The Eiffel Tower receives over 6 million visitors per year. Without a plan, you can spend hours navigating ticket queues, security lines, and elevator logistics. A guided tour with dedicated reserved access takes the stress out of the visit. Your guide handles entry, walks you through the history and engineering of the tower, and gets you to the top by elevator with minimal hassle.
Here’s how to book and what to expect.
Tour Options and Prices (2026)
This guided tour uses dedicated reserved access, which means you enter through a facilitated entry point with your guide instead of queuing at the general ticket office. Multiple reviewers confirm the process is smooth: “we sailed through security”, “no queuing and a great way to navigate the tower”, “getting in was very easy.”
Option 1: Guided tour to the 2nd floor by elevator
- From $52 per person
- 2-hour experience (guided portion + free time)
- Groups of 25 or fewer
- Elevator access to the 1st and 2nd floors
- Panoramic views of Paris from 115 meters
- Free time to explore at your own pace after the guided portion
Option 2: Guided tour with summit access by elevator (recommended)
- From $72 per person (approximately)
- Everything above, plus elevator from the 2nd floor to the summit at 276 meters
- 360-degree views, Gustave Eiffel’s recreated private office, and a champagne bar at the top
Official self-guided ticket comparison:
- Elevator to 2nd floor: €29.40 (no guide, no facilitated access)
- Elevator to summit: €36.70 (no guide, sells out weeks in advance)
The guided tour costs more than a self-guided ticket, but you get facilitated entry, an expert guide, and guaranteed access to the floors you selected. Official summit e-tickets sell out within days during peak season, making the guided option one of the most reliable ways to reach the top.
👉 Book your Eiffel Tower guided tour tickets
What You’ll Experience
Your tour starts at the Paris Lounge travel agency at 38 Avenue de la Bourdonnais, a short walk from the tower. Present your voucher here to receive your entry ticket. Do not go directly to the Eiffel Tower.
The walk to the tower. Your guide leads you through the Champ de Mars gardens toward the tower, sharing the story of how Gustave Eiffel built the entire 324-meter structure in just 2 years for the 1889 World’s Fair. You’ll learn why Parisians hated it at first, how it was nearly demolished, and what saved it.
Security and entry. Your guide takes you through the security checkpoint and to the dedicated elevator entrance. During peak hours, security can still take some time, but the reserved access means you bypass the general ticket queue entirely.
1st floor. Step onto the suspended glass floor and look straight down through the iron lattice to the ground 57 meters below. Your guide explains the engineering that keeps the 10,100-ton structure standing.
2nd floor. The panoramic views open up here. On a clear day, you can see the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Sacré-Coeur, the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine, and the towers of La Défense. Your guide points out each landmark and gives you the context behind what you’re seeing.
Summit (if selected). Ride the glass-walled elevator from the 2nd floor to the top at 276 meters. At the summit, you’ll find Gustave Eiffel’s private office recreated with period furniture and wax figures of Eiffel meeting Thomas Edison. There’s also a champagne bar and an open-air observation deck with views extending up to 60 kilometers on clear days.
After the guided portion. You’re free to stay as long as you want. Explore the shops, grab a coffee at the bistro, sit and watch the city. Take the elevator back down at your own pace.
Meeting Point and How to Get There
Meet at 38 Avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris (Paris Lounge travel agency). Arrive 15 minutes before your tour time.
By metro: Line 6, stop Bir-Hakeim (5-minute walk). Line 9, stop Trocadéro (10-minute walk across the bridge with the classic tower photo angle). By RER: Line C, stop Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel. By bus: lines 82 and 42 stop nearby.
Bring a valid photo ID. All bags are checked at security before entering the tower.
Before You Book
- Best time to visit: early morning (9:00 to 10:00 AM) has the lightest crowds. Evening visits offer the hourly sparkle show (5 minutes every hour on the hour after dark) and dramatic sunset views.
- Summit closures: the summit can close without notice due to weather, maintenance, or safety reasons. If this happens, you will still have access to the 1st and 2nd floors.
- Kids: a ticket is required for all visitors, including children under 4 (they enter free but must be added to the reservation). Discounted rates available at booking.
- Accessibility: this tour is not wheelchair accessible. The summit is also not accessible to visitors who use a cane or require walking assistance.
- Peak periods: during July and August, security checkpoints can add extra wait time even with reserved access. Morning slots are the fastest.
- Cancellation policy: this experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. Make sure your dates are confirmed before booking.
- What to bring: camera, comfortable shoes, layers (it can be windy at the summit), and a portable battery for your phone.
- Champagne at the top: available for purchase at the summit bar. It’s expensive but many visitors say it’s worth the splurge.
Book Your Eiffel Tower Tour
This is one of the most popular Eiffel Tower experiences on Viator, with 4.6 stars from 3,660+ reviews and 20+ bookings in the past 6 hours alone. The dedicated reserved access makes entry smooth, the elevator takes you all the way up, and the guide turns a sightseeing stop into a story you’ll remember.
👉 Check availability and book your Eiffel Tower guided tour
Prices are based on 2026 published rates and may vary by date. The Eiffel Tower summit may close without notice due to weather or operational reasons. This experience is non-refundable. Always confirm details at checkout.
