Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Stairs with Optional Summit by Lift
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Paris, France
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Experience the Eiffel Tower the way Gustave Eiffel himself would have by climbing its stairs on a guided adventure. Learn about its history, hidden stories and engineering feats along the way. Then from the second level, take the elevator to the top (optional extra) for panoramic views of Paris, where you can stay and explore at your own leisure.
- See a side to the Eiffel Tower that many tourists miss
- Enjoy panoramic views over Paris where you can snap photos and videos
- Go beyond the guidebooks with insight and fun stories from your guide
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Rather than using the elevator like most tours, this tour gives a new perspective by taking the stairs.
What's Included
- Your Host is there to facilitate your entry, provide you with all the necessary information
- Access up to the second floor by stairs
- Access to the Eiffel Tower Summit by lift (if option selected)
- Panoramic Views: Marvel at sweeping Paris vistas.
- Unlimited Time: After the tour, stay as long as you wish.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Skip the line
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 3 Rue Buenos-Ayres, 75007 Paris, France
Please do not go directly to the Eiffel Tower. Arrive 15 min early at 3 Rue Buenos-Ayres, 75007 Paris (outside, next to the café). The street faces Entrance 1. Look for our team holding a blue sign that says "Epic Tours."
End point
- Eiffel TowerAv. Gustave Eiffel, 75007 Paris, France
This tour ends at the Eiffel Tower
Ticket Redemption Point
3 Rue Buenos-Ayres, 75007 Paris, France
Itinerary
1
Eiffel Tower
Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The summit may close unexpectedly at the tower's discretion. If this happens and you’ve booked summit access, you’ll receive a partial refund.
- During peak periods, security checks can sometimes take as long as an hour.
- According to tower regulations, if you book the summit, you must visit the top first before exploring the lower floors.
- If you chose the cruise option: It’s a 1-hour Seine River cruise with Bateaux Parisiens, departing from the Eiffel Tower. Admire Paris’s top landmarks like Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Musée d'Orsay, with audio commentary available in 14 languages. Cruises run daily, every 30 minutes from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Your tour guide will give you the tickets on the day of the tour, and they’re valid for 1 year.
- There are 674 steps from the ground to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 5,729 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Charles_C, Aug 2026
The steps were very difficult to use there were to many And made with a lip on the outside you would catch your foot we Han to turn around after 2 minutes
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Charles,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
Please note that, as stated in the product details, this experience requires guests to climb 674 steps from the ground level to the second floor. We understand that the climb can be physically demanding, and we encourage guests to review the activity requirements before booking to ensure the experience is suitable for them.
We appreciate your understanding and hope you still had the opportunity to enjoy your time at the Eiffel Tower.
Johane_T, Aug 2026
It was great. Our tour guide was excellent (Natalie), she answers all our questions and very knowledgeable of the area and the Eiffel Tower itself. We had fun.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re delighted to hear that Natalie made your experience so enjoyable! It’s wonderful to know that she was knowledgeable, attentive to your questions, and helped make the tour both informative and fun. Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback. We’ll be sure to pass it along to Natalie!
Anthony_H, Aug 2026
We accidentally booked "stairs" tour. If you can't climb to level 2, make sure its ALL by lift. Not operators fault in any way...all on me...be wary.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We truly appreciate your honest feedback and the helpful reminder to carefully check the tour option when booking. We’re glad to hear you recognized that the mix-up was simply an accidental booking choice.
For guests who cannot manage the stairs, selecting the lift/elevator option is important, as the stairs tour requires climbing to the second floor. Thank you for sharing your experience. It may help other travelers choose the option that best suits their needs!
Lawrence_H, Aug 2026
Our guide was a bit quirky. He was funny, but I wish he had more information for us. It was unexpected that we had to walk up the 700 steps to the second level before taking the elevator to the top. Overall, it was worth it.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback with us. We’re glad to hear that you found the experience worthwhile and that your guide’s humor added some fun to the tour.
We understand that the number of stairs may have been unexpected; however, the tour details clearly state that guests will climb 674 steps from the ground level to the second floor. This guided climb is an important part of the experience. For bookings that include summit access, guests can then take the elevator from the second floor to the summit, subject to availability and the Eiffel Tower’s operating conditions.
We also appreciate your feedback regarding the amount of information provided and will share it with our team as we continue working to improve our guests’ experience.
Dalton_J, Aug 2026
Had a great experience walking up all of the stairs and went when the crowd was low so got a lot of cool pictures. Our guide was fantastic.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience! It sounds like the quieter crowd made for a great climb and some amazing photo opportunities. We’re also so pleased that our guide helped make the experience memorable. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us!
