Eiffel Tower reopens to visitors with strict coronavirus restrictions

Tourists and Parisians are now once again able to admire the view of the French capital from the Eiffel Tower after a three-month closure due to the coronavirus – but only if they take the stairs.

Two in time for the summer season, but with limited visitor numbers at first, and mandatory face masks for all over the age of 11, said the Eiffel Tower website.

The first visitors were allowed in on Thursday, a symbolic moment as France begins to tentatively open up to tourism after the virus shutdown. Journalists from around the world were on hand as about 50 visitors, mainly French, prepared to make the steep climb.

Eager tourists have been able to grab their tickets since June 18, when the online ticket office opened.

“To ensure that ascending and descending visitors do not meet in the stairs, ascent will take place from the East pillar and descent by the West pillar,” said the operator, with a limited number of visitors per floor at a time.

The top level will remain closed, “since the lifts taking visitors from second to top floor are small. It might reopen during the summer.”