Are you wondering where to buy Eiffel Tower tickets?
I have been to Paris a bunch of times and never miss a chance to go up the Eiffel Tower, so I know every hack to plan your visit. Follow my guide to find the way that best suits you.
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most beautiful, iconic places to visit in Paris, the Ville Lumiere. Seen from the banks of the River Seine it looks imposing, beautiful and shiny at the same time. Not only the tower looks incredible – but from it, you can enjoy one of the best views in Paris.
You simply can’t go to Paris and not visit the Eiffel Tower! However, you may be a bit confused about the kind of ticket to get. Indeed, different tickets will give you access to different floors and offer you a more or less different experience.
Visiting Paris soon? You must book your tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower. These are the best options:
In this post, I will explain what you need to know before visiting the Eiffel Tower; suggest how to get Eiffel Tower tickets, and share some practical tips that will help you make the most of your visit.
Where To Buy Eiffel Tower Tickets
There are several ways to get Eiffel Tower tickets. There are several kinds of e-tickets, some including a more in depth visit with access to all levels, or even a guided tour, others being very basic.
Use the Eiffel Tower tickets official site
This is the Eiffel Tower tickets official site. This is the overall best place to buy Eiffel Tower tickets. Booking the tickets is extremely easy – pick the floor you want, pick a time for your visit, and you don’t even need to print the tickets. This is where to buy Eiffel Tower tickets if you really want the bare basics.
These are the prices of Eiffel Tower tickets on the official website:
STAIRS ACCESS TO THE SECOND FLOOR – €11,80 adults, €5,90 youth (age 12-24); €3 reduced (disabled and children between 4 and 11).
ELEVATOR ACCESS TO THE SECOND FLOOR – €18,80 adults, €9,40 youth (age 12-24); €4,70 reduced (disabled and children between 4 and 11).
STAIR ACCESS TO THE SECOND FLOOR + ELEVATOR TO THE SUMMIT – €22,40 adults, €11,20 youth (age 12-24); €5,70 reduced (disabled and children between 4 and 11). This option is not on sale on the website but can be bought in person.
ELEVATOR TO THE SUMMIT – €29,40 adults, €14,70 youth (age 12-24); €7,40 reduced (disabled and children between 4 and 11).
The cheapest tickets only allow you to access the second level, from where you can see Montmartre with the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, and (more clearly) the Arc de Triomphe. You have the option of taking the stairs – which is super budget-friendly – or taking the elevator.
The official website sells tickets up to 60 days in advance (except for stair access which can be bought 14 days in advance). Once you purchase the tickets on the official website, modifications and cancellations are not permitted, and should you not be able to visit you will not get a refund.
In case you want to go all the way to the summit, purchase your summit tickets in advance, because you can’t buy them once you are already in the tower.
Buy tickets to the Eiffel Tower via a third-party site
This is how to buy Eiffel Tower tickets without guide if you are looking for a more user-friendly booking option and if you want to book your tickets a bit more in advance than on the official website.
There are many third-party sites such as GetYourGuide or Tiqets that you can use to get your ticket.
Tickets to the Eiffel Tower bought on third-party sites end up being slightly more expensive than those bought on the official website, as there often is a guide escorting you through security.
Should you need it, you will have excellent customer service via phone, email or even WhatsApp, in your language of choice and at your disposal to help out with whatever requests you may have.
You can find tickets to the Eiffel Tower on the third-party booking site Tiqets – it’s one of my favorites. They sell tickets to the second floor – these are not refundable and can’t be modified.
Otherwise, I recommend getting tickets to the summit via GetYourGuide – in this case, you will have a flexible cancellation policy up to 24 hours before your visit.
The best option is this Eiffel Tower second-floor priority access sold on GetYourGuide – it’s conveniently priced and includes a guide that will escort you through security, but it is not refundable.
Take a guided tour
This is how to get Eiffel Tower tickets if you want a more in-depth experience. A guided tour – whether a group one or a semi-private one – normally includes access to the summit. That’s where Gustave Eiffel’s secret apartment is located.
Various companies offer guided tours of the Eiffel Tower, and tours are super easy to book and usually allow free cancellation.
