Eiffel Tower Climbing Tour with Summit Access

Finally, your guide will bring you back to the first floor by elevator, where the crowds are usually smaller, and you can walk on the 188-foot-high glass floor, where you’re free to stay for as long as you please.

Eiffel Tower Summit Climb Tour Description

Your 2.5-hour tour includes:

• Guided climb to the first and second levels

• Access to the summit by elevator

• Fun, informative local guide (English-speaking)

• Maximum group size of 19

Eiffel Tower climbing tickets don’t include skip-the-line access, so there may be a wait before we begin the climb. But don’t worry—your guide will be with you the entire time to keep things moving smoothly and share insights while we wait.

First and Second Floor Access

The first part of your tour includes climbing the 674 stairs to the 2nd level. Upon reaching the second-level observation deck, you'll be greeted by views of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, Champs- Élysées, and Notre Dame. You'll also have time to take pictures and enjoy the view.

Ascend to the Summit

I'ts time to catch the elevator with your friendly local guide to the very top level of the Eiffel Tower. From here you will enjoy incredible views of Paris - 906 feet below you, to be exact! Once you've finished admiring the spectacular views, you’ll then head down to the first floor. Since most tours don't stop at the first level, you'll have a chance to avoid crowds and observe views that many don't get to see.

You’ll even be able to walk on Eiffel’s best-kept secret - the glass floor that sits 188 feet (57 meters) above the ground!

The Eiffel Tower summit can occasionally close due to crowd control or weather, but we carefully select our time slots to maximize your chances of reaching the top. Your guide will keep you informed every step of the way, and if any changes occur, we’ll make sure you still have an unforgettable experience.

Why Was the Eiffel Tower Built?

All the way back on 1889, the nation celebrated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Two years earlier, one plan had been selected from 107 proposals for an adequate centerpiece for this grand event.

Construction began on February 28, 1887. After just 2 years, on March 31, 1889, Gustave Eiffel himself showed a group of officials and journalists the newly-completed tower. The elevators were not yet in operation, but a few of the group climbed the entire 1,710 stairs all the way to the top! (There are 1,665 total today.)

The French tricolor flag was raised before a 25-gun salute. A few months later, the World's Fair officially began and members of the public flocked to the tower. Almost 2 million people climbed the tower during the fair alone.

Has It Always Been Popular With the French Public?

The initial reception for what is now a universally beloved monument was a little frosty. Several prominent Parisians protested the building, saying it did not fit in with the rest of the city. One famous opponent, writer Guy de Maupassant, vocalized his opinion of hating the tower but ate at its restaurant frequently. When confronted with this apparent contradiction, he claimed to frequent the Eiffel Tower’s restaurant because it was the only place in the city from which you couldn’t see the giant structure!

The rest is history. The Eiffel Tower has enjoyed immense popularity despite the early protests and is now one of the most visited paid attractions in the entire world. An estimated 6-7 million people a year get tickets to climb the tower and see Paris from up high.

At 986 feet tall upon construction, the Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. as the tallest building in the world. It was bested by New York's Chrysler Building in 1930. Since the tower is made of wrought iron, it actually grows and shrinks with temperature changes. In the summer, it's about 6 inches higher than in winter.