Ana_M, Aug 2026
I had such a wonderful experience on my Eiffel Tower tour! James was an excellent guide; friendly, knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about sharing the history of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. He made the tour both informative and fun, and I really enjoyed the stories and interesting facts he shared along the way.
James also made everyone feel welcome and kept the experience relaxed and enjoyable from beginning to end. Visiting the Eiffel Tower was already something I was really looking forward to during my time in Paris, and having such a great guide made the experience even more memorable.
Highly recommend this tour, and especially James as your guide! Thank you for such a great experience!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re truly grateful for such a thoughtful and detailed review! We’re delighted to hear that James made your Eiffel Tower experience even more memorable with his friendliness, knowledge, and genuine passion for Paris and its history. It’s wonderful to know that his stories and engaging approach kept the tour both informative and enjoyable from start to finish. Thank you for your heartfelt recommendation. We’ll be sure to share your lovely words with James!
Jolene_W, Aug 2026
Nihad made the experience great. Fun facts and information. Encouraged me to walk the stairs. It was a very a pleasant journey.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that Nihad made your experience so enjoyable with his fun facts, helpful information, and encouragement. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him!
norma_m, Aug 2026
Our guide was entertaining and friendly. We did the stairs to the 2nd floor and summit to the top. Our guide left after the 1st floor and we were on our own to the summit. Opt out of guided tour and do it yourself
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you found our guide entertaining and friendly. Please note that our guided portion covers the climb to the 2nd floor, after which guests continue independently to the summit if summit access is included. We appreciate your recommendation and hope you enjoyed the experience!
Coleen_M, Aug 2026
The tour was very informative about the tower and what you see while your on the second level! Our guide was the best!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the informative tour and the views from the second level. We’re especially happy to know that your guide made the experience even better. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Lucy_L, Aug 2026
Our tour guide Andre was great. He provided great information and facts about the Eiffel Tower and it was an all around great experience.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that Andre made your Eiffel Tower experience so enjoyable with his great information and fascinating facts. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Jennifer_H, Aug 2026
Great experience. Unfortunately the summit of the tower was closed when we went, so we didn't get that particular experience. James the guide was very good and spent a nice amount of time explaining the tower in an interactive way.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We truly appreciate you sharing your experience! We’re glad to hear that James made the tour informative, interactive, and enjoyable. We’re sorry the summit was closed during your visit, as this can happen due to circumstances beyond our control, but we’re happy you still had a great experience with us. Thank you for your understanding and kind feedback!
Emily_U, Aug 2026
Masha was very informative, group was small. Loved the information and energy. After climbing the stairs we got to take a break and meet back up to continue our tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour with Masha! It’s wonderful to know that her energy and informative guidance made the experience enjoyable, and that you appreciated the small group and well-paced break during the climb.
Kelly_T, Aug 2026
This was a great tour to walk up the first two levels of the Eiffel Tower. Masha was very friendly, engaging and informative. The walk was not too hard. Fantastic sites. Would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re grateful for your wonderful recommendation! It’s fantastic to hear that Masha made the climb enjoyable with her friendly, engaging, and informative guidance. We’re also glad you enjoyed the spectacular views from the first two levels of the Eiffel Tower. Thank you for joining us!
VicenteZ, Aug 2026
Good Eiffel Tower tour. Have to be physically climb up stairs- 698 steps. ………..:….:…….:::.:.::.:::..
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the Eiffel Tower tour. As this is a guided climb, guests do need to be prepared to climb the stairs to the second floor 698 steps in total. We hope you enjoyed the incredible views along the way!
MARIZEL_S, Aug 2026
Masha was an extraordinary tour guide! She was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, patient, and so well spoken. Our Eiffel Tower tour was truly wonderful because of her.
We were planning to skip the stairs and switch to the elevator, but Masha encouraged us to climb—and we are so glad she did! She made the experience enjoyable and kept us motivated the entire way. Her knowledge, patience, and wonderful personality made the tour so memorable.
We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Masha was absolutely awesome, and we highly recommend her to anyone visiting Paris!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re absolutely delighted to hear that Masha made your Eiffel Tower experience so memorable! Her knowledge, professionalism, patience, and encouragement clearly made the climb an enjoyable and rewarding part of your visit. It’s wonderful to know that she kept you motivated throughout and helped turn the stairs into a highlight of your Paris trip. Thank you for such a heartfelt recommendation. We’ll be sure to share your lovely words with Masha!
