How To Visit the Eiffel Tower in 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More!
Brandon Shaw
The Eiffel Tower is synonymous with Paris. Who doesn’t want to visit this iconic monument and one of the biggest attractions in Europe? Tickets to the Eiffel Tower are hard to come by but don’t worry. This article will cover everything you need to know about how to visit the Eiffel Tower, from tickets to tours.
Pro Tip: Planning your trip to the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our guide to Paris and the Eiffel Tower for more planning resources and a list of the best tours of the Eiffel Tower.
Gustav Eiffel’s monument hasn’t always been the jewel of Paris, but it certainly is to millions of visitors today. There are three levels you can visit on the Eiffel Tower, so you’ll need to plan your trip accordingly.
All tickets to the Eiffel Tower can be hard to get during the peak summer season, so be sure to plan ahead. Keep reading to learn how to visit the Eiffel Tower and what you need to know.
The Eiffel Tower monument is open daily from 9 am to 12:45 am (last admission at 11:45 pm). Opening hours are subject to seasonal changes, so be sure to check the official website for up-to-date hours on the day of your visit.
Tickets:
There are five different types of admission tickets for the Eiffel tower at varying prices. Some include access by the stairs or the elevator. Here is a quick summary of ticket types and prices.
We also run a few amazing Eiffel Tower tours that get 5-star reviews. It’s a great way to guarantee admission and hear insider stories with a local guide!
Assuming you get tickets or a tour to go up the Eiffel Tower, you should plan on at least three hours. As you’ll read in my below recommendations, I think this is best done in a half-day event including a meal and ideally champagne if you plan on doing things correctly.
If you are reading this then you are very possibly planning ahead for your trip. I recommend putting aside some additional sheckles to have a killer meal on the Eiffel Tower! Eating and exploring would take about 4 hours at lunch or 5 to 6 hours at dinner.
If you can’t get tickets or decide not to go up (which is a true mistake!) you should plan on spending 20 minutes walking through the area until you capture that picture of you touching the top of the Eiffel Tower.
How To Get To the Eiffel Tower
Metro:
The preferred method of transport in Paris is the metro. The Eiffel Tower is located footsteps away from Camp de Mars / Tour Eiffel station which is on the RER C. You can also get off at the Ecole Militair on Line 8 or Bir-Hakeim on Line 6 which are both within walking distance. When you get out of the metro station look for the Eiffel Tower and you’re there!
Bus:
You can take the 30, 42, 80, 82, 86 or Direct 2. Get off when you feel you are close enough to walk to the tower.
Walking:
Luckily, you can see the Eiffel Tower from basically anywhere in Paris. Walk towards it!
Our Best Guided Tours of Paris
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Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour from Paris
Navigating transportation, dealing with tickets, and waiting in long lines can ruin your day at Versailles. Our half-day small group tour eliminates the hassle entirely. With roundtrip transport from Paris, skip-the-line access, and a friendly guide, you’ll effortlessly explore the palace, discover its highlights, and enjoy free time in the gardens. After your guided experience ends, you’re free to stay in the gardens, visit Trianon and take the train back to Paris at your convenience.
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Montmartre Food and History Walking Tour
Montmartre’s winding streets and tourist traps make it tough to find authentic spots on your own. Our immersive walking tour eliminates this stress by leading you to the best local landmarks and flavors with a friendly guide. Sample classic French dishes, both sweet and savory, as you explore must-see sites, like Moulin Rogue, and other hidden gems. Finish with a breathtaking view over Paris from this charming hilltop neighborhood.
Photograph by Marie-Line Sina of Jules Verne Restaurant
You may read this and think, “You go to the tower, then you go up the tower, and finally, you see a great view. Right?”
In reality, there’s a lot more to do than you may expect. The structure is extremely tall and it is framed by two huge parks that occupy more than 2 million square feet of downtown Paris, France. In this section, we’ll explain what do to in, at the top, and around the Eiffel Tower.
First Floor, Second Floor, and the Summit
Yes, you should make every effort possible to go up the Eiffel Tower. The tickets start at €11.30, which is affordable enough for anyone who can afford a visit to Paris.
However, don’t think you can show up on a Saturday and say, “Two please!” These tickets are extremely difficult to get. You’re going to want to book ahead, especially if you’re looking to see the best view from the summit.
Hungry? Restaurants at the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower may look like a thin, wiry structure but at any given moment there could be up to 3,000 people eating, drinking, or snapping selfies from 58 meters to 276 meters off the ground on the Eiffel’s three observation decks.
When I travel, I’m a bit of a bon vivant. We all work hard, so decompressing on vacation and enjoying the sweet fruits of our labor is super important.
