Depends on the option: Official guided tours (to the Top, 2nd floor with Top access, 2nd floor), Official bundles: glass of champagne or brunch at Madame Brasserie, Guided tours and reseller bundles (category).
Full adult price. Bar colour is our verdict; the number is the Reality score. Tap a ticket for the details.
Every ticket, best first
1
Ticket to the Second Floor via the Stairs
€14.80Worth it76 Reality⏱ No stated limit (~1.5-2 h)
Gets you into
✓ Esplanade✓ 1st floor✓ 2nd floor✓ Stairs
Not included
– Summit– Lift
👍 Best forFit visitors on a budget who want the structure as much as the view.
👎 Skip ifYou have small children, knee or heart issues, or a stroller.
Full details and sources
Price
Adult €14.80. Youth 12-24 €7.40. Child 4-11 €3.80. Disabled €3.80. Under-4 free. 2027 fares apply from 11 January 2027 but the amounts were not readable. toureiffel.paris
Includes
Climb the south pillar stairs to the 2nd floor, 674 steps in total, with the 1st floor on the way. You come down by a different staircase. No summit, and a summit supplement can't be bought on site. toureiffel.paris
Booking
The ticket page says stairs tickets go on sale 14 days ahead and can also be bought on site, usually with little or no wait. The prices page says advance booking is required from 29 September 2026. Book online. toureiffel.paris
Time
The ticket page says 15 to 20 minutes per floor; the official FAQ says 30 to 45 minutes to reach the 2nd floor depending on fitness. toureiffel.paris
Why Reality is 76
Lives up to its fame 4/5. Same 2nd-floor view as the lift, plus the iron structure up close. Rick Steves calls walking down a far more memorable way back to earth. ricksteves.com
Value for money 5/5. The cheapest way up at €14.80 for adults, for the floor most guides rate as the best view. toureiffel.paris
Can’t get it elsewhere 4/5. The only public way to climb the structure itself; the public stairs stop at the 2nd floor. toureiffel.paris
Easy to do 3/5. 674 steps, not for small children or reduced mobility. Queues are usually short, but the official booking rule changed on 29 September 2026 and the pages disagree. toureiffel.paris
2
Ticket to the Second Floor by elevator
€23.50Worth it70 Reality⏱ No stated limit (~1.5 h)
Gets you into
✓ Esplanade✓ 1st floor✓ 2nd floor✓ Lift
Not included
– Summit
Depends on the option
~ Stairs
👍 Best forMost first-time visitors who want the best city view without the summit queue or price.
👎 Skip ifYou are fit and happy to climb, since the stairs ticket gets you to the same floor for €8.70 less.
Full details and sources
Price
Adult €23.50. Youth 12-24 €11.80. Child 4-11 €6.00. Disabled €6.00. Under-4 free. 2027 fares apply from 11 January 2027 but the amounts were not readable. toureiffel.paris
Includes
Lift to the 2nd floor, then the 1st floor on the way down. No summit. You can go down by lift or stairs; the official page says to allow at most 10 minutes to walk down to the esplanade. Accessible to people with reduced mobility, except the stairs. toureiffel.paris
Booking
Timed online tickets; the official lift ticket pages say they go on sale up to 60 days ahead. If no slot suits, you can buy at the ticket office for an immediate visit. A summit supplement cannot be bought on site. toureiffel.paris
Time
The official page says the visit lasts 1 h 30 for both floors, plus 10 to 20 minutes for security. toureiffel.paris
Why Reality is 70
Lives up to its fame 4/5. Lonely Planet says the 2nd floor has the best views, close enough to see the city clearly. lonelyplanet.com
Value for money 4/5. €23.50 gets the view many guides rate best, €13.20 less than the summit. The stairs version gives the same floor for €14.80. toureiffel.paris
Can’t get it elsewhere 4/5. The Montparnasse observatory, the classic alternative view, closed on 31 March 2026 for several years. tourmontparnasse56.com
Easy to do 3/5. Timed slots and a 10-20 minute security check. Rick Steves says summer dates can sell out within hours, but 2nd-floor tickets may still be available after summit tickets are gone. ricksteves.com
3
Ticket to the Top via stairs and elevator
€28Worth it if…65 Reality⏱ No stated limit (~2-2.5 h)
👍 Best forFit visitors who want the top and the climb and are flexible about time.
