Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Stairs with Optional Summit by Lift
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Paris, France
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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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.
- Skip the line
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
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 3,342 reviews
Abraham_M, Apr 2026
Tour says it starts at 12:15 and last approximately 1.5hrs. It fails to mention that the 1.5hrs doesn't include waiting time to enter Eiffel Tower. Today that line was approximately two hours. You wait in line with the guide who essentially buys a walk up ticket for the group along with thousands of other people.
I see others left similar unsatisfied reviews as it was unclear this would be the set up. If I would've understood the guide was buying a ticket I could buy myself by waiting in line I would've given a different rating (and frankly I would've skipped this tour and just done myself).
I've done other Viator tours that have been clearer.
Allyn_D, Apr 2026
Great guide, and amazing climb of the tower. But don’t choose this option as it doesn’t include ‘skip the line’. We waited more than 2 hours with every one else who hadn’t pre-booked. Spoiled the experience.
Sarfraz_P, Apr 2026
Paid a lot of money and due to misleading information on website resulted in us not being able to partake in the experience , explained this to them but unwilling to issue refund
Fiona_D, Apr 2026
Wasn’t worth paying for the tour. Our guide disappeared so we paid €80 for someone to buy our tickets for us. Very disappointed in the service provided and not offered a refund even though we paid for a service that we didn’t receive. Just pay for your tickets and don’t bother with a tour.
Abegail_M, Apr 2026
Melanie was an excellent tour guide. She had pictures of many different things about the Eiffel Tower that she showed and they really helped you better understand what she was talking about. She was very thorough in explaining the history and a but about the building process for the Eiffel tower. The only disappointing thing was that they do not purchase tickets ahead of time so we were unable to go to the top of the Eiffel tower because it closed while we were waiting in line. If you want guaranteed access to the top of the tower you have to buy tickets directly from the Eiffel tower site. They did refund some of the money we spent on tickets because we didnt go to the top.
Robert_D, Apr 2026
James was awesome and gave us a tone of interesting facts and details. Your ended at the top with splendid views.
David_V, Apr 2026
Martin was very informative and made it interesting even with all the steps involved. He kept us all laughing and was full of interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower.
Eileen_L, Apr 2026
Which part? The fact we could not find our guide when we arrived on time. We assumed we were in the wrong place. We had to walk up to the first floor which took us 10-12 min and that was the last we saw of James. We are seniors and this was physically challenging. Our friends on a different tour, road up in the elevator to the top. We never saw our tour group again. Very disappointing excursion
Nella_C, Mar 2026
With a guide you will get through the line much faster. The line slows down at the security check point. Climbing the stairs is doable and fun. Natalie is a great guide and will give you lots of information on the tower and surrounding areas of Paris.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the climb and found it fun. It’s great to know Natalie made the tour informative and engaging, and helped make the wait more manageable. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Kim_E, Mar 2026
Lots of stairs over 600 so be prepared.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Was there in April very windy. Wear a scarf or hat.
Views of Paris were amazing!
Our guide JD was excellent!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re so glad to hear you had an amazing experience with JD! It’s wonderful that his guidance made the tour enjoyable, and thanks for sharing these helpful tips for future visitors. The views of Paris sound spectacular!
Lesley_F, Mar 2026
As expected, good guide (Charles) who kept us occupied in the queue, and informative of other sites. Magnificent views
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour with Charles! It’s wonderful to know he kept the wait engaging, shared informative insights about other sites, and that you got to enjoy the magnificent views. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Kayla_C, Mar 2026
We had a fabulous time. Our guide, Charles, did a wonderful job. Our tour began in line. He kept us entertained and well educated about the Eiffle Tower; so much so, the line felt like it went quickly. We got plenty of time to explore after the tour was over. 10/10 would recommend.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re thrilled to hear the tour was such a highlight of your visit. It’s wonderful to know Charles made the wait enjoyable while keeping the experience both entertaining and informative. Thank you for your recommendation!
