Travel bucket list idea:

Eiffel Tower

Paris, Ile-de-France, United Kingdom (UK)

Last updated: 10 March, 2024

When French civil engineer Gustave Eiffel won a competition to design a building that would be unveiled at the 1889 World Fair in Paris, no-one could have foreseen that it would become one of the most iconic structures on the planet. Eiffel’s design won out against 106 other entries, with digging begun in January 1887, and the tower completed in time for the Exposition Universale two years later, held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Much derided at the time – in spite of being the tallest building in the world – it was only meant to stand for twenty years. More than a century later it remains a much-loved and iconic symbol of Paris; if you can stomach the crowds and the ride up in the vintage lift, the view from the top remains an enchanting treat.

Logistics

Price from: £23

Minimum age: 0

Age suitable: 4+

When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The nearest metro station to the tower is Bir-Hakeim. The first lift takes you up to the first and second levels, where you have to change lifts for the top. Be prepared to queue for the lifts, though hardier souls looking to get more intimate with the tower can climb the 704 steps to the second level.

You can turn up and buy tickets for the lifts or stairs (up to 3 hours before your timeslot), but you risk long queues or not getting a timeslot at all, especially in July and August. Better to buy in advance on the website. You can book up to two months in advance.

There is an online, interactive visitor guide and basic paper versions, all in multiple languages.

For food & drink before or after, The Jules Verne is a renowned gastronomic restaurant on the second floor. There’s also a brasserie on the first floor, and a Champagne bar right at the top of the tower.

When to do it

The tower is open all year round, seven days a week. Queues tend to be shorter in the evening when the tour buses have left; and if you visit at night, the tower is less crowded and sparkles with thousands of lightbulbs for 10 minutes every hour.

Who to go with: organised tours

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator with Optional Summit

Paris

Viator

Skip the steps on this guided tour of the Eiffel Tower and zip right to the second floor to spend more time enjoying what the inside of the tower has to offer. On the second level, your guide can help you find Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, the Grand Palais, Les Invalides, and other popular landmarks, as well as recommendations for what to eat while you're there. When your tour is done, you can stay as long as you like and take the elevator to the very top if you've paid for the summit upgrade. On your way down, you can check out the first level to view Paris through a glass floor, visit the exhibits, and more. If you’ve opted for the Seine River cruise upgrade, you will also receive a ticket for a one-hour boat cruise. This is a physical ticket that will be handed to you when you check in for your Eiffel Tower tour. You can head straight to the boat landing to take your cruise after your tour or go on another day.

Price €42

Min age 0

Rating 4.14 / 5 [5705 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Stairs with Optional Summit

Paris

Viator

See the Eiffel Tower the way Gustave Eiffel intended — while climbing it from the inside. That's why we created the world's first climbing tour, where your local guide will share the history of the tower's engineering as you ascend the different levels. But climbing the stairs isn't all you'll do. You'll have the chance to stop on each level, where you can get a bird's-eye view of the city. On the first level, you'll see amazing views around and even beneath you through the transparent floor. On the second level, take a break as your guide points out the Paris landmarks you can see from your vantage point. Want to make this tour even better? Upgrade to take the glass-walled elevator to the summit, where more spectacular views, a champagne bar, and Gustave Eiffel's restored private office await. If you choose the Seine River boat cruise upgrade, you'll end your day with a scenic boat ride.

Price €38

Min age 0

Rating 4.67 / 5 [5064 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Eiffel Tower Guided Climbing Experience & Optional Summit Upgrade

Paris

Viator

See a different side of Paris’s ‘Iron Lady’ on a guided climbing tour of the Eiffel Tower. Take the slow and scenic route and climb the stairs! Learn all about the construction, controversies, and mystique surrounding the iconic tower from a guide as you ascend to the second level, admiring Gustave Eiffel’s intricate design from angles and viewpoints that most visitors miss. It’s an adventurous way to go behind the scenes—and under the beams—of one of the world’s most popular attractions.

Price €36

Min age 0

Rating 4.33 / 5 [2020 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Eiffel Tower Elevator Tour with Optional Summit & Cruise Access

Paris

Viator

Take some time to get acquainted with Paris’s most famous lady on our Eiffel Tower Tour. Meet your guide near the base of the Eiffel Tower, listening all the while to the fascinating history of the original “Dame de Fer” (Iron Lady). You’ll have a chance to enjoy her every curve from every angle and to understand the beautiful science that keeps her standing. Get access to the Eiffel Tower elevators and head up to the 1st level with its suspended glass floor, then on to the 2nd level for breathtaking panoramic views

Price €41

Min age 0

Rating 4.51 / 5 [1001 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Eiffel Tower Tour with Optional Summit and Seine Champagne Cruise

Paris

Viator

When you think of quintessential Paris, two strong images come to mind: the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River. In this exclusively designed tour for the discerning traveler looking for the classic Paris experience – we bring a fully guided visit of the Eiffel Tower with a 2nd floor Observation Deck ticket, and a Seine River Cruise, together in the most flexible and stress-free way possible.

Price €84

Min age 0

Rating 4.31 / 5 [854 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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