How to Get to the Eiffel Tower

Do you want to fulfill your dream of climbing the Eiffel Tower and contemplate Paris at your feet in all its splendor? I'll tell you how to get to the monument from wherever you are.

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

9 min read

How to Get to the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower in Paris | ©Jeevan Jose

The Eiffel Tower is located at No. 5 Avenue Anatole France on the esplanade of the Champ de Mars in the heart of Paris. It is the greatest icon of the city and possibly all of France! So getting to know it is one of the essential plans to do in the capital of France.

When organizing your visit, in addition to knowing how to climb the Eiffel Tower or where to eat in the surroundings, you should find out how to get to the Eiffel Tower. If you do not know what are the possibilities at your fingertips, do not worry because this monument is very well connected with public transport and in this post I tell you how you can go there in a jiffy.

Take a walk and enjoy the views

Waiting to go up| ©gckwolfe
Waiting to go up| ©gckwolfe

Although it may seem that the distances in Paris are too long and walking to the Eiffel Tower can be exhausting, in truth it is not so much. If you are one of those people who love to walk and you are not pressed for time, getting to the Eiffel Tower by strolling through the streets of Paris has many advantages:

  • The center is full of interesting tourist attractions such as museums, parks, monuments or stores.
  • You will be able to explore new routes in Paris and discover new places of interest.
  • Taking a walk is also the most economical way to get to the Eiffel Tower because it won't cost you anything.

So if after buying your tickets for the Eiffel Tower you feel like getting there by walking, I show you below the distance from this Parisian icon to other tourist attractions in the city nearby so you can evaluate how much time you will need.

Walking distances from popular sites in the city

Buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower

By metro, to arrive quickly and on time

Metro in Paris| ©FranceHouse
Metro in Paris| ©FranceHouse

In case you prefer to skip the walk through the center, either because you need to give your legs a rest after so much walking or you want to visit the Eiffel Tower as quickly as possible, I recommend you to ride the Paris metro to get there on time.

The main metro lines going to the Eiffel Tower are:

  • Trocadéro station, line 9. A 14-minute walk away.
  • Bir-Hakeim station, line 6. 10 minutes on foot.
  • Ecole Militaire station, line 8. 15 minutes on foot.

How much does a metro ticket cost in Paris?

To get to the Eiffel Tower by metro you can buy from 1,90 € a single ticket. However, if you have the Paris Pass on your vacation you can use the public transport network of the city (bus, RER, metro or streetcar Montmartre tram) for free within zones 1-3. The Eiffel Tower is located in Zone 1.

During your stay in Paris you will probably use this means of transport quite a lot so to know in depth how the Paris metro works, I advise you to read the post How to use the Paris metro.

Buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower

By city bus, comfortable and cheap

Urban Bus Line 82 in Paris| ©Les Chatfield
Urban Bus Line 82 in Paris| ©Les Chatfield

Another convenient and fast way to get to the Eiffel Tower is to travel by city bus because its network is extensive and communicates well the different points of the capital. Also, you can take the time to read this post about How to get tickets to the Eiffel Tower or this one, about How to climb the Eiffel Tower.

Or you can simply enjoy the beautiful urban landscape of the city of Paris is a fantastic option to get to know new neighborhoods and streets. In addition, it is practical and economical, perfect for those tourists traveling in low cost mode, as the single ticket costs from 1.90 €.

The main bus lines that reach the Eiffel Tower are:

  • Eiffel Tower Station (Quai Jacques Chirac), lines 82 and 30. A 4-minute walk away.
  • Eiffel Tower Station (Av. de la Bourdonnais), line 42. 5 minutes on foot.
  • Champs de Mars station (Av. Joseph Boubard). 6 minutes on foot.
  • Eiffel Tower Station (Av. de New York), line 72. 15 minutes on foot.

Buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower

By RER, the fast commuter train

Paris RER| ©Rob Dammers
Paris RER| ©Rob Dammers

The Paris RER (Réseau Express Régional) is a suburban train network that connects the outskirts of the city with the center.

Many Parisians use it in combination with the metro for their commutes because the ticket serves both transports and the two coincide at numerous stations along the route. However, the RER can sometimes move even faster as it does not stop at as many stations.

There are 5 RER lines that operate in the city center like any other metro line. To get to the Eiffel Tower on the RER, line C is the one to take(Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel station). It is a 7-minute walk to the iconic monument.

Buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower

Riding the shared bikes

Vélib public bikes| ©I, Rcsmit
Vélib public bikes| ©I, Rcsmit

To move around the French capital, one of the most used transports by Parisians are the Vélib' public bikes, which you will find distributed in many streets and the Parisian bike lane network is quite wide and safe.

If you like pedaling, renting one of these bikes to get to the Eiffel Tower is a great option. Not only will you be able to discover the city and contemplate the charm of Paris from a different perspective, but you will also help take care of the environment.

The closest Vélib' stations to the Eiffel Tower are the following:

  • Station 2 Av. Octave Gréard. A 1 minute walk away.
  • Station 2 Quai Branly. 4 minutes on foot.
  • Station 43 Avenue Rapp. 2 minutes walk.
  • Station 36 Avenue de Suffren. 5 minutes on foot.

How to use Vélib' bike sharing in Paris?

