How to Buy Eiffel Tower Tickets: Official and Trusted Ways
See prices From 52 EUR · Free cancellation available
Contents
To buy Eiffel Tower tickets, you have three real routes: a standard ticket from the official channel, a reserved-access ticket from a reseller, or a guided tour that bundles entry with a guide. All three are booked online, and all three are far better than turning up and hoping. Here is what I would actually do: book a reserved-access ticket for a fixed time slot, decide on the summit only once you know the weather, and never plan your whole Paris day around a ticket you have not paid for yet. This guide walks through each route, what it costs, and how to book it without stress. If price per person is your main filter, you can weigh every tower ticket and tour side by side by cost.
What are the ways to buy Eiffel Tower tickets?
You can buy Eiffel Tower tickets three ways: a standard ticket for a chosen level, a reserved-access ticket sold by an authorized reseller, or a guided tour ticket that adds a live guide. Each one gets you inside. They differ in price, flexibility and how much of the visit is planned for you.
The standard ticket is the plain entry ticket. You pick a date, a time and a level, and you go up. It is the lowest-friction option if you are happy to plan your own visit and can find a slot that suits you.
A reserved-access ticket is sold by resellers such as GetYourGuide. It fixes your entry to a time slot, so you know your place is held. Several of the listings on this site also add a short guided introduction, the choice of the summit, or a Seine cruise.
Check prices & dates
Ready to visit?
Book your tickets in advance: popular time slots sell out.
A guided tour ticket puts a guide at the start of the visit. The guide handles the entry and the story, then leaves you to explore. On the listings here, the guide usually leaves after the second floor, so treat it as a smart introduction rather than a full tour.
I would not call any of the three “the trick”. They are just different packages of the same tower. The right one depends on what you value.
Which way of buying tickets is right for you?
Pick by budget and by how much flexibility you need. If you have a fixed date and a short trip, buy a reserved-access ticket. If your dates are open and you have time to watch availability, the standard ticket works. If you want context, add a guide.
Here is the decision table I would use:
Your situation
Best route
Why I would pick it
First visit, fixed dates
Reserved-access ticket with a short guide intro
You get a held slot and some context for the views
Tight budget, flexible dates
Standard ticket or the stairs climb
Lowest headline price, more waiting for a slot
Special occasion
Elevator ticket with the summit built in
One purchase, unlimited time inside the tower
Families with young kids
Second floor with a reserved slot
Easier on small legs and nerves than the top
Want the river too
Tower and Seine cruise combo
One booking for both, less to juggle
Love a good story
Guided tour or audioguide ticket
Commentary instead of guessing what you are looking at
My honest pick for most first-timers is the Eiffel Tower second floor and summit ticket with a guide. It pairs reserved entry with a short introduction, and it lets you add the summit and a cruise as options. If you only want the lowest fare with no commentary, keep reading, because the cheaper routes come with a trade-off.
How much do Eiffel Tower tickets cost?
Tickets on this site start from EUR 18 for a Seine cruise and EUR 30 for a guided tower ticket, and rise to EUR 130 for a dinner ticket. Prices are per person, taken from the listings on 2026-09-21, and they vary by date and options, so check the live price at checkout.
The headline number is only the start. Several listings sell the summit or the cruise as an option you pick at checkout, and each option raises the price. That is why the cheapest headline is rarely what people pay. For a level-by-level breakdown, my guide to what each Eiffel Tower level costs goes deeper.
Should you buy on the official site or from a reseller?
Both are legitimate. The official channel sells the plain entry ticket. A reseller sells a reserved-access package, often with a guide, a summit option or a cruise. Buy official if you find the slot you want. Buy from a reseller when the official calendar is full or you want the extras.
The full comparison lives in my page on Eiffel Tower tickets: official site versus resellers. The short version is this: I would check the official calendar first, because a standard ticket is the simplest thing to buy. But I would not spend an hour refreshing it. If the slot you need is gone, a reseller ticket is a sane fallback, not a scam.
One thing to keep in mind is that this site is independent. It is not the operator or the official box office, and it earns a commission when you book through it. I say that plainly so you can weigh my advice accordingly. You can always check the tower’s own site at the official Eiffel Tower website and compare.
What does a reserved-access ticket really skip?
It skips the ticket queue, because your slot is already bought. It does not skip security screening, and it does not always skip the lift queue at the top. Think of it as a guaranteed place in line, not a teleport.
This surprises people, so I would set expectations early. On the tower and cruise combo, the listing says you skip the ticket queue but security screening still applies. The stairs climb has no priority access at all, so on busy days you wait for tickets and screening. The elevator ticket includes standard summit access, which means a shared lift and a possible queue at the top.
My rule is simple: pay for a reserved slot to remove uncertainty, not to remove every line. If someone promises “no queues at all”, I would treat that as marketing. My full breakdown is in what skip-the-line really means at the Eiffel Tower.
How do you buy Eiffel Tower tickets step by step?
You choose a date, pick a level, select a time slot, pay online and save your confirmation on your phone. The whole thing takes about ten minutes if you know your dates. Here is the order I would follow:
Fix your date first. Look at the weather outlook and your other bookings. The tower is easy to shuffle in a day plan only if you decide early.
