| Eiffel Tower | Arc de Triomphe | |
|---|---|---|
| Choose for | Engineering, height, iconic experience | City composition and Eiffel view |
| 2026 adult entry | €23.50 elevator to second floor; €36.70 summit | Check current monument ticket page |
| Physical demand | Elevator options; stairs tickets available | Long spiral stair, with limited lift access for qualifying visitors |
| Luggage | No large luggage or storage | Travel light; security applies |
The Eiffel Tower is the destination
Built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the tower surpassed the Washington Monument and proved iron could become both engineering and urban symbol. Radio and military communications gave it practical value beyond its intended exhibition life. The summit preserves a reconstruction of Gustave Eiffel receiving Thomas Edison in Eiffel’s private room.
Official tickets currently cost €23.50 for the second floor by elevator and €36.70 for the summit by elevator. Summit access can close for weather or congestion even when the tower remains open. Buy only through the official site and expect security.
The Arc gives the more legible city view
Napoleon commissioned the monument in 1806; it was completed in 1836. From the terrace, twelve avenues radiate from the Place Charles-de-Gaulle, making Haussmann’s city easier to understand. The Eiffel Tower sits clearly in the skyline.
At ground level, study Rude’s Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, usually called La Marseillaise, then the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its flame. The daily remembrance changes the monument from imperial triumph into a more complicated national memorial.
Our recommendation
- First Paris trip with budget for both: Eiffel near sunset, Arc after dark on another day.
- Only one paid viewpoint: Arc de Triomphe for most repeat visitors and photographers.
- Engineering or bucket-list priority: Eiffel Tower summit if available.
- Limited mobility: study current accessibility pages before booking; neither monument offers identical access to every level.
Place both naturally into our 10-day Paris itinerary.
Prices, hours, closures, elevator operation, summit access, security, and accessibility change. Eiffel details were checked against the official site on July 16, 2026; verify the Arc’s live ticket page for your date.