Eiffel Tower Tickets in Paris

You can enjoy the Eiffel Tower in many ways, but you have to go up to see the whole city from the top. There are several ways to do it and I'll tell you all about them below.

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You can climb the Eiffel Tower in the morning, in the afternoon, or at sunset. There are four main ways to access the Eiffel Tower, but in the end, the important thing is that you don't miss it! :

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Regardless of whether you take the stairs or the elevator and whether or not you get to the top, the added value of the entry to the Eiffel Tower with a specialized guide: is that they will tell you the history of the monument (because it has one) and that when you get to the top they will show you the different areas and monuments of Paris telling you about the history of the city and everything you need to know to enjoy it to the fullest.

What this tour consists of

This guided climb includes an elevator to the second floor and the option to hire a separate climb to the summit. If you are fit, I recommend using the stairs, if only to descend, as part of the experience; they will give you plenty of time to do it at your own pace.

Throughout the tour you are accompanied by a specialized guide who, when you get to the top, orients you in the view of the city and describes interesting details about all the monuments that compose it. In short, the guided tour describes Paris and all its emblems and there is no better place to do that than from the heights of what is the most representative place of the city.

You can visit the Eiffel Tower by day or by night, but this tour of the Eiffel Tower with audioguide in several languages is designed for you to do it at sunset. You can buy tickets in advance, save queues and visit the monument at your own pace, but without missing the explanations of an expert on everything you can see from the top.

Combined ticket to climb the Eiffel Tower and take a cruise on the Seine River

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As an emblematic monument of Paris, it is easy to find tourist offers that combine the guided tour of the Eiffel Tower with any other activity characteristic of the city. One of the most relevant options is the one that includes the entry to the Eiffel Tower without queues and a cruise along the banks of the Seine from which you will enjoy the views of the Louvre or the Notre Dame Cathedral.

What this tour consists of

During this half day tour of Paris of about three and a half hours you will be accompanied at all times by a specialized guide who will not only show you details of the city of Paris, but will also be at your disposal to give you the tips and recommendations you want to make the most of your trip to the city of light. A recommended option to visit two of the main tourist attractions of the city without stress or waiting and saving money.

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You can buy it by standing in line at the ticket office or at the official website: in advance. Remember that depending on the elevator sections you choose will have a price or another and account that in the elevators there may be a queue because not everyone can go up at the same time.

Children under four years of age do not pay and there are discounts for children and young people up to 25 years of age on the price of tickets. People with reduced mobility can also access the tower. Paris Pass holders, however, will have to buy their tickets in the ordinary way as this is one of the very few monuments that are not included in the Paris travel cards.

Ana's Traveller Tip

To visit the Eiffel Tower on your own, combine the walk up to the second floor and the elevator to the top for a more economical entrance fee and to enjoy all the views.

Information about the visit to the Eiffel Tower

Accesses

The entrances to the Eiffel Tower are the four legs that compose it and in each of them there are queues of tourists to buy tickets. That is why the best option is to book the 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.

Price and tickets

The price of tickets for the Eiffel Tower depends on whether or not you choose a guided tour and whether you choose to walk up the stairs or take the elevator. 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 dome (only accessible by elevator).

My advice is that it is worth paying the difference in price (about 9 euros) 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.

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When to go

The Eiffel Tower is open every day of the year; from 9 a.m. to midnight in summer and from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. in winter. Unlike many museums in Paris, the monument is not closed on any day of the week, but access may be suspended from time to time due to repairs, weather conditions or crowds.

In my opinion it's worth seeing the views both day and night and for that going up before sunset is the best time if you don't 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).

Night lighting

The Eiffel Tower's lighting schedule begins at nightfall. At the hour on the dot the tower launches 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 there

The Eiffel Tower is the most central and well known monument in Paris and can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. You won't have any problems to get there walking from any point in the center by looking at a map and by public transport it 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.

Duration of 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 one hour on average 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.

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

If you want to eat in the area you will have to go a bit further to find restaurants, but I recommend that you order a fabulous crepe at the street stall between the Champs de Mars and Trocadero because 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.

The Eiffel Tower with children
The Eiffel Tower has safety measures sufficient for you to visit with children. All areas are protected by a safety fence and, as long as you are careful with the stairs, children are not at risk.

Ana's Traveller Tip

Before planning your sightseeing, 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.

Practical tips for visiting the Eiffel Tower and surroundings

As important as climbing the Eiffel Tower is to observe 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 to picnic and watch the illumination of the tower.

Lying there, unhurried and simply looking up and seeing the tower is a unique experience in Paris. If you allow me a piece of advice, be careful with bags, backpacks, purses, etc. This area is usually quite crowded and especially at nightfall, there are often pickpockets trying to make a killing at the expense of clueless tourists who neglect their belongings while taking pictures of the Iron Lady.

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 where to take the best pictures of the Eiffel Tower? To suit all tastes, I suggest several places.

Taking advantage of the fact that you are in the area, maybe it is a good time to embark on one of the Seine cruises (in fact, there are packages that sell the entrance to the Tower and the Seine cruise, so you can save by buying it together). I explain everything in my article at: 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 the curb of the stairs, but in recent years it has been fenced off 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 will realize when you see the Eiffel Tower for the first time is that, no matter how many photos you have 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 out between trees.

From the Wall for Peace

At the end of the Champs de Mars, the "Peace Wall " 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 its ornamentation, 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

You don't have to take the perfect, framed, close-up photo of the Eiffel Tower; from different locations in Paris you can easily photograph it 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.

Ana's Traveller Tip

Don't miss the view of the Eiffel Tower from the Peace Wall of the Champ de Mars, where you can also photograph it without crowds of people.

10. Attractions with views similar to the Eiffel Tower in Paris

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 in the city from which you can enjoy aerial views of Paris 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 personally recommend three:

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 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 you set foot 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 Paris Tours: 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 to offer, you should know that the distances between them are not short, so don't underestimate them. A good way to move around the city between the main points of interest while taking a break from the inevitable walking of your trip, is the tourist bus. Here's a handy guide on everything you need to know before getting your ticket: Hop on Hop off Bus Tours.