Eiffel Tower

Which ticket to choose

For most first-time visitors, the best balance is the 2nd-floor ticket. The view is high enough to read Paris clearly — the Seine, Montmartre, Invalides, Montparnasse and the historic center — and it avoids the extra wait, wind and cost of the summit.

Pay more for the summit if standing at the very top is part of the dream, not because the view is automatically better. The cheapest adult option is the stairs to the 2nd floor at €14.80; the full lift route to the summit is €36.70, while stairs to the 2nd floor plus lift to the summit is €28.00.

• Best value: stairs to the 2nd floor if you are fit and do not mind 674 steps.
• Easiest visit: lift to the 2nd floor, especially with children or limited energy.
• Full experience: summit ticket, ideally when visibility is clear.
• Premium-style option: guided or hosted access if timed tickets are gone or you want commentary, but it does not remove security screening.

Best time to go

Early morning is the calmest choice for comfort: fewer people on the platforms, shorter movement through security, and better conditions for families. Evening is more atmospheric, especially around sunset and after dark, but it is also the most in-demand period.

For photos, the best compromise is late afternoon into blue hour: you get daylight views, sunset tones and the illuminated tower experience in one visit.

For a low-stress visit, choose the first available morning slot; for couples and photographers, choose evening; for families, avoid the busiest sunset window and keep the visit closer to 1.5–2 hours rather than stretching it to the full 3.

Combos and discounts

The official Eiffel Tower ticket is best when you only want the tower. Real combo offers are mostly sold by major ticket platforms and tour operators, commonly pairing the Eiffel Tower with a Seine River cruise, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, or a Paris city tour.

These can be convenient if you want one booking for a packed day, but they are not always cheaper than buying separate tickets.

The Paris Museum Pass does not include the Eiffel Tower. Some Paris sightseeing passes include an Eiffel Tower guided climb or 2nd-floor guided experience, not standard open admission and not the summit by default. Children under 4 enter free with a free ticket, while reduced rates apply for ages 4–11, ages 12–24, and eligible disabled visitors with proof.

When a tour makes sense

A guided tour is worth it if you want context: how the tower was built, why it survived after the exposition, what you are seeing from each side, and how Paris is laid out from above. It also helps if you dislike navigating timed entry, meeting points and platform changes on your own.

Skip the tour if your main goal is the view and you are comfortable moving independently. A self-visit with a 2nd-floor ticket is enough for most travelers, especially if you already know the basic Paris landmarks and prefer to spend the extra money on a Seine cruise or another viewpoint such as Arc de Triomphe.

Go to the Eiffel Tower access area at Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris. The nearest metro stops are Bir-Hakeim and Trocadéro. The part that confuses most first-time visitors is that you do not use the same entrance for every ticket: lift visitors head to the South Pillar, while stairs access starts at the East Pillar.

Build in extra time before you reach the tower itself. The main delay is the security screening area around the base, and after that there can be a second wait at your pillar depending on whether you are taking the lift or the stairs. Even with a timed booking, this is not a straight walk-in experience.

The simplest way to avoid mistakes is to know your access type before you arrive and go directly to the correct pillar.

If you are choosing between levels, the 2nd floor is the best-value option for most visitors: the views are excellent, the visit is simpler, and you avoid paying extra for a summit ticket that can involve more waiting and a colder, windier top level.

• Lift access: South Pillar
• Stairs access: East Pillar
• Allow 1.5 to 3 hours in total
• The quietest arrival windows are around 8:30 and after 17:00

What to consider before your visit

The Eiffel Tower is not a quick “walk in and go up” stop. First you enter the fenced esplanade through security, then you find the correct pillar for your ticket type: lift, stairs, ticket office, or summit connection. Add 15–20 minutes before your ticket time for screening, and more at peak times.

Expect standing, queues, open-air exposure, and wind, especially above the second floor. The summit is colder and tighter than the second floor, while the second floor gives the better balance of view, time, and comfort for most first-time visitors.

There is no formal dress code, but shoes are required and clothing or behavior that disrupts the visit can lead to refusal of entry. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an independent adult. Wheelchairs are allowed on the first and second floors, but the summit is not accessible to wheelchair users or visitors with reduced mobility.