Michelle_S, Aug 2026
Excellent tour. Nihad is a wonderful guide, smart, funny, friendly- and extremely knowledgeable! He was engaging, helpful and knew so much about the tower and the area. Would hope to tour again with him one day!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re thrilled to hear that Nihad made your tour such a memorable experience! His knowledge, humor, and friendly personality clearly kept the experience engaging from start to finish. It’s especially wonderful to know you’d love to tour with him again. We hope to welcome you back to Paris someday!
Marianne_L, Aug 2026
Be aware that the guides are not very good at communicating at the meeting point. Make sure you stay close to them as they don’t make any effort to ensure everyone has heard their messages.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Marianne,
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback.
The meeting point is clearly provided in the booking details and on the voucher, and we ask all guests to arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled tour time to allow for a smooth check-in process.
Thank you for understanding and we appreciate your feedback.
James_S, Aug 2026
The stairs can be tough. My wife didn’t make it. If the winds are blowing too hard or too many people, the summit may close.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience and feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the stairs were challenging for your wife. We also appreciate you highlighting the possibility of summit closures due to strong winds or crowd levels, as these decisions are made by the Eiffel Tower for safety reasons. We hope you still enjoyed your visit!
Maria_L, Aug 2026
Fun and interesting. Had a lot of helpful information. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to see the tower and learn the history!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you found the tour fun, interesting, and informative. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are glad you enjoyed learning about the history of the Eiffel Tower with us!
Annette_L, Aug 2026
Masha was absolutely fabulous. We enjoyed the experience a lot. She was very knowledgeable, friendly and an absolute pleasure to be with.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re thrilled to hear that Masha made your experience so enjoyable! Her knowledge, friendliness, and wonderful personality clearly made the tour a pleasure from start to finish. Thank you for sharing such lovely feedback with us!
Lachlan_S, Aug 2026
Appalling false advertising that the tour would include access to the top level. The tickets are not pre-reserved, and the operator advised they only release a limited number which usually sell out early. Furthermore, as we paid for access to the top level, which was sold out, my request for a refund was rejected.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your feedback.
Please note that access to the Eiffel Tower summit is subject to the Tower’s capacity and operational conditions, and the summit may close or become unavailable at the Tower’s discretion. These circumstances are beyond our control and can occur even when summit access is included in the booking.
Additionally, according to Eiffel Tower regulations, "all guests must be present at the time of ticket purchase", which means summit tickets cannot simply be purchased in advance on behalf of the entire group.
Thank you for understanding.
Emma_E, Aug 2026
It was a scam. The operator hadn’t bought the tickets to the summit in advance even though we prepaid and they had confirmed summit tickets. We had to queue on the day with everyone else who was hoping to get the day tickets. The summit was then closed as the Eiffel Tower limits the amount sold throughout the day and so no tickets were available whilst we were queuing. The ‘Epic Tours guide’ said we had to decide as a group whether to wait with him until they reopened the summit or just go to level 2. We had paid a lot of money and spent over 75mins with the guide who told us nothing about the history of the Eiffel Tower even in the queue. We just spent the time queuing whilst he was asking us questions about our holiday. We could have just shown up ourselves on the day without the ‘guide’. We needed up leaving him and just buying our own tickets because it was clearly a scam and bet uncomfortable to be around. The company will not refund us even though it was completely miss-sold. Scam artists. Avoid at all costs. I won’t be using Viator again as they host these rogue companies.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Emma,
Thank you for taking time in sharing your experience. We would like to clarify that the product details clearly state that this is not a skip-the-line tour. Depending on the time of day and crowd levels, guests may experience waiting times at both security and the ticket line.
In addition, according to Eiffel Tower regulations, "all guests must be present during the ticket purchase". For this reason, tickets cannot simply be purchased in advance on behalf of the entire group without everyone being present.
We understand that waiting can be frustrating, but these procedures are determined by the Eiffel Tower and are outside the tour operator’s control. Our guide’s role is to accompany the group, assist throughout the process, and provide historical insights to make the visit more informative and enjoyable.
Thank you for your understanding.
Dominic_S, Aug 2026
Fantastic going up. Guide was very friendly, and we saw a beautiful rainbow when we were up there ☺️🤗
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re so happy to hear you had a fantastic experience going up the Eiffel Tower! It’s wonderful that your friendly guide added to the experience and seeing a beautiful rainbow from above must have made the visit even more special. Thank you for sharing this lovely memory with us!
Umida_N, Aug 2026
The tour with Nihad was very interesting, engaging and funny.
Everything was well organized. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re so pleased to hear that your tour with Nihad was interesting, engaging, and full of fun! It’s wonderful to know that everything was well organized and that you enjoyed the experience from start to finish. Thank you for your kind recommendation!
