Eiffel Tower Tickets and Tours

You can enjoy the Eiffel Tower in many ways, but you have to go up to see the whole city from the top. Here are the best options:

If you want to save time and effort on your visit to the Eiffel Tower and get as soon as possible to the 2nd floor where the best views of Paris await you, these elevator tickets are your best option.

In addition to the convenience of not having to climb the endless stairs to reach the top exhausted, by booking these tickets for the day and time that best suits you, you can also get to the top of the Eiffel Tower if you choose the option. Being one of the most demanded tickets, your reservation in advance is key to enjoy the experience with total peace of mind.

Why I like this option: You ensure a visit to one of the most iconic monuments in the world in the most comfortable and hassle-free way possible.

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Being the mythical Eiffel Tower, this guided tour option with elevator ride and priority access to the top is definitely a good choice. Keep in mind that the history expert guide will accompany you for 2 hours to enrich and fill your visit with context, so you will leave there having known in depth this unique monument.

You will be able to choose between different times to start the tour and, of course, the ascent will also be by elevator. This way you can go straight to the 2nd floor to admire the best views of the city. And if you want to add a plus to enjoy the full experience, I recommend selecting the option with priority access to the top. A panoramic view almost 300 meters above sea level awaits you, mind-blowing!

Why I like this option: The company of a guide will avoid that bittersweet taste that a visit on your own can leave you with in a monument as special as this one.

Before booking your tickets for the Eiffel Tower, please note that there are different types of tickets depending on how you prefer to go up:

• Entrance with stairs: with this ticket you will have to climb more than 650 steps to reach the second floor. However, you will be able to enjoy the views during the ascent comfortably and at your own pace. It is also the most economical option. Even if you book the guided tour option with stairs, you will save on your tickets.
• Tickets for the Eiffel Tower by elevator: It allows you to go up by elevator to the second floor or even the top, depending on the type of ticket. Prices are higher than for stair tickets. Ideal for people with mobility problems or those who cannot do physical exercise.

Regarding the levels of the Eiffel Tower, it has a total of three:

• Second floor: located at 57 meters high, it has an observation deck and partial glass floor that allows you to see underfoot. On this floor there are interactive exhibits on the history and construction of the Tower, the Madame Brasserie Restaurant is located and there is an outdoor terrace.
• Second floor: located at 116 meters high, it offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Paris where you will admire the Louvre, Notre-Dame and even the Sacré-Cœur. It has a narrower observation deck that will amaze you. In addition, souvenir stores are located on this floor and there are buffets for snacks and quick drinks.
• Top: located at 276 meters high, it is the most exclusive experience of the Eiffel Tower and offers a 360° panoramic view. It is only accessible by elevator from the second floor. This floor houses the Bar à Champagne and the reconstruction of Gustave Eiffel's office.

You can book tickets for the Eiffel Tower, starting at $50 Prices will depend on several factors: whether you decide to go up on foot or by elevator, how far in advance you buy your ticket, the schedule or if you choose a guided tour.

Access to the second floor is included in all tickets, but from there the views are not appreciated in all their splendor; to see them you will have to go up to the second floor (on foot or by elevator depending on the ticket you buy) or to the top (only accessible by elevator).

Children under the age of four are free and there are discounts for children and young people up to the age of 25 on ticket prices. Paris Pass holders, however, will have to buy their tickets in the ordinary way. If you want to know more you have all the information here: Eiffel Tower ticket prices

You can buy it by standing in line at the ticket office or on the official Hellotickets website in advance. You will have all the tickets available to book the ticket for the Eiffel Tower that you like and you can select at the time of purchase the day and time.

My advice: book as soon as possible. The Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument in Paris and thousands of tickets are purchased daily. Moreover, if you leave it to improvisation and decide to buy them at the monument itself, in addition to the queues, you run the risk that there are no tickets available.

Regardless of whether you book tickets for the Eiffel Tower where you go up the stairs or by elevator, the added value of the entrance to the Eiffel Tower is the specialized guide who will tell you the history of the monument (because it has one). In addition, when you get to the top he will show you the different areas and monuments of Paris and tell you about the history of the city and everything you need to know to enjoy it to the fullest.

