately during peak seasons. 

Tickets to access Level 2 by stairs go on sale 14 days in advance.  So to get the best (or any) date/time reservation choice, you need to start looking for tickets as soon as they are available. 

If you can't get them for the date/time you want, sometimes a few become available later (typically about 1 week before the visit date) - but they also sell out very quickly.

Catch #2:  These tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for another date or time slot. 

Even worse, you may have to forfeit your tickets for reasons beyond your control such as bad weather which delays your arrival, illness, delayed flights, or a transportation strike. 

Likewise, you forfeit the cost of your tickets if you arrive more than half an hour late for your time slot due to an unexpected delay on the metro, an extra-long time spent getting through the security check line before you reach the entrance line (which you could rightfully claim is not your fault), or any other delay beyond your control.

That means you usually lose the opportunity to go up inside the tower, since unless you want to chance standing in the very long line to buy another ticket in case a few may still be available, which is highly unlikely during the busiest seasons.

Catch #3:  The Summit occasionally closes due to strong winds or other dicy weather conditions.  Less frequently, the entire Eiffel Tower closes due to labor strikes or security precautions.  Occasionally, a celebrity will buy out the whole place and host a wedding or some other event there. 

If you have already purchased tickets, getting a refund can be hit or miss.   (Although in fairness, the Eiffel Tower now issues refunds more reliably than they used to.)

Buy "Skip-the-Line" Eiffel Tower Tickets through a Tour Company

Tour companies are much more likely to have skip-the-line Tour Eiffel reservation tickets available until almost the last moment, long after the last time slots get snapped up on the Eiffel Tower's website.  (That's because they're able to buy them in bulk in advance.  Is that fair?  Probably not - but that's the reality.)  They also come with a couple of perks that speed up your entry.

Do "skip-the-line" tickets really let you skip the long lines? 

Yes... and no.   You do get to skip the very long lines of people waiting to buy tickets on site.  You do NOT get to skip the security lines, but those lines are much shorter and typically move more quickly. 

And, you get two "bonuses."  You usually get to go through a faster "groups only" security line and up on a tour groups-only elevator with a shorter waiting line - so while you don't skip these lines entirely, you do avoid the longer lines.

Skip-the-line tickets bought through tour companies typically include the services of a "host" or "greeter" who will escort you and your group through the "groups" security line, which is almost always faster than the non-group entry. 

A host or greeter does not actually provide a tour, but will expedite your entry.  A tour guide does give you interesting information about the Tower, and depending on the tour, may take you to see areas you can't access on your own.

You can choose skip-the-line tickets to the 2nd Level or 2nd Level plus Summit - just like the options offered on the Eiffel Tower's website.  

Tour companies also offer stairs-only tickets.   You can usually select a "Summit" option, which means that after you've climbed the 704 steps to the Tower's 2nd floor, you will take an elevator to the top.  Or, alternately, once you've enjoyed the second floor views, you can take the elevator down to the first floor. 

Some skip-the-line tickets through a tour company may even be refundable up until 24 hours before your visit (read the details very carefully when booking to make sure). 

Tickets booked through tour companies typically cost more. However, because you usually can buy them much closer to your preferred date and you may be able to cancel or change them if your plans change (or if you want to avoid a rainy day), you have a much better chance of getting tickets for the date/time you want, and you reduce the risk of not being able to use them. 

And because the tour host or greeter can usually take you through a tours-only security line and up a tours-only elevator, they usually speed up your entry time - important if you are on a tight schedule and want to squeeze in as many Paris experiences as possible.  You are literally buying yourself some time.

Get your tickets now

Option 2:  Tour the Eiffel Tower with a Guided Tour

For the fastest and most stress-free access to the Eiffel Tower as well as an enjoyable and informative experience, book a tour with a guide. 

Your guide will make the Eiffel Tower reservations and will bring you (and a small group of usually 10-20 others) to the site, expedite your entrance through a special (and faster) security check, accompany you onto (usually) the groups-only elevator up to the 2nd Level, and give you lots of interesting information about the Eiffel Tower. 

If your chosen tour includes the Summit, you'll either do it on your own or accompanied by your guide, depending on your particular tour.

Here are two of the most popular guided Eiffel Tower tours:

• Eiffel Tower Summit or Second Floor Access
• Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator (recent reviewers love its family-friendly guides)

More Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Experiences

Option 3:  make lunch or dinner reservations at an eiffel tower restaurant.

