Buy Eiffel Tower tickets on the official ticket office first; use trusted tour platforms only when summit slots sell out.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The safest place to buy Eiffel Tower tickets is the Tower’s own online ticket office, because it sells standard timed-entry tickets at the official rate. The next-best option is the ticket office at the monument on the day, then a trusted tour marketplace if official online slots are gone or you want a guided visit.
For the common search where can I buy Eiffel Tower tickets, the answer changes by urgency. If your Paris date is still open, start official. If your date is close, compare third-party ticket and guided-tour availability before settling for a long same-day line.
After you check the official calendar, compare remaining timed-entry and guided-ticket options here:
Buying Eiffel Tower Tickets: The Safe Places To Use
Eiffel Tower tickets are safest to buy from the Tower’s official online ticket office, then from the on-site ticket windows, then from established tour platforms when official summit access is sold out. Each route can work, but they do not sell the same thing.
The official online shop is the cleanest choice for standard tickets: second floor by elevator, summit by elevator, second floor by stairs, and stairs plus summit elevator when available. The official shop sends e-tickets by email, so you can store them on your phone.
The on-site ticket windows can help when the online calendar is empty. The trade is time: you may wait for the ticket office, then still pass security checks before entering the pillar for your elevator or stair route.
Third-party platforms make sense when you need a guided visit, a last-minute time slot, or a combo such as Eiffel Tower plus a Seine River cruise. They usually cost more than the official ticket because you are paying for availability, a host, a guide, or bundled logistics.
How Do You Avoid Fake Eiffel Tower Ticket Sites?
Fake-looking Eiffel Tower ticket pages are easy to spot when you check the domain, the ticket terms, and the price logic before paying. The real official ticket office is operated by the Eiffel Tower, not by a generic Paris sightseeing site.
- Use the official ticket office first for standard timed-entry tickets.
- Avoid sites that hide the final price until the last step.
- Treat “skip every line” claims carefully, because all visitors still pass security.
- Check whether the ticket is self-guided, hosted, or fully guided.
- Confirm whether summit access is included; many cheaper tickets stop at the second floor.
- Do not buy from street resellers around Champ de Mars or Trocadéro.
Practical rule: if a ticket costs far more than the official rate, it should include a clear extra benefit, such as a guide, a hosted entry, summit access, or a bundled activity.
Eiffel Tower Ticket Types And Current Prices
Eiffel Tower ticket prices depend on how high you go and whether you use stairs, elevators, or an official guided visit. The current adult official rates range from €14.80 for stairs to the second floor to €71.70 for an official guided visit to the summit.
USD amounts below are rounded at about €1 to $1.14. Your card issuer may use a different rate, so treat the dollar figures as planning numbers rather than the exact charge.
| Ticket Type | What It Includes | Adult Official Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Second floor by stairs | Stair access to the second floor | €14.80, about $17 |
| Second floor by elevator | Elevator access to the second floor | €23.50, about $27 |
| Summit by stairs plus elevator | Stairs to the second floor, then elevator to the summit | €28.00, about $32 |
| Summit by elevator | Elevator access to the second floor and summit | €36.70, about $42 |
| Guided tour to the second floor | Official guided visit with facilitated access to the second floor | €53.50, about $61 |
| Guided tour to the second floor plus summit | Official guided visit to the second floor with summit access | €66.70, about $76 |
| Guided tour to the summit | Official guided visit covering the Tower’s main visitor floors | €71.70, about $82 |
The Tower says its online shop sells individual e-tickets for up to nine people, with elevator tickets released up to 60 days ahead and second-floor stair tickets up to 30 days ahead through the official Eiffel Tower ticket office.
What To Do When Official Tickets Are Sold Out
Sold-out official Eiffel Tower tickets do not always mean you are out of options. Check another time of day, consider second-floor access instead of summit access, look at guided tickets, or try the on-site ticket office early in the day.
Summit tickets sell out first because the upper platform has tighter capacity and strong demand near sunset. If the summit is gone, the second floor still gives the classic Paris view: the Seine, Trocadéro, Les Invalides, Sacré-Cœur on a clear day, and the Champ de Mars directly below.
- Search the official calendar for earlier morning and later evening slots.
- Switch from summit to second-floor access if your date matters more than the highest platform.
- Compare guided tickets if you want a host or a fixed entry plan.
- Arrive before the busiest midday window if you plan to buy on site.
- Check the weather before paying extra for summit access, because the upper level can close during severe weather or heavy crowding.
If official tickets are gone for your Paris date, compare guided access and remaining ticket options before choosing the on-site line:
Which Eiffel Tower Ticket Should You Buy?
The right Eiffel Tower ticket depends on your budget, mobility, and how much the summit matters to you. The stairs ticket is the lowest-cost option, while the summit elevator ticket is the cleanest choice for a first visit when the upper platform is available.
Buy the second-floor stairs ticket if you are fit, budget-focused, and happy to climb 674 steps. Buy the second-floor elevator ticket if you want the view without the climb. Buy the summit elevator ticket if this may be your only Eiffel Tower visit and you want the highest public viewpoint.
A guided ticket makes sense for travelers who prefer a set meeting point, a host, and context during the visit. A combo ticket works better when you are short on time and already planned to add a Seine cruise or another Paris activity.
Where To Stay Near The Eiffel Tower
Staying near the Eiffel Tower is most useful for first-time visitors who want easy evening photos, short taxi rides, and simple access to the Left Bank. The 7th arrondissement is closest, while Trocadéro in the 16th has the stronger straight-on tower view.
The area around Rue Cler works well if you want restaurants and a neighborhood feel near the monument. Trocadéro works better for photographers and travelers who want the classic view across the Seine. Saint-Germain-des-Prés is less tower-focused but gives better access to cafés, museums, and central Paris walks.
Use a map view before choosing a hotel, because a property can say “near the Eiffel Tower” while sitting farther from the entrance than expected:
Paris Tours That Pair Well With The Eiffel Tower
Paris tours pair best with the Eiffel Tower when they solve a real timing problem: seeing the Tower, the Seine, and a central neighborhood in one clean block. A Seine River cruise after an evening Tower visit is the easiest match.
Good pairings include a guided Eiffel Tower visit, a Seine cruise that starts near Pont d’Iéna, or a short walking route through Trocadéro and the Champ de Mars before your entry time. Avoid stacking too many timed tickets on the same afternoon; security checks and elevator waits can eat into tight plans.
Once your Tower time is set, compare Paris activities that fit around that slot:
The Ticket To Buy For Each Trip Style
Most first-time visitors should buy summit by elevator if official slots are available and the weather is clear. Budget travelers should take stairs to the second floor, and last-minute visitors should compare guided tickets before relying on walk-up sales.
- First Paris trip: choose summit by elevator for the full Tower experience with the least effort.
- Budget visit: choose stairs to the second floor and go early.
- Traveling with kids: choose elevator access unless your group is used to long stair climbs.
- Short layover or packed day: choose a timed elevator ticket or hosted entry so the visit has a fixed shape.
- Bad weather: choose the second floor rather than paying extra for a summit view that may be blocked.
- Official site sold out: compare guided access, then use the on-site ticket office as the fallback.
The simple buying order is official online ticket first, reputable guided-ticket platform second, on-site ticket office third. That order gives you the best mix of fair pricing, real availability, and a visit plan you can trust.
References & Sources
- Eiffel Tower Official Ticket Office.“Eiffel Tower: Purchase A Ticket.”Supports official ticket availability, e-ticket limits, release windows, and on-site ticket fallback details.