Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower (French: Tour Eiffel) is the 330-m wrought-iron lattice tower that Gustave Eiffel's company built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle on the Champ de Mars, intended as a temporary 20-year exhibit and instead becoming the defining symbol of Paris. Three visitor levels — first floor (57 m, glass-floor balcony installed 2014), second floor (115 m, restaurants), and summit (276 m, glass observation deck) — receive roughly 7 million ticket-holders per year, ranking it among the most-visited paid monuments on Earth. Summit access requires a separate timed ticket and a second elevator from the second floor; it sells out fastest. Climate-wise it's central-Paris weather plus exposed-height wind: the summit can be 10°C colder and 30 km/h windier than ground level, and the elevators close in storm conditions. The classic sweet spot is April–June and September–October — warm enough for evening visits without summer heat or queue chaos.
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Tours & map
Tours and the map below are for Paris — the planning hub for Eiffel Tower is Paris, and Viator's catalog is keyed to cities rather than sub-locales, regions, or single attractions.
Tours in Paris
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you.
- 1
Louvre Museum Premium Guided Tour 6 GUESTS MAX Entry Included - 2
Paris: Your Perfect Private Customized Day Tour–Half or Full Day - 3
Orsay Museum Premium Guided Tour 6 GUESTS MAX with Entry Included - 4
Paris Food Tour: Eat Like a Local with Cheeses, Wines & Secrets - 5
Eiffel Tower Elevator Tour with Optional Summit & Cruise Access - 6
Paris Catacombs Guided Tour with Exclusive Access to Secret Areas - 7
Early Access Paris Notre Dame Cathedral Walking Tour - 8
Top Private Cruises in Paris with French Champagne and surprises - 9
Mont Saint Michel Day Trip from Paris with English Speaking Guide - 10
Louvre Museum Access Guided Tour with Mona Lisa - 11
Giverny Monet's Home & Versailles Palace Day Trip from Paris - 12
From Paris: Versailles Palace Guided Tour with Gardens Access - 13
Golf Cart in Paris - Private Guided City Tour - Pickup Included - 14
Paris Crazy Horse Cabaret Show with Beverages including Champagne - 15
Giverny Small-Group Minivan with Hotel Pickup or Meeting Point - 16
Paris Private Flexible Duration Guided Tour on a Vintage Sidecar - 17
Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip with Omaha Beach, Cemetery & Cider Tasting - 18
Private Arrival Transfer: CDG/Orly to Paris Hotel - 19
Eiffel Tower Access up to 2nd Floor or Summit with Cruise Option - 20
Normandy D-Day Sites & Cemetery Day Trip from Paris with Lunch - 21
Paris in A Day: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame & Seine Cruise - 22
Paris Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef - 23
Paris Le Marais Food Tour With 10+ Tastings, Cheese, Wine & More - 24
Paris Top Sights Half Day Walking Tour with a Fun Guide - 25
The Musee d Orsay Guided Tour Orsay Museum Semi Private 6ppl Max - 26
Paris Montmartre Guided Food Tour: A Full Meal by Do Eat Better - 27
Louvre Museum Essential Guided Tour Semi Private 6 GUESTS MAX - 28
Devour Paris Ultimate Food Tour - 29
Versailles Bike Tour with Market, Gardens & Guided Palace Tour - 30
Champagne Day Trip with 6 Tastings, Reims and Winery from Paris
Last refreshed 2026-05-25.
Common questions
- When is the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower?
- Late April through June and September–October offer the best combination of mild weather, manageable crowds, and reliable elevator operation. July–August is hot, packed, and slow (90+ min waits even with tickets). Winter (Nov–Feb) has shortest waits but the summit is genuinely cold and often wind-closed. Sunset visits year-round are the most-photographed slot — book the 30-min-before-sunset entry.
- How do I book Eiffel Tower summit tickets?
- Direct via toureiffel.paris (the official site) — released 60 days in advance, mid-tier slots sell out within hours, summit tickets within minutes in summer. Two paths: elevator to all 3 levels (€29.40), or stairs to floors 1-2 then elevator to summit (€22.50). The stairs route has more availability and the same summit access.
- Should I go up the Eiffel Tower or just see it from outside?
- Both have payoff but for different reasons. Going up (especially to the summit) gives you the Paris-from-above experience but you can't see the Tower itself. Trocadéro across the Seine + the Champ de Mars below give the iconic Tower-in-the-frame photo — free and crowd-friendly. Many travelers do both: photo at golden hour from Trocadéro, then evening summit ticket.
- Is the climate at the Eiffel Tower summit different from Paris?
- Yes — at 276 m the summit is typically 4–6°C colder than ground level and far windier (sustained 30+ km/h common). The summit closes in lightning or severe wind. Dress for ground temperature minus 10°C with a windbreaker, especially Oct–Apr. See the Paris page for ground-level climate scoring.