This guided tour includes elevator to the second floor and the option to hire separately the climb to the top. If you are fit, I recommend using the stairs, even if it's just to go down, as part of the experience; they will give you plenty of time to do it at your own pace.

During the whole tour you will be accompanied by a specialized guide who, when you get to the top, will guide you in the view of the city and describe interesting details about all the monuments that compose it. I leave you our post about The best guided tours of the Eiffel Tower where I tell you all about the different tours.

The entrances to the Eiffel Tower are the four legs that compose it and at each of them there are queues to buy tickets. That is why the best option is to book tickets in advance; this way you will only have to wait in the access queue (essential so that the tower is not saturated with visitors and you can enjoy the views) and not also at the ticket offices which are the longest.

My advice is that it is worth paying the difference in price to go all the way to the top. An intermediate option, which for me is the best, is to hire the stairs to the second floor and the elevator to the top. However, tickets to the top are usually sold out. I tell you more about this in our post on How to climb the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower is open every day of the year; from 9 am to midnight in summer and from 9:30 am to 11:30 pm in winter. Unlike many museums in Paris, the monument is not closed on any day of the week, but it is possible that access is occasionally suspended due to repairs, weather conditions or crowds.

In my opinion it is worth seeing the views both day and night and for that to go up before sunset is the best time if you do not want to do it twice. However, it is also one of the most crowded times of the day. If you want to enjoy the views with few people the best time is at dusk and early morning if there is no fog (something that is common in Paris and can "spoil" the views).

The Eiffel Tower's lighting schedule begins at nightfall. At the hour on the hour the tower flashes for five minutes until one o'clock in the morning; these flashes were implemented to celebrate the arrival of the year 2000 and are still active.

In addition, on certain dates or days the lighting of the Eiffel Tower changes, so it is good to check the calendar during your trip in case you have the opportunity to see a different type of lighting.

How to get to the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the most central and well known monument in Paris and can be seen from practically all over the city. You will have no problem walking from anywhere in the center looking at a map and by public transport is also excellently communicated.

If you use the metro line 6 the stop is Bir-Hakeim although, if you have time, I recommend you to walk from the Trocadero stop, on the same line. More information here.

Duration of the visit

You can spend as much time as you want on your visit to the Eiffel Tower depending on how many photos you want to take and how much time you spend climbing stairs or waiting for the elevators.

Most people spend about an hour and a half on the tour, but guided tours usually last about two hours as they go into much more detail and leave the traveler free time to enjoy the tower at their leisure.

Madame Brasserie Restaurant

For an unparalleled Parisian dining experience, don't hesitate to visit Madame Brasserie, an elegant and contemporary restaurant located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.

From a height of 57 meters, you can enjoy panoramic views of Paris. Its dishes are devised by a renowned professional chef and prepared with local and seasonal products.

• Booking a lunch at the Madame Brasserie at the Eiffel Tower, costs from $84 and you can choose between two schedules, 12:00 and 13:30.
• To book a dinner reservation at the Madame Brasserie at the Eiffel Tower, costs from $154 and also offers two services, at 18:30 and 21:00.

Madame Brasserie is in high demand, so I recommend booking in advance due to high demand.

Where to eat in the surroundings

At the Eiffel Tower there are two bars where you can buy some food to go, a Parisian macarons store and two restaurants with a view where you can book and enjoy seasonal French cuisine. If you want to enjoy the experience and indulge in a luxurious treat I recommend the nearby restaurants; the food in the bars is expensive and is only for snacks.

If you want to eat in the area you will have to go a bit further to find restaurants, but I recommend you order a fabulous crepe at the street stall between the Champs de Mars and Trocadero as they make them on the spot and sitting in the area to enjoy the view gives you a more authentic experience than any ordinary restaurant.

Can you climb the Eiffel Tower with children? Of course you can! The Eiffel Tower has sufficient security measures so that you can visit it with children with complete peace of mind. All areas are protected by a safety fence and, as long as they are careful with the stairs, children are not in danger.

Ana's Traveller Tip

Before planning your visit, check the weather and make sure there is no fog; early in the morning it is common in Paris and you will not be able to enjoy the views as much.

