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Eiffel Tower Tickets 2026: Prices, Options & Where to Buy

Real 2026 rates, trusted booking platforms, and the tactics locals use to skip the line.

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Official Prices

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Why Book Eiffel Tower Tickets in Advance

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Sold Out Every Summer

Eiffel Tower tickets can be fully unavailable 2 to 4 weeks ahead in peak season. Official slots are released 60 days out and evening sunset windows vanish within hours.

Skip Hours of Line

Standby queues at the Pilier Nord can stretch 90 to 180 minutes in June, July and August. A timed ticket or skip-the-line tour cuts that to a 10-15 minute security check.

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Lock in Sunset Slots

The best views (and best photos) happen during the golden hour just before sunset. These slots are the first to sell out, so book 30 or more days ahead whenever possible.

2026 Prices & Ticket Types

Ticket TypeAdultYouth 12-24Child 4-11
Lift to 2nd Floor
Most popular. Lift from ground to level 2. Panoramic Paris view.
€28.30€14.10€7.10
Lift to Top (Summit)
Ground lift to level 2, then second lift to the 276m summit.
€36.70€18.40€9.20
Stairs to 2nd Floor
Cheapest option. 674 steps. Smaller crowd, separate queue.
€14.80€7.40€3.80
Stairs + Lift to Top
Climb to level 2 then lift to the summit. Budget summit access.
€22.70€11.40€5.70
Guided Tour (Skip-the-line)
Via GetYourGuide or Viator. Includes guide, priority entry and often extras.
€55-90€55-90Varies

Prices per toureiffel.paris April 2026. Children under 4 enter free. Tickets are non-refundable but rescheduling is allowed.

Where to Book Your Eiffel Tower Tickets

Four trusted platforms. Each fits a different traveller. Compare price, flexibility and what is included.

GetYourGuide

Most Flexible

Verified traveller reviews, free cancellation up to 24 hours before start, and instant mobile tickets. Expect €51 to €78 for a skip-the-line plus English-speaking guide package.

  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours
  • Verified reviews and star ratings
  • Instant mobile ticket, no printing
  • €51-78 skip-the-line with guide
Check GetYourGuide

Viator

Widest Selection

Owned by TripAdvisor with the largest network of Paris operators. Strong for combo packages such as Eiffel Tower plus Seine river cruise or Louvre skip-the-line add-ons.

  • Largest operator network in Paris
  • TripAdvisor-ranked reviews
  • Combo packages (Eiffel + Seine cruise)
  • Group and private tour options
Check Viator

Official Eiffel Tower Site

Best Price No Guide

Cheapest route at the official rates shown above. No guide is included. Slots are released roughly 60 days before the visit date and the best time windows sell out fast.

  • Official rates, lowest price
  • Direct operator, no markup
  • Releases 60 days in advance
  • Best for independent visitors
Check Official Eiffel Tower Site

Klook

Mobile-First Booking

Popular with travellers from Asia and Australia. Clean app, instant confirmation, and frequent promo codes. Good alternative if GetYourGuide or Viator show sold out.

  • Instant mobile confirmation
  • Frequent promo codes
  • Popular with Asian travellers
  • Multi-attraction Paris bundles
Check Klook

Skip-The-Line Tactics That Actually Work

  • Guided tour with SOS jump-queue. Licensed operators have their own entry lane. You walk past the standby queue and go straight into security.
  • Stairs entry bypasses the elevator queue. The stairs line at Pilier Sud is almost always shorter than the lift lines. You are walking, but you are walking while lift visitors wait.
  • Book the first slot of the day (9:00 AM). Security is empty, staff are fresh, and the Champ de Mars photos have clean morning light.
  • Book the 9:30 PM last lift. Usually available when earlier slots are sold out. You catch the hourly sparkle light show from the summit.

Which Floor Should You Go To?

FloorViewCost (Adult)Typical QueueWorth It For
2nd Floor (115m)Widest panorama, best for photos€28.30 lift30-90 min peakMost visitors, photographers, families
Summit (276m)Top-down, full horizon€36.70 lift60-120 min peakFirst-time visitors, clear-weather days
Stairs to 2ndSame 2nd floor view, slower arrival€14.8015-30 minBudget travellers, queue-haters, fit visitors

When to Visit the Eiffel Tower

Best Hours

The 9:00 AM first slot is the calmest. In summer, 6:00 PM hits the sweet spot before the evening rush, and the 9:00 PM summer sunset slot is magical but books up weeks ahead. The 9:30 PM last lift often still has availability.

By Season

June to September is the busiest, with frequent sell-outs. December to February has the shortest lines and some of the best cold-air visibility, although the summit can be windy. April, May and October strike the best balance.

