An icon synonymous with Parisian allure – a visit to this architectural masterpiece is an indispensable choice for every Paris visitor. Here you will find everything you need to visit the Eiffel Tower in 2026 – from which floor is worth going to, when to arrive to avoid the worst lines, when to see the tower’s sparkling lights and how to book tickets. From the Eiffel Tower’s panoramic views across the city to the timeless elegance of its design, immerse yourself in the magic that defines the heart of Paris with guidance from Paris locals who have visited more times than they can count.
⚡ Eiffel Tower Visit Quick Facts
📍 Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris. 📅 Opening hours: Oct-June Daily 9:30am–11pm (last entry 10:30pm) | June–Sept: Daily 9am–midnight
💵 Summit lift ticket: ~€36 adults | ~€16 youth (12–24) | ~€8 children (4–11) | Free under 4
💵 2nd floor lift: ~€23 adults | Stairs to 2nd floor: ~€14 adults (cheapest option)
🗼 Free entry: EU residents under 26 (bring ID) | Children under 4 ⭐ Sparkling lights: Every hour after dark for 5 minutes — free from outside
Ⓜ️ Metro: Bir-Hakeim Line 6 (base of tower) | Trocadéro Line 9 (best photo spot)
♿ Accessibility: Tower is fully accessible by elevator
Book tickets: → Reserved access via Tiqets
Which Floor Should You Visit? (Honest Breakdown)
This is the question we get most. Our answer: go to the summit. But here’s the full case for each floor so you can decide based on your priorities:
|
Floor |
Height |
Ticket |
Highlight |
Our Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st Floor |
57m |
~€14 |
Glass floor, history exhibits, champagne bar |
★★★☆☆ — Worth 15 min on the way down; not a destination |
|
✓ 2nd Floor |
115m |
~€23 |
Best view detail, Madame Brasserie restaurant |
★★★★★ — Sweet spot: panoramic + affordable. Antoine’s pick. |
|
★ Summit |
276m |
~€36 |
360° panorama, champagne bar, standing above Paris |
★★★★★ — Go here. €13 more than 2nd floor for a completely different experience. |
⭐ Price Options and Eiffel Tower Visit Information Official toureiffel.paris Website
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
Buy the summit ticket and you automatically get all three floors — there’s no need to buy a lower-floor ticket. The only reason to choose the 2nd-floor-only ticket is budget. If you’re buying summit, you’re buying access to everything.
Eiffel Tower Hours 2026
The Eiffel Tower is open every day of the year — there are no closure days. Hours vary slightly by season:
|
Period |
Opening Time |
Last Entry |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard (most of the year) |
9:30 am – 11:45pm |
10:45pm |
|
Late June – Early September |
9:00 am – 12:45pm |
12:00 am |
The Eiffel Tower summit can close at short notice due to wind, fog, or maintenance. If the summit is closed when you arrive, your summit ticket covers the 2nd floor and you receive a free return ticket. This is relatively rare — most visits proceed without issue.
Best Time To Visit The Eiffel Tower
Timing makes a difference to your experience at the Eiffel Tower. Here are our honest suggestions:
Best Times of Day
- Morning (9:30–11am): Shortest queues and cool temperatures. No sparkling lights — purely for the view.
- Sunset (1 hr before dark): Our top recommendation for first-time visitors. Golden light provides gorgeous views of Paris + the Eiffel Tower sparkling lights show. Book well in advance for this slot — it sells out in peak season.
- Evening (after 9pm): Magical atmosphere, fewer families, easier lift access. The sparkling lights show every hour. Bring a jacket even in summer — 276m is cold at night.
- Midday (11am–3pm): Cleanest visibility on sunny days but peak crowds and longest entry lines.
Best Season To Visit
Spring (April–June) and Early Autumn (September–October) are the sweet spots: long evenings, pleasant temperatures, and manageable crowds. July–August is the most crowded season — expect everything to book out weeks ahead. Winter (November–March) is underrated: thin crowds, easier ticket availability and the cold crisp air at the summit gives long visibility on clear days.
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
For a special experience watching the Eiffel Tower sparkling lights from outside: arrive at Trocadéro or Champ-de-Mars lawn at 9:45pm for a 10pm show. Bring a picnic and a bottle of wine from a nearby wine shop, and settle on the grass. This is Paris at its best and it costs nothing.
The Eiffel Tower Sparkling Lights Show — What to Know Before You Go
Every evening after dark, the Eiffel Tower’s 20,000 gold bulbs flash in a dazzling 5-minute sparkling show on the hour, every hour, until midnight (1am in summer). It is always impressive.
⚡ Eiffel Tower Sparkling Lights Quick Facts
📍 Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris. 📅 Schedule: Every hour on the hour from nightfall until midnight (1am June–August)
⏰ Duration: 5 minutes exactly
💵 Cost to watch: Free — from anywhere in Paris with a line of sight to the tower
🗼 Best free spots: Trocadéro esplanade | Champ-de-Mars lawn | Pont d’Iéna | Pont de Bir-Hakeim ⭐ From inside the tower: Time your entry and lift to reach the summit just before the top of the hour — the lights sparkle all around you
Ⓜ️ Metro: Bir-Hakeim Line 6 (base of tower) | Trocadéro Line 9 (best photo spot)
♿ Accessibility: Tower is fully accessible by elevator and parks/viewing spots have flat, accessible areas
Getting to the Eiffel Tower
Metro Line 6 to Bir-Hakeim: The most direct option — deposits you 3 minutes’ walk from the entrance. The elevated approach on Line 6 gives you a spectacular view of the tower as you arrive.
