By the BeatTheCrowd team · Updated 20 October 2026 · 5 min read
Quick answer
Book a timed ticket on the official site (toureiffel.paris) as early as you can, because summit and sunset slots go first. Use the east entrance in the gardens, which is often less crowded, and if you're up for 674 steps, take the stairs to the 2nd floor: that line is almost always shorter than the lift line.
At a glance
Cheapest way up
Stairs to the 2nd floor, about €14.80
Cheapest way to the top
Stairs + summit lift, about €28
When to book
As early as you can. Summit and sunset slots sell out first
Best time
Opening time, or late evening after about 8:30 pm in summer
Busiest time
Weekends, public holidays and the hour around sunset
Quieter entrance
Entrance 2 (east side, in the gardens)
Time to allow
2 to 3 hours including security
How long are the lines at the Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower has more lines than most people expect. First there's the security check to get onto the esplanade under the tower, and everyone goes through it, ticket or not. Then there's the ticket office, which you skip completely by booking online. Then come the lifts, including the one from the 2nd floor up to the summit.
Line
Busy summer day
Quieter times
Ticket office (no booking)
30-90 minutes, up to 2 hours
Much shorter, but summit tickets may be gone
Security check (everyone)
10-30 minutes
A few minutes
Lifts
20-60 minutes
Little or no wait
With a pre-booked ticket, most of your wait is security and the lifts, which is why timing matters so much here.
🔑 The free skip-the-line hack
Before you book a slot, see how busy the Eiffel Tower is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date, adjusted for holidays, school breaks and weather, so you can pick the hour when the lines are shortest.
The cheapest way to the summit, and it skips the busy ground-floor lift
Lift to the 2nd floor
About €23.50
Lift up to the 1st and 2nd floors
Longer queues than the stairs at busy times
Lift to the summit
About €36.70
Lift all the way to the top, 276 m
Sells out first, especially around sunset
You can't climb the stairs all the way to the top: the summit is lift-only from the 2nd floor. Children and young people pay less, and under-4s go free. Prices change from time to time, so check the official site before you buy.
Sold out online? Don't give up yet
Use the quieter entrance
There are two security entrances onto the esplanade. Entrance 1 is by the south pillar, where the stairs start. Entrance 2, on the east side in the gardens, is the one the tower's own team recommends because it's often less crowded.
Once you're through security, look for the separate lane for visitors who already have tickets, and follow the staff's directions: they move people between the pillars to balance the lifts. Allow 15-20 minutes for security before your slot, and more on summer weekends.
Best (and worst) times to go
First thing in the morning. The first slots of the day are the calmest. In peak season the tower opens earlier, and getting there for opening is the official advice.
Late evening. After about 8:30 pm in summer the crowds thin out a lot, and you get the city lights as a bonus.
Avoid late morning to late afternoon, and especially the hour around sunset, when everyone wants that view.
Day of the week: weekends and French public holidays have the longest queues. A weekday morning is your best bet.
Season: June to August and school holidays are the busiest. Winter weekdays are the quietest, but the summit can close at short notice for wind or fog.
🔑 The free skip-the-line hack
Our hourly forecast for the Eiffel Tower shows the expected crowd level for every hour of the date you pick, including when school holidays or bad weather are likely to change things.
Take the stairs up, the lift down. The climb to the 2nd floor takes about 15-20 minutes at an easy pace, and you see the ironwork up close, which is half the fun.
Book the stairs + summit combo. You skip the busiest lift queue at ground level and still reach the top.
Leave the big bag at your hotel. Large bags aren't allowed and there's no storage on site.
Do the summit first, then the 2nd floor. Head straight for the summit lift while it's quieter, and explore the lower floors on the way down.
Screenshot your tickets. Phone signal under the tower can be patchy when it's busy.
Practical info
Getting there
Metro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim, lines 6 or 9 to Trocadéro (best for the photo first), or RER C to Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel.
How long to allow
2 to 3 hours including security. About 1.5 hours if you only visit the 1st and 2nd floors.
Accessibility
Visitors in wheelchairs can reach the 1st and 2nd floors by lift. The stairs and the summit aren't accessible.
Toilets
On the esplanade and on the floors of the tower.
Bags
No large bags or suitcases, and no left-luggage on site.
Weather
The summit closes at short notice in strong wind, storms or heavy fog. Check the official site on the day.
Mistakes that cost you an hour
Turning up at 3 pm in July without a ticket.
Booking a sunset summit slot and arriving with no time for security.
Buying from a reseller at double the price when the official site still had tickets.
Bringing luggage on your way to the station.
Going on a very windy day and finding the summit closed.
Is skip-the-line worth paying extra for?
The official timed ticket already skips the ticket office, so you don't need to pay a reseller extra just for that. Guided tours can make sense if official summit tickets are gone and you really want the top, but no ticket gets you out of the security check.
Yes, some tickets are sold at the tower on the day, subject to availability. In busy months you may queue a long time and the summit can be sold out, so booking online is safer.
Is it faster to take the stairs at the Eiffel Tower?
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Usually, yes. The stairs line at the south pillar is normally much shorter than the lift line, and the climb to the 2nd floor takes around 15-20 minutes.
Can you walk to the top of the Eiffel Tower?
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No. The stairs go as far as the 2nd floor. To reach the summit you take a lift from the 2nd floor, and the stairs + summit lift ticket covers both.
What is the least crowded time to visit the Eiffel Tower?
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Opening time in the morning and late evening. Late morning to sunset is the busiest, and weekends are busier than weekdays. Check our live crowd tracker for your date.
Heading to the Eiffel Tower?
See how busy it is right now and the quietest hours for your date, then walk in when the line is short.
How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other, and dated so you know how fresh it is. Last checked 20 October 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
Not every ticket is sold in advance. Some are kept for sale on the day at the tower, subject to availability. Travellers also regularly report summit slots reappearing online close to the date, so keep checking the official site.
Which Eiffel Tower entrance is fastest?
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The east entrance (Entrance 2) in the gardens is often less crowded than the south entrance by the stairs, according to the tower's own advice.
How long does an Eiffel Tower visit take?
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Allow 2 to 3 hours including security if you're going to the summit, or about 1.5 hours for the 1st and 2nd floors only.