Sunset Windows

Book the slot about 45 minutes before sunset so you arrive at level 2 for golden hour. In April to October, sunset is roughly 8:00 to 9:30 PM. These time slots sell out first, often 30 days ahead.

Weekday vs Weekend

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are noticeably quieter. Weekends fill with Paris weekend-breakers from across Europe. School holiday weeks (French vacations scolaires) can feel as busy as summer.

Common Eiffel Tower Booking Mistakes

  1. Buying a lift-only ticket when you actually wanted the summit. The summit is a separate upgrade and you cannot add it on at the tower if the day is sold out.
  2. Arriving 10 minutes before your slot. Security, bag check and the lift queue eat real time. Plan on being at the base 30 minutes before your window.
  3. Booking a Sacré-Coeur or Louvre tour the same morning as your Eiffel slot. Paris transit is slower than it looks on a map and most visitors run late.
  4. Assuming the Madame Brasserie restaurant ticket includes tower access. It does include level 1 access, but the restaurant itself needs a separate reservation made 3 or more months ahead.
  5. Booking August without checking July-August maintenance windows. The stair routes sometimes close in summer for painting and inspections.
  6. Buying from third-party scalper sites that list prices far above the official toureiffel.paris rates. If it costs much more than €36.70 without a guide, you are being overcharged.

Accessibility at the Eiffel Tower

  • Elevators provide wheelchair access to the 1st and 2nd floors.
  • The summit is not wheelchair accessible. The lift from level 2 to the summit cannot accommodate wheelchairs.
  • Visitors with disabilities receive a 50% discount, and a companion ticket is also 50% off. Bring official proof at the gate.
  • Service dogs are allowed throughout the tower.
  • Accessible toilets are available on level 1 and in the esplanade area.

What to Bring and What is Forbidden

Bring

  • Phone charged with your mobile ticket QR code ready.
  • Photo ID for youth and child tickets (proof of age).
  • A light jacket. The summit is 10 to 15 degrees colder and very windy.
  • A refillable water bottle. Fountains are on levels 1 and 2.
  • Small backpack only. Large bags slow security considerably.

Forbidden at Security

  • Glass bottles and containers of any kind.
  • Knives, multi-tools, scissors, any sharp object.
  • Outside alcohol. Alcohol is sold inside the tower.
  • Large luggage and suitcases. No cloakroom is available.
  • Drones, tripods over 1m, selfie sticks over 1m, and professional filming gear without a permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Eiffel Tower tickets cost in 2026?

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Official 2026 prices range from €14.80 for an adult stairs ticket to level 2, up to €36.70 for an adult lift ticket to the summit. Youth (12-24) and child (4-11) tickets are roughly half price. Guided skip-the-line tours on GetYourGuide and Viator typically run €55 to €90 per adult.

Where is the best place to buy Eiffel Tower tickets?

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The official toureiffel.paris site is cheapest and releases slots about 60 days before the visit date. If those are sold out, GetYourGuide and Viator resell through licensed operators and add skip-the-line plus an English-speaking guide. Klook is a good backup if the others are full.

Do I need to book Eiffel Tower tickets in advance?

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Yes, especially from April to October and during Christmas week. In peak summer the tower routinely sells out 2 to 4 weeks ahead and sunset slots go first. Booking 30 or more days out gives you full choice of times.

Can I buy Eiffel Tower tickets on the day?

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Sometimes. Walk-up tickets for the stairs to level 2 are usually available even in summer because that queue moves fast. Lift tickets on the day are rare in June, July and August. Off-season (December to February) you can usually walk up for any ticket type.

What is the difference between 2nd floor and summit tickets?

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The 2nd floor is 115 metres up and has the best wide panoramic view of Paris, with glass floor sections and restaurants. The summit is 276 metres, reached by a second lift from level 2, and gives a top-down view but a much tighter observation deck. Most visitors find level 2 the better photo spot.

Is it worth paying for a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower?

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A guided tour is worth it if you want the history, want guaranteed skip-the-line access at a peak time, or prefer an English-speaking guide to lead the way. If you just want the view and plan to take photos at your own pace, the official direct ticket is better value.

Are stairs cheaper than lift tickets for the Eiffel Tower?

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Yes. Stairs to level 2 are €14.80 for adults versus €28.30 for the lift, a saving of almost half. The stairs entrance also has a separate, smaller queue. You cannot take stairs beyond level 2, only a lift goes to the summit.

What happens if the Eiffel Tower sells out for my dates?

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Try GetYourGuide, Viator and Klook in that order. Licensed tour operators hold ticket allocations separate from the official site and often still have inventory when toureiffel.paris shows sold out. Stairs tickets are the last to go and can usually be walked up.