👎 Skip ifYou need a guaranteed, timed summit slot without checking how this ticket is sold that day.
Full details and sources
Price
Adult €28.00. Youth 12-24 €14.00. Child 4-11 €7.00. Disabled €7.00. Under-4 free. 2027 fares apply from 11 January 2027 but the amounts were not readable. toureiffel.paris
Includes
Stairs to the 2nd floor (674 steps), then the lift from the 2nd floor to the top after a second ticket check. You can rest on the 1st floor and visit the 2nd and 1st floors on the way down. The descent from the top is by lift only. toureiffel.paris
Booking
Unclear. The ticket page says in one place it is only sold at the tower's ticket offices, and in another that you can buy a timed ticket online. The FAQ says it is mainly sold on site. The prices page says stairs tickets need advance booking from 29 September 2026. toureiffel.paris
Lives up to its fame 4/5. Combines the climb with the summit view, so you get both sides of the tower. Lonely Planet notes the summit views are sweeping rather than detailed. lonelyplanet.com
Value for money 4/5. €28 for the summit, €8.70 less than the lift-only summit ticket. toureiffel.paris
Can’t get it elsewhere 4/5. The only official way to combine the climb with the top. toureiffel.paris
Easy to do 2/5. 674 steps, then the summit lift queue. The official pages contradict each other on whether you can buy it online. toureiffel.paris
4
Ticket to the Top by elevators
€36.70Worth it if…59 Reality⏱ No stated limit (~2-3 h)
Gets you into
✓ Esplanade✓ 1st floor✓ 2nd floor✓ Summit✓ Lift
Depends on the option
~ Stairs
👍 Best forFirst-timers who book early and want the full height, ideally around sunset.
👎 Skip ifYou are short on time, afraid of heights, or the summit slots are gone; the 2nd floor gives most of the experience.
Full details and sources
Price
Adult €36.70. Youth 12-24 €18.40. Child 4-11 €9.20. Disabled €9.20. Under-4 free. 2027 fares apply from 11 January 2027 but the amounts were not readable. toureiffel.paris
Includes
Lifts from the ground to the 2nd floor, then a second lift to the top after a second ticket check. Access to all floors: the 2nd and 1st floors on the way down. The top has an indoor and an open-air level, a champagne bar and a reconstruction of Gustave Eiffel's office. toureiffel.paris
Booking
Timed online tickets, released up to 60 days ahead. The official page says a timed e-ticket guarantees summit access however busy it is. Also sold at the ticket offices for an immediate visit, if tickets remain. toureiffel.paris
Time
The official page gives no total. Rick Steves says even the fastest visit takes about 90 minutes and to budget 3 to 4 hours in summer. ricksteves.com
Why Reality is 59
Lives up to its fame 4/5. Lonely Planet says views reach up to 60 km but are more sweeping than detailed. lonelyplanet.com
Value for money 3/5. €36.70 is €13.20 more than the 2nd floor, mainly for height and the lift change. Secrets of Paris prefers the 2nd floor, which has more space, and notes the lift change causes waits. secretsofparis.com
Can’t get it elsewhere 4/5. The tower's highest level. The Montparnasse observatory, the main high-rise alternative, closed on 31 March 2026 for several years. tourmontparnasse56.com
Easy to do 2/5. Which? found summit tickets sold out on the official site 11 days ahead in July 2025. Add security, a second lift queue, and weather closures. which.co.uk
5
Restaurant booking as a way up (Madame Brasserie, Le Jules Verne)
€70.80–€110.80Skip it49 Reality⏱ Meal length
Gets you into
✓ Esplanade✓ Lift
Not included
– Summit– Stairs
Depends on the option
~ 1st floor~ 2nd floor
👍 Best forSpecial occasions where the meal is the point and the view is the bonus.
