Tour Montparnasse vs. Tour Eiffel
On Thursday, we visited both Tour Montparnasse and Tour Eiffel, which provided a good opportunity to compare and contrast the visits to each tower. We visited Tour Montparnasse in the morning, while we visited the Eiffel Tower in the evening, which may have given Tour Montparnasse a slight advantage, as it was easier to see certain buildings and the layout of the city during daylight. However, we were able to watch the sunset from the Eiffel Tower, which was also an amazing experience. Another great thing about the view from Tour Montparnasse is that you can see the Eiffel Tower, a beautiful and iconic part of the Paris skyline, while the rather ugly Tour Montparnasse is not part of the skyline since you are standing on it.
The opposite is true of the view from the Eiffel Tower. You are not able to see the Eiffel Tower in the skyline, while the Tour Montparnasse significantly stands out from the other buildings around it, being much taller and made of darker materials than all of the surrounding buildings. Due to this, I think that the view from Tour Montparnasse may be slightly better than the view from the Eiffel Tower.
While the Tour Montparnasse may have a better view, I think the Eiffel Tower certainly wins in terms of the experience. Tour Montparnasse has a simple elevator ride to the fifty-sixth floor, with an option to go up to the glass-enclosed roof. The entry to the Eiffel Tower helps to build drama and show off the incredible engineering by taking you up diagonal-moving, glass-walled lifts that stop at the first and second floors. This really allows you to see how the methods of transporting people to the top were specifically designed to fit the structure, something that is missing from the simple up-and-down elevators of Tour Montparnasse. While the Eiffel Tower was certainly more crowded and is much more of a tourist trap, I think it lived up to the hype and was definitely worth visiting.
Another factor I think is important in the evaluation of the two towers is the fear factor in terms of the heights of the structures. I’m not particularly scared of heights and did not find either tower to be very scary, however, I think Tour Montparnasse would definitely be a better option for those scared of heights. Tour Montparnasse seems much more secure as you are inside an actual building, rather than on a platform of a metal tower, and cannot feel the wind or the sway of the tower. For the most part, the Eiffel Tower felt pretty secure, and the option of three separate floors to view from means that those who are afraid of heights still have access to a great view of the city. The only time I felt a little scared was on the funicular rides, as the walls are predominantly glass and the car shakes a bit as it goes up and down. However, the cars are very large, so you are able to stand in the middle far from the glass if you choose.
In conclusion, I do not think that one tower is definitely worth visiting over the other. Visiting the Eiffel Tower is a really cool experience, but if you are more interested in the view, Tour Montparnasse may be a better option as you can see many of Paris’ iconic landmarks from its decks. The Eiffel Tower may be a better choice if you are interested in engineering, World’s Fair history, or simply want that perfect photo to post on Instagram.