What you can and cannot bring

• Forbidden: weapons, ammunition, knives, blades, and items that can be treated as weapons.
• Forbidden: tools such as cutters, screwdrivers, and pliers.
• Forbidden: explosives, flammable substances, and unstable materials.
• Forbidden: glass bottles, drinking glasses, and drink cans.
• Forbidden: excessive quantities of food or drink.
• Forbidden: large suitcases, oversized parcels, very bulky bags, and heavy items that do not pass the entrance size check.
• Forbidden: non-folding strollers.
• Forbidden: scooters, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, overboards, and other large rolling objects, except foldable strollers and mobility or assistance devices.
• Forbidden: animals, except assistance animals.
• Forbidden: climbing, jumping, bungee, or parachuting equipment.
• Forbidden: group picnics, eating or drinking outside designated areas, and throwing anything from the tower.
• Forbidden: professional filming, photography, or audio recording without written permission.
• Allowed: a small backpack or day bag that can pass security screening.
• Allowed: a personal phone or camera for normal visitor photos.
• Allowed: a reusable water bottle if it is not glass and not a drink can.
• Allowed: a small snack or modest amount of food, but not a picnic setup.
• Allowed: folding strollers.

Storage and belongings

There are no lockers, cloakrooms, or left-luggage facilities at the Eiffel Tower, either free or paid. If an item is refused at security, staff will not store it for you, and anything discarded cannot be recovered.

Travel light: a small day bag is the safest choice, and suitcases should be left at your hotel, apartment, or a luggage-storage service before you arrive.

A baggage sizer is used before entry to the monument, but the practical rule is simple: do not bring rolling luggage, large backpacks, or bulky shopping bags. Folding strollers can enter, and there is stroller parking on the esplanade near the South Pillar; non-folding strollers must stay away from the visit route.

What kind of neighborhood

• The Eiffel Tower sits in the polished western 7th arrondissement, where grand avenues meet lawns, embassies, museums, and quiet residential streets.
• The immediate mood changes fast: open, crowded photo zones by the tower, calmer streets around Rue Saint-Dominique and Rue Cler.
• It fits a first-Paris day well: river views, major monuments, classic bistros, and easy add-ons without crossing the whole city.
• The area is not a nightlife district; it works better for daytime sightseeing, sunset viewpoints, and a planned dinner.

Nearby on foot (up to 15 minutes)

• Champ de Mars — broad lawns for classic tower photos and a pause · 2 min
• Pont d'Iéna — direct Seine crossing with strong tower angles · 4 min
• Seine riverbanks — easy waterfront walk toward Alma or Bir-Hakeim · 5 min
• Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac — major non-European art museum in a garden setting · 8 min
• Trocadéro Gardens — the most famous frontal Eiffel Tower viewpoint · 12 min
• Rue Cler — market street for cheese, cafés, and picnic supplies · 14 min
• École Militaire — monumental 18th-century military school facing Champ de Mars · 14 min

15–30 minutes by transport

• Les Invalides — Napoleon’s tomb and military history after the tower · 10 min by taxi
• Arc de Triomphe — another Paris icon with a strong skyline pairing · 15 min by taxi
• Musée d'Orsay — Impressionist masterpieces in a former railway station · 18 min by taxi
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés — cafés, galleries, and a softer Left Bank finish · 20 min by taxi
• Louvre Museum — the obvious full-day extension for first-time visitors · 20 min by taxi

Where to eat nearby

• Girafe — seafood and terrace views by Trocadéro · expensive · reservation essential · 15 min walk
• Au Bon Accueil — seasonal French cooking near Quai Branly · above average · advisable to reserve · 9 min walk
• La Fontaine de Mars — classic Paris bistro near Rue Saint-Dominique · above average · advisable to reserve · 14 min walk
• Le Petit Cler — casual market-street French comfort food · moderate · possible without reservation · 15 min walk
• Café de l'Alma — polished brasserie for a straightforward meal · above average · advisable to reserve · 12 min walk

Ready-made day route

Start at Trocadéro Gardens for the cleanest full-tower view, cross Pont d'Iéna, then visit the Eiffel Tower before slowing down on Champ de Mars. Continue to Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac or Rue Cler depending on whether you want culture or a lighter neighborhood wander.

Finish with dinner at Au Bon Accueil for a quieter Left Bank meal close to the river.