Eiffel Tower Tickets: Every Option Explained
There are four official ticket types and six common bookable versions of them. The gap between the cheapest and the dearest is almost entirely about whether you take the lift and how high you go — not about what you actually see.
{'label': 'View Eiffel Tower tickets'}Eiffel Tower Ticket Basics
Tickets split by two things: which level you reach, and whether you take the lift or the stairs. Everything else — audio guides, champagne, cruises — is an add-on layered on top of one of those.
Second floor
116 m up, and the level where Paris still reads as a city. Best view for photographs.
The summit
276 m, enclosed in mesh. Higher, colder, and more about having been there.
Lift or stairs
Stairs reach the second floor only. The saving is real but so are the steps.
Add-ons
Guided tours, evening slots, cruises and champagne all sit on top of a base ticket.
What Each Ticket Actually Includes
The single most common complaint in reviews is buying one level and expecting another. This is what each covers.
Second floor entry
Lift or stairs to 116 m. Does not include the summit and cannot be upgraded once you are inside.
Summit access
Second floor plus the summit lift to 276 m. Includes everything below it.
Guided tours
A licensed guide through all levels. Usually includes summit access — check before booking.
Evening slots
The same access at a later time, with the hourly light show seen from inside the structure.
Worth knowing: You cannot upgrade from second floor to summit once you have gone through. You would need to come down and buy again.
How to Pick Without Overpaying
Work through these in order and you will land on the right ticket in about a minute.
- Decide if you need the summit: If the photograph is the point, the second floor is better. The summit is about having stood at the top.
- Check whether stairs are realistic: The stairs route to the second floor is cheaper, but it is 674 steps in the open air.
- Decide about a guide: A guide is worth it if you want the engineering explained. It is not worth it just for queue access.
- Pick your time slot: Evening slots are quieter and the tower is lit. Midday in summer is the worst window.
Simple rule: If you are unsure, book the second floor. It is the cheapest way in, the best view, and nobody regrets it.
Compare Eiffel Tower Tickets
Ranked by how many people have actually reviewed them, highest first. Prices come live from the booking partner.
Summit access by lift, reserved entry
Timed slot straight to the second floor, then the summit lift. The one most people mean by "Eiffel Tower ticket".
Second floor, skip-the-line entry
116 m up, and honestly the better view — Paris still reads as a city from here. Cheapest way past the queue.
Small-group guided tour to the summit
Maximum 15 people, all three levels, and the engineering story told properly.
Summit ticket with Seine river cruise
The cruise dock is a seven-minute walk from the north pillar, so this pairing is genuinely convenient.
Six Things to Check First
Each of these comes straight from a complaint that repeats across thousands of reviews.
- Confirm the level: Make sure the ticket says summit or top if that is what you want.
- Check the cancellation terms: Most options allow free cancellation up to 24 hours. Some do not.
- Book a timed slot: Walk-up in summer means queuing twice, once to buy and once for the lift.
- Bring a layer: The summit deck is open air and windy, even in August.
- Leave luggage elsewhere: There is no left-luggage facility anywhere on site.
- Screenshot your ticket: Phone signal around the base is unreliable when it is busy.
Which Eiffel Tower Ticket Is Right for You?
Compare the six best-reviewed options side by side, check live availability for your date, and book the one that matches what you actually want from the visit.
View all Eiffel Tower tickets