Eiffel Tower: Tickets and Tours

With more than 7 million visitors every year, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Erected by Gustave Eiffel to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has long been an icon of Paris.

Grab your Eiffel Tower tickets and explore the three observation levels to enjoy unparalleled views of the city. An incredible architectural feat, the Eiffel Tower is a must-see for first-time visitors to Paris.

Here's your ultimate guide to Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic attractions in Paris.

How much do Eiffel Tower tickets cost?

The cost of tickets to the Eiffel Tower depends on which level of the tower you would like to visit and if you wish to use the stairs or the lift.

1 – Eiffel Tower tickets with lift access to the second floor

This ticket offers access to the first and second floors of the Eiffel Tower via the lift.

• Adult (aged 25 and above): €18.80
• Youth (aged 12 to 24): €9.40
• Child (aged 4 to 11): €4.70
• People with disabilities: €4.70
• Child (under 4): Free

2 – Eiffel Tower tickets with lift access to the summit

This ticket provides access to all three floors of the Eiffel Tower via the lift.

• Adult (aged 25 and above): €29.40
• Youth (aged 12 to 24): €14.70
• Child (aged 4 to 11): €7.40
• People with disabilities: €7.40
• Child under 4: Free

3 – Eiffel Tower tickets with stairs access to the second floor

This ticket provides access to the first and second floors of the Eiffel Tower via the stairs. These tickets are only available online 14 days in advance.

• Adult (aged 25 and above): €11.80
• Youth (aged 12 to 24): €5.90
• Child (aged 4 to 11): €3.00
• People with disabilities: €3.00
• Child under 4: Free

4 – Eiffel Tower tickets with stairs and lift access to the summit

This ticket provides access to the second floor via the stairs and access to the summit via the lift. Note that this ticket is only available to purchase at the Eiffel Tower and is not sold online.

• Adult (aged 25 and above): €22.40
• Youth (aged 12 to 24): €11.20
• Child (aged 4 to 11): €5.70
• People with disabilities: €5.70
• Child under 4: Free

5 – Eiffel Tower tickets with lift access to the summit and a glass of champagne

This ticket includes lift access to all three floors and a glass of champagne at the top.

• Adult (aged 25 and above): €51.40

Who is eligible for discounted Eiffel Tower tickets?

Numerous people are eligible for discounts on tickets to the Eiffel Tower.

Youth between the ages of 12 and 24 qualify for a discount, while children between the ages of 4 and 11 get a further reduced rate. Children under 4 can enter the Eiffel Tower for free but will still require a ticket.

People with disabilities also qualify for discounts, typically at the same rate as the youth ticket.

It’s important to have your ID and the relevant documentation with you to prove your eligibility for a discount.

Can you visit the Eiffel Tower for free?

It is possible to visit parts of the Eiffel Tower for free. While it is not possible to access any of the floors of the Eiffel Tower for free, anyone is able to visit the surrounding gardens and esplanade for free and walk beneath the magnificent Eiffel Tower.

Should you book Eiffel Tower tickets in advance?

It is highly advisable that you book your tickets to the Eiffel Tower in advance. Millions of people visit the Eiffel Tower every year, and tickets sell out fast.

There are also numerous benefits to booking your tickets in advance. With a pre-booked ticket, you can go straight to security checks before entering the Eiffel Tower and skip the queues at the ticket office.

Another advantage of booking your tickets in advance is that you will have a greater selection of dates and times to choose from. By booking ahead, you will have more entry-time options to select from, whether you desire a daytime or nighttime visit.

You can book tickets to the Eiffel Tower up to 60 days in advance. Keep in mind that you can only book tickets to the second floor via the stairs 14 days in advance. Tickets that include both stairs and lift access to the summit can only be bought from the ticket offices and not online.

What are the most popular Eiffel Tower tours?

While there are no tours offered by the Eiffel Tower, there are a variety of guided tours of the monument which you can take advantage of.

