Things to do · Paris
Eiffel Tower tickets: how to choose the right one
330 metres of iron, three levels and a couple of choices to make before you join the queue. Here are the differences.
The Eiffel Tower
Built as a temporary attraction for the 1889 World's Fair, and still standing.
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The lift climbs at an angle up one of the legs, and through the iron lattice you watch Paris shrink. At the top there is always a breeze. The Seine lies below like a silver ribbon, and the tower's shadow falls across the Champ de Mars.
In short: Eiffel Tower tickets
You choose between the second floor and the summit, and between the lift and the stairs. The summit can only be reached by lift. Tickets are sold with a time slot and often sell out in high season, so book before you travel. For something simpler, choose a guided tour or dinner in the tower.
Our first choice: a timed lift ticket, with the summit as an add-on. See experiences and tickets
How to choose the right Eiffel Tower ticket
First time in Paris: the lift to the summit. That is the view people remember.
You like to walk: the stairs to the second floor. Around 670 steps, and often a shorter queue.
You want the story: a guided tour by lift. The guide explains why the tower was nearly torn down.
A special evening: dinner in the first-floor restaurant, with Paris all around you.
Three ways to experience the Eiffel Tower
Choose by how high you want to go and how much time you have.
Lift tickets with optional summit and cruise
For doing it yourself: a timed lift ticket, the summit as an add-on and an optional Seine cruise.
Book: Lift tickets with optional summit and cruise
Guided tour by lift
For first-timers: a guide, the lift and a choice of the second floor or the summit.
Book: Guided tour by lift
Dinner at the Eiffel Tower
For a special evening: dinner at Madame Brasserie on the first floor, with views over the city.
Worth knowing
Security: everyone goes through a check before entering the area under the tower. Expect a queue.
The light show: every hour on the hour after dark, the tower sparkles for about five minutes.
The best photo: from Trocadéro across the river, or from the Champ de Mars with the tower straight ahead.
Getting there: metro to Bir-Hakeim or Trocadéro, or RER C to Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel.
Weather: the summit can close in strong wind. Have a plan B.
Stay with a view of the tower
Two hotels where the Eiffel Tower is part of the view.
Shangri-La Paris
From the best rooms, the tower stands just across the river.
Shangri-La Paris
For the balcony: a former palace built for Prince Roland Bonaparte in the 16th arrondissement. The best rooms look straight across the river to the Eiffel Tower, which sparkles outside the window at night.
Book your stay: See rooms at Shangri-La Paris
Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel
For the location: a modern chain hotel a stone's throw from the foot of the tower and the quay where Bateaux Parisiens departs. Many rooms face the tower, and it suits anyone who wants both the tower and the boats close by.
Book your stay: See rooms at Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel
More hotels in our Paris hotel guide.
Eiffel Tower tickets: FAQ
Do I need to buy Eiffel Tower tickets in advance?
Yes, you should, especially from April to September and during holidays. Tickets are sold with a time slot, and the summit tends to sell out first. Without a ticket you risk a long queue or finding it full. Sunset slots are the most popular and often sell out first. In winter it is easier to get tickets at short notice.
Can I take the stairs to the top of the Eiffel Tower?
No. The stairs go to the second floor, and from there you take the lift to the summit. Many people walk up and take the lift down. The stairs from the ground to the second floor are around 670 steps, and most people take about half an hour. On the way you pass the first floor, where a glass floor lets you look straight down.
When does the Eiffel Tower sparkle?
The tower sparkles for about five minutes every hour on the hour after dark. In winter that starts early in the evening, in summer late. Watch from Trocadéro or a boat on the Seine to see the whole tower. It is free, and some of the best minutes in Paris.
How long do I need at the Eiffel Tower?
Allow two hours including queues, security and the summit. With dinner or a cruise it becomes half an evening. In summer the security queue is longest in the middle of the day. Arrive for the first slot of the morning and you are often out again in an hour and a half.
Where should I stay to see the Eiffel Tower?
Shangri-La Paris in the 16th has rooms and balconies facing the tower. Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel is right by its foot. In the 7th you can see the tower from many street corners. Rooms with tower views are popular, so book early if you want a balcony.