Eiffel Tower tickets in Paris for 2027: summit, second floor and tips

The Eiffel Tower, from the 1889 World's Fair to the emblem of Paris

Few structures built as temporary installations end up as the symbol of an entire nation. The idea of a 300-metre pylon took shape in June 1884 in the offices of Gustave Eiffel's company, drawn up by two engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier. The architect Stephen Sauvestre then reworked the design, adding its arches and a more graceful outline. Construction began on 28 January 1887 and the tower was inaugurated on 31 March 1889, just in time for the World's Fair marking the centenary of the French Revolution.

Verified Eiffel Tower facts and figures

• Height: roughly 330 metres including the antennas.
• Third floor: 276 metres above the ground, the highest point open to visitors.
• Full staircase: 1,665 steps to the very top, of which only the first 674, up to the second floor, are open to the public.
• Assembly: more than 18,000 iron parts joined together by millions of rivets.

The monument belongs to the City of Paris and is run by the Société d'exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE). It welcomes around six million visitors a year, and more than 300 million people have been up since 1889: numbers like these explain why securing a timed slot matters so much.

Which Eiffel Tower ticket to choose: summit, second floor, stairs or lift

The official price list combines two variables: how high you want to go, and how you get to the second floor. Above the second floor, everyone takes the summit lift whatever ticket they hold.

Eiffel Tower second-floor ticket

This is the most popular choice for families and for anyone who wants to take their time. From around 116 metres up, the rooftops of Paris are still easy to read: you can pick out the domes, the great avenues and the curve of the Seine. You can stop off freely at the first floor, with its glass floor, on the way down.

Eiffel Tower summit ticket

This adds the ride up to 276 metres. The view becomes almost map-like and, on a clear day, stretches far beyond the ring road. At the top you can also see Gustave Eiffel's reconstructed office.

Stairs or lift up to the Eiffel Tower second floor

The 674 steps take roughly twenty to thirty minutes depending on your pace, with a natural break at the first floor. Climbing gives you a close-up view of the iron framework that the lift simply cannot offer. The lift, on the other hand, suits young children, people with reduced mobility and anyone keen to save their legs for the rest of the day.

Tickets are dated and timed: turn up at the time shown, as the slot cannot be changed on site.

Official Eiffel Tower prices in 2026 (indicative)

The adult public prices below were recorded in October 2026. They are indicative: the price list may change in 2027, and the amount actually charged for your date is shown when you book.

Eiffel Tower concessions and free entry

• Visitors aged 12 to 24 pay roughly half the adult price (for example €18.40 for the summit by lift).
• Children aged 4 to 11 pay about a quarter (€9.20 for the summit by lift).
• Under-4s go up free of charge.
• Disabled visitors are entitled to a reduced rate.

Lift slots generally go on sale about two months before the visit date, and stair slots a little later: for a spring weekend or a summer date in 2027, it pays to book as soon as sales open.

Eiffel Tower opening hours and the best times to go up

The monument opens in the morning, between 9am and 9.30am depending on the period, and closes at 11.45pm for most of the year. In high summer, from mid-June to the end of August, it opens earlier and closes later, at 12.45am. The last ascent to the summit is roughly an hour before closing, and access by the stairs ends in the late afternoon or early evening. Always check the day's timetable when booking: partial closures can happen for weather or technical reasons, particularly at the summit when the wind is strong.

The Eiffel Tower in the morning

The first hour brings soft light over the east of the city and shorter queues at security. It is the ideal slot if you are travelling with children.

The Eiffel Tower at sunset

The most sought-after slot of all: going up an hour before dusk lets you see Paris in daylight and then stay on as the lights come on. These times sell quickly, especially from May to September.

The Eiffel Tower at night and its sparkle

Once darkness falls, the tower sparkles for five minutes at the start of every hour. From the top you experience the show from inside; from the Trocadéro or the Champ-de-Mars you can photograph it. The two combine nicely: an evening ascent followed by a stroll at the foot of the monument.

