Eiffel Tower opening hours follow a pattern: an early morning start, a long day and a late evening close, with the longest days in summer. The exact times, the last lift up and the hours for the stairs shift by season, so I treat any hour list as a pattern and not a promise. Here is what I would do: pick a timed slot at the edge of the day, arrive 15 minutes early and check the official page the night before. This page is the hub for every planning question, so each topic below links to its own guide.
If you want to compare how long each Eiffel Tower ticket and tour runs before you choose your slot, see what each ticket and tour asks of your time.
What are the Eiffel Tower opening hours?
The tower is open on most days, from the morning into the late evening. The exact opening and closing times, and the last entry to each level, change with the season.
I will not print a fixed hour table, because a wrong time costs you a wasted trip. The honest answer is a pattern. Summer hours run later, winter hours are shorter and the summit usually closes earlier than the lower levels. For current times, check the official Eiffel Tower website, and treat the tickets in this collection as the timed part of your plan. Your booking confirmation lists your slot, and that is the hour that matters most.
How do the hours change by season?
Summer gives you the longest window and winter the shortest. The light drives the pattern: long evenings in summer mean late slots, and short winter days mean an earlier close and an earlier sunset view.
My take is that the season changes what you should book more than what you can book. In summer I would aim for an evening slot, because the sky stays bright and the crowds thin toward the end. In winter I would choose late afternoon, so you see the city in daylight and then in lights. My page on the best time to visit the Eiffel Tower goes month by month and hour by hour.
What is the last entry time?
The last entry to the tower is earlier than the closing time. You cannot arrive at closing and expect to go up, because the lifts and the security lines stop taking new visitors before the doors shut.
I would plan to arrive at least an hour before the last entry. That covers the security check and any lift wait. The elevator ticket listing suggests two to three hours for both levels and the glass floor, so a slot near the end of the day leaves you rushing. If you want the summit, I would book earlier in the day, not later.
Does the summit have different hours?
Yes, in general the summit has its own schedule and its own last lift, and it can close for weather, maintenance or crowd control while the rest of the tower stays open. It is the part most likely to change on the day.
This is a real risk for planning, and I would not ignore it. If the top is the point of your trip, keep a flexible day and read my guide to Eiffel Tower closures, which explains why the summit shuts, how to check the status the same morning and what your ticket does then. For the ticket side, see my page on Eiffel Tower summit tickets.
Do the stairs open at the same time as the lifts?
Not necessarily. The stairs to level 2 usually follow their own hours, and they can start later or stop earlier than the lifts. Check the official page for the current stairs schedule.
The stairs climb in this collection runs as a guided experience. It starts from EUR 32 per person and takes you up 704 steps to the second floor in a group of 20 or fewer. My advice is to book the guided slot and turn up early, because the ticket does not include pre-reserved or priority access, so you may wait for tickets and security. The details are in my guide to Eiffel Tower stairs tickets.
What is the best hour to arrive?
The first slot of the day or an evening slot is best. Crowds are thinner, the light is better for photos and the lifts move faster. Midday is the hardest hour for waiting.
I would choose the first slot for families and the evening slot for couples. Early slots suit kids because they have the most energy, and evening slots suit adults who want the lights coming on. The tour listings in this collection make the same point: pick the first slot of the day or an evening slot. To see how the queues work, read my page on Eiffel Tower queue times.
How long should you plan for a visit?
Plan two to three hours for both levels and the glass floor if you want to move without rushing. A single level takes less, and a guided intro adds a little.
I would always add a buffer. Security, the lift and the crowd on the deck all vary. My detailed timeline, from security to the descent, is in how long to visit the Eiffel Tower. Read it before you fix your dinner booking, because a tight evening plan is the mistake I see people make most often.
How do you get to the tower on time?
Take Metro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim or the RER C to Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel, then walk to the base. Both are a short walk, as your tour listings note.
My advice is to leave earlier than you think. Late arrivals can lose a reserved slot, and the area around the base is busy. I would allow at least 15 minutes to walk and meet your group. For every route, including buses and walking, my guide on how to get to the Eiffel Tower has the options laid out.
What if you visit with kids?
Go early, keep the plan short and choose the second floor. Small children tire quickly, and long queues at midday are hard on them.
I would set the tone before you arrive: one level, one glass floor stop and a snack afterward. The summit is windy and the lift wait is long for little legs. For tickets, strollers and pacing, read my page on the Eiffel Tower with kids. Your hours plan and your child’s energy are the same plan, so match them.
What about accessibility and reduced mobility?
Lift access reaches the lower levels, and the tower has rules and tickets for visitors with reduced mobility. Because those rules can change, check the official page for current conditions.
I would confirm before you travel, not on the day. The elevator tickets in this collection are the sensible option if stairs are a problem. My full guide to Eiffel Tower accessibility explains which levels the lifts reach and where to confirm current rules. Time your slot for a quieter hour, because crowds make movement harder.
When does the tower close unexpectedly?
The tower can close or restrict access for weather, heat, strikes and maintenance. This happens rarely, but it is enough to plan for.
