Paris Eiffel Tower Guided Tours

The Eiffel Tower is the main symbol of Paris and the most visited tourist attraction in the world. Climbing it is one of the essential things to do during a getaway to the French capital.

A monument with a curious history that in the 19th century was a revolution in the field of engineering and has now become one of the most amazing viewpoints in the city.

If you want to discover the Eiffel Tower while enjoying the advantages of a guided tour, read on to find out about the options available, ticket prices and what you can see during this fantastic experience. Let's get started!

At a height of 300 metres, taking the lift up the Eiffel Tower is always tempting, but although it may not seem like it, there are good reasons to make a little effort and take the stairs.

Why choose this experience?

On the one hand, you will be able to enjoy some very interesting views of the landscape that most visitors miss out on by always choosing the lift to ascend. On the other hand, the stairways to the Eiffel Tower are usually less crowded than the lifts, where long queues can form, significantly slowing down your plans to reach the top of the monument. On a good day for sightseeing, however, the waiting time to climb the stairs is usually less than 30 minutes.

Visits to the Eiffel Tower via the stairs usually take around 2 hours, although waiting times in the security queue or to access the stairs during busy periods may cause the visit to take a little longer.

What can you expect?

It could be said that it is a rather exclusive experience, as almost all tours of the monument tend to skip the first floor, which is accessed by climbing more than 300 steps. This is a shame because walking on its glass floor at a height of 57 metres is very exciting and will test your head for heights!

Afterwards, you will have to climb another 600 steps or so to reach the second-floor viewing platform, but I can assure you that the effort is well worth it because along the way you will begin to see some of Paris' most iconic monuments, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées. You'll be 116 metres high!

And if you decide to upgrade your ticket to reach the top level and crown the Eiffel Tower, don't worry, because you won't have to walk all the way up that part of the route; instead, you'll take a lift that will take you to the top directly from the second floor. Get your camera ready, because from here you can enjoy the best panoramic views of Paris!

Why do I like this option?

If you're fit and don't mind climbing steps, I recommend this option because as you ascend the different levels of the Eiffel Tower, you'll see how the landscape slowly changes before your eyes and expands around you. It's an amazing feeling!

During the activity, you will have the opportunity to see the monument from the inside and enjoy some of the most beautiful views of Paris while the guide accompanying you on the tour explains the history of this tourist attraction, many interesting facts and some details about other monuments you will see.

If the idea of climbing more than 900 steps to reach the Eiffel Tower's second-floor viewing platform doesn't appeal to you at all, don't worry, because there is another, much more tempting option : take the lift to the top and enjoy one of the most memorable views of Paris without breaking a sweat.

Why choose this experience?

Although visiting the Eiffel Tower by stairs allows you to enjoy unique views of the landscape that most tourists miss, it is true that this is not an option available to everyone, as it requires good physical condition to make the effort of climbing 116 metres. In that case, visiting the Eiffel Tower by lift is the best option for you.

What can you expect?

Visits to the Eiffel Tower by lift usually last approximately 2 hours. The only drawback to this activity is that the waiting times to take the lifts up the monument are long, as this is the option chosen by most visitors and can be more than an hour.

However, on the bright side, this is not something you should worry too much about, as the guide who will accompany you during the visit will use this time to explain in great detail the history of the Eiffel Tower, who created it and how, its symbolism for the city of Paris, as well as lots of interesting anecdotes that will make the wait more enjoyable.

You can even take the opportunity to ask the guide any questions you may have about the Eiffel Tower or ask for recommendations on how to get the most out of your trip to the French capital.

What is this experience like?

Once you get on the lift, I recommend that you take a good look at how it works and at the interior framework of the monument, as its construction was one of the greatest revolutions in 19th-century engineering.

When you get out, take your time to explore the second-floor viewing platform and enjoy the unforgettable views of Paris: the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, the Louvre Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral, among others. You will enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramic views of your trip that you won't find anywhere else in Paris.