You just pick a date and time, and that’s all done – they will be the ones booking the slot directly and all you have to do is show up at the place and time suggested in your voucher (which you don’t even have to print).
All companies that sell tours of the Eiffel Tower have an email or number you can call or even use to chat via WhatsApp if you need it, and there always is someone that can communicate in your language.
There are various options for guided tours – some include access to the second floor only, others go to the summit. You can expect to pay a minimum of €50 for a tour, depending on which floor you decide to visit. Obviously, the higher you go, the more expensive it will be.
My top recommendation is this Eiffel Tower tour with elevator to the summit – it’s one of the best-reviewed tours and it’s the tour I took the last time I visited. I truly enjoyed it!
My favorite option for a tour that includes access to the second floor is this quick tour that also includes the summit option – it’s very conveniently priced. The tour lasts 75 minutes but you get to spend time on your own after it ends.
Finally, you have the option of booking this small group tour sold on GetYourGuide that has glowing reviews. You’ll have the option of adding a Seine River Cruise too.
For more guided tours of the Eiffel Tower to the second floor, check out Hello Tickets, a fantastic third-party booking site.
Get a combo ticket for the Eiffel Tower and a Seine River Cruise
If cruising along the Seine River if on your list of things to do in Paris, purchase a tour that includes a River Seine cruise and tickets to the Eiffel Tower.
This is a wonderful way to experience the most famous attraction in Paris, and to get splendid views – of the city, and of the tower itself – from the river.
The cruise lasts about one hour, and after that, you’ll get priority access to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, where you can spend as much time as you want. You can also add the summit if you want.
Prices start at €85 – which considering what you get is great value for money!
I recommend this Eiffel Tower morning tour by elevator with Seine River Cruise – it’s an excellent option. You will be escorted but keep in mind you won’t actually have a live guide with you. The overall experience lasts 3 hours.
There’s also the option of this Seine River cruise with tickets to the Eiffel Tower and optional summit visit – it does not last as long, but you will be in a smaller group which I think is an added bonus.
Make sure to also read my post The Best Seine River Cruise Options.
Take a guided tour of Paris
If you have a day in Paris but still want to make the most of your time in the city, opting for a full-day guided tour may be a good idea. Tours generally go to all the most famous attractions, including the Eiffel Tower.
They have a live guide and can be quite expensive, starting at around €165 for the full day. It’s not so bad if you think you’ll be on an 8-hour tour that will take you to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and on a Seine River Cruise.
My recommended option for guided tours that include access to the Eiffel Tower is this Paris in a Day tour on Take Walks – I tried this tour once and fount it to be one of the most complete tours on sale online. You will have an excellent, knowledgeable local guide to learn more about the places you will be visiting without any hassle.
Get the Paris Pass
If you are thinking about getting a city pass for your trip to Paris, beware that not all city passes in Paris include Eiffel Tower tickets, so you have to be careful about what you buy.
The only Paris cards that includes Eiffel Tower tickets is the Paris PassLib.
With the Paris PassLib, you can pick among various options depending on how many attractions you want to include. The cheapest option that also includes Eiffel Tower second floor access costs €69 for a total of 5 attractions you can pick from two different lists.
You can get your Paris PassLib here or here. For more information, visit the Paris PassLib page here.
I don’t believe this is the best way to get Eiffel Tower tickets, because once you buy the pass you still have to book the time slot to the attraction separately.
It’s a rather cumbersome procedure, because if you buy the city pass last minute, the Eiffel Tower may be sold out already, and if you buy it well in advance, time slots may not be available yet – so you need to set a reminder to do it.
Another option, which I prefer, is the Paris City Card sold on Tiqets. It includes tickets to the Eiffel Tower (with options to access various levels), as well as tickets to the Louvre and a Seine River cruise.
What’s great about it is that you can actually pick a time slot for the various places you intend to visit directly on the site, on the day you purchase your Paris City Card, and without having to visit the official site of each single attraction.
Given what it includes, it is quite conveniently priced and probably the best way to book Eiffel Tower tickets if you are planning to see the Louvre anyway.
Get your Paris City Card on Tiqets.
