Gustave Eiffel’s secret apartment sits on the summit of the Eiffel Tower, 276 meters above Paris, built in 1889 as his private office and salon. Though Eiffel never slept there, the compact ~100 m² space (a single living area, work desks, small kitchen and bath, no bedroom) served for experiments and VIP entertaining. Today it survives as a glass-enclosed mini-museum on the top floor, complete with period furnishings and wax figures of Eiffel and his guests.
The “secret apartment” refers to a small private suite Gustave Eiffel built for himself on the Tower’s upper platform (third level, just below the spire). Conceived from the start, the tower’s top was set aside as a reception space and viewing station. Eiffel reserved the highest platform for his own use – a room of roughly 100 m² perched above Paris, surrounded by a wraparound balcony. In contrast to the Tower’s exposed iron framework, the apartment featured richly decorated interiors: wood-paneled walls, ornate wallpaper, and warm lighting that evoked a 19th-century parlor rather than an industrial structure.
Historically, this retreat served as Eiffel’s private salon and laboratory. He used it to conduct meteorological and aerodynamic experiments using the tower’s height, while entertaining notable guests in relative privacy. Socially, it became something of a legend – Parisians learned he was “garnering the envy” of the elite by hosting gatherings nearly 300 meters up. Though often called “secret,” the apartment was part of the original design; it wasn’t hidden by trickery. Only after the tower’s initial exposition did the world widely recognize that Eiffel had claimed the summit as his personal office.
The story of the apartment is inseparable from the tower’s creation for the Exposition Universelle of 1889. In 1884 engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier (working for Eiffel’s firm) drew up a novel iron tower design to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution. Construction began on January 28, 1887 and moved rapidly – the 300-metre tower was topped out by March 1889, in time for the fair’s May opening. Gustave Eiffel financed much of the project himself, and he used his famous name and wealth to embellish certain features – chief among them his own summit suite.
By the fall of 1889, just months after the opening, the apartment was fully outfitted. Thomas Edison famously visited on September 10, 1889, meeting Eiffel in the apartment and gifting him a phonograph. Edison later inscribed a gracious note in Eiffel’s guestbook (dated 10 September 1889): “To M Eiffel the Engineer the brave builder of so gigantic and original specimen of modern Engineering…”. By then, the office’s guestbook already contained signatures from European royalty and celebrities, reflecting the apartment’s role as a prestigious reception room.
From 1889 until Eiffel’s death in 1923, the apartment was rarely altered. Eiffel himself never lived there full-time; he maintained a mansion in Paris and only used the tower suite for work and occasional hosting. Throughout the Belle Époque and into World War I, the room contained Edison’s phonograph (on display today), scientific instruments, and the comfortable furniture for guests to use. In the lounge area, a grand piano was available – composers such as Charles Gounod are even said to have played it during visits.
After Eiffel’s death in 1923, the apartment gradually fell into disuse. By the mid-20th century it served mainly technical functions: during and after World War II engineers stored radio and antenna equipment nearby. The office space itself was sealed off from public view. It received a sort of resurrection in 1982, when Paris’s Musée Grévin created the three wax mannequins (Eiffel, Edison, and Claire) to recreate the historic 1889 scene. Since then, the apartment has been gently restored as a static exhibit, while continuing to function as part of the tower’s summit for technical purposes.
The apartment’s single ~10 m² salon (no separate rooms) is best described by what is there versus what isn’t. The entire space is only a few paces across, essentially one elongated chamber tucked into the tower’s framework. Visitors today see it from outside through a window and open door (protected by rails). Inside, the walls are trimmed in dark wood and covered with intricate wallpaper in deep green and burgundy paisley patterns, in keeping with the late-1880s style. The floor is laid with cast-iron panels bearing the same grid pattern as the tower itself, covered by a decorative rug at the center.
At the center sits a cluster of antique furnishings. Facing the viewing window is a wooden sofa upholstered in burgundy velvet, matching the armchairs flanking it. A small writing table holds a brass-studded phonograph – a replica of Edison’s gift, placed exactly where he left it. Stacked books, a surveyor’s compass, and glass beakers on nearby shelves hint at Eiffel’s scientific experiments. In one corner stands a brass-accented gas lamp with a frosted shade, and in another a wooden cabinet filled with leather-bound books and notebooks. The overall effect is more salon than laboratory: the room is intimate, bookish, and decidedly homey despite the iron surround.
One niche at the rear contains the life-size wax figures. Gustave Eiffel (white beard, gray jacket) is seated behind a small desk, turned slightly toward his guest. Thomas Edison (wearing a gray suit, holding a cigar) is seated opposite, leaning back in his chair as if in mid-conversation. Between them on the table is the iconic Edison phonograph, its horn pointing up. To Eiffel’s side stands his eldest daughter Claire (in a burgundy dress with black trim), looking on over the tabletop. This family addition is a modern museum touch to complete the scene; historically, Claire did not actually attend the Edison meeting, but the figure emphasizes the room’s familial character.
