“Is it worth going up the Eiffel Tower?” is something we are asked over and over again.
Cliché as it might be, I’d have to say it is worth going up the Eiffel Tower, especially if you visit Paris for the first time.
Haters will tell you to skip the Eiffel Tower, that it is not worth going up the Eiffel Tower because it has nothing to do with the real Paris. They will also tell you that it’s expensive and the lines are long, that it’s a tourist trap. But the seven million people who pay for climbing up the Eiffel Tower every year are no fools, carried along by clichés.
The Eiffel Tower is one of Paris and France’s most iconic monuments, and being at the top of the famous tower is a lifetime experience.
It’s not only about the views! The Eiffel Tower is part of Paris’s history, and the history of its design and construction is fascinating, with many quirky anecdotes. Just like in any other museum in Paris, there’s an exhibition in the external passageways of the 1st floor to learn more about this monument with information panels, monitors, tactile screens, display cases, and copies of objects. There are also many fun Eiffel Tower events all year round.
My last visit to the Eiffel Tower was in 2019, for her 130 anniversary! Apart from the views, I also enjoyed wandering around the exhibition area, and I have to say that I learned many interesting things about this monument!
You can also have a special lunch or a romantic dinner in the Eiffel Tower.
There are ways — we have listed 5 Eiffel Tower hacks — to organize your visit to make the most of this iconic monument, so at the end of your Paris trip, you can say it was well worth going up the Eiffel Tower.
How to Visit the Eiffel Tower after Lockdown
Finally, the Eiffel Tower re-opens to the public on 16 July 2021 after an exceptional third closure due to the pandemic and painting works. Are you ready for climbing up to the Eiffel Tower?
In 2021, the number of daily visitors on the paved forecourt and the different floors will be limited, so bookings in advance will be paramount.
To guarantee a safe visit, people will find specific signs and marks to follow, and wearing a mask will be compulsory.
Visitors who prefer going up the Eiffel Tower by the stairs will use the East Pillar for the ascent and the descent will be through the West Pillar.
TIP: the Eiffel Tower website sells tickets up to 60 days in advance. With Get Yor Guide, you can buy tickets more than 2 months in advance! This is key, especially during the high season, Winter Holidays, or special days.
Book your Eiffel Tower tickets with Get Your Guide right now!
Best Eiffel Tower Hacks
GO UP WITH A GUIDE
Ok, this is not the cheapest option to visit the Eiffel Tower but well worth the extra money to guarantee the best experience.
Usually, the guides are very competent and provide relevant and interesting information. Plus, they can make it save time waiting in line.
A few private tour operators get you straight to the front of the line with a local expert. Amongst them, the ‘tour up to the second floor at sunset’ by Flat Tire Tours gets the best reviews. If you prefer the full program, this guided tour by City Wonders is consistently rated 4- 5 stars.
FIND THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE EIFFEL TOWER
If you prefer to visit the Eiffel Tower on your own, try to do it when the lines are shorter.
The diagram below shows the days and time slots with lesser crowds during the low season and high season. Of course, this may change a bit depending on the weather conditions or during special weeks (think New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day…) so take these diagrams with a grain of salt.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS ONLINE AND WELL IN ADVANCE
One of the best tips for visiting the Eiffel Tower is to book your tickets online and well in advance. The Eiffel Tower is so popular that booking online and in advance is recommended if you want to be sure to visit on a specific day. The Eiffel Tower tickets sold out very fast, especially during the winter holidays or Saint Valentine’s day.
It is possible to buy most of the tickets online directly from the Eiffel Tower’s website. When you buy a ticket online, you will have to choose a specific date and time slot. Be aware that if you’re more than 30 minutes late, you may be denied entry.
Access to the second floor is available by stairs or by lift. Access from the second floor to the summit is only available by lift.
TIP: the Eiffel Tower website sells tickets up to 60 days in advance. With Get Yor Guide, you can buy tickets for more than 2 months in advance! This is key, especially during the high season, Winter Holidays, or special days.
BOOK NOW:
- Eiffel Tower Stair Climb to Second Floor w/ Summit Option tickets with Get Your Guide
- Eiffel Tower Lift Acces to Second Floor tickets with Get Your Guide
- Eiffel Tower Lift Access to Summit tickets with Get Your Guide
TAKE THE STAIRS
Even if you purchase your tickets in advance, waiting in line for a little while for the elevators is inevitable. The stair ticket is a surprisingly unused option, and you’ll never normally wait more than a few minutes. This, if you are fit enough for climbing the 704 steps up to the second floor!
In any event, consider walking down for the chance to enjoy some peace and interesting views from the pillars.
MAKE A RESTAURANT RESERVATION
The Eiffel Tower restaurants have a separate entrance up to the Eiffel Tower, so if you make a restaurant reservation, you will have immediate access to the Tower.
However, a restaurant reservation does not include a visit to the Eiffel Tower, but you will have the views plus a memorable lunch or dinner.
Things to Know Before Visiting the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of the top sights to visit in Paris. We recommend visiting the Eiffel Tower in the following Paris itineraries:
Below, we have listed some interesting things to know before visiting the Eiffel Tower.