You can choose from two enticing restaurants within the Eiffel Tower where you'll enjoy wonderful skyline views of Paris while you enjoy your meal:

• Jules Verne - Located on the Tower's second level above the ground, the Michelin-starred Jules Verne offers unforgettable contemporary gastronomic cuisine and sweeping city views and expedited entry through special Ground Level entrances and private elevators (once you pass through the security check); reservations required
• Madame Brasserie - On the Tower's first level above the ground, Madame Brasserie offers wonderful views and several appealing lunch and dinner options for enjoying the contemporary cuisine overseen by Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx; reservations required

These reservations give you restaurant access only; if you want to spend time exploring the Eiffel Tower beyond the restaurant, you'll need to get admission tickets.  

In case you've heard or read that in the past, restaurant reservations would get you into the rest of the Eiffel Tower, that was indeed true... but that's now in the past.  Today, that perk is no longer possible due to security barriers.

Are Jules Verne and Madame Brasserie expensive restaurants?  Yes - but you get a wonderful experience.  In addition to a delicious meal, you also get priceless city skyline views from an iconic Paris location - without the crowds elsewhere on the Tower.

Make reservations  

Does the Eiffel Tower have other  less-expensive places to eat? 

Yes - although you'll need to enter the Tower with a regular admission ticket or group. 

Snack bars on the ground, first, and 2nd (in the U.S. and Canada, that would be first, second, and third, or summit) levels provide a variety of affordable although still somewhat pricey casual choices.  On the 2nd floor, you can also stop by the tempting Pierre Hermé macaron bar. 

And don't forget the Champagne Bar on the Eiffel Tower's top level - the perfect spot to toast the City of Light.

Option 4:  Get Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Tickets in Combo with the Moulin Rouge, Louvre Museum, or Seine River Cruise

If you want to combine an Eiffel Tower visit with sightseeing to other top Paris attractions, look for a combination tour package to make the most of your time.   You'll find a variety of options with skip-the-line tickets, so pick the one you like the best.  

These combos can also be a good strategy when other Eiffel Tower ticket options are sold out but since they can also save you a few (or more) euros, they're also a good deal.

Here are 3 of the most popular tour combinations:

• Eiffel Tower Guided Tour & Seine River Cruise  - Save time by accessing the Eiffel Tower (all 3 levels, or just the first two, depending on the option you choose) with a guide, and then see Paris's top attractions during a day or evening Seine River cruise
• Eiffel Tower, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Seine River Cruise - Perfect way to see top Paris attractions in less than a day!
• Eiffel Tower Summit, Louvre Museum, and Seine River Cruise - Enjoy the views from the Eiffel Tower's Summit (plus Levels 1 & 2), explore the Louvre Museum at your own pace, and then enjoy a relaxing Seine River cruise

Option 5:  Stand in Line to Get Your Tickets

Standing in line to buy Eiffel Tower admission tickets is sometimes a feasible option - but ONLY if there are no crowds or you have the time and patience to spend in line for hours. 

Those "only if" conditions generally rules out summer , weekends as well as many week days in other months popular with tourists such as April, May, September, and October, French and other European school holiday weeks, and periods around major events attracting visitors such as the Paris Marathon

Avoid the wait - get skip-the-line tickets

So what does that leave?   

  - Bright, sunny (although chilly) days in March and November when the sky is crystal-clear.  

  -  Those special winter days in January or February when gently falling snowflakes transform the city (but don't accumulate enough for the Tower's 3rd level to close).     

  -  December evenings when you want an aerial view of the sparkling holiday lights twinkling across the city - except from about mid-December through New Year's Day, when everyone else has the same idea.

In fairness, at many times of the year, you can occasionally find shorter lines, especially late at night close to closing time - but you can't count on it, even on those chilly, rainy Paris evenings when you might think no one else other than you would be crazy enough to be there (but they are!). 

If you're visiting Paris for a short time and don't want to risk the hassle and stress of standing in line for hours, you're far better off getting skip-the-line tickets in advance.  Think of it as insurance against wasting hours of your precious time in Paris.

Update:  Please be aware that the Eiffel Tower urges visitors to get their tickets for a specified date and timeslot in advance.

Option 6:  Buy Walk-Up Stairs-Only Eiffel Tower Tickets - Bonus:  Great Exercise & Usually No Ticket Line!

If you want Stairs-Only tickets to the 2nd Level, you used to have to buy them onsite or through a tour operator because they weren't offered on the Eiffel Tour's website. 

The good news:  1) now, sometimes you can buy them online (but sometimes not, depending on your date), and 2) but if you do decide to buy onsite, there is often a dedicated line for Stairs-only tickets and it usually moves quickly - so this is the one time (other than winter months) when buying your tickets onsite makes sense.

Don't forget, though, you can usually get stairs-only tickets online through a tour company even if the Eiffel Tower's website is sold out, or if you want the options of taking the elevator to the Summit level at the top.

