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The Eiffel Tower reopened to visitors on Friday after nine months of shutdown caused by the Covid pandemic, the landmark's longest closure since World War II, AFP reported. 

The lifts of the "Iron Lady" again whisked tourists to its 300-metre (1,000-foot) summit and its majestic views of the French capital as a marching band played.

"It's a gift to be here -- We really love Paris," said Ila, who came from Hamburg, Germany, and waited more than two hours with her daughter Helena to be among the first to the top.

"Tourism is coming back to Paris and we can again share the happiness, with visitors from around the world, of this monument and Paris," said Jean-Francois Martins, head of the tower's operating company.

Daily capacity is set to be restricted to 13,000 people, about half of the normal level, in order to respect social distancing.

And from Wednesday next week, visitors will need to show either proof of vaccination or a negative test, in line with recent government-imposed requirements as Covid cases again begin to climb.

"Obviously it's an additional operational complication, but it's manageable," Martins told AFP.

Early reservations for tickets during the summer holiday period underline how the tourism industry in Paris has changed due to travel restrictions.