👎 Skip ifYou only want to go up; a stairs or lift ticket is far cheaper.
Full details and sources
Price
Madame Brasserie lunch via Come to Paris from €70.80 (no drinks) to €110.80 (with drinks, view table). Le Jules Verne publishes no price on the pages we read; Michelin rates it €€€€. cometoparis.com
Includes
A Madame Brasserie reservation includes access to the 1st floor only; the official site says it is not valid for the 2nd floor or the top. You need a separate ticket for other levels. toureiffel.paris
Booking
Le Jules Verne: online reservations open up to 90 days ahead, per En Primeur Club; Michelin says the restaurant manages its own bookings. Madame Brasserie is booked through its own restaurant site, not the tower ticket shop. enprimeurclub.com
Time
Le Jules Verne serves lunch 12:00-13:45 and dinner 19:00-20:45 daily, per Michelin. guide.michelin.com
Why Reality is 49
Lives up to its fame 3/5. Les Frenchies says Madame Brasserie's view is extraordinary but the food is solid rather than exceptional, and it suits special occasions. lesfrenchiestravel.com
Value for money 2/5. You pay restaurant prices for a 1st- or 2nd-floor view. Worth it only if you want the meal. cometoparis.com
Can’t get it elsewhere 4/5. Dining inside the tower, with a private lift for Le Jules Verne, can't be had elsewhere. guide.michelin.com
Easy to do 3/5. Rick Steves says a table lets you bypass some, but not all, entry lines. ricksteves.com
6
Official guided tours (to the Top, 2nd floor with Top access, 2nd floor)
€53.50–€71.70Skip it44 Reality⏱ ~90 min guided
Gets you into
✓ Esplanade✓ 1st floor✓ 2nd floor✓ Lift
Depends on the option
~ Summit~ Stairs
👍 Best forVisitors who want the engineering story and a guide, and prefer the official source to a reseller.
👎 Skip ifYou only want the view; a standard ticket gives the same floors for €30-35 less.
Full details and sources
Price
Guided tour to the Top: adult €71.70, youth €53.40, child €34.20. Guided tour to the 2nd floor with access to the Top: adult €66.70, youth €48.40, child €29.20. Guided tour to the 2nd floor: adult €53.50, youth €41.80, child €26. Each price is the access ticket plus a guide fee (€35 or €30 for adults). toureiffel.paris
Includes
Tour to the Top: about 90 minutes with an official guide across all three levels, help with the lifts, maximum 12 people, in French or English, plus 10% off some shop items and set menus. The 2nd-floor tour includes the 1899 hydraulic lift machinery and a guided walk down the stairs to the 1st floor. toureiffel.paris
Booking
Online on the official ticket shop. Meet the guide at the Official Guided Tours meeting point near the esplanade Information Point, 15 minutes before the slot. Not accessible for reduced mobility and not recommended with strollers. toureiffel.paris
Time
About 90 minutes, plus 10 to 20 minutes for security. toureiffel.paris
Why Reality is 44
Lives up to its fame 3/5. Adds history and help with the lifts, but Secrets of Paris argues the tower is easy to explore alone with the free app and Wi-Fi. secretsofparis.com
Value for money 2/5. The guide fee adds €35 per adult on top of the same summit ticket (€30 on the 2nd-floor tour). toureiffel.paris
Can’t get it elsewhere 3/5. Official guides and a look at the 1899 lift machinery, but the views and floors are the same as standard tickets. toureiffel.paris
Easy to do 3/5. Small groups and a guide to steer you through lift changes; you still book a timed slot and clear security. toureiffel.paris
7
Official bundles: glass of champagne or brunch at Madame Brasserie
€35.80–€121.70Skip it39 Reality⏱ Slot tied to bar or brunch hours
Gets you into
✓ Esplanade✓ 1st floor✓ 2nd floor
Depends on the option
~ Summit~ Stairs~ Lift
👍 Best forCouples marking an occasion who want the toast prepaid and planned.