This is why I always say, “If you can, you should go inside.” This goes for eating at Madame Brassiere or Le Jules Verne—if you can. Check out our dedicated article on eating at the Eiffel Tower to plan and even make reservations.
Short answer: OUI! (that means YES in French). While seeing the Iron Lady is a wonderful experience if you go by yourself or with friends, the historical value is often lost on visitors. Joining a small group tour of the Eiffel Tower guarantees you get to skip all of the lines, learn from a professional historian, and see Paris’ most famous structure in all of its splendor. Here are our most popular Eiffel Tower tours:
This top-rated tour is one of the best Eiffel Tower tours for families, solo travelers, and couples looking for a romantic evening. Your evening starts with a serene cruise on the Seine seeing the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, and Notre Dam as the sun begins to set. On your way back, the Eiffel Tower will be lit up to guide your way to the elevator that will take you to the popular second floor. And with skip-the-line tickets, you’ll avoid the extra long lines in the evening!
Paris is home to three famous attractions and you’ll see all of them on this tour. It’s the perfect way to get to know this incredible city from the streets of Montmarte to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. In just one day, you’ll take pictures of the famous Mona Lisa, gaze upon Notre Dame, cruise the Seine River, and view Paris from the second floor of the Eiffel Tower!
This Eiffel Tower tour is the most sought-after tour we have in Paris. Not only do you sip champagne on a river cruise, skip the line past the general public, and get a local tour guide, but you also get to visit the summit of the tower for the best view in Paris! Oh, and you’ll even stop at the second floor before heading to the top. It’s an incredible deal that is worth every penny for the memories you’ll make.
Booking a private tour is always the way to go if your budget allows. With a private guide, you’ll hear explanations about what you’ll see during your Seine River cruise, then be escorted at your own pace past the lines at the Eiffel Tower. The private Eiffel Tower tour with a Seine River cruise is the most elegant way to visit the Eiffel Tower!
For the active traveler, this climbing tour of the Eiffel Tower is another solid choice. With skip-the-line tickets and a local guide, you’ll climb 674 steps to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Take in the awesome views from this popular level before getting in the elevator to the summit. You can enjoy your time on either level as long as you like, so don’t forget to make a restaurant reservation!
The Eiffel Tower is located in a park known as Champ de Mars which is in the 7th arrondissement of Paris in France.
The tower was constructed to be the entrance to the World’s Fair in 1889 and took two years to build.
It was built by engineer Gustave Eiffel whose innovative design has led to his name going down in the history books. Many said that a structure of this size simply couldn’t be built. I assume that motivated him even more.
The Eiffel Tower is 1063 feet tall (324m) which makes it about 75 stories tall (14ft per story).
On average, about 7 million people visit the tower per year making it one of the most visited (ticketed) buildings on Earth. It was constructed to display France’s engineering prowess at the World’s Fair and beyond. Today, it has become the emblem of Paris.
Mountain Climbers: Apparently when the city decided to add more lights to the tower, approx 20,000 lights, they hired mountain climbers to scale the tower and attach them. I wonder what the electricians union thought about that?
The tower is host to three levels, two restaurants, and various bars.
Le Jules Verne, which is a Michelin star-rated restaurant on the second level of the tower. The second is named Le 58, which is on the tower’s first level, 58 meters from the ground.
The absolute top level features a Champagne bar named “Bar A Champagne”. You don’t need a fancy name to sell a class of Champagne on the summit of arguably the world’s most romantic structure.
Beyond that, there are multiple buffets, terrace bars, and even a macaroon bar (which makes sense).
Best Time To Visit the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited attractions on Earth with 7 million + visitors per year. Reserving ahead is the key to a positive and stress-free experience. If you can get the tickets, when is the best time to go?
At Sunset:
At and after sunset is by far the most attractive time to visit the Eiffel Tower. The tower lights up every hour on the hour after sunset for 5 minutes until 1 am or 2 am depending on the season. The 336 lamps/projectors make the tower light up in a very sporadic fashion which is really a joy to look at.
Do a search for when sunset is the day of your visit and show up 45 minutes before sunset. Book your tickets anytime between 45 minutes before sunset to closure. This way you can see the tower at sunset and go up in the same evening.
Day Time:
You can enjoy the Eiffel Tower during the day as well and watch the light show from the ground at night.
An afternoon at the Eiffel Tower can be really great. The official website advises 1.5 hours for the 1st and 2nd levels and 2.5 hours for all three levels, but you can really stay as long as you like.
Visiting during the day allows you to explore and have a casual meal and or drink while walking around.
Try to get tickets to go up around noon. This way you can have a drink and meal while you are in the tower. If you don’t want to eat buffet food, reserve your tickets for later afternoon. Maybe after 4 pm. This way you can have some drinks on the tower at the end of your day before you get ready for dinner.
