Eiffel Tower: The Practical Visitor’s Guide to Tickets, Views, and the Best Time to Go

The Eiffel Tower is the one landmark in Paris that’s both iconic and surprisingly easy to visit well—if you plan around tickets, security, and timing. This guide focuses on what travelers actually need: how to get there 🚇, which ticket to buy 🎟️, when to arrive ⏱️, where the best views are 📸, and the common mistakes that turn a dream visit into a long, expensive queue ⚠️.

Why the Eiffel Tower is worth doing (and how to do it right) ✅

Yes, it’s “touristy”—and yes, it’s still brilliant. The trick is to pick the experience that matches your style:

• Want the classic Paris skyline view? Go to the Top (Summit) if it’s open (weather/operational constraints can affect access).
• Want the best balance of time + views + value? The Second Floor is often the sweet spot.
• Want a more “earned” experience? Take the stairs (up to the second floor) and slow down inside the structure.

At night, the Eiffel Tower also sparkles for 5 minutes every hour after dusk ✨—a detail that’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s coming.

Eiffel Tower tickets and prices 🎟️💳

The official rule: buy from the official ticket office

Start here because it prevents 90% of problems: the Eiffel Tower has an official online ticket office, and elevator tickets are generally released for online purchase about 60 days before the visit date (availability varies and sellouts are common).

Quick ticket comparison (adult prices)

Official prices depend on destination (2nd floor vs top) and how you go up (stairs vs lift).

Important “gotcha” ⚠️: If you buy a ticket for the 2nd floor, you generally cannot upgrade later to the top—your destination is chosen at purchase.

Stairs vs lift: what it really feels like

• Stairs to 2nd floor = 674 steps (total steps in the tower structure are higher, but the stairway from the 2nd floor to the top isn’t open to the public).
• The climb is doable for many people, and the tower becomes a real monument (not just a photo backdrop).

How to get to the Eiffel Tower 🚇🚌🚆📍

Official address: 5 avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris.
The Eiffel Tower strongly recommends public transport.

Best metro/RER options (official)

Here are the easiest stops for most visitors:

• Metro Line 6 — Bir-Hakeim (closest metro option; short walk)
• Metro Line 9 — Trocadéro (famous postcard viewpoint, then walk across the river)
• RER C — Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel (very close; about a short walk to the entrances)

If you want an official, transport-specific guide, RATP also publishes a “how to get to the Eiffel Tower” page with the main lines.

From central Paris (simple routes)

• From Arc de Triomphe / Charles de Gaulle–Étoile: take Metro Line 6 toward Bir-Hakeim (direct and easy).
• From Louvre / Opéra area: take Metro Line 9 to Trocadéro, enjoy the view, then walk down through the gardens toward the tower.

✈️ Airport Connections (practical, low-stress)

Paris transit changes with works and service alerts, so always sanity-check your route on the day using RATP tools/maps.

From CDG (Charles de Gaulle):

1. Take RER B into Paris (RER B serves Charles de Gaulle 2).
2. Transfer at Denfert-Rochereau (served by Metro lines including Line 6).
3. Take Metro Line 6 to Bir-Hakeim, then walk to the Eiffel Tower.

From ORY (Orly):

• Use Orlyval to connect into the Paris rail network (then continue via RER/Metro).

Hours and operating times ⏱️

The Eiffel Tower’s opening times vary by date and season, and the official site publishes a calendar (including special opening times and exceptional closures).

Two key operational notes from the official info:

• Times can change (sometimes without much notice).
• Access to the top may be prohibited during harsh weather or peak/operational conditions.

Security, entry, and what to expect at the base 🧳✅⚠️

Plan for security time (this matters)

Even with a timed ticket, you must go through security. The official guidance: allow 15–20 minutes for security checks before you reach the esplanade area beneath the tower.

Know where to go (fast entry)

• Check the time on your e-ticket—this is when you should be in the “Visitors with tickets” queue.
• On-site you’ll see guidance that distinguishes elevator vs stairs access (the tower mentions green/blue kiosks for directions).
• For certain stair-based tickets, the official instruction directs you to the SOUTH pillar for stairs access.

Luggage & prohibited items

There’s no left luggage facility, and large items are not allowed; pets are also restricted (except guide dogs).

Best viewpoints and photo spots 📸📍

The “classic” Eiffel Tower photo

• Trocadéro: the famous elevated view, especially at sunrise. (Also a convenient Metro Line 9 stop.)

The “Paris picnic” vibe

• Champ de Mars: lawns and wide shots from the base side. (Easy if you arrive via RER C Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel.)

Night sparkle timing ✨

If you want the sparkle show: it happens for 5 minutes at the start of each hour after dusk (last sparkle depends on the nightly switch-off schedule).

Tips and common mistakes (save time + avoid pain) ✅⚠️

✅ Do this

• Book official tickets early, especially if you want lifts or the top.
• Arrive early for your time slot (security is separate from the ticket queue).
• If you want that view, choose Trocadéro for photos before you enter.

⚠️ Avoid this

• Don’t assume you can upgrade from 2nd floor to the top after you enter.
• Don’t show up with big luggage expecting storage—there isn’t any.
• Don’t plan your visit too close to closing time: the official guidance says to anticipate the visit window and closing procedures.

FAQ ❓

Do I need a timed ticket?

Timed entry is strongly recommended and commonly required for the smoothest experience—official online tickets are designed to help you avoid the ticket-office line.

How many steps are there?

You can climb 674 steps to the second floor; the full stair route to the top is not open to the public.

Can the top be closed?

Yes. Official guidance notes that access to the top may be prohibited in harsh weather or operational peak conditions.

What’s the best station to use?

For most people: Bir-Hakeim (Metro 6) is closest; for the famous viewpoint: Trocadéro (Metro 9); for a near-base arrival: Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel (RER C).

Conclusion

A great Eiffel Tower visit is mostly about two things: tickets (buy official, pick your level) and timing (arrive early enough for security). Choose Trocadéro for photos, pick 2nd floor for the best balance, go to the top when it’s open and you want the “wow,” and don’t forget that the tower sparkles every hour after dusk—it’s one of the simplest, most magical Paris moments you can plan. ✨