Getting Eiffel Tower tickets is easy! 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! Different tickets will give you access to different floors and offer you a more or less different experience. In this post, I will explain what you need to know before visiting the Eiffel Tower; suggest the best ways of getting Eiffel Tower tickets, and share some practical tips that will help you make the most of your visit.
Why You Must Visit The Eiffel Tower When In Paris
Paris is (well, was until 2019!) one of the World’s most visited cities, second only to Bangkok. The Eiffel Tower is rightly considered the symbol of Paris, and likely is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the French capital, to the point that 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.
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. He was, however, the person who invested the highest amount of money in the construction and he later on bought the right to the patent. Eiffel even had his very own apartment at the top of the building – which is currently open for visits to those who also go to the summit.
At the time of the construction, the Eiffel Tower attracted a lot of criticism. Most critiques came by the community of Parisian artists, who defined it “monstrous” and who petitioned for the construction to be stopped. The tower was actually 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 in 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. The numbers inevitably fell in 2020, but new procedures for visiting have been put in place and each and every visitor needs to have advanced bookings in order to visit.
Continue reading, as I will explain how you can get your tickets to the Eiffel Tower.
6 Best Ways To Get 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. Let me explain a bit more in depth.
Way N. 1: Buy your Eiffel Tower tickets on the official website
This is the official website to get 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 really is the most budget friendly option.
Tickets sold on the official website cost €11,30 for stairs access to the second floor (please be advised this option is not on sale on the website but can only be bought in person), €18,10 for elevator access to the second floor, €43 for tickets with access to the second floor and elevator (this option is not on sale on the website but can only be bought in person), and €28,30 for the elevator to the summit – these are the prices for adults.
Tickets to the Eiffel Tower via the official website can be bought up to 60 days in advance, except for the stair access tickets which can only be bought in person. Once you purchase the tickets, modifications and cancellations are not permitted, and should you not be able to visit you will not get a refund.
Basic Eiffel Tower tickets only allow you to access the second level, from where you can clearly see Montmartre with the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, and (more clearly) the Arc de Triomphe. You can opt to use the lift or, for a more budget friendly option, take the stairs.
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.
Way N. 2: Buy Eiffel Tower tickets via a third party site
There are a lot of third party sites such as GetYourGuide or Tiqets that you can use to get your ticket, and contrary to the official site you can purchase your access months advance. Contrary to tickets bought on the official site, tickets bought via third party sites can be cancelled or modified up to 24 hours before the visit – you will have an excellent customer service at your disposal to help out with that. They end up being slightly more expensive – but you also have more flexibility.
Get your Eiffel Tower second floor priority access here.
Get your Eiffel Tower stairs climb to second floor, with the possibility of adding the summit, here.
For tickets to the summit or to the second floor, click here or here.
Way N. 3: Take a guided tour
If you want a more in depth experience, one that gives you more information about the tower, opt for a guided tour – whether a group one or a semi-private one – which 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 they 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).
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.
For guided tours of the Eiffel Tower to the second floor, click here or here.
For guided tours of the Eiffel Tower that also go to the summit, click here, here or here.
Way N. 4: 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 Eiffel Tower tickets. This really 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 normally 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!
For an Eiffel Tower morning tour by elevator with Seine River Cruise, click here.
For a Seine River cruise with Eiffel Tower tickets and optional summit visit, click here.
Way N. 5: Take a guided tour of Paris
If you have a day in Paris but still want to make the most of your time there, opting for a guided tour of the city may be a good idea. Tours generally go to all the most famous attractions, including the Eiffel Tower. They generally have a 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.
For more information about full-day guided tours of Paris, click here or here.
Way N. 6: Get the Paris Pass
The only Paris City Card that gives you access to the Eiffel Tower is 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 among two different lists.
You can get your pass here or here. For more information, visit the Paris PassLib page here.
Once you buy the Paris PassLib, you will have to book your time slot for visiting the Eiffel Tower separately.
