How long does the Eiffel Tower's sparkling light show last?

The Eiffel Tower’s sparkling light show lasts 5 minutes.

The display uses 20,000 small lamps attached to the tower’s structure. They flash at the beginning of each hour after dark, creating the famous diamond-like shimmer. The sparkling lights are separate from the tower’s steady golden illumination and its rotating beacon at the summit.

The effect was introduced for the celebrations surrounding the year 2000. Although it was initially planned as a temporary installation, the sparkling display proved so popular that it returned permanently in 2003. It normally operates during the tower’s evening lighting hours, with the exact schedule varying by season and operating rules.

A common mix-up is confusing the five-minute sparkle with the tower’s entire nightly illumination. The tower can remain lit for much longer; only the rapid flashing sequence lasts five minutes. Another nearby fact visitors often ask about is frequency: under the usual schedule, the sparkle begins once every hour rather than running continuously.