Eiffel Tower Clarification

I was there in May and had a pre-purchased ticket to the 2nd level, and once there decided to go to the summit and just paid 6 euro for the supplement at the booth on the 2nd level. I was there around 11 am on a Tuesday and there was no line, so hopefully others will chime in with what you can expect later in the evening.

Hi dina, I did the same thing in May 2014 & May 2015, early evening both times, no line to purchase tickets from level 2 to 3.

Thanks to you both. I did finally do what I should have done from the beginning and bought the Rick Steves book. If the times referenced there are correct, the last lift to the top in July is at 23:00. My tickets are for 22:30. I'm cutting it close, I would imagine! I may check for an earlier time slot to open up in a few days, as the book suggests. Otherwise, I guess we will take our chances.

Eek, this is the one thing my youngest son specifically said he wanted to do. I'm wrapped around the axle a little about it....

If you miss the last lift I honestly don't think you will be disappointed by the second level. It is still higher than anything surrounding it and the view is still incredible. We decided not to go to the top and didn't feel we'd missed out on anything. But good luck getting there nonetheless!

Ellen, thanks! I was sort of (secretly) thinking the same thing. I haven't admitted any of this to my family, though. I I am the only of of us who has been to Paris and to have visited the Eiffel Tower. I've been to the top and it was horrifying. This was awhile ago (1991, I think), so it may be different now. But there was an inside part and an outside part. I was okay inside, but once outside, there was only a metal grating flooring, and I was sick to my stomach, my knees were buckling, and it may have been the most terrifying experience of my life.

So no, I'm not jonesing for this experience. This is me taking one for the team.

Dinah--I was just there in May and despite a fear of heights and open spaces, etc I was completely non-plussed about the summit--in fact, I don't recall any open grate flooring, perhaps it's been changed? I would have definitely been bothered by that! There's metal screening all around any open areas so no falling out. For the elevators I just kept my eyes closed & head down going up--going down doesn't bother me for some reason. I hope it works out for your family.

The top is far better than level 2; I never understand people who say that it is enough to stop there. We did it in the rain and it was still better. Level two is great but I'd never not go to the top.
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The thing to realize about having tickets to level 2 versus level 3 is that the elevator from the ground only goes to level 2 so you have to switch elevators and line up for the trip to the top whether you have a ticket ahead or you buy one on level 2; it would make no sense to scrap the original tickets. The line for level 3 on level 2 is nowhere near the line you have at the base.

You asked the same question as me! I'm now trying to figure out whether you can take the stairs up and the elevator down. My husband with bad knees has trouble going down stairs but not up. Do they check your ticket going down?

Hi Dina, don't scrap your tickets. In your situation, I'd take the elevator to the second level and then have your husband and son immediately get in line to buy tickets to the third (summit) level. With your pre-purchased tickets, there should be little to no wait time to get to the second floor. The couple of times I needed to buy an additional ticket to the third floor, the line was very short (like 2 people in front of me). I think the additional ticket was about $6.

I don't have an issue with heights (it's enclosed spaces that bother me!), but my friend does. We visited the Eiffel Tower in May 2014 and had tickets to the summit. We got to the second level and he said that he couldn't go any higher. I pointed him in the direction of the gift shop and snack bar and went to the top by myself. By the time I got back down to him he was fine. We did another trip in May 2015 and he insisted that we both go to the top. No problems at all. My point is, if it makes you uncomfortable, don't go to the top. No reason that others in your group can't do it while you're wandering around the second level.

I really hope you have a great time in Paris. The Eiffel Tower is amazing and breathtakingly beautiful when it twinkles!

Always good advice. I am the wife of a man who sit at a cafe and has a coffee while I climb the nearest tower. I have managed to get him up the Eiffel Tower twice but most of Europe's high spots have been conquered by me alone on our trips. Splitting up on occasion is also the secret to happiness on family trips.