Plan Your Visit to the Eiffel Tower
Access the Champ de Mars landmark by elevator (what most visitors book) or climb the stairs to the second floor. Second floor, summit, timed slots, and security.
Access the Champ de Mars landmark by elevator (what most visitors book) or climb the stairs to the second floor. Second floor, summit, timed slots, and security.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower means choosing how you go up. Elevator tickets are the default for most people: timed slots, less physical effort, and the path most guests take to the second floor and (if you add it) the summit. You can also climb the stairs to the second floor if you prefer the walk and a different ticket type. Buy plain access on the official site when you only need a standard slot and terms. Use a trusted partner when you want mobile tickets, flexible cancellation on many offers, or a Paris combo. Confirm floor access and the visit date before you book.
Best for standard Eiffel Tower access at published rates: elevator to the second floor (and optional summit), or the stair product if you want to climb. Timed slots sell out on peak evenings and weekends.
Useful for digital tickets, flexible cancellation on many listings, guided visits, or bundling the Eiffel Tower with other Paris sights (Seine cruise, museums, or city passes).
Choose the elevator for the standard visit and summit add-on. Choose stairs if you want the climb to the second floor. You cannot walk the full way to the summit; the top uses elevators from higher levels.
Hand-picked Eiffel Tower tickets and tours on Headout. Prices and availability update on the partner site; confirm inclusions before you book.
Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator: Reserved Entry to the Summit or Second Floor
Combo: Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator with Seine River Cruise
Combo: Eiffel Tower 2nd Floor Tour + Versailles Palace Tickets
The tower on the Champ de Mars is still the city's most recognized landmark, with open decks facing the Seine, Trocadero, and the city grid.
Most visitors take the elevators. You can also climb the stairs to the second floor if you want the walk; the summit is elevator-based from upper floors.
Clear evenings and the hourly sparkle after dark reward timed slots once security is behind you.
Elevator tickets are the usual pick. Stair tickets are separate if you want to climb. Either way, security is the long part of the wait.
Large bags slow screening. Ticket time is not door time; pad 30+ minutes.
Wind or ice can close the summit even when lower floors stay open.
Hours, prices, and access rules change. Confirm elevator vs stairs products and last entry on toureiffel.paris (or your partner booking confirmation) before you go.
Main panorama level; reachable by elevator or stairs.
Highest public viewpoint; elevator from upper floors, not a full stair climb.
Mid-structure look-down and indoor spaces on the way up.
Classic sightlines from the open decks.
Ground-level views of the full tower before or after your slot.
Hourly light show after dark on clear nights.
Is the elevator the only way up?
No. Elevator tickets are what most visitors book, but you can also climb the stairs to the second floor on a stair product. The summit is not a full walk-up; elevators handle the highest levels.
Elevator or stairs: which should I choose?
Choose elevators for a standard visit, kids, or summit access. Choose stairs if you want the climb and a different ticket type. Both need timed planning and security.
Can I walk all the way to the summit?
No. Stairs stop at the second floor. Summit access uses elevators from upper floors.
How long is a visit?
Plan about 1.5-3 hours including security, levels, and photos.
Is the summit worth the extra cost?
Subjective. The second floor already has strong views; the summit is higher and more exposed to wind closures.
Are prices on this page guaranteed?
No. Confirm current elevator, stairs, and summit rates on toureiffel.paris or on the partner page you book with.
The Eiffel Tower on the Champ de Mars is Paris's iron landmark, open to the public on several floors with timed tickets and security screening.
Most visitors go up by elevator. You can also climb the stairs to the second floor if you want that experience. Summit access is elevator-based from higher levels. This page covers how those access options fit together, not only one product.