👎 Skip ifYou are flexible; buy the normal ticket and order at the bar.
Full details and sources
Price
Top by elevator with a glass of champagne €60.70 (adult). 2nd floor by elevator with champagne €44.50. 2nd floor by stairs with champagne €35.80. Top by elevator with brunch at Madame Brasserie: adult €121.70, youth €103.40, child €59.20. toureiffel.paris
Includes
Champagne bundle: the normal ticket plus a 12 cl glass of Brut at the summit champagne bar, adults 25+ only, and no priority at the bar. Brunch bundle: summit by lift plus a Sunday brunch at Madame Brasserie on the 1st floor, only on Sundays outside school holidays. toureiffel.paris
Booking
Champagne bundle: on sale up to 90 days ahead, slots only during bar hours; you can instead buy a normal summit ticket and order champagne at the bar. Brunch: online only, 60 days ahead, very limited places. toureiffel.paris
Time
Brunch sessions: tower visit at 10:30 with brunch at 12:00, or visit at 12:30 with brunch at 14:00. toureiffel.paris
Why Reality is 39
Lives up to its fame 3/5. The Tour Guy admits the summit champagne bar is overpriced but recommends it anyway as part of the Paris moment. thetourguy.com
Value for money 2/5. The champagne summit bundle costs €24 more than the €36.70 summit ticket for one 12 cl glass. toureiffel.paris
Can’t get it elsewhere 2/5. The official page says you can buy a normal ticket and order champagne at the bar if it is open. toureiffel.paris
Easy to do 3/5. Booked far ahead with a timed slot, but no priority at the bar and the brunch has very few places. toureiffel.paris
👍 Best forTravellers whose date is sold out on the official site and who accept paying two to three times more.
👎 Skip ifOfficial slots are still available; book there first.
Full details and sources
Price
Varies widely. Which? found a Viator listing (Global Tours and Tickets) at £93 for an entry that cost £31 direct. Secrets of Paris cites a Viator summit ticket at €119 vs the official price, and 'hosted entry' at about €78. On Expedia, a small-group guided tour by Europe Tourisme showed $79.48 (2nd floor) and $125.07 (with summit). which.co.uk
Includes
Usually the same official ticket plus a host or guide. In the Which? case the host only queued with you and rode the lift to the 2nd floor, with no tour and no summit. which.co.uk
Booking
Resellers often still have slots when the official site is sold out. Which? found four slots on a reseller when official summit tickets were gone. Many are non-refundable; one Tiqets listing run by Global Tours and Tickets allows no refunds or rescheduling. tiqets.com
Time
Varies by tour; the Europe Tourisme tour lists 1 hour. expedia.com
Why Reality is 32
Lives up to its fame 3/5. Same tower and the same floors. A guide adds stories; a host adds little. which.co.uk
Value for money 1/5. Secrets of Paris says resellers charge 100-300% more than the official price. secretsofparis.com
Can’t get it elsewhere 1/5. Everything they sell is the official ticket with a person attached. which.co.uk
Easy to do 4/5. Their main real benefit: availability when official slots are sold out. You still pass the same security check. francophilesanonymes.com
The rules that catch people out
🎟️Booking5
Official online tickets carry a fixed time slot. The official ticket pages say to be at the esplanade at the start of the slot, and to allow 10 to 20 minutes for the mandatory security check. toureiffel.paris
Lift tickets go on sale up to 60 days ahead on the official ticket shop. The champagne bundle page says up to 90 days, and the stairs ticket page says stairs tickets go on sale 14 days ahead. toureiffel.paris
From 29 September 2026 the official prices page says advance reservations are required for stairs tickets. The stairs ticket page itself still says you can buy on site, so book online to be safe. toureiffel.paris
If no online slot suits you, the official site says you can buy at the tower's ticket offices for an immediate visit, if tickets remain. Ticket-office tickets are for immediate use only. toureiffel.paris
Groups: from 29 September 2026 groups can no longer buy at the ticket office. Groups of more than nine people including the guide must book online, and one guide may lead only one group of up to eight visitors per 30-minute slot. toureiffel.paris
🕘On the day6