Museums and archives have provided truly 19th-century objects to embellish the scene. The sofa and chairs, for example, match styles found in Eiffel’s family homes, and the wooden desk is a faithful reproduction of the type he used. The wallpaper pattern was chosen from archival descriptions of Eiffel’s decor. On the desk sits an oil lamp powered by gas (vented to the outside), reflecting how lighting would have worked in 1889. The key point: nothing visible in the apartment today was actually used by Eiffel there – all furnishings are period-correct replacements. Even the phonograph is a working replica; the real Edison device resides in an American museum, so this is a stand-in.
The waxworks are the apartment’s most eye-catching feature. Eiffel’s figure is seated with an attentive posture; Edison’s is posed with a relaxed confidence (cigar in hand). Claire’s figure was crafted to represent the young motherly figure she was at the time (her presence is symbolic rather than documentary). Each statue is dressed authentically: Eiffel in a gray pinstripe morning coat, Edison in a waistcoat and tie. The sculptors at Musée Grévin painstakingly modeled them after period photographs and descriptions. These lifelike mannequins are maintained under low light to preserve them, and visible only through the glass – no one poses with them in person. A quick glance reveals the personal touches: a silk shawl draped over Claire’s chair, Eiffel’s pocket watch (replica) on the desk – details that bring the static scene to life.
One of the apartment’s legendary moments was when inventor Thomas Edison paid a visit during the 1889 exposition. According to accounts, Edison (57) arrived as Paris buzzed over the World Fair’s marvels. On September 10, 1889, Eiffel invited Edison into his top-floor office. The two engineers reportedly greeted each other warmly – Eiffel had great admiration for Edison. That afternoon they discussed science and engineering, and Edison presented Eiffel with one of his patented phonographs. Edison inscribed a dedication in Eiffel’s guestbook: “To M. Eiffel the Engineer – the brave builder of so gigantic a specimen of modern Engineering…”.
Edison’s visit cemented the apartment’s mythic status. He was by far its most famous guest, and newspapers of the day noted how the two inventors admired each other’s work. The scene has been recreated for tourists: the two wax figures and phonograph recall that 1889 meeting. Beyond Edison, the apartment’s guestbook recorded many VIPs. Contemporary accounts list royal visitors such as Britain’s Prince Albert Victor, the Shah of Persia, King Oscar II of Sweden, King Charles I of Portugal, King Leopold II of Belgium (with his son Prince Baudouin), Tsar Alexander III of Russia, and Archduke Charles Ferdinand of Austria. Cultural figures included the Goncourt brothers, sculptor Paul Gauguin, actress Sarah Bernhardt, and composer Charles Gounod, who reputedly once improvised a song on the apartment’s piano to amuse Eiffel. Even Buffalo Bill Cody signed the book in 1890 while touring Paris.
Despite its royal visitors, the apartment is physically tiny. The official floor area (100 m²) includes stairwells and shafts – the usable “room” is only roughly 3.5 by 2.8 meters (about 10 m²). Its ceiling height is about 3.5 m, matching the tower’s standard. Structurally, the apartment is bounded by the tower’s four iron pillars. The interior walls are actually the curved lattice girders of the tower, with wood paneling affixed inside. The ceiling has a domed framework that echoes the tower’s spire above.
The construction used the same riveted iron components as the rest of the tower. The apartment was part of the original build, not a later addition, so its walls and floor beams tie into the tower’s framework. All furniture and equipment had to be hoisted up by the heavy-duty elevators and carried through narrow maintenance hatches – no small feat in 1889. The suite lacked modern utilities: there was no centralized heating or plumbing beyond a simple cast-iron stove and a washbasin. A small sink with a manual pump provided water, and the bathroom had only a tin bathtub and a gravity-flush toilet (all long gone).
Short answer: No, you cannot tour the apartment itself – you can only view it from outside.** Every visitor who reaches the Tower’s top level can see it through a window, but the apartment door remains locked.
To reach the viewing spot: take the elevator (or stairs) to the third floor (summit). Once on the top level, follow the corridor on the north side until you find a marked wooden door and window labeled “Appartement de Gustave Eiffel.” Behind that glass you’ll see the furnished room. On busy days, a rope line controls traffic at the viewing window. The display is best viewed at eye level – many visitors pause on tiptoes or lean in to study the desk and figures. You do not need any special ticket beyond the regular summit access.
