The Eiffel Tower in 2026: Still Worth the Price (and the Wait)?
The Eiffel Tower in 2026 costs more than ever. A standard adult summit ticket runs €36.70. The second floor by elevator is €23.50.
Walk up the stairs and you’re at €14.80, though that only gets you to the second floor.
That’s a long way from the cheap afternoon impulse Paris visit people used to plan.
What a Ticket Gets You
There are three levels you can visit. The first floor is essentially a transit stop. The second floor, at 115 meters, is where the real experience is.
You get open-air decks, sweeping views of the Seine, and you can pick out Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe without squinting at a map.
The summit tops out at 276 meters. Paris starts looking more like a satellite image up there, which sounds impressive until you’re standing in it and realize you can’t name a single thing you’re looking at.
The second floor has open railings and is better for photography. The summit is mostly enclosed in glass panels with one narrow exterior walkway, which kills a lot of the drama.
Both levels are included in the summit ticket, so you pass through the second floor on the way up regardless.
The Summit Question
Whether the summit is worth the extra €13.20 depends entirely on what you want from the visit.
If you want the bragging rights and the “I stood above Paris” moment, get the summit ticket. The view on a clear day stretches up to 70 kilometers.
If you want good photos and to recognize what you’re looking at, the second floor is the better experience. Landmark-chasers and photographers prefer it.
One thing to know: you cannot buy a summit upgrade once you’re already on the tower. The decision has to be made before you arrive.
If you show up with a second-floor ticket and decide halfway up that you want the summit, you’re out of luck that day.
The Ticket Problem
Getting a ticket is its own project. The official website opens sales 60 days in advance at 8:30 AM Paris time.
Summit slots in July and August sell out within hours of going live. Some days they’re gone in minutes.
If you miss the 60-day window, there’s a second release at exactly 1:00 PM Paris time, seven days before your visit date. That one is also competitive.
The official site is the cheapest option, but if it shows sold out, third-party platforms like GetYourGuide and Tiqets hold their own allocation and often have availability when the official calendar is grayed out.
You’ll pay a small premium for that, typically a few euros.
Walk-up tickets are sold on site, but in peak summer you’re looking at one to two hours in that queue alone, before you factor in security and elevator waits.
How Long This Takes
Even with a pre-booked timed ticket, plan for more time than you expect.
Security screening at the entrance runs 5 to 10 minutes on normal days, longer on busy weekends. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your slot.
The ticket specifies which pillar entrance to use, and walking to the wrong one costs you time you don’t have.
The elevator to the second floor adds another 10 to 30 minutes depending on the hour.
The summit elevator from the second floor is a single bottleneck where everyone going higher has to queue again.
A full summit visit from entry to exit runs about two and a half hours in peak season.
Midday from 11 AM to 3 PM is the worst window for crowds. Early morning or after 8 PM is considerably calmer.
The Best Time Slot
The most consistent advice from frequent Paris visitors is to book around 90 minutes before sunset.
The golden light over the Seine at that hour is worth the extra planning. The sparkling lights display runs for five minutes every hour after dark, starting at dusk.
From the second floor, you can watch it happen around you.
July and August run at maximum capacity. Up to 25,000 people visit on the busiest days.
If you’re going in summer, the 60-day window is not optional, it’s the only reliable path to the visit you planned.
EU residents under 26 get free entry, but still need a zero-value ticket booked in advance. Children under 4 are also free.
Gustave Eiffel’s private apartment on the summit level, furnished with period pieces and a wax figure of Eiffel meeting Thomas Edison, is visible through a window and included with any summit ticket.