We all know a trip to Paris isn’t complete without a glimpse of its most celebrated monument: the Eiffel Tower. Visiting the tower is a moment all visitors to the city treasure, and most travelers like to bring a little piece of that moment back — in the form of an Eiffel Tower souvenir.
Would you like a souvenir that’s more traditional, or are you more spur of the moment and prefer to walk around until something catches your eye? Maybe you’d prefer to support local artists? There’s an option for every shopper. Here’s everything you need to know when picking out the perfect Eiffel Tower souvenir.
Classic approach: The Eiffel Tower gift store
If you want a souvenir certain to have French authenticity and be easy to find, get your Eiffel Tower souvenir at the monument itself.
These souvenirs can be found at seven different stores located on the first and second floor of the tower, as well as on the esplanade. The exclusive brand is known as La Tour Eiffel Paris 1889.
Prices can vary. While a vintage Eiffel Tower snow globe, a medium-sized bronze figurine, and magnets go for between €7 and €12, there are luxury options, including a chic €189 scarf or delicate china platter for €289.
The nice thing about this option is that much of the merchandise is made in France, so you’ll be supporting local makers.
P.S. To shop in the official gift store, you do need a ticket to visit the Eiffel Tower. Try out a guided climbing tour to discover all the monument has to offer.
Eiffel Tower art in Montmartre
Lining the cobblestone streets of the storied Montmartre neighborhood in Paris are tons of small specialty gift shops with souvenirs featuring the Eiffel Tower, among several other symbols of France.
How to get there? The Montmartre area is easily accessible by metro line 2, at the Anvers stop or metro line 12 at the Abbesses stop.
Once you arrive, try checking out Rue de Steinkerque or Rue Norvins. Rue de Steinkerque is a cobblestone street at an incline, which leads to the Square Louise Michel, the garden at the foot of Sacre Coeur. It’s only a three-minute walk from Anvers (or a 10-minute walk from Abbesses), and this street has one of the most dense concentrations of souvenir stores — I counted at least seven on one block!
These stores all have similar prices, with keychains and magnets featuring the Eiffel Tower going for €2-€4 and tote bags around €5-€6. Often there are discounts for getting more than one of the same item.
Rue Norvins is a quintessential Montmartre street, leading to the famous Place du Tertre with artists stationed all day long ready to create caricatures or sell their paintings. This spot is a must for those who want a more original and artistic souvenir: a painting of the Eiffel Tower from a real Parisian artist.
If you prefer to buy souvenir art from a store, check out the Galerie Butte Montmartre on Rue Norvins, which features original art and Paris-themed postcards.
‘Bouquinistes’ by the Seine
Throughout the city of Paris, you can find open-air bookstores and mini kiosks with newspapers, magazines… and souvenirs!
These tiny bookstores, known fondly by Parisians as “bouquinisites,” are green stands that stretch for nearly two miles along the Seine around Notre-Dame. They carry thousands of classic books but also have beautiful paintings of Parisian landscapes, including, of course, the Eiffel Tower.
Some even sell keychains, tote bags, or postcards. Artwork is often €10 or more, depending on the size of the piece, while I have seen postcards for as little as 40 centimes!
If you don’t happen to be along the Seine, there are also newspaper kiosks scattered at major high-density points in the city. While much larger than the bouquinistes, they are also dark green, but more of an octagonal shape. They used to be the go-to spots for newspapers and magazines, but these newsstands have added souvenirs to their inventory.
The prices range from €1 for Eiffel Tower keychains to around €8-€10 for snow globes, mugs, or more sophisticated figurines featuring the monument.
Local tip: Want the classic French newsstand experience? I recommend picking up a copy of France’s paper of record, Le Monde.
The famous Rue de Rivoli
Rue de Rivoli, the street that spans from city hall, past the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Gardens, all the way to the Place de la Concorde, is a street bustling with activity.
Right across from the Tuileries, you’ll find a number of souvenir shops with classic Eiffel-themed keepsakes. But for a more official souvenir store, try visiting the store of Paris’ city hall: Boutique de l’Hôtel de Ville – Paris la Boutique. There, you can support Parisian artists — look for the items with the label, “Fabriqué à Paris,” which means “made in Paris.”
Be prepared to spend more than at your average gift shop, though. Paris la Boutique is right in the heart of the city near the Chatêlet station, accessible by metro lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14.
Like a local: Souvenirs at the grocery store
Let’s say you want less glitz and more practicality (and thrift!) as you search for your perfect Eiffel Tower souvenir.
If you want an environment less catered toward travelers, you could always look for a souvenir at a local grocery store. Throughout the city, some of the larger grocery stores, such as Monoprix, offer a few souvenirs featuring the Eiffel Tower. I recommend going to the Monoprix in the center at the Chatêlet Les Halles train station.
Local tip: Many grocery stores are either closed or only open in the morning on Sundays, so to be safe, try going another day.
The best Eiffel Tower souvenir
There you have it — a few tips on where to get your perfect Eiffel Tower souvenir.
And the best thing about Paris is, on your hunt to find it, you’ll end up making even more memories.
One last tip before you go… You can also make your own Eiffel Tower souvenir. All you need is to find the right spot to take a photo.