Assuming you're reasonably fit  and don't mind heights, climbing the stairs is a fabulous experience because of the wonderful perspectives of Paris as well as close-up views of Eiffel Tower mechanics. 

Stair tickets are a particularly popular choice of families visiting with kids (beyond the toddler stage) and teens since the climb burns up a lot of excess energy.

Pro Tip:  If heights and/or tilted perspectives make you feel queasy, do yourself a huge favor and go up by elevator, and maybe also consider skipping the Summit.

Option 7:  Get Tickets for an Eiffel Tower Concert

We almost hesitate to include this option because only a few concerts take place at the Eiffel Tower each year. 

But if you happen to be in Paris at a time when one is scheduled (usually around Christmas or New Year's Day, but also random times as well), don't miss the chance to combine beautiful music with sweeping views of Paris from the 1st Level for an unforgettable evening.  Check our Paris concert schedule by month for the period when you'll be here to see if any are listed.

Concerts take place in the Gustave Eiffel Salon, located on the 1st Level platform inside the tower.  The Salon has floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides and offers fantastic views. 

You can usually order Champagne when you book your ticket, and sip it before the concert begins while you enjoy the Paris skyline views.  The Champagne comes in a cute plastic flute, which you can keep as a souvenir if you want.

A quartet or quintet of professional musicians perform the concerts, which usually last about an hour plus another 5-6 minutes for an encore if everyone claps long enough at the end.

The tower lights up once the sky turns dark, so depending on the time of the year, you may experience the tower sparkling around you. 

After the concert ends, you can walk around the 1st Level for as long as you wish and take advantage of all the things to do: enjoy the panoramic views, stop by the Champagne Bar for another glass of bubbly, get something to eat at the snack bar, or peer straight down at the ground through one of the glass floor areas.

Although the Eiffel Tower's concert schedule is mostly unpredictable, several concerts almost always take place in November, December, and January, especially around the holidays, plus a few will also occur during other months.  

To find Eiffel Tower concerts, check our Paris concert schedule  which lists what's on each month.  They always sell out, sometimes faster than you might expect - so if you don't see any concerts listed for the Eiffel Tower, they've already sold out or haven't yet been announced.

Option 8:  See the Eiffel Tower Without Eiffel Tower Tickets

This is the easiest of all our 8 Eiffel Ticket ticket options - avoid the need for a ticket altogether.

If you're in Paris for just a short time and want to see the famous "Iron Lady" but not tour it - or maybe you don't like heights - you'll have plenty of opportunities to get wonderful ground-level (or Seine River-level, if you take a cruise) views of the famous Paris attraction. 

Here are just a few of the many excellent Eiffel Tower viewing locations around the city:

• Trocadero, directly across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower - head to the marble viewing platform by the Musée de l'Homme (Anthropology Museum) at Palais de Chaillot, or walk around the gardens until you find the perfect spot
• Hop On / Hop Off Bus Tours - You'll get plenty of great views from the top of these fun open top double-decker buses - plus the drivers usually pause in the best spots for taking photos - Get your tickets
• Montparnasse Tower - Go to the Observation Tower and Rooftop Terrace (get your tickets) or even better, enjoy the panoramic views during a delicious meal at the gourmet restaurant Le Ciel de Paris on the Tower's 56th floor
• Top of the Arc de Triomphe - Get skip the line Arc de Triomphe rooftop tickets in advance                     
• Place de la Concorde - Almost anywhere around the plaza - or walk over to the adjacent bridge across the Seine for even more spectacular views
• Segway Tour with Eiffel Tower Views - Combine fun with great views!
• Seine River cruises with Eiffel Tower Views:

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• Paris Hotels near the Eiffel Tower - Enjoy the Eiffel Tower views
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Want to Save on Your Paris Hotel?

Check our tips on how to find discounts, deals, and bargains for Paris hotels.  Whether you're looking for cheap accommodations or want to pay less for luxury, we'll show you how to save on hotels in Paris.  

Here are some shortcuts: 

• Booking.com: Need last minute reservations?  Check out Today Deals on their website
• Trip Advisor: Use their Best Value Deals & save BIG on your Paris hotel
• Priceline: Find the lowest prices on Paris hotels with their Express Deals

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• Eiffel Tower - Enjoy sweeping views of Paris
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• Palace of Versailles - Best way to see the famous Chateau
• Paris Museum Pass - Choose 2, 4, or 6 days
• Paris Disneyland - Get express tickets & transport from Paris