Summit tickets (with elevator) are €36.10 for adults as of early 2026 (youth/child rates reduced). This provides entry to the entire third level, including the apartment window. No additional fee or tour is required – the view is included with the summit admission. Because space in front of the glass is limited, expect a short wait at peak times. Visiting early in the morning or late evening can avoid crowds. The afternoon light often illuminates the interior with a warm glow, making the wax figures appear more lifelike. (Photography is allowed through the glass; use a flash if indoor lighting is dim.)
To summarize the steps:
1. Buy a summit ticket: Online in advance is recommended. Top-level (two-lift) access is required.
2. Ascend: Take the lifts (or stairs + lift) to the summit.
3. Find the apartment door: On the top floor, look for the sign “Appartement de Gustave Eiffel” on the north corridor wall.
4. Look inside: You can peer through the glass and locked wooden door to see the interior scene.
5. Read the plaque: An information panel beside the door (French/English) identifies the figures and objects.
Visitors often have tall tales. Here are some myths and the facts:
– Myth: You can stay overnight in Eiffel’s apartment. Fact: Never. Eiffel refused offers to rent or sell the suite, and it was never used as living quarters. Today it remains off-limits; the door is never opened for tourists.
– Myth: Gustave Eiffel lived here full-time. Fact: He had a city mansion and only used the tower office for work and meetings. He actually had no bed in the suite, and likely only slept in his Paris home.
– Myth: The apartment was the primary reason the Tower was built. Fact: The Tower was designed as an exhibition centerpiece and research platform; the apartment was an eccentric bonus. Eiffel’s main motivation was publicity and science, not personal lodging.
– Myth: All furnishings in the apartment are original. Fact: No. None of the original furniture remains on-site. The sofa, chairs, desk, etc. are period antiques or replicas chosen to resemble what Eiffel might have used. Only the wax figures are modern additions – everything else is a stand-in.
– Myth: You can secretly climb up to the apartment outside visiting hours. Fact: Impossible and illegal. The summit area is gated outside opening hours. Any access is tightly controlled by staff and security cameras.
Beyond entertaining guests, Eiffel envisioned the tower as a platform for research. He placed meteorological instruments on the apartment’s balcony for high-altitude weather observations. Eiffel himself used the view to conduct experiments on aerodynamics: for example, timing falling bodies and noting wind effects. The apartment served as a study and lab for analyzing these data. This underscores Eiffel’s polymath nature: he was both showman and scientist.
After Eiffel’s era, the tower continued its technical legacy. In 1901–1910, French scientists used the summit for radio and wireless telegraphy experiments. By 1910 the Tower housed one of the world’s earliest broadcast antennas. The apartment’s height meant it was part of these early communication systems (indeed, radio technicians once climbed through the apartment to place aerials on the spire). Thus, the apartment ties into France’s innovation history – it was literally the control room for some pioneering experiments in meteorology and telecommunications.
Science Insight: One of the first experiments from the apartment was meteorological: Eiffel recorded wind speeds at 300 m in his logbooks, noting storms far stronger than at ground level. This data was among the earliest high-altitude weather measurements, contributing to Paris’s scientific knowledge.
The Tower holds other surprise spots:
– Summit Champagne Bar: One floor below (still on level 3) is a small Champagne Bar. It occupies a glass-enclosed alcove and offers similar panoramic views. It’s partially within the space of Eiffel’s old apartment (the two areas are adjacent). Today anyone on the summit can pay to enjoy a drink at this bar.
– Military Bunker: During WWII a concrete bunker was built under the tower’s east leg to store radio equipment for communication defense. It housed telegraph gear and power generators. The bunker still exists (inaccessible to tourists) beneath a hidden hatch marked by plaques.
– Historic Machinery: Hidden behind locked grates on level 2 are the restored engines of the original lifts. These wood-paneled boilers and piston pumps (installed in 1890) can be viewed by a guided tour (level 2 east pillar) but not on general admission. They remind visitors of the Tower’s technical ingenuity.
– Staff Areas: The second-floor kitchens, storage rooms, and backstage corridors (now used by workers) are normally off-limits but exist as part of the Tower’s functioning. These areas once served the restaurants that operated on the first two levels during the early 20th century.
– Laboratory Niches: Small storage closets near the apartment still contain brackets and fittings for meteorological instruments and telegraph lines. These are visible only through small grates.
Each of these “secret” spots shares in the Tower’s story of hidden complexity. Together with the summit apartment, they show that Eiffel’s masterpiece was not just a monument but a living workshop.