Useful Information For Visiting The Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower tickets price
As of January 2023, these are the prices of Eiffel Tower tickets via the official website:
STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR – adults €11,30; visitors aged 12 to 24 €5,60; disabled €2,80; visitors aged 4 to 11 €2,80.
LIFT TO THE SECOND FLOOR – adults €18,10; visitors aged 12 to 24 €9; disabled €4,50; visitors aged 4 to 11 €4,50.
LIFT TO THE SUMMIT – adults €28,30; visitors aged 12 to 24 €14,10; disabled €7,10; visitors aged 4 to 11 €7,10.
STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND LIFT TO THE SUMMIT – adults €43; visitors aged 12 to 24 €21,40; disabled €10,80; visitors aged 4 to 11 €10,80.
LIFT TO THE SUMMIT AND A CLASS OF CHAMPAGNE – €47,30
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.
What to do if Eiffel Tower tickets are sold out
Eiffel Tower tickets on the official website are the first one to be sold out, so if you want to get them that way make sure to book in advance and remember you can only book 60 days ahead of your visit. If you can’t get tickets there, you can still try these options:
Get tickets on a third party booking site
The first thing you may want to try 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.
Get your Eiffel Tower ticket here.
Get tickets for the stairs in person
Tickets for the stairs are not sold online, not even on the official website – you can only buy them in person at the ticket counter, on the day of your visit. So, if you are in good shape and don’t mind a bit of exercise, this is a great option. Tickets cost €11,30 for stair access to the second floor, and €43 for stair access to the second floor and elevator to the summit.
Book a guided tour
Alternatively, book a guided tour that allows you to climb the stairs to the second floor and to get an upgrade on the spot to get to the summit. These tours are obviously a bit less popular as they require a work out, so chances are that you’ll be able to book for the day after (for example, I have just checked today and there is availability for tomorrow).
You can book your guided tour with stair access here.
Opening times
The Eiffel Tower is open every day from 9:15 am to 11:45 pm. The last elevator is at 11:00 pm. Stairs are open from 9:15 am to 6:00 pm until the beginning of February except on Saturdays when they close at 10:45 pm. As of 4 February they are open until 10:45 pm.
Money saving tips
If you are on a tight budget, your best bet to save a bit when visiting the Eiffel Tower is to opt for the stairs access and to limit yourself to the second floor (many believe that the views are better from the second floor than from the third floor, anyways).
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 in person!
Security checks
There is no way to avoid security checks at the Eiffel Tower. In fact, since September 2018 even more safety measures are being put in place, and a bullet proof 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.
Length of visit
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.
Eating at the Eiffel Tower
There is one restaurant, Jules Verne, a fine dining places located on the second floor; as well as a buffet restaurant on the esplanade, the first floor and the second floor. A brasserie (Madame Brasserie) is located on the first floor. There even is a champagne bar at the summit of the Eiffel Tower. Jules Verne and Madame Brasserie require advanced bookings.
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.
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 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 of 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 can get your hop on hop off bus ticket here.
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.
You can buy your Batobus ticket here.
Good to know
The weather may affect your visit
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.
There are lines to get down too
With priority Eiffel Tower tickets you can really 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 for the elevator are too long.
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.
Final tips for visiting the Eiffel Tower
Bring your camera
The views of and from the Eiffel Tower are amazing, and you will want to capture them.
And an extra layer
It’s colder on the summit of the Eiffel Tower than it is on the ground: take an extra layer of clothes to wear if you feel chilly.
Wear comfortable shoes
This is especially relevant if you plan to take the stairs up or down.
Beware of pickpockets
Much like all tourist sites, pickpockets hang around the Eiffel Tower. Use some basic safety measures to keep your valuables safe and keep an eye out for scams right outside the tower – you’ll find hordes of vendors trying to push souvenirs on you, those that try to convince you to make a donation for a charity (it’s a well known scam – don’t donate anything!) and those playing the 3 cups and a ball game.
Visit 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
- 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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