Tip #1: Take the stairs (€14.80)
The cheapest way onto the tower is still stairs to the second floor. At €14.80 for an adult (versus €23.50 by lift) you save €8.70 per person—for a family of four, that is almost €35.
The 674 steps can look daunting, but the climb is pleasant. You see the ironwork from the inside, with landings to rest and watch the view open up. Allow 30–45 minutes at a comfortable pace.
The stairs queue is often shorter than the lift queue. You save money and time—a double win in high season.
Tip #2: Use the youth rate (−50%)
SETE applies a 50% reduced rate for visitors aged 12 to 24 on every product:
- Stairs to 2nd floor: €7.40 (instead of €14.80)
- Lift to 2nd floor: €11.80 (instead of €23.50)
- Lift to summit: €18.40 (instead of €36.70)
Staff may ask for ID (passport or student card). The rate applies to everyone in that age band, student or not.
Tip #3: Free for under-4s
Children under 4 do not pay. A free ticket is still issued for headcount and safety, but there is no charge. Proof of age (health book, passport) may be requested.
Tip #4: French RSA — free entry
Many visitors never hear about this: RSA welfare recipients and people named on their CAF certificate (partner, dependent children) can enter the tower free of charge.
Requirements:
- CAF certificate less than six months old
- ID for everyone covered by the certificate
- Purchase only at the on-site ticket offices (not online)
This benefit is low-profile but real—bring your documents to the desks at the foot of the tower.
Tip #5: Summit via stairs + lift (€28)
Want the top without paying full lift price? Stairs to the second floor, then lift to the summit costs €28.00 adult—€8.70 less than lift all the way.
You do the scenic, architectural part on foot, then ride the final segment to 276 m.
Tip #6: Booking ahead costs no extra
Unlike some attractions, booking on the official website does not add a premium over buying on the day. Same price, less time in the ticket line—time saved, not cash, but that matters on holiday.
What does not exist (myths)
❌ The Paris Museum Pass does not include the Eiffel Tower
The pass covers many museums; the tower is run separately by SETE with its own tickets. Do not buy the pass only for the Eiffel Tower.
❌ No “last-minute discount” tickets
There are no end-of-day fire sales. Prices are the same whatever time you buy.
❌ Online agencies are not automatically cheaper
Authorised resellers often add services (host, priority) but not lower base prices than the official grid. Be wary of prices that look too good to be true.
“As a guide I always suggest the stairs to anyone who is reasonably fit. It is cheaper and the experience is richer—you feel the tower, you see the rivets up close, you grasp what Gustave Eiffel’s engineers actually built.”