Eiffel Tower reopens June 25; bring mask

Want to visit the Eiffel Tower this summer? Bring a mask and be prepared to climb some stairs.

French officials announced the Paris landmark will reopen June 25 at 10 a.m. local time. Among the safety measures being put in place: Guests ages 11 years and up will be required to wear masks, and the elevators are off-limits for now, along with the top floor.

Capacity will be limited on both the first and second floors, and separate staircases will be used for guests on their way up and those heading back down.

“As the situation evolves, the lifts taking our visitors to the second floor can be quickly put back into service under appropriate conditions, with a very limited number of persons on-board,” a statement on the Eiffel Tower’s website said. “The top level remains closed for now ... since the lifts taking visitors from the second to the top floor are small. It might reopen during the summer.”

As has been the case at other popular sites, ground markings are being set up to enforce socialdistancing and surfaces are being disinfected often.

The announcement did not include a reopening date for the online box office, but officials said that information will be coming soon. Once the website’s ticketing system is back up and running, they encourage visitors to buy tickets online and use contactless payment methods.

France, which has had more than 191,000 cases and 29,000 deaths according to Johns Hopkins data, began easing its lockdown restrictions in mid-May but is exercising greater caution in Paris and other population centres.