One entry per ticket, and exit is final. A multi-floor visit starts at the highest floor; you visit the lower floors on the way down. toureiffel.paris
You cannot buy a supplement to the summit on site with a 2nd-floor ticket; the official page says no such ticket exists. toureiffel.paris
Access to the summit may be restricted in severe weather or at peak times, and public spaces may be closed if required. toureiffel.paris
Luggage or packages over 40 x 60 cm are refused. Glass bottles, cans, box cutters, pliers, non-folding strollers and animals (except assistance animals) are banned. There is no left-luggage or cloakroom, and confiscated items are treated as lost. toureiffel.paris
The gardens and esplanade under the tower are free, but you still go through security at entry 1 or entry 2, using the queue for visitors without tickets. toureiffel.paris
Rick Steves warns that crowded lifts are easy targets for pickpockets and that street thieves work the area below the tower. He suggests a money belt and care with your phone. ricksteves.com
💶Prices, refunds and reduced fares4
Tickets cannot be returned, refunded or exchanged. If force majeure restricts access for more than two hours in a row, only the restricted part may be refunded. Closures ordered by the authorities are not refunded. Lost tickets are not replaced. toureiffel.paris
Reduced fares need proof. Youth (12-24) and child (4-11) rates require valid proof of age. The disabled rate needs a disability card in your name and covers one companion. toureiffel.paris
Children under 4 are free but still need a free admission ticket. toureiffel.paris
New 2027 fares apply for visits from 11 January 2027, according to the official prices page. The amounts are in a PDF we could not open. toureiffel.paris
♿Access and hours2
For safety reasons the summit is not accessible to people with reduced mobility, and neither are the stairs. The 2nd-floor lift ticket is accessible, except walking down by the stairs. toureiffel.paris
Opening hours this week (25-30 October 2026): 09:30 to 23:00, with last ascents at 22:45 according to the prices page. The visitor regulations give different standard times (see unconfirmed). toureiffel.paris
Resellers, tours and touts
⚠️Before you buy from anyone else8
Which? (August 2025) found a Turkey-based Viator seller charging £93 for an Eiffel Tower entry that cost £31 direct. The 'host' only queued with you and rode the lift to the 2nd floor, with no tour and no summit. which.co.uk
Secrets of Paris calls resellers the worst option and says they charge 100-300% more. It cites a Viator summit ticket at €119 and 'hosted entry' at about €78. secretsofparis.com
Francophiles Anonymes says resellers' main benefit is guaranteed availability when the official site is sold out. It advises trying the official site about two months ahead first, then comparing two suppliers (it earns affiliate commission on Tiqets links). francophilesanonymes.com
Expedia listed a small-group guided tour by Europe Tourisme at $79.48 per adult for the 2nd floor and $125.07 with the summit, for about 1 hour, up to 25 people, champagne not included. The same page's headline says $49, so check the price before booking. expedia.com
Many reseller tickets are non-refundable. A Tiqets summit listing operated by Global Tours and Tickets allows no refunds or rescheduling, and was showing as unavailable. tiqets.com
The Paris Museum Pass does not cover the Eiffel Tower. European Traveler says: "The Eifel Tower is not covered — book admission well in advance." It lists the Arc de Triomphe among the sights the pass does cover. european-traveler.com
The official site sells its own guided tours with official guides, from €53.50 per adult for the 2nd floor, compared with $79.48 for the Europe Tourisme 2nd-floor tour on Expedia. toureiffel.paris
A restaurant booking is a partial shortcut: Rick Steves says a table at Madame Brasserie or Le Jules Verne bypasses some, but not all, entry lines. ricksteves.com
Questions people ask
Is the Eiffel Tower summit worth it?
Rick Steves says go to the top if you have time and skip it if your schedule is tight, and suggests checking again online about a week ahead if summit slots are full. He prefers to linger on the 2nd floor, which he says has the best views. ricksteves.com
Stairs or lift?
