Number of visitors to the Eiffel Tower in Paris 2011-2023

The number of visitors to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, bounced back in 2022, following a sharp drop with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Overall, attendance at the renowned monument totaled around 5.85 million in 2022, and then 6.32 million in 2023. Built between 1887 and 1889 as part of the preparations for the Worlds’ Fair, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic symbols of Paris and France. 

The Eiffel Tower: a French icon

With its recognizable silhouette, the Eiffel Tower is the most famous attraction of the city of Paris. However, the number of tourists visiting the monument has been oscillating since 2011. In 2016, a year after the Paris terrorist attacks, the monument received only 5.84 million visitors, compared to almost seven million the year before. Since then, the number of tourists appears to be increasing reaching over 6 million visitors in 2018 and 2019. Most of visitors of the tower are French tourists. The tower is not only a symbol of Paris, it is also a lucrative business which had a turnover generated by ticket sales of more than 66.1 million euros in 2015.

Tourism in Paris

Despite its popularity, the Eiffel Tower is not the most visited cultural venues of Paris. In 2017, Notre Dame, as well as the Sacré Coeur and the Louvre Museum, attracted more tourists than the Tower. Paris keeps being one of the most attractive city destinations for French and foreign visitors. The French capital was the city with sixth highest international visitor spend in the world with more than 15 million international overnight visitors in 2016.