FAQ For Visiting The Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower tickets price
These are the prices of tours and tickets to the Eiffel Tower bought via the official website:
STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR – adults €11,80; visitors aged 12 to 24 €5,90; disabled €3; visitors aged 4 to 11 €3.
LIFT TO THE SECOND FLOOR – adults €18,80; visitors aged 12 to 24 €9,40; disabled €4,70; visitors aged 4 to 11 €4,70.
LIFT TO THE SUMMIT – adults €29,40; visitors aged 12 to 24 €14,70; disabled €7,40; visitors aged 4 to 11 €7,40.
STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND LIFT TO THE SUMMIT – adults €22,40; visitors aged 12 to 24 €11,20; disabled €5,70; visitors aged 4 to 11 €5,70.
LIFT TO THE SUMMIT AND A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE – €51,40.
LIFT TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE – €37,80.
STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE – €30,80.
LIFT TO THE SUMMIT AND BRUNCH AT MADAME BRASSERIE – adults €109,40; visitors aged 12 to 24 €94,70; visitors aged 4 to 11 €57,40.
GUIDED TOUR TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND ACCESS TO THE SUMMIT – adults €59,40; visitors aged 12 to 24 €44,70; disabled €27,40; visitors aged 4 to 11 €27,40.
GUIDED TOUR TO THE SECOND FLOOR – adults €48,80; visitors aged 12 to 24 €39,40; disabled €24,70; visitors aged 4 to 11 €24,70.
Please note that children aged 3 or under can enter for free but they still have to get a (free) ticket. Discounted rates are only available for youth, children under the age of 11 (accompanied by an adult) and disabled, who’ll be required documentation on their disability.
When do Eiffel Tower tickets go on sale?
I often get asked “what time do Eiffel Tower tickets go on sale?” or when to buy Eiffel Tower tickets.
Tickets to the Eiffel Tower via the official website can be bought up to 60 days in advance, except for the stair access tickets to the second floor which can only be bought 14 days before your visit; and the stairs tickets to the second floor and elevator to the summit which can only be bought in person on the day of your visit.
Can you buy Eiffel Tower tickets on the day?
When readers ask me “Do you need to buy Eiffel Tower tickets in advance?” my simple answer is yes.
You can buy Eiffel Tower tickets on the day of your visit and in person if you want to challenge yourself with the stairs access, otherwise, availability for elevator access is always very limited and you may stand in line for a while only to discover that there are no tickets available.
How to book Eiffel Tower tickets if they are sold out
Eiffel Tower tickets official website is the first one to sell out, so if you want to get tickets that way make sure to book in advance and remember you can only book 60 days ahead of your visit.
Are Eiffel Tower tickets sold out for the day you wish to visit? Don’t worry, here’s how to get Eiffel Tower tickets last minute.
If you are up for a workout and for climbing 674 steps and don’t care to go to the summit, you have the option of getting Eiffel Tower tickets to the second floor via the stairs. These are the best Eiffel Tower tickets (they only cost €11,30 for adults) for budget travelers and there’s always availability.
What’s great about them is that you can book online in advance – staircase tickets go on sale 14 days in advance. But you can also buy these tickets in person, and there is usually very little waiting time to access.
I do not recommend this option for families with small children and for visitors with reduced mobility.
Otherwise, the best place to buy Eiffel Tower tickets if they are sold out on the official site is a third party booking site. These kind of sites buy tickets in bulk and have more flexible cancellation policies, so you may be lucky to find a spare ticket – perhaps thanks to someone who has cancelled.
I recommend getting Eiffel Tower tickets without guide on GetYourGuide – this is my favorite site to book tickets and tours in general. It’s reliable and has a great customer service.
Availability for staircase tickets to the second floor and then the elevator to the summit is significantly more limited, but there’s the option to book an escorted entrance on a third-party booking site.
These sorts of tours are obviously a bit less popular as they require a workout, so chances are that you’ll be able to book for the day after (for example, I have just checked now and there is availability for tomorrow).
I recommend this escorted ticket with optional summit access as it is very conveniently priced. You will meet your guide at a previously agreed meeting point and be escorted through the security and from there on you can visit on your own.