Pick the level. Decide between the second floor and the summit. I would start with the second floor if you are unsure about heights.
Choose the slot. Early morning and late evening are calmer than midday. A morning slot also leaves the rest of your day free.
Compare two channels. Check the official calendar, then check a reserved-access listing such as the second floor and summit ticket.
Read the inclusions. Look at what is included and what is not. Food, drinks, transfers and tips are usually excluded.
Pay and save the ticket. Screenshot the QR code and keep the confirmation email. Signal in the crowd can be poor.
Arrive early. Late arrivals can lose a reserved slot on guided tickets, so plan to be at the meeting point ahead of time.
That is the whole process. The only step where people go wrong is the first one: they book before they know their date and then have to rebook. My advice is to lock your Paris dates, then book the tower straight after.
When should you book Eiffel Tower tickets?
Book as soon as your dates are fixed, and earlier for the summit, weekends and school holidays. Popular times go first. Off-season weekdays can be looser, but I would still not leave it to the day.
If you have already left it late, read my guide to Eiffel Tower tickets on the day. It is honest about the odds. In short: same-day is possible sometimes, but I would never plan a trip on it.
Can you pay less for Eiffel Tower tickets?
Yes, but only by changing what you buy, not by finding a secret code. Choose the second floor over the summit, climb the stairs, or use a youth rate where the official terms allow it. I would not chase discount sites, because unofficial “deals” are where most bad tickets come from.
The cheapest guided way in on this site is the guided tour ticket at EUR 30, followed by the stairs climb at EUR 32. Both charge extra for the summit, so the low price only holds if you stay on the second floor.
Cancellation rules depend on the product and the seller, so read the terms shown at checkout before you pay. The listings here do not state one universal window, and I will not invent one. If free cancellation matters to you, filter for it before you book.
Weather and closures can also affect a visit. The summit can close for wind, heat or maintenance, even on a booked day. That is why I lean toward flexible tickets in shoulder seasons. I explain the practical side in Eiffel Tower ticket cancellation and refund rules.
Which level should you book?
Book the second floor if you want the easiest visit and the best skyline for the price. Book the summit if the highest view is the point and the sky is clear. I would not pay for the summit on a hazy day.
The second floor is high enough to see the Arc de Triomphe and the wide boulevards. The summit adds the widest panorama and a look at Gustave Eiffel’s restored office, but it is windier and colder. If you are unsure, do what the elevator ticket allows: go to the second floor first, then decide.
Before you finalize, check the times in my Eiffel Tower opening hours guide. Hours change with the season, so check them before you pick a slot.
What should you have with you on the day?
Bring your mobile ticket, a photo ID if the terms ask for one, a small bag and a light jacket. The listings here mention a security check before boarding, so pack light. Your booking confirmation gives the exact meeting point, and I would read it the evening before, not on the metro.
The tower stands at the Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement. The closest Metro stop on the listings is Bir-Hakeim on line 6, and the RER C station is Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. Both are a short walk from the base. I would leave a generous buffer for the walk and the security line, because arriving with two minutes to spare is the fastest way to lose a held slot.
Food and drinks are not included on most tower tickets, so eat before you go up or plan a stop afterwards. The top of the tower is colder and windier than the street, and I would always pack a layer, even in summer. If you are going in the evening, also charge your phone fully, since your ticket and your photos both live on it.
What mistakes should you avoid when buying tickets?
The costly mistakes are booking on an unofficial page you did not check, missing your slot, and buying the summit before the weather is clear. Here are the ones I would flag first:
Buying from a random page. Check the seller name and what the ticket includes. If the price looks far below the rest, ask why.
Booking the summit for a hazy day. Cloud takes the view away. I would book a flexible option or the second floor.
Arriving late. A held slot is not held forever, especially on a guided ticket.
Bringing a big bag. Security may refuse large bags, and it slows everyone down.
Buying two tickets by accident. Do not book the same date on the official site and on a reseller. Pick one.
Forgetting the phone battery. Your ticket lives on your phone, so charge it before you leave.
If you are on a tight budget, I would take the guided ticket, stay on the second floor and put the savings toward dinner. And if you have not fixed your dates yet, I would wait, because the worst ticket is the one you cannot use.
To see everything in one place, the Eiffel Tower tickets homepage lists all the current options with prices and inclusions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Eiffel Tower tickets online?
Yes. Buying online is the normal way, and the one I recommend. You choose a date, level and time slot, pay, and receive a mobile ticket. It is faster and safer than hoping for a place on the day.
Is it cheaper to buy at the tower?
Not in any way I can promise. Prices are set by the seller, and on-site availability is limited. I would buy online in advance so the price and the slot are settled before you travel.
Which ticket should a first-time visitor buy?
I would buy a reserved-access second floor ticket with a short guided introduction, and add the summit only if the sky is clear. It balances price, certainty and context better than the alternatives.
Do I need to book the summit separately?
It depends on the listing. On the elevator ticket the summit is included. On the second floor and guided tickets it is an option you choose at checkout. Always read the inclusions before you pay.
Are tickets refundable?
That depends on the product and the seller. The listings on this site do not state one rule, so check the cancellation terms at checkout. I would choose a flexible ticket if your plans are uncertain.
