PARIS · EIFFEL TOWER · SUMMIT (TOP FLOOR)
Eiffel Tower summit tickets: official price, what sells out, and what to do
A ticket to the top of the Eiffel Tower costs €36.70 for an adult by elevator on the official site, or €28 if you climb the stairs to the 2nd floor and take the elevator from there. When we checked a busy date (Saturday, October 31, 2026) on October 28, the €36.70 elevator ticket was still on sale, but the cheaper stairs + elevator ticket was sold out online and every English guided tour was unavailable. Here is which ticket to buy, what "skip the line" really means, and what to do when the top is gone.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you book a tour through the GetYourGuide links or buy a France eSIM through the Airalo link on this page, at no extra cost to you. Links to ticket.toureiffel.paris (the tower's own ticket office) are not affiliate links, and the official site is the cheapest way up. PracticalPivot is not affiliated with the Eiffel Tower (SETE) or any tour company. Prepared with AI assistance; prices, rules and availability below were read on toureiffel.paris and ticket.toureiffel.paris on October 28, 2026.
The 30-second answer
Most visitors: the official "Top floor by elevators" ticket, €36.70 (adult, 25+). It covers the top and the 2nd and 1st floors. Elevator tickets go on sale up to 90 days ahead.
Fit and on a budget: the stairs to the 2nd floor + elevator to the top, €28. It's sold online "in very limited quantities", so expect to buy it at the tower's ticket office on the day.
Don't buy a 2nd floor ticket if you might want the top: the tower won't sell you an upgrade once you're inside.
Ignore "skip the line": the tower says it has no skip-the-line system. Resellers can only add a service (a guide, a drink) on top of the same e-ticket, at a higher price.
Check official summit availability (not an affiliate link)
Official summit ticket prices (checked October 28, 2026)
| Ticket | Adult (25+) | Age 12-24 | Age 4-11 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top floor by elevators | €36.70 | €18.40 | €9.20 | Two elevators: ground to 2nd floor, then 2nd floor to the top |
| Top floor by stairs + elevator | €28.00 | €14.00 | €7.00 | Stairs to the 2nd floor (about 15 to 20 minutes per level), then the elevator up |
| Top by elevators + glass of champagne | €60.70 | - | - | 12 cl glass at the champagne bar at the top |
| Official guided tour to the top | €71.70 | €53.40 | €34.20 | With an official Eiffel Tower guide |
| Guided tour to 2nd floor + access to the top | €66.70 | €48.40 | €29.20 | Guide to the 2nd floor, then the top on your own |
| 2nd floor only, by elevator (for comparison) | €23.50 | €11.80 | €6.00 | Can't be upgraded to the top later |
Children under 4 are free but need a free ticket. The disability rate (€9.20 for the top by elevators) applies to the card holder and one companion, but the official site says the top and the stairs are not suitable for people with limited mobility. New fares apply to visits from January 11, 2027; check the official rates page if you're going after that date.
What was left for a busy date (checked October 28, 2026)
We checked the official ticket office for one adult on Saturday, October 31, 2026 (a French school-holiday weekend), Summit.
| Summit offer | Price | Online on Oct 31 |
|---|---|---|
| Top floor by elevators | €36.70 | On sale |
| Top floor by stairs + elevator | €28.00 | Sold out online (ticket office on the day) |
| Top by elevators + champagne | €60.70 | On sale |
| Guided tour to the 2nd floor in English + top | €66.70 | Unavailable |
| Guided tour to the top in English | €71.70 | Unavailable |
| Top by elevators + brunch at Madame Brasserie | €121.70 | Unavailable |
The pattern: the cheap stairs combo and the official guided tours go first. The plain elevator ticket lasts longer, and on the evening of October 28 the tower was open 09:30 to 23:00 with last ascents at 22:45.