Vélib' is a self-service bike rental system that everyone can access during their stay in the city. They can be rented 7 days a week and 24 hours a day and there are several options available:

  • The most basic Ticket-V (45 minutes for around €3).
  • The 24 hour pass in Paris (for about 5 or 10 € depending on whether the bike is electric or mechanical).
  • The 3-day pass in Paris (for about 20 €).
  • There are also passes if you plan to spend a long stay in Paris in the city.

You can learn more about this system on the Vélib' website. I recommend you to take a look at it because its operation is very simple and intuitive.

Buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower

By tourist bus taking a ride up to the Eiffel Tower

Paris tourist bus| ©Tilemahos Efthimiadis
Paris tourist bus| ©Tilemahos Efthimiadis

If you plan to visit Paris soon and you have purchased a ticket for the tourist bus with which you can make a tour of the city to show you all its wonders you should know that you can also reach the Eiffel Tower while traveling comfortably seated as if it were a means of transport, but enjoying the beautiful views of Paris and listening to the narration of the guide. It will be a fun experience!

I recommend you to read the post The best tourist buses in Paris to have at hand all the information about the different lines operating in the city:

  • Book a seat on the Big Bus tourist bus: you can enjoy unlimited use of this bus for 24 or 48 hours. In addition, you will have an audio guide and a real bus tracking application at free stops.
  • Book a place on the Toot bus: you can use it from 1 to 3 days and, in addition, this option includes two self-guided walking tours.
  • Book a seat onthe night bus: you can ride for two hours on a bus without a roof and enjoy illuminated monuments such as the Eiffel Tower.

Book a seat on the Toot de Paris bus

By batobus, reach the Eiffel Tower on water

BatoBus| ©Andy Blackledge
BatoBus| ©Andy Blackledge

The batobus are the tourist boats that travel along the Seine River. This option is perfect to get to the Eiffel Tower because it will allow you to go to the monument and at the same time take a short walk along the Seine that will offer you a different view of the city for less money than the cost of a traditional cruise on the Seine.

The price of the batobus varies depending on the number of days you choose for your pass. Thus, you can get a 24-hour pass from 17 € and a 48-hour pass from 19 €.

From the batobus stop at the Eiffel Tower pier you will only have to walk about 4 minutes to the access to the monument.

Buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower

Comparative table

And so that you have access to all the information quickly and visually, here is a comparison table with all the ways you can get to the Eiffel Tower.

  • Walking
  • Price: free
  • Advantages: it is the cheapest way and allows you to explore new routes.
  • Disadvantages: can be tiring and takes more time
  • By subway
  • Price: from 1,90
  • Advantages: it is fast, punctual and economical
  • Disadvantages: it does not allow you to enjoy the sights of Paris
  • By city bus
  • Price: from 1,90
  • Advantages: it is comfortable and allows you to enjoy the views of the city
  • Disadvantages: speed depends on the traffic
  • By suburban train
  • Price: depends on the route
  • Advantages: it is fast, comfortable and allows you to reach the Eiffel Tower from the suburbs.
  • Disadvantages: depending on the station, you will have to change trains.
  • By bike
  • Price: from 3 euros
  • Advantages: it is sustainable, allows you to exercise and enjoy the views
  • Disadvantages: depending on where you are, it can be very tiring.
  • By tourist bus
  • Price: from 35 euros
  • Advantages: you can hop on and off unlimited, it is comfortable, allows you to enjoy the views and get to know the whole city.
  • Disadvantages: the frequency is between 30 and 40 minutes.
  • By batobus
  • Price: from 17 euros
  • Advantages: it is an original way of getting around
  • Disadvantages: you have to find a stop that suits your needs

Bonus track: how to get to the Eiffel Tower from Disneyland Paris?

Car ride| ©Alexandr Podvalny
Car ride| ©Alexandr Podvalny

If you are staying at Disneyland Paris hotels or you have gone to visit the theme park in the morning but you want to finish the day in style contemplating the beauty of the Eiffel Tower at night or dining around the Eiffel Tower, take note because to get to the icon of the French capital you have several options at your fingertips.

By suburban train from Disneyland Paris

Go to the Chessy-Marne la Vallée train station next to Disneyland Paris and take the RER line A there.

The frequency of trains is 10 to 15 minutes and the route duration is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Near the Eiffel Tower there are several stations where you can get off but the views from the Place du Trocadéro will impress you. So I advise you to get off there, but first you have to get off at Charles de Gaulle - Etoile and transfer to line 6 towards Nation. A few minutes later you will arrive at Trocadero.

By car from Disneyland Paris

If you have traveled by car to Disneyland Paris and you also want to use it to go around the French capital and reach the Eiffel Tower, the distance is about 50 km on the A4 freeway. It will take you about 50 minutes depending on the Parisian traffic, which can sometimes be a bit chaotic.

Once there, in the surroundings of the Eiffel Tower there are parking lots where you can park your car while you visit. Here are some of them:

By cab from Disneyland Paris

Although most tourists usually choose the RER train to get to the Eiffel Tower from Disneyland Paris, another option that can also take you there and that we can not rule out is to take a cab to make this journey.

It is true that it is not a very economical transport but it is one of the most comfortable so if the budget is not a problem, it can be a possibility. You only have to book your cab and indicate that you want to go to the Eiffel Tower. From 90 € you can get a transfer in about 50 minutes.