Three ways up, one of them bookable on the day. Here is which ticket to buy and when to go.
The short version
- Lift tickets to the top sell out weeks ahead in season. Book at toureiffel.paris, the only official seller, the day you book your flights.
- Four tickets: lift to the second floor €23.50, lift to the top €36.70, stairs to the second floor €14.80, stairs then lift to the top €28. Children 4 to 11 pay a quarter, under 4 free with a free ticket.
- The stairs are the way in when the lifts are gone: 674 steps to the second floor, 30 minutes, and since September 29, 2026 a reservation is required for those too.
- Open every day 9:30 to 23:00, last ascent 22:45. The top closes in high wind and on the busiest days, so the second floor is the sure thing.
- Bags are X-rayed at the gate and there is no luggage storage. Come with a day bag.
- The second floor is the view most people want: the whole city laid out, the top a small cage with a longer line. Go to the top once; the second floor is the one you come back to.
Tickets
Everything goes through the glass security wall around the base, then a second check at the foot of the tower. Allow 20 minutes before your slot, more on a weekend afternoon. The time on a lift ticket is the time you join the lift line, not the time you are up.
- Lift to the top. €36.70. The one that sells out. Book it first, weeks ahead from April to October.
- Lift to the second floor. €23.50. Easier to find, and most of the view.
- Stairs to the second floor. €14.80. 674 steps, 30 minutes, the best way to see the ironwork. Reservation required since September 29, 2026.
- Stairs, then lift to the top. €28. Climb to the second floor and take the lift from there.
The 2026 prices hold until January 10, 2027; new fares apply from January 11. Nobody sells skip-the-line tickets: the only line to skip is the ticket desk, and an online ticket does that.
Or let us put it in a day: our private Paris in a Day is eight hours with a driver-guide, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre and Notre-Dame in one go; book your tower slot and we build the day around it.
The visit
Gustave Eiffel’s company built it for the 1889 World’s Fair in two years, two months and five days, 300 meters of iron that was meant to come down after 20 years. The radio antennas saved it, and it is 330 meters today with the mast.
The second floor at 115 meters is the view: the Trocadéro and the Arc one way, the Invalides dome and Montparnasse the other, the Seine bending through the middle. The top at 276 meters is higher and smaller, with Eiffel’s office and a glass of champagne for sale.
The first floor has a glass floor over the drop and the long galleries that most people skip. If you took the stairs, stop here on the way down.
The lights come on at nightfall and the tower sparkles for five minutes at the top of every hour after dark. The best place to watch is from the Trocadéro across the river, not from the tower.
When to go
The 9:30 opening, or the last ascent at 22:45. The middle of the day is the line; the first and last hours are the tower.
A late slot in winter puts you at the top in the dark with the city lit, and the top is open to 23:00 all year. In summer the sun sets after 21:30, so an evening slot gets both.
Open every day of the year, including Christmas and New Year’s Day. The top closes in high wind, and the stairs close in ice; check the site the morning of your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book the Eiffel Tower in advance?
For the lift, yes, weeks ahead in season. For the stairs, a reservation has been required since September 29, 2026, but slots are easier to find. Book only at toureiffel.paris.
Second floor or the top?
The top once, for the height and the champagne bar. The second floor for the view you will remember; it is closer to the city and the line is shorter. If the top is sold out, don’t pay a reseller; take the second floor.
Can I take the stairs all the way up?
No. The stairs stop at the second floor, 674 steps. From there a lift goes to the top on the €28 combined ticket.
How long does the Eiffel Tower take?
Two hours with the top: 20 minutes of security, the lift lines, and the view at each level. An hour for the second floor by the stairs on a quiet morning.
Is there a tour that includes the Eiffel Tower?
Our private Paris tour by car is four hours with a driver-guide from your hotel, any time of day or night, with the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadéro and the rest of the big sights from the car and on foot. Tickets up the tower are separate; book your slot and we time the stop.
Our Most Popular Day Trips From Paris
Louvre, Montmartre and Notre Dame in eight hours with a private driver-guide.
