I went on to the Eiffel Tower website to book tickets for the 1st weekend in February and found you can book tickets for "Lift entrance" but NOT "Lift entrance with access to the Summit." Any idea why? Would it already be booked up?? Should we just wait to get tickets when we get there and perhaps we can get tickets to the Summit, or is it better to just order the Lift entrance ticket before those might be unavailable? I was trying to avoid lines. Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks!

If you look at the diagram, Lift Access tickets will get you to the second level. Many find this the best level for views and photo ops and find waiting for the second elevator to the top and returning not really all that worthwhile.

You could purchase advance tickets to the second level, then decide when there whether to purchase supplemental tickets to the Summit.

Or walk up - much more interesting and not difficult.

The first on-line ticket for the 3rd floor is available Feb 11. You can purchase advanced tickets to the 2nd floor and then immediately go to the ticket window for the 3rd floor and buy a ticket. There's always going to be walk up tickets available.

The 3rd floor elevator is smaller than the other elevator and there is only 1 to go to the top so there will be a line for the elevator unless you go first thing in the morning and head for the 3rd floor elevator immediately.

dreamon - you can only walk up to the 2nd floor - you must take the elevator to the 3rd level.

The problem you have with booking in advance is that you do not know what the weather will be and in Feb. you have a better than even chance of it being cloudy and rainy. This can wipe out the views from even the second level. On the other hand, it could be that every day is nice or rainy and it doesn't matter.

dave

Yep, you're right, you can only walk up to the second level but I reckon that's got the best views and then we had no queue (September) to get the lift to the third level. Last time we visited we didn't even bother going to the third level.