Eiffel Tower: 2nd Level & Seine Cruise with Fast-Track Entry

Eiffel Tower & Seine in One Morning: No Queue, No Confusion

You meet your guide at a nearby office, skip the entry queue with a prebooked ticket, and ride the lift to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower with live commentary on its history and the city below. If you chose the summit option, you continue to the top. On the way down, you can walk the glass floor on the first level. You then receive a Seine River cruise ticket, valid for six months, to use whenever you want—a one-hour float past Paris's famous monuments from the water. Arrive 15 minutes early at the meeting point; luggage and bottles aren't permitted.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Meet guide near Eiffel Tower
• Ascend to 2nd floor viewing platform
• Optional summit access if booked
• Descend to first level and enjoy glass floor
• Receive ticket for Seine River cruise
• Take 1-hour cruise along the Seine

The Experience

The meeting point is a five-minute walk from the tower itself—41 avenue de la Bourdonnais—and that detail matters more than it sounds. You show up, your guide is there, your ticket is already in hand, and you skip straight to the lift. No standing in the entry line trying to figure out which queue is which. No wondering if you bought the right thing. The guide walks you through the history as you rise—how Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower when it went up, thought it was a monstrosity, and now it's the thing they can't imagine the city without. That shift in perspective, hearing it while the city spreads out below you, lands differently than reading it in a guidebook.

You go up to the 2nd level by elevator, which is where most people stop anyway—the views are already enormous from there, and you get the glass floor on the first level on your way down if you want to test your nerve. If you booked the summit option, the lift takes you all the way to the top, but either way, you're not fighting stairs or crowds. The whole Eiffel Tower part runs about an hour, maybe a bit less. Then you get handed a Seine cruise ticket—valid for up to six months after your visit—and you can take it whenever you want. Some people do it the same day, right after. Others come back a few days later when they've got an afternoon free. A one-hour cruise down the river, monuments sliding past on both sides, is a completely different way to see Paris than standing still looking up at it.

One thing to know: arrive 15 minutes early. The meeting point is not the tower. There's no alternate location if you're late, and no refund either—the system is built around a specific time slot, which is also what keeps the groups small and the experience from feeling like a cattle run. Don't bring luggage, don't bring a drink bottle, and if you have a stroller it has to fold up. Those aren't arbitrary rules; they're how the tower keeps the flow moving and the security line from backing up. Late-night tours at 21:15 or 21:45 with summit access need you to email ahead the same day to arrange the cruise tickets, since you won't have time to collect them after.

What’s included

• Prebooked lift access to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower with no entry queue.
• live English-speaking guide commentary on the tower's history and Paris landmarks.
• access to the 1st-level glass floor on your descent.
• summit access by lift if you selected that option when booking.
• a 1-hour Seine River cruise ticket valid for up to six months after your tower visit.
• meeting at our office five minutes' walk from the tower, not at the tower entrance itself.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Paris TRIP

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Eiffel Tower and the Seine in one trip without arranging separate tickets, figuring out queues, or navigating the tower on your own—the prebooked slot and guide handle all three, and the cruise ticket gives you flexibility to explore the river whenever you have a free hour.

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Top questions

Do I have to do the Seine cruise the same day as the Eiffel Tower visit?

No. Your cruise ticket is valid for up to six months after your tower visit, so you can use it whenever suits your schedule.

What's the difference between the 2nd level and the summit option?

The standard ticket takes you to the 2nd level by lift. The summit option continues to the top of the tower. Both include access to the glass floor on the 1st level on the way down.

Where exactly do I meet my guide?

At 41 avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris—a five-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower itself, not at the tower entrance.

What happens if I'm late?

There is no alternate meeting point and no refund if you miss your time slot. Arrive 15 minutes before your chosen departure time.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, but only if it folds up. Non-foldable strollers are not allowed in the tower.

What items are not allowed inside the Eiffel Tower?

No glass bottles, drink cans, luggage, oversized bags, or excessive food and drink. Security will ask you to dispose of any bottles or cans before entry. Luggage cannot be stored at the office.

How long does the whole experience take?

The Eiffel Tower portion takes 2 to 3 hours total, including the guide commentary and time on the viewing platforms. The Seine cruise is a separate 1-hour experience you can do anytime within six months.

Is there a glass floor I can walk on?

Yes. On the 1st level, there's a glass floor you can cross on your way down from the 2nd level or summit.

Do I need to buy a separate ticket for the summit, or do I choose it when I book?

You choose the summit option when you book. You cannot buy a summit ticket on the 2nd floor of the tower itself.

Are there any restrictions on who can visit the summit?

People with disabilities, including those who use a cane, cannot access the summit level. The 2nd level and Seine cruise remain available to all visitors.