My habit is to check the official status the morning of a visit, and again on the way. If you have a fixed dinner or a train, do not stack them tightly around your slot. I would also choose tickets with flexible cancellation when you can. The whole story is in my guide to Eiffel Tower closures, and the booking side is covered in my page on cancellation and refund rules.
Where exactly is the tower?
The tower stands on the Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. That location matters for hours because the walk to the entrance and the security check are part of your timing.
If you want the location, height and a few history facts before you plan, my page on where the Eiffel Tower is is the easy place to start. I would read it if this is your first trip to Paris, because knowing the surroundings takes the stress out of the day.
How do restaurants fit around the hours?
Restaurants on the tower run their own seatings, which sit inside the tower’s schedule but follow their own rules. If you want a meal, plan it as its own booking.
I would never squeeze dinner and a summit ticket into one evening without a buffer. The dinner ticket in this collection starts from EUR 130 and expects roughly two hours at the table, according to its listing. For the whole dining picture, start with my pillar on Eiffel Tower restaurants, then decide how much of the evening you want inside the tower.
Which hours suit which kind of traveller?
Your best hour depends on who is with you. Here is my quick guide, and I would commit to it:
- Families with young children: the first slot of the day. Energy is high, lines are short and you finish before the midday crowd.
- Couples: a slot about an hour before sunset, so you see the city by day and then in lights.
- Photographers: the first slot or the last hour of daylight, when the light is softest.
- Solo travellers with a flexible day: a weekday slot, because the waits are shortest and you can decide on the summit on the spot.
- Groups with mixed fitness: the second floor at a quiet hour, with the top only for those who want it.
I would not pick midday for any of them. It is the hour with the flattest light and the longest waits, and you gain nothing by choosing it. If your day forces a midday slot, keep the plan short: one level, the glass floor and out.
Should you trust third party hour lists?
I would not. Many pages repeat an old hour table, and a single seasonal change makes it wrong. The tower’s own site is the only source I would trust for the day’s times, and your ticket voucher is the only source for your slot.
My rule is to check twice: once when you book and once the evening before you go. If the two disagree, follow the official page. Treat everything else, including this page, as a pattern that helps you choose a slot, not as a guarantee of a closing time.
How do you book a time slot?
Book a timed ticket for the level and hour you want, and confirm your slot on the voucher. Availability is best early, and summit slots sell out first.
My route for most people is the second floor and summit ticket with a guide, from EUR 52 per person. You meet a guide at your time slot, go up to the second floor and choose the summit as an option. If you want the top locked in, take the elevator ticket with second floor and summit access from EUR 79. Prices are “from” figures dated 2026-09-21 and change with date and options. For the full booking process, my pillar on how to buy Eiffel Tower tickets explains the official and trusted routes, and my Eiffel Tower ticket price guide shows the cost of every level.
Where do all the planning guides fit?
Every topic below has its own guide, and each one starts from the hours in this page:
My honest advice is to read three of these before you book: best time, queue times and closures. Together they cover most of the mistakes I see.
What are the most common hours mistakes?
I see three mistakes again and again, and all of them are avoidable:
- Arriving at the closing hour. The last entry comes well before closing, so a late arrival gets you nothing.
- Trusting an old hour table. Seasonal changes make copied tables wrong, so check the official page.
- Stacking a tight plan around the slot. A dinner, a train or a cruise booked too close to your slot turns a good visit into a race.
My fix for all three is the same: book a timed slot, leave a buffer of an hour and confirm the hours the night before. If you take only one thing from this page, take that.
What should you do on the day?
Check the official page for the day’s hours, leave early and keep your bag small. Have your voucher ready on your phone and meet your group 15 minutes before the slot.
I would also carry a light layer, because the top is colder and windier than the street. Keep a few minutes at the end for the first floor glass floor, which many visitors skip. If the weather looks poor, the second floor is the safer level. That is my plan every time, and it works for most groups.
My recommendation
Book a timed ticket at the edge of the day, arrive 15 minutes early and check the official hours the night before. For most travellers, I would take the second floor and summit ticket with a guide and add the top only if the sky is clear. If you want the whole tower in one ticket, choose the elevator ticket. Never build your day around an hour you have not confirmed.
To see every ticket in one place, visit the Eiffel Tower tickets homepage.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Eiffel Tower opening hours?
The tower opens in the morning and stays open into the late evening, with longer hours in summer. Check the official site for exact times on your date.
What time does the Eiffel Tower close?
The closing time depends on the season, and the last entry is earlier than closing. I would arrive at least an hour before the last entry.
Does the summit close earlier than the rest?
In general the summit has its own schedule and can close for weather or maintenance. Check the status on the morning of your visit.
Are the stairs open at the same hours as the lifts?
Not always. The stairs can follow different hours, so check the official page. The stairs climb in this collection is a guided ticket with a fixed slot.
What is the best hour to visit?
The first slot of the day or an evening slot. Crowds are thinner and the light is better. Midday is the busiest.