Official ticket vs a reseller tour
| Official e-ticket (€36.70) | Official guided tour (€66.70 to €71.70) | Reseller tour with summit access | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Lowest (fixed public rate) | Middle | Highest (public rate + their service) |
| Change or refund | No | No | Often free cancellation (check each listing) |
| Queue | E-ticket fast-track lanes | E-ticket fast-track lanes | Same as the official e-ticket; "skip the line" adds nothing |
| Guide | None (free online visitor guide) | Official tower guide | Depends on the tour |
A reseller tour makes sense when the official summit ticket for your date is gone and you don't want to queue at the ticket office, or when free cancellation matters because your dates might move. Check that the listing says "summit" or "top floor", not just "2nd floor".
Compare Eiffel Tower summit tours on GetYourGuide (affiliate link)
How to spot a fake Eiffel Tower ticket site
The tower warns about fake sites and ads, including ones promoted on search engines and suggested by AI tools. From its scam page:
- The only official addresses are toureiffel.paris and ticket.toureiffel.paris.
- No reseller is an "official partner", "authorized site" or "trusted partner": the tower doesn't certify anyone.
- "Skip the line" or "priority access" is a false promise. Resellers may only say "reserved access".
- A price below the official rate is impossible; a much higher price should come with a real extra service.
- Availability every day, every hour, for months, at peak times, is a red flag.
- Check the legal notices for a business registration number.
What to do, step by step
- Open the official ticket office (ticket.toureiffel.paris), pick your date, number of tickets, then Summit.
- Choose "Top floor by elevators" (€36.70) unless you're happy to climb; the stairs combo is rarely online anyway.
- Book a time you can make: tickets are valid only for the floor, date and time shown, and they can't be changed or refunded.
- Sold out online? Look at other dates (tickets come back at regular intervals), or go to the tower's ticket office on the day for immediate use; the stairs + elevator ticket is sold there.
- Still nothing and the date is fixed? Compare reseller tours that include summit access and free cancellation.
- Arrive about 30 minutes before your time slot: there are security checks on the esplanade and again before the pillar.
- Pack light: large luggage isn't allowed and there is no left-luggage office.
Checklist before you go
- Summit ticket (not 2nd floor) for the right date and time
- ID for any youth or disability rate
- No large bag or suitcase (there's no cloakroom)
- A warm layer: the tower says it's always windy at the top
- Note that the top may be restricted in severe weather or at peak times
- Mobile data for your e-ticket and maps: France eSIM from Airalo (affiliate link), or compare options in our France eSIM guide
Also in Europe
Booking more big-name sights? The same "official first, reseller only when sold out" rule applies to Vatican Museums tickets, Colosseum tickets, Sagrada Familia tickets, Louvre tickets and Alhambra tickets.
FAQ
How much is an Eiffel Tower summit ticket in 2026?
On the official site on October 28, 2026: €36.70 for an adult (25+) by elevator, €18.40 for ages 12 to 24, €9.20 for ages 4 to 11, and free under 4. The stairs-to-the-2nd-floor plus elevator-to-the-top ticket is €28 for an adult. New 2027 fares apply from January 11, 2027.
Does a summit ticket include the 1st and 2nd floors?
Yes. The official FAQ says a ticket to the top gives access to all floors. You go up to the top first, then come back down through the 2nd and 1st floors.
Can I upgrade a 2nd floor ticket to the summit at the tower?
No. The official FAQ says the destination is chosen when you buy, and a 2nd floor ticket holder can't buy an add-on for the top. If you might want the top, buy the summit ticket.
What if Eiffel Tower summit tickets are sold out online?
The tower's ticket office still sells tickets on the day for immediate use, subject to attendance. The stairs-plus-elevator summit ticket is sold mainly at the ticket office. You can also keep checking the official calendar, because tickets come back online at regular intervals.
Are skip-the-line Eiffel Tower tickets real?
No. The tower says it runs no skip-the-line system. A ticket sold as priority or skip-the-line gives the same access as the official e-ticket, which already uses the fast-track lanes for e-ticket holders.
Can I cancel or refund an Eiffel Tower ticket?
Not on the official site. Its FAQ says tickets cannot be exchanged, modified or refunded once the purchase is confirmed, and they are valid only for the floor, date and time printed on them.