How much time should I budget for visiting a major tower like the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building?

Budget 2–3 hours total, depending on crowds and how long you linger. The elevator wait is the wildcard—on a busy day, you might wait 45 minutes just to get up, plus 15–20 for security and ticket pickup. You’ll spend 30 minutes to an hour at the top. For the full experience (both levels, souvenir shop, snack), push it closer to three hours. Off-peak visits can cut that in half.