Anne_H, Mar 2026
Excellent tour.
James tour guide was friendly, funny , entertaining and gave you just enough information to keep you interested .
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re so glad to hear the tour struck the right balance of fun and interesting throughout. It’s wonderful to know the experience kept you engaged from start to finish. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Leo_F, Mar 2026
Climbing the stairs up to the second floor before ascending to the top was a blast! Having an excellent guide like Joanna made the experience. She was had many excellent insights and kept the experience fun while also informative. Would highly recommend booking a tour with her.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the climb and found it such a fun part of the experience. It’s wonderful to know the tour felt both engaging and insightful throughout. Thank you for your recommendation!
Kerry_P, Mar 2026
A fun experience! Our guide was friendly and knowledgable. I am so glad we did this! We also got super lucky and did not have to wait in long lines.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re so glad to hear you had such a fun and smooth experience. It’s great that everything lined up well, including shorter wait times, to make the visit even more enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Bridget_S, Mar 2026
Great tour and my family really enjoyed it. Their favorite thing so far on our trip! Tour guide, Joanna, was very informative. Loved her spirit and enthusiasm!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re so glad to hear the tour was a highlight of your family’s trip. It’s wonderful to know the experience felt engaging and memorable throughout. Thank you for sharing your kind feedback!
Erica_R, Mar 2026
Informative, fun tour with Marsha. Liked that she told us stories about history about Eiffel Tower that gave personality and depth to our experience.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re glad to hear the tour felt both engaging and insightful. It’s wonderful to know Marsha’s storytelling added depth and brought the history of the Eiffel Tower to life. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Charles_L, Mar 2026
Joanna, our guide, was very knowledgeable and great at sharing her knowledge about the Eiffel Tower. She was an awesome tour guide.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your kind feedback. We’re glad to hear that Joanna’s knowledge and enthusiasm helped make your visit to the Eiffel Tower so enjoyable. She’ll be very happy to know you appreciated the tour.
Chris_A, Mar 2026
A useless tour with a lot of useless information from a student guide whose English was only 50% intelligible. Atrocious really. Just buy your own ticket like the tour guide and read Wikipedia.
Rosa_R, Mar 2026
AMAZING…what a beautiful experience to share with my family. Truly an unforgettable memory.
Thank you!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re so happy to hear that your visit to the Eiffel Tower was such a special experience for you and your family. Sharing moments like these together truly makes the trip unforgettable. We’re glad it became a lasting memory from your time in Paris.
Cassie_C, Mar 2026
Great tour! Our guide, James was wonderful. I really enjoyed it! Would definitely book again. My son loved it.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re delighted to hear that James made the tour enjoyable for both you and your son. We’d be happy to welcome you back anytime!
NaTasha_S, Mar 2026
Learning about the Eiffel Tower‘s history was amazing seeing it up close was also very beautiful however, we should have been given the option on if if we wanted to climb the steps or use the elevator, there was no conversation about any health concerns or people having the ability to climb the numerous sets of steps and for that reason I left the tour early.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your feedback.
We’re glad to hear you enjoyed learning about the Eiffel Tower’s history and seeing it up close. Please note that stair-climbing tours and elevator tours are booked separately, and the tour you reserved is specifically a climb tour. This is indicated in the booking details, along with the note that travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level.
We appreciate your comments and thank you for understanding.
seacruisejohn, Feb 2026
There are a lot of steps to second level. But our group of 5 age 76 to 10 managed Marsha a viator guide did a good job We were lucky blue sky and a little bite in the wind. But we dressed for that.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Marsha clearly did a great job guiding your group! It’s wonderful that everyone—from ages 10 to 76—managed the steps and enjoyed the beautiful blue-sky day despite the wind.
