For most first-time visitors, the best Eiffel Tower ticket is the second floor by
elevator from the official website: €23.50 for an adult (about $26). Book it as soon as your date opens, 90
days ahead. If your group is happy to walk, the stairs-plus-elevator ticket gets you to the top for €28.00
(about $31). That's €8.70 less per adult than the elevator all the way up.
Prices checked November 7, 2026, on the official Eiffel Tower website. Dollar amounts use the European
Central Bank rate of November 6, 2026 (1 euro = 1.1165 dollars), rounded to the nearest dollar. New 2027
fares apply to visits from January 11, 2027.
Opening Hours
The tower is open every day of the year from 9:30 AM. In November 2026 the official
calendar shows closing at 11:00 PM, and the official site lists last ascents at 10:45 PM. Summer dates run
later. Paris is six hours ahead of New York, so the 9:30 AM opening is 3:30 AM Eastern.
Daily: 9:30 AM to 11:00 PM (later on summer dates)
Last ascents: 10:45 PM. Stairs access can close at 6:00 PM in some periods.
Hours checked November 7, 2026. They can change for weather, maintenance or events. The top closed from
January 5 to February 6, 2026, for yearly elevator work, and a similar closure is likely in early 2027. Check
the official calendar for your date. See full timings.
Note: the Christmas fortnight runs later than usual, to about 12:45 AM, but December 31
closes around 6:30 PM and the top usually shuts for maintenance from early January. Elevator tickets for
Christmas week and New Year's Eve are already on sale and go fast, so book now if your dates are fixed.
Holiday hours.
Choose Your Ticket
There are four official tickets. They differ in two ways: how high
you go (second floor or top) and how you get up (stairs or elevator). Prices are the same online and at the
tower, but online you get a set entry time. The official site says no ticket of any kind skips the security
line, so ignore "skip the line" promises.
Our pick: the second floor by elevator for most families, and the stairs-plus-elevator ticket
for anyone who wants the top and can manage 674 steps.
Skip it if: you're tempted by the top on a gray or hazy day. You pay €13.20 more per adult
(about $15) to look at cloud.
Includes: 674 steps to the second floor (327 to the first, 347 more to the second),
and time on both levels
Best for: teens and adults who don't mind the climb and want the lowest price
The official site puts the climb at 30 to 45 minutes. Since
September 29, 2026, this ticket needs a reservation. It opens 60 days ahead, and the official site says the
stairs line is usually the shorter one.
Includes: the elevator to the second floor, and time on the first and second floors
Best for: families with young kids, anyone who'd rather not climb, and most first
visits
For two adults with kids aged 9 and 14, this ticket comes to
€64.80 (about $72). It's also the ticket the official site points wheelchair users to, since the top and
the stairs aren't accessible.
Includes: the stairs to the second floor, then the elevator to the top at 906 feet
(276 meters)
Best for: active travelers and older kids who want the full height
The same family of four pays €77 (about $86) here, against
€101 (about $113) for the top by elevator. The official site sells this ticket online in small numbers,
mostly in low season, so if you see your date, take it.
Includes: two elevator rides to the top, with a change at the second floor, and time
on all three levels
Best for: visitors who want the summit without any stairs
Note: this is the ticket that sells out first,
and it means a second line on the second floor for the top elevator. The top isn't accessible to
wheelchair or crutch users, so the second floor by elevator is the safer choice for that group.
from
€36.70
If Official Tickets Are Sold Out
The official calendar runs out of elevator slots first, mostly for the top. You still have four ways in:
Keep checking. Regulars on the
Rick Steves forum report that a large batch of tickets appears about a
week before each date, around 1:00 PM Paris time (7:00 AM Eastern).
Switch to a stairs ticket. It opens 60 days ahead and sells
out less often. The climb to the second floor takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Buy at the ticket office on the day. The official site says
this depends on how busy it is, so don't build your day around it. Groups of ten or more can't buy there at
all.
Book a guided tour. The tower runs its own from €53.50 (about
$60) per adult. Resellers such as GetYourGuide sell hosted entry with their own time slots, for more than the
official ticket.
Over the holidays, aim for the late slots. With closing at
about 12:45 AM between December 21 and January 3, the 10:00 PM and later entries are the ones with space,
and the city is lit below you.
If your dates are set, book today. The 9:30 AM and evening slots go first, and July, August and the holiday
weeks sell out the top elevator fastest.
We may earn a commission if you book through the links on this page. It doesn't change the price you pay.
Buy Tickets Now
Tips Before You Visit the Eiffel Tower
Book the day your date opens. Elevator tickets open 90 days
ahead and stairs tickets 60 days ahead, on Paris time, which is six hours ahead of New York.
Pick the first slot or an evening one. Entry at 9:30 AM or
after 8:00 PM usually means the shortest lines, and an evening slot gets you the sparkle from above.
Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your slot. Everyone passes
security, the official site allows 15 to 20 minutes for it, and forum reports from June 2026 put the
elevator wait at about 45 minutes.
Travel light. There's no luggage storage, and bags that don't
fit the sizer at security are refused.
Bring ID for everyone on a reduced ticket. Staff can ask for
proof of age for children, under-25s and the free under-4 ticket.
Check the forecast the night before. On a gray day the second
floor gives you more for your money than the top, and the top can close in strong wind or heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy Eiffel Tower tickets in advance?
Yes, if you want a set time on a set day. Elevator tickets open 90 days ahead, stairs tickets 60 days
ahead, and the top sells out first on busy dates.
Is it cheaper to buy Eiffel Tower tickets online?
No. Official prices are the same online and at the tower. Booking online gets you a guaranteed entry
time, and the ticket offices no longer serve groups of ten or more.
Are reseller tickets official?
No. Only toureiffel.paris sells the official ticket. Pay a reseller when it gives you something the
official site doesn't, such as a guide or a slot on a sold-out date, and expect to pay more.
Do children under 4 need a ticket?
Yes. Entry is free, but each child under 4 needs a free ticket, and staff can ask for ID. Children 4 to
11 and young people 12 to 24 pay reduced rates with proof of age.
Is the top always open?
No. It can close in strong wind, extreme heat or busy periods, and it closed from January 5 to
February 6, 2026, for elevator maintenance. The first and second floors stay open.
Can I upgrade to the top once I'm on the second floor?
Don't count on it. Forum regulars report that summit tickets aren't sold on the second floor, so choose
the top when you buy.
What is the bag policy?
Everyone goes through a security check. Small bags are fine, a sizer at the checkpoint sets the limit,
and there's no cloakroom for anything bigger.