It is important to note that while guided tours do cost slightly more than visiting the tower on your own, guided tours do provide you with an experience that you just won’t get on your own. Ask all the questions you may have of your tour guide, and learn more about the history of this fascinating monument.

If you are truly interested in learning about the Eiffel Tower and having a unique experience, these are some of the best tours on offer.

Audio-guided tours of the Eiffel Tower

If you like the appeal of a guided tour, but you’re on a budget, an audio-guided tour offers an informative alternative that also allows you to go at your own pace.

You can book an audio-guided tour that goes either to the second or the third floor. The audio guide will be downloadable as a mobile app and will be available in multiple languages.

An audio-guided tour lasts approximately 2 hours and will help you see the best of the Eiffel Tower. With these tickets, you’ll also still be able to skip the queues!

Guided  Eiffel Tower group tours

On a guided group tour, enjoy an insightful foray into the history and little-known facts of the Eiffel Tower.

A guided group tour is an excellent way of exploring the Eiffel Tower while benefiting from your guide’s wealth of knowledge. They’ll share with you the story of Gustave Eiffel, stories from the construction, and details about everything from the lights to the paint.

Make sure you pick a guided tour that includes access to the top for the phenomenal views. Along your journey, your guide will point out other notable landmarks in Paris, including the Louvre, Notre Dame, Montmartre and the Arc de Triomphe.

A guided group tour can last anywhere between 1.5 hours and 6 hours, depending on whether you choose to combine it with other activities like a boat cruise on the Seine.

For a more adventurous tour, you can opt for a guided climbing tour. Ascend the hundreds of stairs to the second floor with your guide, learning fascinating facts along the way. You can choose to include the elevator trip to the top beforehand.

Tours with lunch or dinner in the Eiffel Tower

France has one of the most delectable cuisines in the world, and there’s no opportunity like treating yourself to lunch or dinner from within the Eiffel Tower itself.

Opt for a guided tour that includes a lunch reservation, and savor your meal from the first floor of the tower at Madame Brasserie. Admire views across the city while indulging in a fine Parisian dish. If you’re more interested in an evening excursion, book a tour that includes dinner instead!

You can also simply book tickets for lunch or dinner and enjoy access to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of menu options and decide between 3- and 4-course meals and what drinks you’d prefer.

Alternatively, make reservations at either Madame Brasserie or Jules Verne, a Michelin-starred restaurant on the second floor, outside of a tour for this exquisite culinary experience.

Eiffel Tower night tours

The experience of the Eiffel Tower at night is completely different than at daytime and well worth a tour. Soak up the ambiance of an evening in Paris and admire the City of Lights from its tallest structure.

Every night, the Eiffel Tower is lit up in golden light and sparkles every hour and can be admired from the second floor. For a truly romantic excursion, opt for a night tour that also includes a Seine river cruise at dusk with a glass of champagne.

Private Eiffel Tower tours

If you’re looking for a more personalized experience, a private tour of the Eiffel Tower is for you. Enjoy the undivided attention of your guide for just you and your group, and enjoy greater flexibility in your itinerary.

While private tours may cost more than group tours, they offer a greater level of freedom and allow you to ask your tour guide as many questions as possible.

On a private tour, you may also visit other notable monuments in Paris, and your guide can offer valuable advice on visiting them. After your tour, you’ll also be able to continue exploring the Eiffel Tower at your own pace.

Are there any combined tickets including the Eiffel Tower?

If you wish to visit several attractions during your vacation in Paris, booking a combined tour including the Eiffel Tower is a great opportunity to save money and make the most of your time in the city.

You may find below the most popular combined tickets.

• Eiffel Tower + Seine River cruise – See the Eiffel Tower and cruise the Seine River on a luxury boat.
• Eiffel Tower + Versailles – Climb the Eiffel Tower and visit the famous Versailles Palace.
• Eiffel Tower + Moulin Rouge Show – Visit the Eiffel Tower and watch a spectacular Moulin Rouge show.
• Eiffel Tower + Louvre Museum – Enjoy the view from the Eiffel Tower and then head to the world-famous Louvre Museum.