Just as important as climbing the Eiffel Tower is observing it from below. The tower is located between the Champs de Mars and the gardens of the Trocadero Palace and the area is ideal, especially with good temperatures, to walk around quietly and with a crepe in hand.

In summer, moreover, it is allowed to lie on the lawn of the Champs de Mars and in the evening there are many groups that gather there for picnics and to see the illumination of the tower. Lying there, unhurried and simply looking up and seeing the tower is a unique experience in Paris. If I may give you a tip, be careful with bags, backpacks, purses, etc.

This area is usually quite crowded and especially at nightfall, it is common to find pickpockets trying to make a killing at the expense of clueless tourists who neglect their belongings while taking pictures of the Iron Lady. Be sure to read our post on tips for visiting the Eiffel Tower.

On the other hand, besides being one of the most visited monuments in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is also one of the most photographed, but from where to take the best pictures of the Eiffel Tower? For tastes, colors; I suggest several places.

Taking advantage of the fact that you are in the area, maybe it's a good time to embark on one of the cruises on the Seine (in fact, there are packages that sell the entrance to the Tower and the cruise on the Seine, so you can save by buying it together). I explain everything in my article of: 8 Best Seine River Cruises.

From Trocadero

You will easily identify the spot because it is the one where all the tourists coincide to take "the typical photo" with the Eiffel Tower in the background. It used to be allowed to climb on the curb of the stairs, but in recent years it was fenced to protect the area and prevent falls; even so, it is easy to miss the fence if you use the right perspective.

From the nearby lawn

The first thing you'll realize when you see the Eiffel Tower for the first time is that, no matter how many photos you've seen, you can't get an idea of its size. Photographing it in its entirety from up close and without a wide-angle lens is practically impossible, but personally I really like the image of the top peeking through the trees.

From the Peace Wall

At the end of the Champs de Mars, the "Wall for Peace" offers a nice perspective to photograph the Eiffel Tower. The monument consists of two glass walls on which the word "Peace" can be read in 32 languages and 18 different alphabets.

From the Alexander III Bridge

The railing of this bridge and the ornamentation of it, also allow beautiful photos of the Eiffel Tower with the river in the background. Be sure to stroll along this bridge of the Third French Republic that crosses the Seine and leads to Les Invalides.

From the rest of Paris

No need to take the perfect, framed, close-up photo of the Eiffel Tower; from different places in Paris you will be able to photograph it easily due to its large size. Try climbing the Arc de Triomphe and taking the photo from there or explore the back of the Sacre Coeur to get a perspective of the Eiffel Tower illuminating Paris. If you have observational skills, you'll have a whole album at your disposal when you return from your trip.

The views from the top of the Eiffel Tower are breathtaking and the highest in Paris. Does that mean they are the best? Not necessarily; although climbing the Eiffel Tower is a must, there are many other places from which you can enjoy aerial views and in many of them with more detail than from the top of the Eiffel Tower for the simple reason that a lower height allows you to better appreciate the details. I recommend:

Notre Dame

The gargoyles of the cathedral of Paris give a special air to the views of the city. It really looks like the gargoyles are watching over the city and the cathedral's location in the center of Paris allows you to appreciate several of the city's monuments. This spot right now is closed after the fire in 2019, but for sure sooner or later, it will be available again.

Montparnasse Tower

Personally, I think this is one of the few elements of Paris that breaks the aesthetics of the city. Why go up then? Because, precisely, from the top of the tower, located in the south of the city, you can't see the tower itself and you can see the rest of the great monuments of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower.

Sacre-Coeur

Perhaps it is because of the atmosphere of the Montmartre district, but the truth is that the experience of contemplating all of Paris from the top of the stairs of the Sacre-Coeur is an impressive experience that binds you even more with a city that catches you even before stepping on it for the first time. The Montmartre district, in general, is an unmissable point of interest that you can't miss on your visit to the city. I have written a guide about 10 Best Tours in Paris in which I tell you how to visit this neighborhood and the places you should not miss.

Tourist bus

Whether you decide on one or several of the attractions that Paris has, you should know that the distances between them are not short, so do not underestimate them. A good way to move around the city between the main points of interest while taking a break from the inevitable walks of your trip, is the tourist bus. Here's a handy guide to everything you need to know before getting your ticket: Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Buses.