€17-€384: Eiffel Tower tour comparison for 2026

Eiffel Tower tours range from €17 to €384, and the price difference isn’t just marketing fluff—it’s about summit access, skip-the-line privileges, and whether you’re climbing 674 stairs or riding a 19th-century hydraulic lift. This page compares 23 operators across Viator and Tiqets to show what you’re actually paying for.

About Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was built between 1887 and 1889 for the World’s Fair marking the centenary of the French Revolution. Gustave Eiffel’s engineering team—Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier handled the structural calculations—designed it to stand for just 20 years, after which it was meant to be dismantled. It survived because it proved useful as a radio antenna and has now stood for over 135 years. At 330 meters with antenna (276 meters to the summit observation deck), it’s the most-visited paid monument in the world, drawing around 6.1 million ticketed visitors per year. It’s part of the Banks of the Seine UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 1991. The tower has three observation levels: the 1st floor at 57 meters (restaurant and glass floor), the 2nd floor at 115 meters (where Le Jules Verne restaurant sits), and the summit at 276 meters (indoor and outdoor decks plus a small champagne bar).

What to expect inside

Plan for 60 to 180 minutes inside, depending on whether you’re doing stairs-only or full summit access. The ticket structure splits into two tiers: stairs (cheaper, gets you to the 1st and 2nd floors only, no summit) or elevator (full access to the top). Summit tickets at the door are routinely sold out, so pre-booking is essential. The last lift to the summit leaves 45 minutes before official close. From the 2nd floor you get the best mix of altitude and detail for photographs—the summit is impressive but the views are abstracted by height. The most-photographed angle is from the Trocadéro Esplanade across the river, not from the tower itself. There’s no dress code, but bring layers: the summit is meaningfully colder than ground level and routinely windy. Photography is unrestricted. Most guided tours bundle skip-the-line entry and a guide who explains the engineering history; premium operators add summit elevator access or Seine cruises afterward.

When to go

Peak season runs April through October, with July and August bringing extreme crowds during European school holidays. Off-peak months are January, February, and November—fewer visitors but shorter daylight hours and a higher chance of summit closures due to wind. Bastille Day (July 14) closes the tower to general visitors for the evening fireworks display; New Year’s Eve fireworks bring crushing crowds at Trocadéro. Avoid sunset visits in July and August unless you’re prepared to queue 60 to 90 minutes to descend afterward. Early morning (9:30 AM opening) offers the shortest lines and clearest light for photography. The summit closes in high winds without refunds, so book summit access only if your Paris stay has flexible days.

Practical info

The tower opens at 9:30 AM and closes at 11:45 PM from mid-June through August; it closes earlier (10:45 PM) in shoulder season and earlier still in winter—check the official calendar before booking evening slots. The 1st and 2nd floors are accessible via lifts, but the summit is not wheelchair-accessible because the final lift has a step. Service dogs are welcome throughout. Bring layers regardless of season—wind and altitude make the summit 5–10°C cooler than the ground. Security screening at the base can add 15–30 minutes. The tower sits in the 7th arrondissement, within walking distance of the Musée du Quai Branly and the Champ de Mars park, both of which pair naturally with a morning or afternoon visit.

The smart pick

“Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Stairs Optional Top floor by Elevator” at €52.30 is the best-value operator for first-timers. It has 727 reviews at 4.9 stars, lasts one hour, and includes a guide who covers the engineering history while you climb the stairs to the 2nd floor—then offers an optional elevator upgrade to the summit. You’re not paying for skip-the-line luxury, but you’re getting context most elevator-only tours skip, and the stairs route (674 steps) avoids the longest queues. The price sits at the market median (€52.30 versus a field median of €52.30), and the 4.9-star rating is among the highest for any tour with more than 500 reviews. If you want summit access, add the elevator upgrade when you book—it’s still cheaper than the €58–€66 lift-only alternatives.