What will you experience at the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel tower is one of the most popular attractions in the world. Discover a historical and artistic tower, one which was built in 1887 and completed in 1889. It’s the creation of the famous Gustave Eiffel, a true artistic and architectural genius.

Today, the Eiffel Tower features a wide variety of high-quality restaurants, coffee shops, and gift shops on every floor. Enjoy a fantastic view of miles and miles of Paris, all from the summit of the tower, or see the Eiffel Tower illuminated at night with spectacular lights.

Here is all you can expect to see on your trip to the Eiffel Tower.

The gardens

Surrounding the Eiffel Tower are stunning gardens replete with ponds, thousands of plants, some wildlife and even a small waterfall.

These gardens existed here before the Eiffel Tower was built and have been recently redeveloped in the style of the original Belle Epoque gardens.

Divided to the east and west of the Eiffel Tower, head to the belvederes for unique viewing points of the monument. Keep an eye out for a 200-year-old sycamore, the oldest tree in the gardens, as well as the historic chimney which once let out steam from the elevators.

The esplanade

The area located beneath the Eiffel Tower is known as the esplanade, and it’s from here that you will access the lift and stairs to reach the monument floors. You can stand on the esplanade and look directly up into the Eiffel Tower to gain an appreciation for the magnitude and intricacy of its construction.

While here, you can also see a bust of Gustave Eiffel, the engineer after whom the Eiffel Tower is named.

First floor

The first floor of the Eiffel Tower provides expansive and unique views of the tower and its surrounds, places to relax, famous restaurants and insights into the monument's history.

Walk along the outer passages of the tower to engage with interactive displays that offer new insight into the Eiffel Tower, or head to the Ferrié Pavilion to browse the shops.

For the brave at heart, stand atop the glass floor located 57 meters above the ground for mind-boggling views. While on the first floor, keep an eye out for the remains of the original spiral staircase that Gustave Eiffel used to reach the top floor. On the opening of the Eiffel Tower, he climbed 1,700 steps to the summit.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, head to the buffet, which is also located on the esplanade and second floor. Alternatively, make a booking at the restaurant Madame Brasserie for a delicious meal and even more spectacular views of the city.

Keep in mind that if you have an elevator ticket to the second or third floor, you will visit the highest floor first before stopping at the first floor on the way back down.

Second floor

The second floor of the Eiffel Tower consists of an under and an upper floor. From the second floor, you will have views across Paris — keep an eye out for Montmartre, the Louvre and Notre Dame!

On the under floor, stop by the macaron bar to taste these delectable French delicacies and some artisanal macarons designed to honor aspects of Paris.

If you’re craving some haute cuisine, make a booking for the Jules Verne restaurant located on the upper floor. This Michelin-starred restaurant offers an incredible perspective into the metalwork and engineering of the Eiffel Tower.

For an unparalleled experience of the Eiffel Tower, consider taking the stairs to the second floor if you are able to. There are 674 steps to the second floor, and it will take between 30 and 45 minutes to reach. The stairs place you into the core of the Eiffel Tower, giving you an innermost view of the structure.

The lifts are of course much quicker, and have been in place since the Eiffel Tower was opened in 1889. They are also the only way you can reach the apex of the Eiffel Tower on the third floor.

Third floor – Eiffel Tower summit

While the Eiffel Tower is 330 meters in height, the highest point you will reach is on the third floor at 276 meters. You can only reach the third floor via the lift, so make sure you have the correct ticket to get here!

The third floor of the Eiffel Tower provides exceptional panoramic views across Paris and some interesting attractions of its own. Head to the champagne bar for a tipple while you savor the sight of the City of Lights or admire the maps which situate you among the world’s cities.