April 1 to Oct 31:
From April 1st to Oct 31st, the Eiffel Tower will be extremely hard to reserve. Make sure you reserve in advance to get the entry time you like.
I highly recommend joining a guided tour if you go in the summer. The guides really make the tower come to life and it often includes a sunset cruise on the Seine river. Make sure you read the details to know if the tour you are booking includes that. It is an awesome experience.
Nov 1 to March 31:
With the exception of Christmas, you basically will be able to have your pick on what time to visit the tower. I recommend you go in the afternoon as the temperatures may be warmer.
That said, you are going to want to see it at night evening in the winter. If this is the case, dress warm!
When you visit the Eiffel Tower, you have the option of dining in one of three fantastic restaurants on the Eiffel Tower. We’ve also included a few suggestions for great places to eat nearby, Fore more options, check out our article on the best restaurants near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Madame Brassiere
This is a great restaurant with views over the Seine. The cuisine is also wonderful thanks to Michelin-star chef Thierry Marx who focuses on sustainable foods.
You can opt to eat in the classy restaurant or sit in the more relaxed lounge that also has great city views and is ideal for an evening drink and appetizers. Coming in the morning? They also serve breakfast that’s worth coming early for.
Priority access to 1st level of Eiffel Tower
A very high-quality meal crafted by Thierry Marx who received two Michelin stars at Sur-Mesure
An experience you will not forget.
For me, it is a no-brainer. If you can plan ahead far enough to get the reservation, you should save the extra money for you and another person to enjoy this experience.
The definition of bon vivant is a person who enjoys a sociable and luxurious lifestyle. The photo next to it had better be someone eating a meal at Jules Verne. The restaurant has received 1 Michelin star under all four chefs who have run Le Jules Verne.
Here, a meal will run you €190 – €230 per person for dinner excluding beverages—a five-course and seven-course menu respectively. It might not be for everyone, but if you can you should.
They have a slightly more affordable menu at €105 for lunch excluding beverages for a 3-course tasting menu. Eating at the Jules Verne is a special experience for anyone who can afford it and manages to get a booking.
You can book through their official website. They release timeslots 90 days in advance, so forget about booking a year ahead. You have two choices: the Main Rooms (overlooking the city) and the Alcove (overlooking the interior).
Main Rooms obviously go first, although the website tries to sell the benefits of the Alcove. You can sit down for lunch between 12 to 1:30 pm at 15-minute intervals.
Dinner sit-down times are 7, 7:15, and 7:30 pm. Expect a magnificent 3-hour dining experience for the 5-course menu and longer for the 7-course menu.
Throughout the 1st and 2nd floors, there are various buffets, snack bars, and shops that will satisfy your hunger or thirst. Exactly what you will expect from a stand-up counter service establishment. Definitely gets the job done.
If you manage to get the coveted ticket to the summit or top tier, definitely put aside a few euros for a glass of champagne. There is a small bar that serves champagne named Champagne A Bar. Very straightforward.
Near the Eiffel Tower
Café de l’Homme: €€€€ | Eiffel Tower Views—You could say this upscale bistro is more about the view than the food but many would say it’s about both. Just across the river located on Place de Trocadéro, this treat would definitely impress that special someone. Be sure to reserve a table with a view in advance or you will only see part of the experience.
Arnaud Nicolas: €€€ | French Cuisine—Enjoy a cut of meat? This institution has earned the most prized awards in France for preparation of pâté and foie gras among other dishes. This is a special meal so make reservations and come hungry.
Our Best Guided Tours of Paris
Likely to Sell out
Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour from Paris
Navigating transportation, dealing with tickets, and waiting in long lines can ruin your day at Versailles. Our half-day small group tour eliminates the hassle entirely. With roundtrip transport from Paris, skip-the-line access, and a friendly guide, you’ll effortlessly explore the palace, discover its highlights, and enjoy free time in the gardens. After your guided experience ends, you’re free to stay in the gardens, visit Trianon and take the train back to Paris at your convenience.
See Prices
Top Selling
Montmartre Food and History Walking Tour
Montmartre’s winding streets and tourist traps make it tough to find authentic spots on your own. Our immersive walking tour eliminates this stress by leading you to the best local landmarks and flavors with a friendly guide. Sample classic French dishes, both sweet and savory, as you explore must-see sites, like Moulin Rogue, and other hidden gems. Finish with a breathtaking view over Paris from this charming hilltop neighborhood.
With a city as magnificent as Paris, it can be hard to find the perfect hotel at the perfect price. Explore the best hotels and places to stay in these incredible neighborhoods in Paris.
Brandon is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He left the States to travel the world at 18 and never looked back! As an official Tour Guide of Rome and Certified Sommelier, he loves to travel the world and share these experiences with his readers.
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