Why Tourists Pay €109 for the Same Paris Tickets Locals Get for €37

A French journalist recently went undercover and paid 109 euros for an Eiffel Tower “tour” built around a ticket that costs about 37 euros, and got roughly three minutes of commentary. In this video we explain how to avoid Paris ticket scams, from fake websites and legal but overpriced resellers to street sellers offering used tickets, and how to buy safely for the four biggest attractions in Paris.

The three layers of ticket scams

  • Fake websites: copycat sites pay for ads so they appear above the official result. Warning signs are no legal notices (“mentions légales”), “unlimited availability” and claims to be an “official partner”.
  • Overpriced resellers: some companies buy up tickets the moment they go on sale, then resell them on aggregator platforms with a thin “tour” added. There is no skip-the-line at the Eiffel Tower.
  • Street sellers: someone with a lanyard offers to get you in faster, but the ticket has already been used.

Prices and rules for the big four

These are the non-EU prices when we filmed. Children under 18 are free at the Louvre.

  • Eiffel Tower: 36.70 euros to the summit by elevator. Tickets go on sale 60 days ahead and sell fast. Official site: ticket.toureiffel.paris.
  • Louvre: 32 euros, timed entry, non-refundable, closed on Tuesdays. Official site: ticket.louvre.fr.
  • Musée d’Orsay: 16 euros online, closed on Mondays, with late opening on Thursdays. Official site: billetterie.musee-orsay.fr.
  • Versailles: the Passport is 35 euros in high season and 25 in low season, with timed entry. Official site: billetterie.chateauversailles.fr.

Our anti-scam checklist

Type the official address yourself instead of clicking ads, check for legal notices, and compare prices with the official site first. Never buy from street sellers, and if you book a guided tour inside a museum, ask to see the guide’s license, since only licensed guides may lead tours there.

To keep everything in one place, download our free Paris top attractions guide with the official websites, and our free guide to curated Paris tours from people we trust. You can also browse our selection of the best things to do in Paris and plan where to eat and sleep with our Paris Guide Bundle.