Getting to the Eiffel Tower: metro, RER, bus and on foot

The tower stands on the Champ-de-Mars, on avenue Gustave-Eiffel in the 7th arrondissement, beside the Seine and facing the Trocadéro gardens.

• Metro line 6: Bir-Hakeim station, about ten minutes' walk away, with a lovely elevated crossing of the Seine just before you arrive.
• Metro lines 6 and 9: Trocadéro station, so you arrive via the esplanade of the Palais de Chaillot and see the tower straight ahead before crossing the Pont d'Iéna.
• RER C: Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel station, the closest to the entrance pillar.

Walking to the Eiffel Tower

From Les Invalides, allow around twenty minutes along avenue de la Motte-Picquet and across the Champ-de-Mars. From the Pont de l'Alma, the quai Branly leads you to the foot of the monument in a quarter of an hour, following the river. Arriving via the Trocadéro remains the most theatrical approach.

Security checks, bags and accessibility at the Eiffel Tower

The base of the tower is a protected esplanade: every visitor goes through a security check with bag screening before reaching the pillars, and there may be a second check before the lifts. Allow at least thirty minutes before the time on your ticket in high season.

Luggage and belongings at the Eiffel Tower

• Suitcases and bulky luggage are not accepted, and there is no left-luggage facility on site: drop them at your hotel or at a luggage store in town.
• Sharp objects, glass bottles and hazardous items are refused at security.
• A small backpack is all you need: water, a windproof jacket (it is noticeably cooler and windier at the top) and a power bank for your phone.

The Eiffel Tower with children or reduced mobility

Pushchairs are allowed, but they are easier to handle folded in the lifts. Wheelchair users can reach the first and second floors; the summit may be closed to them for evacuation reasons, so check the conditions when you book. You may be asked for ID to prove eligibility for a reduced rate.

How long to allow at the Eiffel Tower and which route to follow

Between security, the ascent, exploring each floor and coming back down, allow about two hours with a second-floor ticket and two and a half to three hours with the summit, longer in summer when there is a queue at the second floor for the summit lift.

Suggested route around the Eiffel Tower

1. Head straight to the highest level your ticket allows: queues get longer as the day goes on.
2. At the summit, walk all the way round the platform and look out for the orientation tables.
3. Come back down to the second floor for more detailed views over individual neighbourhoods.
4. Finish at the first floor: glass floor, exhibitions on how the tower was built and quieter terraces.

Restaurants and buffets spread across the floors let you take a break without going back down; a reservation is needed for the fine-dining tables.

Around the Eiffel Tower: what to do before or after your visit

The foot of the monument is the natural starting point for a day in western Paris. Port de la Bourdonnais, just below, is one of the best-known boarding points for a Seine river cruise of about an hour, perfect for seeing the tower again from the water. Twenty minutes' walk away, the Hôtel des Invalides houses Napoleon's tomb beneath its golden dome, and the Rodin Museum displays its sculptures in a garden close by. Across the river, a straight line up avenue Kléber takes you to the Arc de Triomphe, whose rooftop terrace gives you a distant face-to-face with the Iron Lady.

Viewpoints over the Eiffel Tower from ground level

The Trocadéro esplanade for the postcard shot, the Champ-de-Mars for picnics, the Bir-Hakeim bridge for a cinematic perspective, and rue de l'Université for a silhouette that suddenly appears between the Haussmann-era buildings.

Booking the Eiffel Tower for 2027 with the calendar on this page

2027 looks set to be a busy year for tourism in Paris, with its usual highlights: the Fête de la Musique on 21 June, the 14 July fireworks launched from around the tower, and the long summer evenings. Late-afternoon slots are the first to go.

How the Eiffel Tower calendar works

Pick your preferred date in the calendar shown on this page, then press “Check availability”. We query our booking partner live to tell you whether places remain that day and at what price. If your chosen day is fully booked, leave your email address: you will receive an alert as soon as Eiffel Tower tickets become available again or new slots go on sale.