Here, there is also a model of the initial plans for the top of the tower from 1889, painted in the original red color of the Eiffel Tower.

The third floor was also the original location of Gustave Eiffel’s office, where he welcomed guests and even ran scientific laboratories. Today it has been reconstructed with model figures to portray his meeting with Thomas Edison.

Eiffel Tower at night

One of the most beautiful sights in all of Paris is the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. Every hour, on the hour, the Iron Lady sparkles for five minutes with the help of 20,000 light bulbs.

On a night visit, you can admire how the Eiffel Tower is lit up from the inside. To catch the hourly show, head to the second floor for the best views!

How do you get to the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel Tower is centrally located in Paris on the banks of the river Seine. You have many options for reaching the Eiffel Tower, each with its own benefits.

By car

If you choose the autonomy of driving your own car to the Eiffel Tower, there are several parking lots located a couple of hundred meters away from the monument from which you can easily walk.

By metro

You can conveniently reach the Eiffel Tower by taking the metro, with stations located nearby the monument. Metro lines that you can take include Line 9, Line 6 and Line 8. From the stops, you will have to walk a few minutes to the Eiffel Tower.

By bus

If you want to see more of Paris on your trip, you can also take a bus and admire the views from the comfort of your seat. Available bus routes include Bus 86, Bus 69, and Bus 72. Busses 82, 30 and 42 have stops directly near the Eiffel Tower.

By bike

For a unique experience, you can opt to rent a bike through Velib, a bike-sharing system in Paris. Ride your bicycle to the Eiffel Tower and leave it at one of the multiple drop-off points nearby.

By foot

There’s so much to see on the streets of Paris. Should you wish to spend more time on foot, you can walk to the Eiffel Tower. The monument is located about a 40-minute walk from the Louvre Museum and a 30-minute walk from the Arc de Triomphe.

By boat

Take advantage of the Eiffel Tower’s location on the Seine and travel by boat to reach the monument. Board a Batobus and travel down the iconic river, choosing your stops along the way.

When is the Eiffel Tower open?

The Eiffel Tower is open all year long. In summer, it is open for extended hours. It’s best to check on the official website the opening hours of the month you want to visit before booking your tickets, as they may alter.

Summer opening times

• Monument opening: 9 AM to 12:45 AM. Last admission at 11:45 PM
• Staircase access: 9:30 AM to 11:45 PM
• Lift access: 9:30 AM to 12 AM (midnight)

Outside summer opening times

• Monument opening: 9 AM to 11:45 PM. Last admission at 10:45 PM
• Staircase access: 9:30 AM to 6 PM
• Lift access: 9:30 AM to 11 PM

When is the best time to tour the Eiffel Tower?

The best time to visit the Eiffel Tower is in the morning, evening or nighttime, outside of peak visiting hours. It’s also best to plan your visit for a weekday, as weekends are very busy.

The summer months of June to September see the highest number of visitors to the Eiffel Tower. If you’re planning your trip well in advance, you could aim to visit the Eiffel Tower in the shoulder months when there are fewer visitors, and the weather is still pleasurable.

Top Eiffel Tower tips

• Arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes before your scheduled timeslot in order to get through security checks and be on time for your visit. You do not want to be late as you may be turned away, and there are no refunds on tickets.
• You can check on the official website for live weather updates from the Eiffel Tower, so you know how to dress appropriately on the day of your visit.
• There is WiFi available on the tower, so you can share your photos in real time!
• As the Eiffel Tower is quite high up, a visit to the summit is not recommended for people who are afraid of heights.
• Always book your tickets well in advance to get the best deals and ensure that tickets are not sold out.
• Don't forget to bring your ID and supporting documents to prove your purchase and eligibility for discounts.

Which other attractions can be visited in Paris?

• Sainte Chapelle
• Catacombs of Paris
• Opera Garnier
• Pere Lachaise Cemetery
• Pantheon
• Conciergerie
• Sacre Coeur