Opening times
During the summer months, the Eiffel Tower is open every day from 8:45 am to 00:45 am (last admission is at 11:45 pm). The first elevator is at 9:00 am and the last elevator is at midnight. Stairs are open from 9:00 am to 11:45 pm.
For up-to-date information on the opening hours in other seasons, you should check the official website no more than 60 days before your visit.
How long does it take to visit the Eiffel Tower?
Expect to spend anything between 1.5 to 2.5 hours at the Eiffel Tower, depending on whether or not your ticket includes a summit visit.
One important thing to point out is that with priority tickets to the Eiffel Tower you can cut the amount of time you have to wait for the elevator to go up. The same can’t be said about getting down. Expect lines – especially on the summit. You can take the stairs from the second or first floor if the lines are too long.
Cheapest tickets
If you are on a tight budget and are looking for cheap Eiffel Tower tickets, opt for the stairs access and limit yourself to the second floor (many believe that the views are better from the second floor than from the third floor, anyway). This option only costs €11,30 for adults.
There are 674 steps from the entry point to the 2nd floor: only do it if you are fit for the exercise.
Stairs tickets can only be bought 14 days before the date of your visit.
Is The Eiffel Tower Worth Visiting?
Whenever someone asks me “is the Eiffel Tower worth visiting?” I do not doubt saying yes!
Paris is one of the World’s most visited cities. The Eiffel Tower is rightly considered the symbol of Paris, and is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the French capital. Many (including myself) think that going to Paris without visiting it would be a bit like going to Rome and not visit the Colosseum or to New York and skipping the Statue of Liberty.
To appreciate it more, let me share a bit of its facts and history.
Shooting into the sky with its 324 meters, the Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron lattice tower that was built in 22 months between 1 July 1887 and 1898 to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution in 1889, during the World Expo.
It didn’t really have any specific purpose, other than that of impressing visitors to the fair.
Named after Gustave Eiffel, the tower wasn’t actually designed by Eiffel himself, but by Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, who worked in the same company as Mr Eiffel did.
Gustave Eiffel was the person who invested the most in the construction and he later on bought the patent rights. He even had his very own apartment at the summit of the building – you’ll see it if you go there.
At the time of its construction, the Eiffel Tower attracted a lot of criticism. Most critics came by Parisian artists, who defined it as “monstrous” and petitioned for the construction to be stopped.
The tower was meant to be dismantled 1909. However, the fact that an antenna was placed in its summit to conduct wireless signals (it is still used as a communication tower for both radio and digital television) and the fact that it progressively became more and more famous saved it from being demolished.
For four decades after its construction, the tower remained the tallest building in the world. It was only in 1930, with the construction of the Chrysler Building in New York, that it lost its title.
Affectionately named “The Iron Lady,” the monument was initially a reddish-brown color. Ten years after its construction, it was painted yellow. Its current color, known as “Eiffel Tower Brown,” was first painted in 1968 and is reapplied every seven years, manually.
To date, this is the place where celebrations such as those for Bastille Day – commemorating the beginning of the French Revolution on 14 July – or those for New Year’s take place.
Up until the end of 2019, around 7 million people visited the Eiffel Tower each year. That was an average of more than 19000 visitors every day. In 2022, almost 6 million visited, and the numbers increased in 2023.
Each and every visitor now needs to have advanced bookings in order to visit.
Useful Information To Visit The Eiffel Tower
How to get to the Eiffel Tower
You will find the Eiffel Tower on the north end of the Champ de Mars, one of Paris’ most famous parks. Getting there is fairly easy. Here are your options:
BY METRO – Various subway lines will take you to the Eiffel Tower. You can get line 6 (stopping at Bir Hakeim), 8 (stopping at Trocadéro) or 9 (stopping at Ecole Militaire). Alternatively, hop on RER commuter rail line C, and get off at Champs de Mars.
BY BUS – Buses 69 and 87 both stop at Champs de Mars. You can also use buses 42 or 82, which stop at Tour Eiffel.