THE EIFFEL TOWER IS LOCATED IN THE 7TH DISTRICT OF PARIS
The Eiffel Tower is located in the 7th Arrondissement of Paris, on the Seine’s Left Bank. Paris 7 is also home to the Orsay Museum, the Invalides, and the Rodin Museum, and it also bursts with good restaurants for those who want to eat nearby.
Paris 7 also is home to the best hotels with Eiffel Tower view and there are also many cute apartments with view of the Eiffel Tower if you prefer a home from home.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO VISIT THE EIFFEL TOWER DURING A LAYOVER IN PARIS
With a layover in Paris of 4 hours or more and good planning, visiting the Eiffel Tower from both airports in Paris is possible. Learn the best ways to visit the Eiffel Tower from Charles de Gaulle Airport or Orly Airport and get a selfie with the Iron Lady.
However, during a layover in Paris, we don’t recommend buying tickets in advance: if your flight is delayed and you’re more than 30 minutes late, you may be denied entry.
If you cannot make it to the Eiffel Tower’s top, check out where to find the best Eiffel Tower views.
THE EIFFEL TOWER IS THE MOST POPULAR DAY TRIP FROM DISNEYLAND PARIS
Many families vacationing in Disneyland Paris block a day to visit the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower is located 43km from Disneyland Paris. There are many ways to visit the Eiffel Tower from Disneyland Paris, and this quick Disneyland Paris to Eiffel Tower guide will tell you everything you need to know.
EIFFEL TOWER HOURS OF OPERATION (2021)
The Eiffel Tower never rests! The Eiffel Tower is open every day of the year from 9: 00 am to 12:45 am (13 June until 29 August) and from 9:30 am until 11:45 pm for the rest of the year.
EIFFEL TOWER PRICES (2021)
The Eiffel Tower proposes different tickets, with access to different parts of the tower by stairs or lift, so ticket costs vary wildly.
The cheapest ticket costs 10.40€. This ticket does not include the summit – it just gives access to the second floor only by stairs – and it is not available to purchase online.
The most expensive ticket costs 25.90€ (ticket with lift), giving access to the summit. Other tickets that come with an audio-guide, guided tour, or escort may be interested in considering.
THERE ARE PUBLIC RESTROOMS
No need to panic! There are public restrooms on all floors. At ground level, restrooms can be found on the east and west pillars. Toilets are free to use, and they have dedicated places for changing babies.
THERE’S A KIND OF HIDDEN ROOM
On the top of the Eiffel Tower, there is a reproduction of Gustave Eiffel’s office. You can see wax models of Gustave Eiffel and his daughter Claire welcoming the famous American inventor Thomas Edison. It is not possible to enter this room, but you can look into this office from the outside.
THE VIEWS FROM THE TOWER ARE AMAZING
Despite Paris is quite flat, the views of the city from the Eiffel Tower are amazing. Visitors can see Champ de Mars and Les Invalides with its gilded cupola, the Grande Arche and the skyscrapers of La Défense, the Seine River, Quai de Branly, an interesting point of view of the spectacular architecture of Fondation Louis Vuitton, and much more!
RE-ENTRY ISN’T AN OPTION
You can stay at the Eiffel Tower an indefinite amount of time until closing hour. Take your time and enjoy the view because re-entry isn’t allowed.
THE EIFFEL TOWER IS NOT PROPOSED BY ANY TOURIST PASS (BUT THERE ARE INTERESTING COMBO TICKETS WITH THE EIFFEL TOWER)
Unfortunately, there are no Eiffel Tower discounts for holders of these kinds of passes. However, tour operators like Viator or Get Your Guide propose interesting combo tickets that include the Eiffel Tower + other top sights. If you plan to visit these top sights, these combo tickets will make you save money and time!
These are the best-rated combo tickets that include the Eiffel Tower:
- Eiffel Tower direct access, Seine Cruise, and City Tour
- Eiffel Tower summit, Louvre, Notre Dame, and Cruise
- Eiffel Tower, Dinner, Cruise & Champagne at Moulin Rouge
EIFFEL TOWER DINNER AND EATING OPTIONS
There are two Buffet Tour Eiffel snack bars located on the first and second floors.
The 58 Tour Eiffel on the first floor offers a “chic picnic” lunch menu from 41.50 euros and dinner from 85 euros. Reservations are advised but not compulsory.
The Jules Verne requires reservations and proper attire. It is located on the second floor, perched at 125m, and amazing views of Champ de Mars, Trocadéro, and Quai Branly.
There is a Champagne Bar located at the summit. Are you celebrating a special occasion at the top of the Eiffel Tower? Then add a glass of champagne and toast for this special day!
After the climbing, those in need of a sweet bite can head to the particular Macarons Bar for some colorful and yummy macarons. You can eat them on-site or take away.
NIGHTTIME LIGHT SHOW
Nighttime visitors to the Eiffel Tower get a five-minute luminous spectacle every hour on the hour. 20,000 lightbulbs operate the Eiffel Tower sparkle, and these light shows start at dusk.