Which tour for which traveler

If you have 90 minutes or less, book Viator’s “Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift” data-bv-operator-price=”40″ data-bv-operator-currency=”USD”>Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift” data-bv-operator-price=”58″ data-bv-operator-currency=”USD”>Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift” data-bv-operator-price=”58″ data-bv-operator-currency=”USD”>Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift” at €40.41 (7,157 reviews, 4.1 stars)—it’s lift-only, gets you to the 2nd floor or summit depending on ticket type, and doesn’t require stair fitness. If you’re with kids under 10, choose “Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Stairs Optional Top floor by Elevator” at €52.30 (727 reviews, 4.9 stars)—the guide keeps the climb engaging, and you can bail to the elevator if legs give out. If you’ve never been and want context, the same €52.30 stairs-and-guide option is your floor. If you want photos from the best vantage, book “Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift” at €58.24 (3,015 reviews, 4.7 stars) and choose the 2nd-floor ticket—the summit is too high for detail shots. If you’re doing a Paris day-trip from London or Brussels, the €383.90 “Guided Luxury Paris Day Trip” (2,824 reviews, 4.6 stars) makes sense because it bundles transport, multiple sites, and lunch, but locals should never pay that rate.

If you want the splurge experience

If you want the budget pick

Insider tip

The original 1889 hydraulic elevators in the north and east pillars are still partially in operation—they use water counterweights, a marvel of 19th-century engineering. Most visitors don’t realize they’re riding history when they ascend. If you’re offered a choice of pillar, ask for north or east to experience the hydraulic system. Also: book summit access only if you have flexible days in Paris. The summit closes in high winds without refunds, and windy days are common from November through March. If your Paris window is just one day, book 2nd-floor access and don’t gamble on weather.

Which to skip

Avoid Viator’s “Seine River Cruise & French Crepe Tasting by the Eiffel Tower” at €23.08 unless you understand it’s a river cruise with a crepe stand, not tower entry—it has 370 reviews at 3.7 stars, well below the field average, and the low rating suggests the crepe pairing doesn’t justify the markup over the €17 Tiqets cruise. Also skip “Eiffel Tower Access Tour to 2nd Floor with Summit Option by Lift” at €51.11 (2,818 reviews, 3.9 stars)—the rating is the lowest in its price tier, and multiple higher-rated alternatives exist at the same price.

What the price gap actually buys

The €17 floor is occupied entirely by Seine River cruises that depart near the tower but don’t include tower entry—Tiqets’ Seine River Sightseeing Cruise is the cheapest at €17 with 9,250 reviews at 4.3 stars, but it’s not an Eiffel Tower ticket. Actual tower access starts around €40: Viator’s “Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access” (€40.41, 7,157 reviews, 4.1 stars) gets you lift access to the 2nd floor or summit, depending on the variant you pick. The €52–€53 tier is where guided tours cluster—”Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Stairs Optional Top floor by Elevator” (€52.30, 727 reviews, 4.9 stars) includes a guide and the option to add summit elevator access. At the high end, Viator’s “Guided Luxury Paris Day Trip with Optional Lunch at the Eiffel Tower” costs €383.90 (2,824 reviews, 4.6 stars) and bundles the tower into a 15-hour Paris tour—you’re paying for transportation, lunch, and a full-day itinerary, not just the tower. Tiqets tends cheaper overall, with a median price of €17 versus Viator’s €52.60, but that’s skewed by Tiqets listing river cruises rather than tower-specific tours. If you book summit access at the door, it’s often sold out; if you don’t book it in advance, you’re limited to the 2nd floor and will regret it.

Summit tickets sell out weeks ahead in summer, and same-day availability at the door is nearly zero April through October. If you’re visiting July 14 (Bastille Day), the tower closes to the public for the fireworks—book a different day or watch from Trocadéro instead. Wind closures are unannounced and non-refundable, so read the cancellation policy before you commit to summit-only tours.