Happening in Paris

January in Paris

• The famous Paris winter sales, concerts, new museum exhibits

February in Paris

• Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year Parades

March in Paris

• Mardi Gras, Fountain Shows at Versailles, French Open

April in Paris

• Paris Marathon, Easter concerts, spring flowers

May in Paris

• Mother's Day, jazz festival, concerts

June in Paris

• Summer sales, Pride week, music fests, air show

July in Paris

• Bastille Day, Tour de France, beaches

August in Paris

• Free concerts & movies, Rock En Seine

September in Paris

• European Heritage Days, Fashion Week

October in Paris

• Wine festival, Halloween, Motor Show

November in Paris

• Armistice Day, Salon du Chocolat

December in Paris

• Christmas, New Year's Eve

Hanukkuh in Paris

• Menorah lightings 

Christmas in Paris

• Holiday celebrations & decorations

Christmas Markets

• Gifts, holiday food, mulled wine, and Santa

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Moscow’s Red Square

Apr 29, 2015 • 4 min read

State History Museum on the Red Square. Image by Walter Bibikow / Getty Images

Stepping onto Red Square never ceases to inspire. For starters, the vast rectangular stretch of cobblestones, surrounded by architectural marvels, is an imposing sight. In fact, in old Russian krasny  was the word for ‘beautiful’, and the square lives up to the original meaning of its name. Furthermore, it evokes an incredible sense of awe to stroll across a place where so much of Russian history unfolded.

The square’s history

Red Square used to be a market square adjoining the merchants’ area in Kitay Gorod. It has always been a place where occupants of the Kremlin chose to congregate, celebrate and castigate for all the people to see. Back in the day, Red Square was the top spot for high-profile executions such as those of the Cossack rebel Stepan Razin in 1671 and the Streltsy (Peter the Great’s mutinous palace guard) in 1698.

The first gateway, built in 1680, was destroyed because Stalin thought it an impediment to the parades and demonstrations held in Red Square. The present-day exact replica was built in 1995. Through the gateway is the bright Chapel of the Iverian Virgin, originally built in the late 18th century to house the icon of the same name.

Soviet rulers chose Red Square for their military parades, perhaps most poignantly on 7 November 1941, when tanks rolled straight off to the frontline outside Moscow ; and during the Cold War, when lines of ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missile) rumbled across the square to remind the West of Soviet military might. On Victory Day in 2008, tanks rolled across Red Square for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Nowadays Red Square is closed to traffic, which means the space is filled with tourists, bridal parties and businesspeople snapping photos and marvelling at their surroundings. The square empties out at night, but this is also when it is at its most atmospheric. The Kremlin towers and St Basil’s domes, illuminated by floodlights and set against the night sky, create a spectacular panorama (even better in person than on a postcard).

Lenin’s Mausoleum

Red Square is also home to the world’s most famous mummy : that of Vladimir Ilych Lenin, founder of the Soviet Union. When he died of a massive stroke on 22 January 1924 (aged 53), a long line of mourners patiently gathered in the depths of winter for weeks to glimpse the body as it lay in state. Inspired by the spectacle, Stalin proposed that the father of Soviet communism should continue to serve the cause as a holy relic. So the decision was made to preserve Lenin’s corpse for perpetuity, against the vehement protests of his widow, as well as Lenin’s own expressed desire to be buried next to his mother in St Petersburg. Other communist leaders such as Josef Stalin are buried at the Kremlin Wall.

St Basil’s Cathedral

At the southern end of Red Square, framed by the massive facades of the Kremlin and GUM , stands the icon of Russia: St Basil’s Cathedral . This crazy confusion of colours, patterns and shapes is the culmination of a style that is unique to Russian architecture. Before St Basil’s, this style of tent roofs and onion domes had been used to design wooden churches.

In 1552 Ivan the Terrible captured the Tatar stronghold of Kazan on the feast of Intercession. He commissioned this landmark church, officially the Intercession Cathedral, to commemorate the victory. From 1555 to 1561 architects Postnik and Barma created this masterpiece that would become the ultimate postcard-perfect symbol of Russia.

The cathedral’s apparent anarchy of shapes hides a comprehensible plan of nine main chapels: the tall, tent-roofed one in the centre; four big, octagonal-towered ones, topped with the four biggest domes; and four smaller ones in between. Legend has it that Ivan had the architects blinded so they could never build anything comparable to this iconic building. This is a myth, however, as records show that they were employed a quarter of a century later (and four years after Ivan’s death) to add an additional chapel to the structure.

The misnomer St Basil’s actually refers only to this extra northeastern chapel. It was built over the grave of the barefoot holy fool Vasily (Basil) the Blessed, who predicted Ivan’s damnation. Vasily, who died while Kazan was under siege, was buried beside the church which St Basil’s Cathedral soon replaced. He was later canonised.

This article was first published in July 2010 and last updated in April 2015.

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