BY HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS – This is a good option if you want to go on a tourist round of Paris. You will have to stop at either Champs de Mars or Eiffel Tower. You have the option of a one or two-day pass.
BY BATOBUS – Similar to a hop-on hop-off bus service, but this one is by boat so the added bonus is that you get to see the Eiffel Tower from the river perspective. You can get a one or a two-day pass and hop on and off at one of the various stops along the Seine. This is actually an excellent option for a Seine River Cruise too!
Security checks
There is no way to avoid security checks at the Eiffel Tower. In fact, since September 2018 even more safety measures are in place, and a bulletproof glass perimeter 3 meters (9.8 feet) tall surrounds the tower.
Security checks are pretty similar to airport ones: you have to go through a metal detector and have your bags scanned.
Avoid taking any of the prohibited items to speed the process.Things you can’t take include weapons, knives (including pocket knives), glass bottles, cans, strollers that don’t fold, bulky bags, animals unless they are certified guide dogs.
Eating at the Eiffel Tower
There is a Michelin-starred restaurant, Jules Verne, located on the second floor, which you need to reserve well in advance.
A brasserie (Madame Brasserie) is located on the first floor – again, advanced bookings are required.
You can book your lunch at Madame Brasserie on GetYourGuide at a very convenient price. It’s a 3-course meal and the price also includes the elevator access to the first floor.
You will also find a buffet restaurant on the esplanade, on the first floor and the second floor. There even is a champagne bar at the summit of the Eiffel Tower.
Toilets at the Eiffel Tower
Toilets can be found at the floor level, on the first and second floor and even on the summit. Baby changing facilities are not available at the summit toilets. Disabled toilets are located on the main level, on the first and second floor.
Accessibility of the Eiffel Tower
All floors of the Eiffel Tower can be accessed via elevator – which is good news for visitors with limited mobility or on a wheelchair. For safety reasons wheelchairs are not allowed to go to the summit.
Luggage storage facilities in or near the Eiffel Tower
There are no luggage storage facilities at the tower or in its immediate surroundings. Don’t take your heavy backpacks or suitcases with you – leave them in storage at your hotel or at the train station.
The best time of day to visit the Eiffel Tower
The best time to visit the Eiffel Tower is in the early morning and in the first hours of the afternoon, when visibility is at its best. Sunset is a very popular time to go.
In the evening, the Eiffel Tower is beautifully illuminated.
What to wear and bring when visiting the Eiffel Tower
When visiting the Eiffel Tower, I recommend wearing comfortable clothes and – even more importantly – comfortable shoes. This is especially relevant if you plan to take the stairs up or down.
Another thing to remember is to bring an extra layer: it’s colder on the summit of the Eiffel Tower than it is on the ground.
Don’t forget to bring your camera! The views from the Eiffel Tower are amazing, and you will want to capture them.
There’s not much you can do about it, but things such as clouds, fog and rain may affect your views from the Eiffel Tower. It is pretty much always windy at the summit.
Pickpockets and scams outside the Eiffel Tower
Much like all tourist sites, pickpockets hang around the Eiffel Tower. Use some common-sense safety measures to keep your valuables safe.
You should also and keep an eye out for scams right outside the tower – the most common ones are people asking for donations to charities (ie for the deaf) and the 3-cups and a ball game.
Nearby attractions
Among the places you can easily visit near the Eiffel Tower there are the Champs de Mars, the Trocadero and the Champs-Elysées.
Further Readings
Are you planning a trip to Paris and France? Don’t forget to read my other posts:
- A Guide To The 11 Best Cities To Visit In France
- The Best Museums In Paris
- The Best Paris Travel Tips
- What To Do In Le Marais
- A Week In Paris Itinerary: What To See And Do
- How To Get Tickets To The Louvre
- How To Get Musee D’Orsay Tickets
- How To Get Versailles Tickets
- A Wonderful Itinerary For 5 Days In Paris
- A Fantastic Itinerary To See Paris In 4 Days
- Paris In 3 Days: A Great Itinerary To Make The Most Of It
- A Fabulous Itinerary For 2 Days In Paris
- 15 Amazing Day Trips From Paris
- How To Get From Charles De Gaulle Airport CDG To Paris
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