No landmark in Paris rewards advance planning more than the Eiffel Tower. Arriving without a ticket, at the wrong time of day, or without knowing which access level matches what you actually want to do can turn one of the world's great experiences into a queuing exercise. This guide covers everything you need to know before you go: ticket types and prices, current opening hours, the best times to visit for crowds and light, and practical tips that most visitors only learn after they have already been.
Eiffel Tower Ticket Types and Prices
The Eiffel Tower has three access levels, and the ticket you buy determines how far up you go and how you get there.
Stairs to the 2nd Floor The cheapest entry option. You walk up approximately 674 steps to the second floor, which sits at 115 metres and offers excellent panoramic views of the city. This is the physically demanding option, but it is also the quietest route and the one that gives you the most time to take in the ironwork up close. Ticket prices are lower than lift access, and availability is generally better on the day.
Lift to the 2nd Floor The standard visit for most people. The lift takes you to the second floor, where you will find the main viewing platforms, the glass floor section, a restaurant, and a champagne bar. Views at this level are exceptional in every direction and cover the full span of the Seine, the Trocadero, and the city stretching to the horizon.
Lift to the Summit (3rd Floor) The summit sits at 276 metres and is the defining experience of a visit to the tower. The viewing area at the top is smaller and enclosed in glass, but the perspective is unlike anything the second floor offers. On a clear day, visibility extends up to 70 kilometres. Summit tickets sell out weeks in advance during peak season. If this is the experience you want, booking as soon as tickets open (usually 60 days in advance) is not overcautious; it is necessary.
Prices (approximate, subject to change)
- Stairs to 2nd floor: from €11.80 (adults)
- Lift to 2nd floor: from €18.80 (adults)
- Lift to summit: from €29.40 (adults)
- Children under 4: free
- Children 4–11: reduced rates apply
- Youth 12–24: reduced rates apply
if you don't want a guide try to book directly through the official Eiffel Tower website (toureiffel.paris) to avoid third-party markups and counterfeit ticket risk.
If it's full you can book directly through an trustworthy agencyEiffel Tower Opening Hours
The Eiffel Tower is open every day of the year, including public holidays.
Peak Season (mid-June to early September)
- Stairs and lifts: 9:00 AM to 12:45 AM (last admission at midnight)
- The tower sparkles with its light show on the hour, every hour after dark, for five minutes
Off-Peak Season (September to mid-June)
- Stairs and lifts: 9:30 AM to 11:45 PM (last admission at 11:00 PM)
Hours are subject to change for special events, maintenance, and weather conditions. Check the official website before your visit, particularly if you are planning an evening visit when the light show is part of the reason you are going.
Best Times to Visit the Eiffel Tower
For Avoiding Crowds
The Eiffel Tower receives approximately seven million visitors a year, which means crowd management matters as much as any other planning decision.
Early morning (9:00–10:30 AM) is consistently the quietest window. Ticket holders who booked a first-entry slot will find the platforms far less busy than at any other point in the day. The light at this hour is also soft and directional, which is ideal for photography.
Weekday visits outperform weekends significantly. If your schedule is flexible, a Tuesday or Wednesday morning visit will have materially fewer people than the equivalent Saturday slot.
Late evening visits (after 9:00 PM in summer, after 8:00 PM in off-peak) offer a different experience entirely. The crowds thin, the city is lit, and if you time your summit visit to coincide with the top-of-hour light show, you can watch it from above while the rest of Paris watches from below.
For Light and Photography
- Golden hour (the hour after sunrise and before sunset) gives the tower and the city their most photogenic quality of light
- Blue hour (20–30 minutes after sunset) is arguably the best time to photograph Paris from the summit, when the sky retains colour and the city lights are fully lit
- Night visits produce the most dramatic views from the top, but also the most reflective glass on the enclosed summit level
For a Quieter Experience Overall
- Mid-November to mid-February is the quietest period of the year
- Rain days reduce crowds noticeably, and the tower remains open in light to moderate rain
- Avoid the period between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM during school holidays and summer, when the combination of tour groups and walk-in visitors is at its most intense
How to Get There
The Eiffel Tower sits on the Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement.
Metro: Bir-Hakeim (Line 6) is the closest metro station, a five-minute walk. Trocadero (Lines 6 and 9) is a slightly longer walk but gives you the iconic frontal view of the tower as you approach.
RER: Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel on the RER C line deposits you almost directly at the base.
On foot: If you are staying in the 7th, 8th, or 16th arrondissement, walking is a straightforward option and produces the best approach experience.
By car or private transfer: There is no public parking adjacent to the tower. A private transfer drops you at the Champ de Mars perimeter without the search for a space.
Practical Tips Before You Go
Print or download your ticket before arrival. Mobile connectivity around the tower can be inconsistent during busy periods. A downloaded ticket avoids the delay of trying to load a confirmation email at the entry gate.
Arrive five minutes before your timed entry slot, not at it. The entry process involves a security check before the ticket validation point. Arriving exactly at your time can mean you are still in the security queue when your slot passes.
The stairs queue moves faster than you think. On busy days, the stairs entry can actually be quicker than the lift queue for the second floor. If you are reasonably fit and not carrying heavy bags, it is worth considering.
The second floor restaurant (58 Tour Eiffel) takes reservations. A lunch or dinner reservation here books your second-floor access and removes the need to separately queue for entry. The food is good rather than exceptional, but the view is the point.
The summit champagne bar is worth the visit. A glass of champagne at 276 metres is a small extravagance that most people are glad they spent. It is included in the summit ticket access; you pay separately for the drink.
Weather matters more than most people plan for. The summit closes in high winds, and visibility at the top can drop significantly in low cloud or rain. If summit views are the priority, check the forecast and consider booking a morning slot as a hedge.
Combining Your Eiffel Tower Visit
The tower's position in the 7th arrondissement puts several of Paris's most significant experiences within easy walking or short transfer distance.
- Trocadero and the Palais de Chaillot: the classic elevated viewpoint looking back at the tower, best at sunrise or just after
- Musee du quai Branly: a five-minute walk, one of Paris's most underrated museums with an exceptional rooftop garden
- Invalides and Napoleon's Tomb: a 15-minute walk through the Champ de Mars
- Rue Cler market street: one of the most authentic food market streets in Paris, ideal for a post-visit lunch
A private Paris city tour that incorporates the Eiffel Tower alongside the surrounding 7th arrondissement gives the tower's neighbourhood context that most visitors miss entirely. The area around the Champ de Mars is one of the most architecturally cohesive in the city, and it rewards more than the time most people give it.
Ready to Plan Your Paris Visit?
The Eiffel Tower is at its best when the visit is planned rather than improvised. The difference between arriving with a booked summit slot on a clear Tuesday morning and joining the walk-in queue on a Saturday afternoon is not a small one. France Luxury Tour's Paris travel designers can incorporate Eiffel Tower access into a wider Paris itinerary, with private transfers, pre-booked restaurant reservations, and the kind of timing that makes the experience feel unhurried.
Get in touch with the team to start planning a Paris visit built around what you actually want from the city.
