The Best Guided Tours of the Eiffel Tower
Would you like to discover the Eiffel Tower with a guided tour? They're great fun! Don't miss the following post where I tell you about the best options.
View of the Eiffel Tower | ©Thorsten
The Eiffel Tower is the main symbol of Paris and is the most visited tourist attraction in the world. Climbing it is one of the essential things to do during a trip to the French capital.
A monument with a curious history that in the 19th century was a revolution in the field of engineering and that today has become one of the most amazing viewpoints in the city.
If you want to see the Eiffel Tower while enjoying the advantages of a guided tour, read this post to find out what options are available, what the ticket prices are and what you can see during this fantastic experience. Let's get started!
1. Guided tour of the Eiffel Tower, by the stairs!
With a height of 300 metres, going up the Eiffel Tower by lift 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 contemplate some very curious views of the landscape that most visitors miss out on by always choosing the lift to go up. On the other hand, the stairs to the Eiffel Tower are usually less crowded than the lifts, where long queues can form and slow down your plans to crown the monument. On a good day of sightseeing, however, the wait time to climb the stairs is usually less than 30 minutes.
Visits to the Eiffel Tower stairs usually take around 2 hours, although waiting times in the security queue or for access to the stairs during busy periods can cause it to take a little longer.
What can you expect?
It is arguably a fairly exclusive experience as almost all tours of the monument tend to omit the first floor which is reached by climbing over 300 steps. And that's a shame because walking across the glass floor at 57 metres is a thrilling experience that will test your vertigo!
Afterwards, you'll have to walk up another 600 steps or so to reach the first floor observation deck but I assure you it's well worth the effort because along the way you'll begin to see some of Paris' most iconic monuments such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées. You'll be 116 metres above the ground!
And if you decide to upgrade this ticket to reach the top level and crown the Eiffel Tower, don't worry because you won't have to walk all the way to the top but you will take a lift that will take you to the top directly from the first floor. Get your camera ready because from here you will be able to enjoy the best panoramic views of Paris!
Why do I like this option?
If you are fit and don't mind climbing steps, I recommend this option because as you ascend the different levels of the Eiffel Tower you will 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 inside of the monument and contemplate some of the most beautiful views of Paris while the guide who will accompany you on the route explains you the history of this tourist attraction, many curiosities and some details of other monuments that you will see.
2. Guided tour of the Eiffel Tower by lift, the most comfortable option
If the idea of having to walk up more than 900 steps to get to the Eiffel Tower's second-floor observation deck doesn't appeal to you at all, don't worry, because there is another much more tempting option, which is to take the lift to get to the top and enjoy one of the most memorable views of Paris.
Why choose this experience?
Although visiting the Eiffel Tower by stairs will give you a unique view of the landscape that most tourists miss, it is true that this is not a possibility available to everyone, as it requires a good physical condition to make the effort involved in a climb 116 metres high. In that case, the Eiffel Tower lift tour is the best option for you.
What can you expect?
The Eiffel Tower lift tour usually takes about 2 hours. The only downside to this activity is that the waiting times to take the lifts in the monument are long, as this is the option most visitors opt for and can be over an hour.
However, on the bright side, this is not something to worry about because the guide who will accompany you during the visit will explain in detail the history of the Eiffel Tower, who created it and how, its symbolism for the city of Paris, as well as a lot of curious anecdotes that will make your wait more pleasant.
You can even take the opportunity to ask the guide your questions about the Eiffel Tower or ask him for any recommendations to make the most of your trip to the French capital.
What is this experience like?
Once you get on the lift, I advise you to take a good look at how they work and at the interior framework of the monument because its construction was one of the greatest engineering revolutions of the 19th century.
On the way out, take the time to walk around the second-floor observation deck and enjoy the unforgettable views of Paris: the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées, 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 have anywhere else in Paris.
The guide will also explain in depth not only the monuments you will see, but also some of the districts such as Montparnasse, Les Invalides or Buttes-Montmartre. And to top it all off, if you choose to upgrade your ticket, you can take the lift to the top level of the Eiffel Tower to see the city from its highest point at 276 metres above sea level. The views of Paris from up there are breathtaking!
Why do I like this option?
If you're on a budget during your trip, the Eiffel Tower lift tour is an excellent option because you won't have to climb stairs and you'll be able to do it effortlessly and comfortably.
Plus, you'll have the benefit of a guided tour where a professional will show you the Eiffel Tower in depth and tell you about Paris and several of its landmarks.
Why is a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower worthwhile?
Although you can visit the Eiffel Tower on your own, if it's your first time in Paris, my advice is to join a guided tour of the monument because you will get more out of the experience by having more context about the site you are visiting.
The Eiffel Tower is world famous but there are many interesting facts about its history and construction that are unknown to the general public. 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 appreciate the fact that he'll be with you during the queues to get in, because his anecdotes will make your wait more bearable.
Besides, as he knows the structure of the Eiffel Tower perfectly, you can also ask him for advice on how to find the best position on the observation decks to take the most beautiful photos of the landscape. He'll even help you identify all the Parisian monuments that will appear on the skyline so you won'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 nice people that you can ask for recommendations to make the most of your trip in Paris. They are always willing to help you!
How much does it cost to take a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower?
The price of tickets to join a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower varies depending on whether you opt for the stairs option or the lift option to go up the monument.
If you explore it by taking the stairs
From 33 € you can get a ticket in Hellotickets for a guided tour of the stairs to the most popular tower in Paris.
With this ticket you'll have access to the first and first floors and enjoy incredible views that lift tours usually skip.
It's ideal if you're travelling to the city on a budget and would like to see this iconic tourist attraction without spending too much money.
If you take the lift
In case you want to see the Eiffel Tower with a guided lift tour, you can get a ticket at Hellotickets for as little as €43.
If you're travelling to Paris on a flexible budget, this is an alternative that I recommend you consider because you'll escape the huge flight of stairs from the base to the first floor, which is not a trivial matter if you're feeling tired or are not in good physical condition.
It's also a good option if you've spent all 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 ride the elevator straight up to the second level and enjoy the beautiful views of Paris right away.
If you want to crown the top of the tower
And for a little more money, from €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 to the top. You will reach the highest point of the tower at a height of 276 metres, and the spectacular views of Paris you will have at the top of the monument will take your breath away!
And if that wasn't enough, you'll also get to see the office of the engineer Gustave Eiffel, famous for building this tower for the 1889 Universal Exhibition in Paris. It's worth paying for it because it's really something curious.
How to buy tickets for a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower?
If you want to see the Eiffel Tower, my advice is to buy your tickets for a guided tour as far in advance as possible online.
As 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 longest lines at the ticket office, which are usually the longest.
This way you will only have to queue at the security checkpoint in the gardens at the entrance and some more access queues to regulate the flow of visitors or to go up the lifts or stairs.
When is the best time to take a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower?
The best time
The Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument in France, so it is always going to be crowded. However, if you are looking for a less crowded time to take a guided tour and be able to walk around the monument without the crowds, I recommend going early in the morning (between 9 AM and 11 AM) or waiting until the end of the day in the evening (between 8 PM and 10 PM).
Sunset in Paris is a magical moment to enjoy the Eiffel Tower but also one of the most crowded. If you don't like crowds, it's best to choose another time to visit this tourist attraction, such as in the evening. It's 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 is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, which are less crowded than at the weekend, when there can be long queues at the entrances.