A Teacher's Guide to the Best Way to Book Eiffel Tower Tickets

Visiting the Eiffel Tower is a highlight for many school groups travelling to Paris. While we’re unable to book tickets on your behalf, schools can benefit from discounted entry by booking directly through the Eiffel Tower’s online portal. To help you secure your spot, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to booking tickets for your school group.

Eiffel Tower booking process at a glance: 

1. Plan ahead: Start the process at least four months before your visit.

2. Register your school: Your school account can take up to two months to be approved.

3. Book your tickets: Tickets are released 90 days in advance and sell out quickly.

How to book Eiffel Tower tickets:

Step 1: Register for an account (4 months in advance of your trip)

Before booking tickets, schools must first apply for an account through the Eiffel Tower’s online booking portal

We recommend you apply for your account at least 4 months before the date of your planned visit. Applications made later than this are unlikely to be successful.

To set up a school account, you will need your school’s unique reference number (URN). If you don’t know your school’s URN, visit the government website here.

You will receive an email notifying you once your account has been validated. This can take up to 2 months.

Step 2: Apply for your tickets (90 days in advance of your trip)

Eiffel Tower tickets typically go on sale 90 days before your visit, with booking slots released at 12 noon (Paris time). We recommend logging into your account as soon as tickets become available, as slots can sell out quickly.

Once your booking has been confirmed, you’ll receive a contract to sign and return to the Eiffel Tower bookings team to secure your visit.

Which Eiffel Tower tickets should you buy?

The Eiffel Tower has three viewing platforms: the first, second and top floors.

First & Second floors - Voyager's recommended option

Located 57m and 115m above ground, the first and second floors offer fantastic panoramic views across Paris. The first floor also hosts two galleries on 19th-century Paris and the construction of the Eiffel Tower.

For school groups, we recommend booking tickets to the first and second floors by stairs. This is the most budget-friendly option, avoids excessive queuing and allows access to the first-floor galleries. However, this option is not suitable for visitors with mobility issues due to not being able to access the first floor by lift.

Ticket prices for the first and second floors (priced together) as of May 2026:

Ticket type		By stairs	By lift
Adult		€14,80	€23.50
Youth (12-24)		€7,40	€11.80
Child (under 12) and Disabled Rate		€3,80	€6.00

The Top Floor

Standing 276m above ground, the top of the Eiffel Tower offers spectacular views across the whole of Paris. Students can also see a replica of Gustave Eiffel’s office, complete with a statue of the engineer himself.

However, the top deck's small observation platform can become crowded, making it less practical for larger school groups or students with mobility issues.

Visits to the top are limited to a maximum of 30 minutes and only accessible via the lift, with queues that can exceed 1.5 hours. The lift can either be taken all the way from ground level, or visitors can take the stairs to the second floor and take the lift to the top from there.   

Ticket prices for the top floor as of May 2026:

Ticket type		By stairs and lift	By lift
Adult		€28,00	€36,70
Youth (12-24)		€14,00	€18,40
Child (under 12) and Disabled Rate		€7,00	€9,20

Frequently asked questions from teachers: 

Q: Why can't Voyager book the Eiffel Tower for school groups?

Unfortunately, the Eiffel Tower’s operating body, SETE, does not allow travel companies to book on behalf of schools. So, group bookings must be made directly by the school to verify the school's credentials and eligibility for a discount. 

Q: Is it free for party leaders to visit the Eiffel Tower?

No, teachers must pay the adult rate. Admission prices for children and young adults are reduced.

Q: Can we beat the queue with an advance ticket?

Unfortunately, having advance tickets does not speed up admission to the monument, you will still need to queue for entry and pass through security. Be prepared for wait times of up to 1.5 hours before entry, but don't worry, your coordinator will factor this into your itinerary.

Q: How far in advance should I book Eiffel Tower tickets?

We recommend schools register their online account through the Eiffel Tower online portal four months in advance, then book your tickets 90 days in advance of your trip to secure your school's place.

Q: Is the Eiffel Tower suitable for people with mobility issues?

The first and second floors are not suitable for people with mobility issues, as all visitors must first climb the 327 stairs to the first floor.

Visitors with lift tickets to the top floor, can catch the lift directly from the ground level. 

 

Speak to our Paris experts 

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