The stairs go only to the 2nd floor: 674 steps and 30 to 45 minutes of climbing, from the south pillar. Above the 2nd floor you must take the lift. Adults pay €14.80 by stairs vs €23.50 by lift. toureiffel.paris
How far ahead should I book?
The Tour Guy says to book at least 4-6 weeks ahead for summer or holidays, and that last-minute summit slots are rare. Lift tickets go on sale up to 60 days ahead on the official site. thetourguy.com
Can I buy tickets on the day?
Sometimes. The ticket offices sell tickets for an immediate visit if any remain, without a guarantee. From 29 September 2026 the official prices page says stairs tickets need advance reservation, and groups can no longer buy at the office. toureiffel.paris
What is the best time of day to go?
The Tour Guy suggests sunset slots for golden light and thinner crowds, or the first morning slot or after 9 pm. It says mid-afternoon has the longest waits. thetourguy.com
Is it worth going up at all, or just seeing it from outside?
Les Frenchies says it is worth going up, especially at sunset with a pre-booked ticket, but that repeat visitors and people afraid of heights can enjoy the free views from Trocadéro or the Champ-de-Mars instead, including the night light show. lesfrenchiestravel.com
Can I walk under the Eiffel Tower for free?
Yes. The gardens and esplanade are free, but you go through security at entry 1 or 2 in the queue for visitors without tickets. toureiffel.paris
Does the summit ticket include the 2nd and 1st floors?
Yes. You go up to the top first, then visit the 2nd and 1st floors on the way down. Exit is final. toureiffel.paris
Tickets are not refundable or exchangeable. If force majeure restricts access for over two hours in a row, only the restricted part may be refunded; closures ordered by the authorities are not refunded. toureiffel.paris
What we couldn’t confirm13 details
2027 fares: the official prices page says new fares apply from 11 January 2027, but the 2027 PDF failed to load, so the amounts are not confirmed. toureiffel.paris
Stairs booking: the prices page says advance reservations are required for stairs tickets from 29 September 2026. The stairs ticket page still says you can buy on site with little wait. The official groups notice only mentions groups. toureiffel.paris
Stairs + lift to the top: the official ticket page says both that it is sold only at the tower's ticket offices and that you can buy it online. The FAQ says it is mainly sold on site. toureiffel.paris
Booking window: the summit lift page says 60 days ahead (Francophiles Anonymes adds 08:30 French time); the champagne bundle page says up to 90 days. toureiffel.paris
Opening hours: the prices page shows 09:30-23:00 for 25-30 October with last ascents at 22:45, and no hours yet for 31 October. The May 2026 visitor regulations say 09:30-23:45 normally (09:00-00:45 in summer), with last ascent to the top at 22:30 (23:00 in summer). toureiffel.paris
Late arrival: an older official visiting-conditions page (which still shows 2017 rates) says access may be refused if you are more than 30 minutes late. The 2026 regulations set no grace period. toureiffel.paris
2nd floor height: the official FAQ and Michelin say 125 m; Lonely Planet says 115 m. lonelyplanet.com
Step counts: the official FAQ says 674 steps to the 2nd floor. Lonely Planet says 360 steps and that stairs can't be booked online, which no longer matches the official site. lonelyplanet.com
Le Jules Verne stars: the official restaurants page says one Michelin star; the Michelin Guide shows two stars in 2026. toureiffel.paris
Le Jules Verne entrance: Paris Insiders Guide says diners use a dedicated entry at the south pillar; En Primeur Club says the private lift is at Entrance 1, Allée des Refuzniks. parisinsidersguide.com
Summit champagne price: Lonely Planet gives €13-22 a glass; the official site does not list bar prices. lonelyplanet.com
The official prices page's social-sharing (Open Graph) description shows older fares (€14.20 to €35.30) that differ from the prices in the page body; we used the body prices. toureiffel.paris
Arc de Triomphe roof price for late 2026 is not confirmed: the Paris Region listing shows contradictory rates and only gives figures up to 31 March 2026. pro.visitparisregion.com