Other landmarks also have hidden retreats:
Landmark (Location) | Built/Person | Purpose | Visitor Access |
Statue of Liberty (USA) | 1886, Frédéric Bartholdi | Sculptor’s model studio (base) | No (off-limits) |
Grand Central Terminal (NYC) | 1913, Whitney Warren | Private Biltmore suite | Semi-public (can be seen on tours) |
Vatican (Rome) | Various Popes | Papal Apartments | No (except via Vatican tours) |
Eiffel Tower (Paris) | 1889, Gustave Eiffel | Engineer’s office | Partial (view only) |
Each space was intended as a private enclave for the builder or owner. The Eiffel apartment is unique in being at the very top of a major landmark and still visible to visitors. It’s arguably the only such “penthouse” one can actually see (even if not enter) during a visit. The comparison highlights a common theme: every great structure carried the imprint of its creator, sometimes literally in a secret room.
When planning to see the apartment, incorporate these tips:
– Tickets: Book summit tickets well in advance, especially for summer or weekends. As of 2026, summit lift tickets cost €36.10 for adults (youth/child rates reduced). This covers all upper levels, including the apartment viewing.
– Climbing: If you climb stairs, note: you cannot walk all the way up – you reach the 2nd level by stairs, then must switch to a lift to reach the summit and apartment.
– Timing: Early morning or late evening visits have lighter crowds at the apartment window. The top closes around 11pm; visiting around sunset can provide dramatic views through the glass.
– Accessibility: Elevators reach the summit, but the top and the stairs are not wheelchair-accessible. Check in advance if you need special assistance.
– Nearby: After seeing the apartment, step outside and enjoy the summit terrace. On one side is the Champagne Bar (a fun treat after climbing!), and on the other you can walk around the highest open-air deck. On level 2, the historical exhibits and lift machinery behind glass add context to Eiffel’s work.
– Combine Attractions: Consider pairing the Eiffel Tower with other Paris attractions: the nearby Musée d’Orsay has Belle Époque art, and the Musée des Arts et Métiers (Phonograph section) holds an actual Edison phonograph, similar to his gift to Eiffel.
Q: Is there really an apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower?
A: Yes. Gustave Eiffel built a private office/apartment on the summit level of the Tower in 1889. It’s a small suite used for meetings and experiments. Today it’s a glass-enclosed exhibit on the top floor.
Q: Can you go inside Gustave Eiffel’s apartment?
A: No. The apartment itself is closed to visitors. Tourists can view it only through a glass window from the tower’s summit. You stand outside, looking in at the preserved interior.
Q: What can you see when you visit the apartment?
A: Looking in through the door, you’ll see a restored 1889 office scene: antique chairs, a sofa, a piano, and scientific instruments. Most notably there are wax figures of Gustave Eiffel, Thomas Edison, and Eiffel’s daughter Claire, positioned around the desk. An Edison phonograph sits on the table, representing the inventor’s gift to Eiffel.
Q: Is viewing the apartment included with normal tickets?
A: Yes. Any ticket for the Eiffel Tower summit (top level) allows you to view the apartment through the window at no extra charge. You just need a summit access ticket – no separate tour or fee is required specifically for the apartment.
Q: How big is the Eiffel Tower apartment?
A: The entire apartment (including shafts) was about 100 m² (1,075 sq ft), but the actual living area inside is only about 10 m² (roughly 3.5×2.8 meters). It’s quite small – much smaller than a modern studio apartment.
Q: Did Gustave Eiffel live in the apartment?
A: No. Eiffel maintained a mansion in Paris and only used the tower apartment occasionally. He never installed a bedroom or took up permanent residence there. It was strictly a workspace and reception area.
Q: What did Thomas Edison give Gustave Eiffel?
A: Edison gifted Eiffel one of his early phonographs during the 1889 visit. This historical phonograph (an early sound recorder) is depicted on Eiffel’s desk between the wax figures. The original Edison phonograph he donated is now kept in a museum; the one in the apartment is a working replica.
Q: Are the furnishings in the apartment original?
A: No. None of the original 19th-century furniture remained on site. The sofa, desk, chairs, and even books are reproductions or period antiques chosen to match Eiffel’s era. Only the wax figures were added in modern times. The apartment is a credible reconstruction, not the actual century-old objects.
Q: When is the best time to view the apartment?
A: Early morning (right at opening) or late evening visits tend to have fewer crowds at the viewing window. Visiting around sunset can also cast a warm light on the interior, making the scene more picturesque. Check the official Eiffel Tower hours (they vary seasonally) and try to time for a lighter crowd on the summit.
Over a century after it was built, Gustave Eiffel’s private apartment remains a fascinating artifact of Parisian history. This tiny Belle Époque salon encapsulates the era’s blend of scientific inquiry and personal flair. While most visitors marvel at the Tower’s sweeping views, the apartment invites a quieter curiosity: to imagine the man in his office among those intricate iron girders. In its preserved wallpaper, antique furniture, and wax figures, the space tells a story of innovation, celebrity, and the human touch at the top of one of the world’s most famous landmarks.