Darlene_B, Aug 2026
Tour guide JD was great! He was very cheerful and knowledgeable. Kids enjoyed listening to him and he was ready to answer their questions from the start. We did a guided tour for the kids and were very happy with this choice.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that JD’s cheerful personality and knowledge kept the kids engaged and that he was happy to answer all their questions. It’s fantastic to know that the guided tour was a great choice for your family and made the experience even more enjoyable!
Jackie_P, Aug 2026
Our Guide, Andre from El Salvador, was amazing. His knowledge of French History is incredible. He made the 20 minute waiting in line go so quickly. Definitely worthbooking this experience.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're so happy to hear that Andre’s incredible knowledge of French history and engaging personality made the wait in line pass quickly. It’s great to know you found the experience worthwhile, and we truly appreciate your recommendation!
cmhesq09, Aug 2026
Our guide JD was great. For reasons beyond the tour company’s control the top of the tower was temporarily closed. However, JD did a great job letting the group know what options they had and stayed with the half of the group who wanted to wait out the closure. He a great energy and was extremely knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that JD handled the temporary summit closure with great care and kept everyone informed about their options. It’s wonderful to know that his positive energy and extensive knowledge helped make the experience enjoyable despite the unexpected closure.
Kristen_H, Aug 2026
Highly recommend Fortune as your tour guide! He was funny, extremely knowledgeable, attentive to the group, and made the experience of climbing 669 stairs enjoyable and totally worth it! Also highly recommend the elevator to the top - we loved seeing the views from the highest point!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re thrilled to hear that Fortune made the climb enjoyable with his humor, knowledge, and attentiveness to the group. It’s wonderful that the stairs and the elevator ride to the summit were both such memorable parts of your Eiffel Tower experience!
EMMA_D, Aug 2026
Cannot say much about the whole experience because we were not able to climb to the summit of the Eiffel Tower even though we had paid for it. We had a pre-booked time of 12.30 pm but by the time we arrived at the ticket office it was much later than this. We were also greeted with a sign that stated the summit was closed so we were not able to complete the experience. We were only able to climb to the second floor. Our guide did give plenty of information about the Eiffel Tower, its architect, building etc, but I think there was "too much information" for a lot of those in the party, particular the younger members. I do not think the problem is any fault of the guide. People had fully paid up for the experience in advance but the tickets are not purchased until the party reach the booking office. This seems to be rather unfair to me. When we all reached the second floor and it was too late to climb to the summit, the summit was re-opened. This is very disappointing. I would recommend the experience to a friend but I think I would suggest that they make the booking themselves rather than through a tour company.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Emma,
Thank you for sharing such detailed feedback. We’re sorry that summit access was not available during your visit and understand how disappointing it was, especially after booking the full experience.
As stated in the booking details and in the voucher, Eiffel Tower tickets are purchased on the day of the tour and summit access is subject to the Tower’s operating conditions. This is unfortunately beyond our control.
Thank you for understanding. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the amount of information provided during the tour and will take it into consideration.
Catherine_C, Aug 2026
Our guide was very friendly, fun, energetic, enthusiastic and informative!
We were disappointed we could not go to the top bec of high temps.
Also was not clear in instructions that you had to climb 600 steps to get to 2nd level and the elevator would be available.
We only made it to first level.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed your guide’s friendly, fun, and informative approach. We’re sorry you were disappointed that summit access was unavailable due to the high temperatures.
Regarding the climb, the product description states that the tour involves climbing approximately 674 steps to reach the second level. We understand this may have been overlooked.
Thank you for understanding.
From $53.10
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Stairs with Optional Summit by Lift
5,713
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$53.10
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Multi-day Tours
- Bus Tours
- Historical Tours
- Private and Luxury
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Private Sightseeing Tours
- Cultural Tours
- Paris
- Multi-day Tours - Versailles
- Bus Tours - Versailles
- Historical Tours - Versailles
- Bus Tours - Marne-la-Vallée
- Historical Tours - Marne-la-Vallée
- Bus Tours - Fontainebleau
- Historical Tours - Fontainebleau
Attractions in Paris, France
- Stade Roland Garros Tours & Tickets
- Cluny Museum (Musée de Cluny) Tours & Tickets
- Bassin de la Villette (La Villette Basin) Tours & Tickets
- 4th Arrondissement Tours & Tickets
- 13th Arrondissement Tours & Tickets
- Père Lachaise Cemetery Tours & Tickets
- Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries) Tours & Tickets
- Eiffel Tower Tours & Tickets
- Jardin des Plantes Tours & Tickets
- Paris Catacombs (Catacombes de Paris) Tours & Tickets
- Paradis Latin Tours & Tickets