Hacks for the Eiffel Tower: Tips and Tricks to Secure Your Ticket

The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of romance and an architectural wonder, is one of the most visited attractions in Paris. However, getting your hands on a ticket to visit the tower can be a daunting task, especially during peak tourist season. Long queues, sold-out tickets, and waiting times can be frustrating and can even ruin your entire Parisian vacation. But worry not, we have combed through the internet and found some tricks and hacks to help you secure your tickets.

Types of Tickets

Let’s first get to know the types of tickets that are available for the Eiffel Tower. The tower has three levels that are accessible to visitors: the first floor, the second floor, and the summit.

There are four types of tickets, all of which includes access to the first floor. Tickets for summit access also includes access to the second floor, while second floor access tickets do not include summit access.

• Second floor access via elevator — Available online or in person
• Second floor access via stairs — Available online or in person
• Summit access via elevator — Available online or in person
• Summit access via stairs to second floor and elevator to summit — Only available in person

Buying your tickets online

One of the best ways to buy tickets to the Eiffel Tower is to do so on its official website. Except the tickets are almost always sold out as soon as they open. If you are purchasing your tickets online, here are some tips and things to know about to getting the tickets:

• The tickets are for specific dates and times. So you should know exactly when you want to visit when you buy the tickets. But note that tickets are non-refundable and cannot be changed.
• After deciding when you want to visit, note that the tickets open 60 days prior, exactly at midnight in Paris. Tickets snag up within minutes so be sure to set your alarms for then!
• But it is not just about setting your alarms based on Paris time. You will also have to update your device’s timezone to follow Paris’ timezone (or be ahead of it). If your device is in a timezone behind Paris, the date that you are looking for will not be activated for sale even if it is already open for sale in other Paris.
• If it is too much of a hassle to have to update your device’s timezone, there is a ‘backdoor’ trick, though it isn’t guaranteed to always work. You can first select a date within one week prior to your desired date, and change it to your desired date on the next screen where you choose your desired floor. So this would only work if there is availability for dates one week prior to your desire date!

If you don’t manage to get your tickets at the point where tickets opened, additional tickets sometimes do get released at later dates. It isn’t guaranteed, but it may be worthwhile checking back periodically.

🌐 Official Website: https://www.toureiffel.paris/

Get tickets from a third-party

If you didn’t manage to get the tickets for your preferred date, consider getting a tour instead. There are many third-party sites and tour providers like GetYourGuide and Viator that sells these tickets as well. Tickets bought through these tours and third-party sites will be more expensive, but you also get better flexibility in terms of changes and refunds (subject to the sites’ policies). You will also be able to buy these tickets at a date closer to your actual trip, instead of buying it 2 months ahead.

These Eiffel Tower tours from third-party sites will usually also come with a guide in addition to the ticket, which will make your visit more engaging.

An advantage of getting your Eiffel Tower tickets from a third-party site is that it is a good way to hedge your bets — you can book a tour (that allows cancellation) and if you do manage to snag up a ticket from the official website after that, you can always cancel this.

You can also get the Paris Passlib, which includes access to the Eiffel Tower and a few other attractions. Note that even with the Paris Passlib, you will need to reserve your time slots in advance!

Buying a ticket at the entrance

If you don’t want to pay a premium for the guided tours, you can still buy a ticket at the entrance of the Eiffel Tower on the day of your visit. But be warned that queues can get very long. And since you will have to queue for both the tickets and security clearance, the wait could lead up to hours.

Here are some tips if you will be buying a ticket at the entrance:

• Go early in the morning before 11am, when crowds are less. Queues could start to form before the official opening hours of the Eiffel Tower, so you may want to head there as early as possible.
• As much as the night view from the summit will be beautiful, and crowds tend to be less after 8pm, we recommend not to visit the Eiffel Tower too late since you might not be able to get your tickets in time if the queues have not cleared.
• There are two entrances to the tower. Join the queue on the East entrance as the queues there are usually shorter.
• If you are feeling fit, consider getting the tickets that allow you to go up the tower via stairs instead. There is a separate queue for stair access, which is usually much shorter. You will only be able to climb up to the second floor, but from the second floor, you can take an elevator up to the summit. Be sure to buy the correct ticket, as you wouldn’t be able to buy tickets for the elevator up to the summit once you are in the tower. The entire climb up to the second floor can take between 30-45 minutes, with a total of 674 steps!

Making a reservation at a restaurant

There are two restaurants located in the Eiffel Tower: Madame Brasserie on the first floor, and the one-MICHELIN-starred Jules Verne on the second. If you have a reservation at these restaurants, you will be able to get to the restaurants via dedicated entrances. While these restaurants do not give you access to the summit, you can be sure it will be a delightful dining experience with a view.

Visiting Tips

• If you have an advanced ticket, you will have a separate queue for security checks. But be sure to still buffer some time for security clearance. It is recommended to arrive 15-30 minutes before your scheduled time to ensure sufficient time for clearance. Note that if you arrive more than half an hour late after your scheduled time slot, your ticket will not be valid.
• During your visit, you will visit from the highest floor and make your way down.
• Peak periods are from June to August, so be sure to get your tickets in advance during these periods. For the least crowds, consider visiting in October - November or January - February.