Metro Lines 6 or 9 to Trocadéro: Best option if you want the iconic front-on photograph. Walk out, cross the esplanade — the Eiffel Tower is framed perfectly at the end of the reflecting pool.
RER C to Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel: Good if coming from CDG airport or the south of Paris.Taxi/Uber: Fine for arrival. For departure, a taxi rank sits opposite the tower — but expect queues after the 9pm or 10pm sparkling shows. Pre-booking a private transfer removes the stress entirely.
How to Get Reserved Access at the Eiffel Tower
There are two separate queues at the Eiffel Tower that most people don’t distinguish until they’re standing in the wrong one:
Queue 1 — Ticket purchase queue: Walk-up visitors buying on-site. 60–120 minutes in summer. ✅ Completely bypassed by buying tickets online in advance.
Queue 2 — Entry queue: Ticket holders waiting for their specific floor lift. Usually 10–30 minutes. ✅ Bypassed by booking a guided tour with dedicated reserved access.
For most travelers, buying tickets online (Queue 1 bypass) is all you need. For peak summer weekends, or if you want the smoothest possible entry, a guided tour with reserved access (bypassing both queues) is worth the premium.
Practical Tips for Your Eiffel Tower Visit
- Arrive 15–20 minutes before your timed slot — slots have a 15-minute window and missing it means rejoining the standby queue.
- Bring a jacket, even in summer. Wind at 276m drops the temperature significantly — even on warm August days.
- Security. There is a security bag check and metal detector at the base of the tower. Sharp objects, luggage, glass containers, and alcohol are not allowed.
- Restrooms are available on each floor — the 2nd floor facilities are best.
- Photography is encouraged and views spectacular. No drones (strictly regulated in Paris). Photographing the sparkling show for personal use is fine.
- Children under 4 are free at all times. EU residents under 26 are free — bring your EU ID card or passport.
🇫🇷 Colleen & Antoine’s Tips
Colleen: “My Paris life has a before and after the Eiffel Tower. My very first visit — early evening, summit, champagne at the top as the lights came on — completely changed my relationship with this city. My tip: don’t rush it. Don’t try to fit it in between two other things. Give it a full half-day. It deserves that.”
Antoine: “Two things I always tell visitors. One: book the summit — the extra €13 is not worth regretting. Two: if you want to watch the sparkling lights, do it from the ground, not from the tower. Find a spot on the Champ-de-Mars lawn. Buy a bottle of wine and a baguette from a nearby shop. Sit on the grass as the city goes dark and the tower lights up. That is the real Eiffel Tower experience. It costs nothing beyond a few euros for your picnic.”
What to Do Near the Eiffel Tower
Champ-de-Mars park — Free, beautiful, the best ground-level view. Perfect for a picnic before or after your visit.
Musée d’Orsay — 15 minutes on foot east along the Seine. Best combined as: Orsay in the afternoon, Eiffel Tower at sunset.
Trocadéro & Palais de Chaillot — 10 minutes across Pont d’Iéna. The esplanade offers the iconic front-on photograph and several excellent museums.
Bateaux Parisiens Seine Cruise — Departs from Pont d’Iéna, 5 minutes from the tower entrance. Perfect way to end a tower visit.
Hotels Near the Eiffel Tower: See our curated guide to the best hotels with tower views →
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
Combine your Eiffel Tower visit with a Seine river cruise on the same afternoon. Take metro to Bir-Hakeim, visit the tower, walk 5 minutes to the Pont d’Iéna Bateaux Parisiens pier. A perfect Paris half-day.
Eiffel Tower Visit Guide — FAQ
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Eiffel Tower opening hours in 2026?
The Eiffel Tower is open every day from 9:30am to 11pm (last entry 10:30pm), with extended hours to midnight (last entry 11pm) from late June through early September. It does not have any regular closure days. The summit can close at short notice for weather — verify on the day via the official tour-eiffel.fr website or app.
How much are Eiffel Tower tickets in 2026?
Approximate current prices: Summit lift ticket ~€32 for adults, ~€16 for youth (12–24), ~€8 for children (4–11). 2nd floor lift ticket ~€20 adults. Stairs to 2nd floor ~€12 adults. Children under 4 and EU residents under 26 (with valid ID) are free. Always verify at tour-eiffel.fr before booking as prices are adjusted periodically.
Is it worth going to the top of the Eiffel Tower?
Yes. The summit at 276 meters is a categorically different experience from the 2nd floor. The 360° panorama of Paris laid out below you, the champagne bar, and the feeling of standing on top of the most iconic structure in the world — the extra €12 over the 2nd floor ticket is almost never regretted. See our full breakdown: Is the Eiffel Tower Worth It? →
What is the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower?
One hour before sunset is the best single time slot — you get the golden-hour views, the transition to evening, and the first sparkling lights show all in one visit. For the shortest queues: 9:30–10am on a weekday. For the most magical atmosphere: any evening after 9pm. For free and equally memorable: Champ-de-Mars lawn at 10pm, bottle of wine, sparkling lights show above you.
How do I get to the Eiffel Tower?
Metro Line 6 to Bir-Hakeim is the fastest option (3 minutes from the exit to the tower entrance). Metro Lines 6 or 9 to Trocadéro gives you the best approach for photographs. RER C also stops at Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel. Taxis and Uber work well for arrival; for departure after evening shows, pre-booking a return transfer is advisable.
What is the sparkling lights show schedule?
What is the sparkling lights show schedule?
The sparkling lights show runs every hour on the hour from nightfall until midnight (1am from late June through August). Each show lasts 5 minutes. It is completely free to watch from anywhere in Paris with a line of sight to the tower. The best free viewing spots are Trocadéro, Champ-de-Mars lawn, and Pont d’Iéna.