Molly_M, Feb 2026
Our tour guide was very nice, but unfortunately did not provide any information that anyone with any level of knowledge about Paris or the Eiffel Tower would not know. She said in the tour she would be telling us things about the structure that I was curious about, like the names inscribed on the exterior, and then never followed up with that information. She even went so far as to spend significant time talking about basic things like restrooms and restaurants on the 2nd floor that anyone with eyes could tell were there. Unfortunately we had booked on a rainy day so there were also no lines to get up to the tower, and the tour seemed to be slower than if we had just gone by ourselves. All in all, not worth it to pay the extra expense.
Patrick_W, Feb 2026
Trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower just wish I had ordered right tickets. We are over 65 and those step
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We understand it can be challenging, especially with the stairs. For future visits, we recommend requesting the **lift-access tickets** for seniors or those who prefer not to climb, as this ensures a comfortable and accessible trip to the top.
Julia_Z, Feb 2026
We had Alex as a tour guide and he was great! Very enthusiastic and gave a good history of the Eiffel Tower! For anyone buying tickets to the summit be aware when traveling during the winter or off-weather days that the summit can open or close at anytime. When Alex got the group tickets from the ticket window, the summit was closed, but after the group separated after the 2nd floor the summit opened, but I would have had to go all the way down and purchase a new ticket to go all the way up. I would say specifically request to still get the Summit ticket in case things change if you don’t mind the potential of not getting a refund for that part.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We’re glad to hear that Alex made your tour great with his enthusiasm and knowledge of the Eiffel Tower! Thank you for sharing your tip about the summit—indeed, it can open or close unexpectedly due to weather, and guests who want summit access should request tickets just in case. We appreciate you highlighting this for future travelers, and we’re happy you still enjoyed the experience up to the second floor.
Benilda_O, Feb 2026
We arrived right on the hour to the meeting point. We already called them that we cannot make it to the original meeting point at the café as we had issues with our luggage. So, we actually saw the group and spoke to the lady holding the sign. I was excited that we saw them. However, she did not entertain us even though I told her we were told to meet them in the line. She asked me to go to the café to sort of check in. But when we got there, no one was in there. So, we got back to the line hoping to find them but we didn't see them anymore. We called Viator and tried to reschedule us but that was the last day we will be in Paris, and they cannot offer us same day rebooking. Basically, it was not our fault because we saw the group but their leader instructed us otherwise. We asked Viator for a refund from the said company but they declined unfortunately, so it was a waste of our time, money and effort.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Dear Benilda,
We’re truly sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating that must have been, especially on your last day in Paris.
Our meeting procedure requires guests to check in 15 minutes before the tour at the designated café before joining the group, as this is where attendance is confirmed and tickets are prepared. If guests are not checked in at the official meeting point, guides are unfortunately unable to add them directly in the line.
Regarding the refund, due to the 24-hour cancellation policy, we can't cancel or refund the booking. This should be requested up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund (local time)
We genuinely regret the inconvenience this caused and appreciate you sharing your feedback.
Brandi_S, Feb 2026
James was an excellent and fun guide! He shared great details and history about the Eiffel Tower in a humorous and highly engaging way. Would like to return someday with my kids!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that James made the tour both fun and informative with his humor and engaging storytelling. We hope you get the chance to return with your kids for another memorable visit!
Georgia_M, Feb 2026
Our tour guide Ana was a wonderful guide and full of knowledge of the history of the Eifle Tower, leaving us satisfied with the quality of the tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that Ana made your tour so informative and satisfying with her knowledge of the Eiffel Tower’s history. We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you again soon.
lesavage, Jan 2026
The tour to the 2nd floor to the Eiffel tour was much more than we anticipated. Our tour guide Fortune gave us a great history and engineering lesson about the tower and as we walked up the steps was ready to answer any questions or provide a quick joke. After having time to explore for ourselves the group came back together and Fortune took us around the whole 2nd floor pointing out different monuments along the Skyline and giving us a quick background on each. Highly recommend seeing the tower with a tour - in particular with this guide if you can request him!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that Fortune made your climb to the second floor both educational and fun with his history lessons, engineering insights, and great sense of humor. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed exploring on your own and then regrouping to learn about the skyline and surrounding monuments. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon.
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