The guide will also give you an in-depth explanation not only of the monuments you see but also of some districts such as Montparnasse, Les Invalides andButtes-Montmartre. And as the icing on the cake, if you choose to upgrade your ticket, you can take the lift to the top of the Eiffel Tower to see the city from its highest point at 276 metres. The views of Paris from up there are amazing!

Why do I like this option?

If you have a generous budget for your trip, taking the lift to the top of the Eiffel Tower is an excellent option, as you won't have to climb any stairs and can enjoy the activity effortlessly and in complete comfort.

What's more, you'll have the added bonus of a guided tour, where a professional guide will show you the Eiffel Tower in depth and tell you all about Paris and some of its landmarks.

Although you can visit the Eiffel Tower on your own, if it's your first time in Paris, I recommend joining a guided tour of the monument because you'll get more out of the experience by having a better understanding of the place you're visiting.

The Eiffel Tower is world famous, but there are many interesting facts about its history and construction that the general public is unaware of. With the help of a guide, you can learn a lot about this tourist attraction in a fun way and have a great time. You'll be grateful to have them with you while you're queuing to get in, as their anecdotes will make the wait more bearable.

What's more, as they know the structure of the Eiffel Tower inside out, you can also ask them for advice on finding the best spot on the viewing platforms to take the most beautiful photos of the landscape. They will even help you identify all the monuments of Paris that appear on the skyline so that you don't miss a thing.

And finally, something I really like about taking a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower is that the guides are very friendly people who you can ask for recommendations to make the most of your trip to Paris. They are always willing to help!

The price of tickets to join a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower varies depending on whether you choose to take the stairs or the lift to the top of the monument.

If you explore it by climbing the stairs

Starting at €33, you can get a ticket on Hellotickets for a guided tour up the stairs to the most popular tower in Paris.

With this ticket, you will have access to the first and second floors and enjoy incredible views that lift tours usually miss.

This is ideal if you are travelling to the city on a tight budget and would like to see this tourist icon without spending too much money.

If you take the lift

If you want to visit the Eiffel Tower with a guided lift tour, you can get a ticket from Hellotickets starting at €43.

If you are travelling to Paris on a flexible budget, this is an alternative I recommend considering because it will allow you to avoid the enormous flight of stairs from the base to the second floor, which is no small matter if you are tired or not in good physical condition.

It's also a good option if you've spent the whole morning walking around Paris sightseeing and now you'd rather take it easy and give your legs a rest instead of more work.

With a ticket for a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower by lift, you can take the lift directly to the second level and enjoy the beautiful views of Paris right away.

If you want to reach the top of the tower

And for a little extra money, starting at €15, you can complete the experience by also choosing the option to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower on the third level.

This part of the tour must be done by lift, as there is no other way to get up there. You will reach the highest point of the tower at no less than 276 metres above ground level. The spectacular views of Paris from the top of the monument will take your breath away!

And if that weren't enough, you can also visit the office of engineer Gustave Eiffel, famous for building this tower for the 1889 Universal Exhibition in Paris. It's well worth the price, as it's a truly fascinating place.

If you want to visit the Eiffel Tower, my advice is to buy your tickets for a guided tour as far in advance as possible and online.

As it is the most visited monument in the country, this small step will allow you to reserve your place for the day and time that best suits your schedule and also avoid the queues that form at the ticket office to purchase tickets, which are usually the longest.

This way, you will only have to queue for security checks in the gardens at the entrance and any other queues to regulate the flow of visitors or to go up in the lifts or stairs.

The best time

The Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument in France, so it will always be crowded. However, if you are looking for a less crowded time to take the guided tour and explore the monument without so many people around, I recommend going early in the morning (between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.) or waiting until the end of the day, in the evening (between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.).

Sunset in Paris is a magical time to enjoy the Eiffel Tower, but it is also one of the busiest times. If you don't like crowds, it is best to choose another time to visit this tourist attraction, such as at night. It is a magical experience!

The best day

As for the day of the week, the best time to take a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower at a leisurely pace is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, as these days see fewer tourists than the weekend, when very long queues can form at the entrances.