Eiffel Tower
The icon of Paris — and the one sight no first-timer skips.
The call
Worth it if you are traveling with kids and you are traveling as a couple.
Why
- 01
From the Trocadéro it's a genuine gasp; up top, the city unrolls in every direction.
Our read - 02
But the taste call locals make is contrarian: the second floor — not the summit — is the sweet spot.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
This is your first trip to Paris
Worth it once — but the smart play is a timed second-floor ticket: you get the iconic view without the double summit queue that swallows half a day.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, Eiffel Tower works.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Eiffel Tower works.
You are traveling solo
Solo, Eiffel Tower works.
Think twice if
You are watching the budget
On a budget, weigh it — Eiffel Tower isn't cheap for what it is.
You only have one day
Eiffel Tower is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
History and culture matter to you
For history & culture, Eiffel Tower is hit or miss.
You want context, not just the photograph
For depth & learning, Eiffel Tower is hit or miss.
Plan it well
- Cost
- €29.40 lift to summit / €11.80 stairs to 2nd floor
- Timing
- After 5pm (lines thin by 8pm); Tue–Thu outside school holidays; Oct–Mar is quietest.
- Booking
- Book timed tickets in advance online, especially for the summit; arrive ~30 min before opening if walking up without a reservation.
- Allow
- 2–3 hrs
Consider instead
Sources and method (6)
- Lift to the summit costs €36.70 for adults (25+); the second-floor lift is €23.50 and the second-floor stairs ticket €14.80 (2026 official rates) toureiffel.paris ↗
- From 29 September 2026 advance reservation becomes required even for the stairs ticket toureiffel.paris ↗
- toureiffel.paris ↗
- toureiffel.paris ↗
- parispass.com ↗
- theearfultower.substack.com ↗