Ah, Paris. The City of Love. The City of Lights.
The smell of fresh coffee and baguettes from French cafes in the morning followed by nights filled with romance in the air as the Eiffel Tower illuminates the sky in the background. Time for a selfie – or is it?
Is it true that it is illegal to take a photo of the Eiffel Tower at night?
Verdict:
FALSE
This question has been around for years, confusing many tourists.
Copyright laws protect the famous Parisian landmark and there are stipulations on how the image is used.
In a 2025 article, Reader's Digest stated that French law allows a restriction on the freedom of panorama (which, in copyright law, allows the public to photograph, film, draw or otherwise replicate things that are in the public domain, such as the Eiffel Tower).
"The Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, the company that operates the tower, confirms this on the Eiffel Tower's official website: 'Photographing the Eiffel Tower at night is not illegal at all. Any individual can take photos and share them on social networks'.
However, issues arise if you make money from photos and videos of the structure, specifically those taken at night.
But why is there a night time distinction?
"It's the lights," explains the Reader's Digest.
"The Eiffel Tower's lighting and sparkling lights are protected by copyright, so professional use of images of the Eiffel Tower at night require prior authorisation and may be subject to a fee.
"Professionals should therefore contact the Eiffel Tower's management company to learn about conditions for using the images depending on the case," it said.
"The tower's evening light display, which was designed by lighting engineer Pierre Bideau and installed in 1985, is owned by the artist.
"Under European Union copyright law, the artist or their estate retains rights until 70 years after their death. Bideau died in 2021, so that restriction will last until 2091.
"Until 1993, the entire Eiffel Tower was copyrighted, not just the lights. The architect, Gustave Eiffel, died in 1923, and the Eiffel Tower entered the public domain 70 years later. So, while the tower itself is now in the public domain, the lights are not."
So as long as you are not making any money out of it, snap away!
REFERENCES
https://www.rd.com/article/
https://www.toureiffel.paris/
