How to Visit the Eiffel Tower: Tickets, Best Time & Tips

1. Understanding Ticket Types & Access

Your ticket choice dictates how high you can go and how you ascend.

• Stairs to 2nd Floor:
  • What it is: Climb approximately 674 steps to the second floor.
  • Pros: Cheaper, often faster moving queues than elevators, offers a more intimate and immersive experience, and provides unique views at each level. Great for active travelers.
  • Cons: Requires good physical fitness.
  • Price: Around €11.30 – €14.20 (Adult).
• Elevator to 2nd Floor:
  • What it is: Take the elevator directly to the second floor.
  • Pros: Less strenuous, quick access (if you have timed entry).
  • Cons: Can have long queues for security and the elevator, even with pre-booked tickets.
  • Price: Around €22.60 (Adult).
• Elevator to Summit (Top Floor):
  • What it is: Take an elevator to the second floor, then transfer to another elevator to the very top (summit).
  • Pros: The highest point in Paris, offering breathtaking panoramic views. Features a small champagne bar and Gustave Eiffel’s reconstructed office.
  • Cons: Most expensive option, requires two elevator rides (meaning potential double queues), and can be very crowded at the top. Views can be obscured by fog or clouds.
  • Price: Around €35.50 (Adult).
• Stairs to 2nd Floor + Elevator to Summit:
  • What it is: Combine the stairs to the second floor with an elevator from the second floor to the summit.
  • Pros: Often bypasses the long ground-level elevator queues, a more unique experience, and you still get to the summit.
  • Cons: Still requires climbing stairs and a second elevator queue.
  • Price: Around €26.90 (Adult).

Which to choose?

• Active & Budget-Conscious: Stairs to 2nd Floor.
• Time-Limited / First-Timers: Elevator to 2nd Floor (with timed entry).
• Ultimate View / Splurge: Elevator to Summit (book well in advance).
• Active with Summit Goal: Stairs to 2nd Floor + Elevator to Summit.

2. Best Time to Visit (Day vs. Night & Seasonal Tips)

The Eiffel Tower offers different experiences depending on the time of day and year.

• Daytime:
  • Pros: Clear views of Parisian landmarks, good for detailed photography, often warmer.
  • Cons: Can be very crowded, especially midday.
• Nighttime:
  • Pros: Magical city lights, the hourly sparkle show (on the hour for 5 minutes, from dusk until late), romantic atmosphere.
  • Cons: Can be very cold (especially in winter), views of distant landmarks might be harder to discern.

Seasonal Tips:

• Peak Season (Late June to Early September):
  • Weather: Warm, long daylight hours.
  • Crowds: Busiest time of year. Expect 2-3 hour waits even with pre-booked tickets if not timed entry.
  • Tip: Book months in advance. Visit right at opening (9:15 AM) or very late evening (after 8 PM, last entry 11 PM/11:45 PM depending on season) when crowds thin out.
• Shoulder Seasons (April-May, September-October):
  • Weather: Pleasant, generally good for sightseeing.
  • Crowds: Moderate, but still busy.
  • Tip: Book 1-2 months in advance. Early morning or late afternoon are best.
• Low Season (November – March, excluding holidays):
  • Weather: Cold, higher chance of rain or fog.
  • Crowds: Least crowded. Shorter queues.
  • Tip: Good for a more relaxed visit. Watch out for fog which can obscure summit views.

General Timing Advice:

• Weekdays (Tuesday-Thursday): Generally less crowded than weekends.
• Early Morning (Right at Opening): Best for avoiding crowds.
• Late Afternoon/Early Evening (After 5 PM): Crowds start to thin.
• After 8 PM: Wait times are usually much shorter, and you can enjoy the hourly sparkle show.

3. How to Skip the Lines & Where to Book Tickets

This is the most crucial tip for a smooth visit.

• Book Online in Advance (REQUIRED!): This is the most effective way to skip the longest queues (the ticket office queue).
  • The Eiffel Tower does not have a “skip-the-line” per se, but timed-entry tickets allow you to bypass the ticket purchase line and proceed directly to security and elevator queues.
  • Tickets are released in batches, typically 2-3 months in advance, and sell out very quickly, especially summit tickets for peak times.
  • Where to Book: Official Eiffel Tower Website – This is always the best place for the lowest price.
• Consider a Guided Tour:
  • Many tour operators offer guided tours that include Eiffel Tower access. While they don’t bypass security or elevator lines completely, a host or guide will escort you through the entry process, helping navigate queues and guiding you to the correct pillar.
  • Pros: Convenience, expert commentary, streamlined entry.
  • Cons: More expensive than direct tickets.
  • Affiliate CTA: Book Eiffel Tower Timed-Entry Tickets & Guided Tours via Viator
• Opt for Stairs + Elevator to Summit (if available): If summit elevator tickets are sold out online, you might book stairs to the 2nd floor and then buy a summit ticket at the 2nd floor (availability allowing). The stairs queue moves faster.
• Dining Reservation: Guests with reservations at Madame Brasserie (1st floor) or Le Jules Verne (2nd floor) use a private entrance and elevator to their respective floors. This is the ultimate “skip-the-line” for direct access to dining, but does not grant general access to other levels unless purchased separately.

4. Photo Spots & Dining Options

Iconic Photo Spots:

• Trocadéro (Place du Trocadéro): The most famous and popular spot for panoramic photos of the Eiffel Tower, especially with the fountains in the foreground. Go at sunrise for fewer crowds.
• Champ de Mars: The sprawling lawn directly in front of the tower, perfect for wide-angle shots from below, picnics, or capturing its sheer scale.
• Pont de Bir-Hakeim: This bridge (known from Inception) offers unique angles, especially if you include its distinctive pillars or reflections in the Seine.
• Rue de l’Université / Rue Saint-Dominique / Square Rapp: These streets offer classic Parisian Haussmannian buildings with the Eiffel Tower peeking dramatically between them.
• Seine River Cruises: Offer unique perspectives of the tower as you glide past.
• Montparnasse Tower: Offers panoramic views of Paris including the Eiffel Tower (which you don’t get from the Eiffel Tower itself!).

Dining Options:

• Inside the Eiffel Tower:
  • Madame Brasserie (1st Floor): A contemporary restaurant offering a modern twist on French cuisine. Options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations highly recommended.
  • Le Jules Verne (2nd Floor): A two-Michelin-starred restaurant offering exquisite gourmet dining and breathtaking views. Very exclusive, requires reservations far in advance.
  • Champagne Bar (Summit): Enjoy a flute of champagne with an unparalleled view from the very top.
  • Buffets: Casual options on the Esplanade, 1st, and 2nd floors for quick snacks, sandwiches, and drinks.
• Dining Nearby:
  • Café de l’Homme (Trocadéro): Offers stunning views of the Eiffel Tower from across the Seine, perfect for dinner.
  • Rue Saint-Dominique: Lined with many charming brasseries and cafes offering excellent views of the Eiffel Tower.

Your visit to the Eiffel Tower is sure to be a highlight of your Paris adventure. Plan well, book in advance, and prepare to be awestruck by this magnificent “Iron Lady.”