France
Eiffel Tower: visitor guide
Go if you want the view and the structure itself: book a timed ticket online for the first slot after opening or an evening slot, and take the stairs to the second floor if lifts are sold out. Skip the summit on a hazy or windy day — the second floor gives most of the view for less money and less queue.
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GuideFrance
Key facts
- Ticketscheck
- Timed online tickets; stairs to 2nd floor cheapest, lift to 2nd floor mid, summit most (2026 estimate)
- Opening hourscheck
- Open daily, roughly 09:30–23:00, longer in summer
- Closed
- No fixed annual closure; summit can shut in high wind or heavy snow
- Best months
- Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct: milder, thinner crowds than Jul–Aug
- Quietest hours
- First slot after opening; last two hours before closing
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the summit; about 1.5 hours for the 2nd floor
- Getting there
- Métro Bir-Hakeim (line 6) or Trocadéro (lines 6, 9); RER C Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel
- Address
- Champ de Mars, 7th arrondissement, Paris
- Coordinates
- 48.8584, 2.2945
Key facts: tickets, hours, season
The tower is open every day of the year. Lifts run to the second floor and the summit; stairs go to the second floor only, and you change to a lift there for the top. Stair tickets are the cheapest and the queue is usually shorter; summit tickets cost the most and sell out first on peak dates.
Buy online in advance for a dated, timed entry. On the day, unsold slots are released at the ticket office, but in July and August you can wait well over an hour. Prices change; treat any figure here as a 2026 estimate and confirm on the official site before you pay.
- Book the first slot after opening or a late slot; midday is the worst queue.
- The summit closes in high wind — have a second-floor plan.
- Security screening at the base; no large bags, no glass.
| Option | What you get | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stairs to 2nd floor | Steps up, lift down | Cheapest; about 670 steps |
| Lift to 2nd floor | Both floors by lift | Middle price band |
| Lift to summit | Top level, 276 m | Most expensive; sells out first |
| Stairs + summit lift | Steps to 2nd, lift to top | Good value, still a climb |
How to get there
The tower sits on the Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement, on the Left Bank. Métro line 6 stops at Bir-Hakeim, a five-minute walk across the river; Trocadéro on lines 6 and 9 puts you on the opposite bank for the classic head-on view, about 10 minutes on foot. RER C stops at Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel, closest of all.
From central Paris, allow 20–30 minutes by Métro from Châtelet or Gare du Nord. A taxi or rideshare drops you on the Quai Branly side; traffic around the tower is heavy in the evening. Walking from the Louvre along the river takes about 45 minutes and is a good way to arrive.
- Métro Bir-Hakeim (line 6) — 5 min walk
- Métro Trocadéro (lines 6, 9) — 10 min walk, best view
- RER C Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel — closest station
- Vélib' bike stations on Avenue de Suffren and Quai Branly
When to go
April to June and September to October give the best mix: mild weather, long daylight and crowds that are heavy but manageable. July and August are the busiest and can be hot; December is cold but the queues are shorter outside the Christmas weeks.
Time of day matters more than month. The first entry slot after opening has the shortest queue of the day. The last two hours before closing are the next best, and you get the lights coming on. Sunset slots are the most popular and sell out earliest — book those weeks ahead.
If you only want photographs, the Trocadéro esplanade, the Pont de Bir-Hakeim and the Champ de Mars lawns are free and open at any hour. The tower sparkles on the hour after dark for a few minutes.
| Period | Crowds | Weather |
|---|---|---|
| Apr–Jun | Heavy | Mild, 10–22 °C |
| Jul–Aug | Heaviest | Warm, 16–27 °C |
| Sep–Oct | Heavy | Mild, 9–21 °C |
| Nov–Mar | Lighter | Cold, 3–10 °C |
What is nearby
The 7th arrondissement is quiet and residential, which makes it a good base if you want the tower on your doorstep. The Seine, the Musée du Quai Branly and the Rodin Museum are all within 15 minutes on foot. The Louvre is about 40 minutes' walk along the river, or two Métro stops plus a change.
For a half-day, pair the tower with a river walk to Les Invalides and the Rodin garden, then cross to the Tuileries. Versailles is a 40-minute RER C ride from Champ de Mars, so the two can share a day if you start early.
- Musée du Quai Branly — 8 min walk
- Trocadéro esplanade — 12 min walk
- Les Invalides — 20 min walk
- Louvre Museum — 40 min walk or Métro
- Versailles — RER C from Champ de Mars
Tips
Eat before or after, not at the tower. The cafés on the Champ de Mars and Rue Cler, 10 minutes away, are better value than the on-site kiosks. Rue Cler is a market street with bakeries and cheese shops, good for a picnic on the lawns.
Dress for wind at the top: it is several degrees cooler and much breezier than street level. Bring a small bag only — security is strict. If you have a fear of heights, the second floor is enclosed and comfortable; the summit has an open terrace.
Pickpockets work the Trocadéro steps and the Métro line 6. Keep phones and wallets zipped. At night the area is well lit and busy, but the Champ de Mars lawns are dark at the edges.
- Book online; print or screenshot the ticket
- Arrive 15–20 min before your slot for security
- Use the stairs if you are fit and lifts are sold out
- Rue Cler for picnic supplies
- Check the summit status board before buying a top ticket
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower?
April to June or September to October for weather and manageable crowds. For the shortest queue, take the first slot after opening or the last two hours before closing; sunset slots are the most popular and sell out first.
How do I get to the Eiffel Tower?
Métro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim (5 minutes' walk), lines 6 or 9 to Trocadéro (10 minutes, best view), or RER C to Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel, the closest station. From central Paris allow 20–30 minutes.
How much does it cost to visit the Eiffel Tower?
Prices are tiered: stairs to the second floor are cheapest, lifts to the second floor cost more, and the summit costs most. Treat any figure as a 2026 estimate and confirm on the official site, as prices change.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Yes on peak dates. Timed online tickets sell out days or weeks ahead for sunset and summer slots. Some same-day tickets are released at the ticket office, but expect a long wait in July and August.
Can I climb the stairs instead of taking the lift?
Yes. Stairs go to the second floor only — roughly 670 steps — and you switch to a lift there for the summit. Stair tickets are the cheapest and the queue is usually shorter.
Is the Eiffel Tower open every day?
It is open daily, with longer hours in summer. The summit can close at short notice in high wind or heavy snow, so check the status board before buying a summit ticket.
Can I see the Eiffel Tower without a ticket?
Yes. The Trocadéro esplanade, the Pont de Bir-Hakeim and the Champ de Mars lawns are free and open at any hour, and the tower lights up after dark.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialEiffel Tower official site
- officialParis Convention and Visitors Bureau
- officialRATP — Paris public transport
- secondaryWikivoyage — Paris