At a Glance: The Eiffel Tower Snapshot
The Eiffel Tower stands on the Champ de Mars in Paris’s 7th arrondissement, at 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris. Reaching approximately 330 metres, it remains the city’s defining landmark and one of its most recognizable viewpoints. (toureiffel.paris) In 2026, the tower is described as completing a seven-year, €80 million renovation, including its return to the original 1907 yellow-brown colour. The colour restoration is documented by the tower’s official site, although the renovation’s full cost and completion details should be checked against current visitor notices. (toureiffel.paris) The North Pillar elevator is listed in the 2026 brief as returning to full service in January 2026. However, the official Eiffel Tower website states that the renovated elevator was already brought back into service in 2024, so confirm operating status before travelling. (toureiffel.paris)2026 Tickets & Pricing Guide
The 2026 prices are higher than some older guides suggest. For visits from January 12, 2026, the official adult fares are: 2026 Eiffel Tower price sheet- Summit by elevator: €36.70 for adults; €18.40 for youths aged 12–24; €9.20 for children aged 4–11. The route uses an elevator to the second floor, followed by a second elevator to the summit. Official summit ticket details
- Second floor by stairs: €14.80 for adults, €7.40 for youths, and €3.80 for children aged 4–11. This is the cheapest standard adult ticket, covering the 674-step climb to the second floor. Official stairs ticket page
- Summit via stairs and elevator: €28.00 for adults and €14.00 for youths. You climb to the second floor, then take an elevator to the top—an economical compromise if the full elevator fare feels steep. Official 2026 price sheet
Opening Hours & The Best Time to Visit
- Opening hours: The plan’s 9:15am figure is outdated. The Eiffel Tower’s current visitor regulations list normal hours as 9:30am–11:45pm, extending to 9:00am–12:45am during the summer season. Hours can change without notice, so confirm your date on the official opening-hours calendar before travelling. Official visitor regulations
- Summit maintenance: The Summit will be closed from January 5 through February 6, 2026, inclusive. The first and second floors remain available, subject to the normal operating schedule. Official 2026 maintenance notice
- Best photography slot: For the most versatile light, book entry roughly 90 minutes before sunset. This gives you time to photograph Paris in daylight, capture the golden-hour glow, and remain in position as the tower illuminates. The official photography guide also recommends the Champ de Mars and Trocadéro around sunset. Eiffel Tower photography guide
- Sparkle timing: After dark, the tower sparkles for five minutes at the beginning of every hour, once its evening lighting has switched on. The display continues until closing, with the final possible sparkle depending on the season. Official lighting guide
How to Get There & Navigating Security
- For the shortest walk, take Metro Line 6 to Bir-Hakeim. The station is less than 10 minutes from Entrance 1 on the official access route. (Eiffel Tower access map)
- For the classic approach and best arrival photographs, use Metro Line 9 to Trocadéro, then walk toward the Palais de Chaillot terraces and across the Seine. The terraces provide one of Paris’s most iconic full-tower panoramas. (official nearby-views guide)
- Security checks are mandatory both at the site entrances and before entering a tower pillar. For a timed e-ticket, the scheduled time refers to reaching the forecourt and pillar queue—not leaving the metro station. Allow 15–20 minutes for the initial check, plus walking time and a practical buffer; arriving around 45 minutes early is sensible during busy periods. (official ticket-arrival advice)
- The often-quoted €72 million landscaping figure refers to an earlier Site Tour Eiffel plan, not a current completion guarantee. Paris now describes ongoing Trocadéro–Iéna improvements focused on pedestrian space and 4,000 square metres of new planting. (Paris project update)
What to See: A Floor-by-Floor Route
Your ticket takes you first to its highest included level, after which you can work your way down through the Tower.- First floor — 57 metres: This is the most interactive stop. Walk across the transparent glass floor for a vertiginous view of the esplanade, then follow the exterior gallery and museum-style displays tracing the Tower’s history. A surviving section of the original spiral staircase is also on display. See the official first-floor guide.
- Second floor — 116 metres: This is often the best balance between height and viewing comfort. The upper level provides broad, relatively unobstructed panoramas toward landmarks including the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Montmartre, the Invalides, and the Seine. Allow time for the shops, refreshments, and the Pierre Hermé macaron bar; the Michelin-starred Le Jules Verne restaurant occupies this level but requires a separate reservation. Details are in the official second-floor guide.
- Summit — 276 metres: The top is reached by elevator from the second floor and delivers the Tower’s most expansive skyline views. You can stop at the Champagne Bar and look through the windows of the reconstruction of Gustave Eiffel’s office; the office itself is not open for entry. Explore the official summit overview.
Insider Tips & The Final Verdict
- Book the official timed ticket first. Elevator tickets open up to 60 days ahead, while stair tickets generally open 30 days ahead; the Eiffel Tower recommends booking early for summer, school holidays, and public holidays. Use the official ticket office rather than third-party sellers, which the Tower warns may offer fake or overpriced tickets. (official booking advice)
- Plan your exit as carefully as your ascent. After visiting the second floor, consider taking the stairs down and stopping at the first floor on the way. Elevator queues can build on the descent, so walking is often the quicker, more flexible option; the Tower itself recommends visiting the first floor on the way down. (official visitor guidance)
- Eat away from the forecourt. Rather than relying on an impulse purchase from the ground-level stalls, walk to nearby Rue Cler, a lively 7th-arrondissement street known for bistros, food shops, artisan businesses, and caterers. (Paris tourist-office guide to the 7th arrondissement)
- Keep moving around the base and Trocadéro. Ignore unsolicited petitions, street sellers, and gambling invitations, and keep bags closed in crowded photo areas. French tourist-safety guidance identifies fake petitions and illegal pavement selling as common scams in major tourist areas. (official tourist-safety advice)