SETE changes Eiffel Tower group ticket rules on 29 September
Published on 10/04/2026 at 05:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Eiffel Tower has changed group ticket rules in Paris from 29 September 2026, when groups of more than nine people, including a guide, must book lift or stair access online. The new arrangement applies to the monument itself and leaves individual visitors outside the change.
Eiffel Tower group bookings move online from 29 September
The Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, known as SETE, announced that groups managed by tourism professionals can no longer buy tickets at the on-site ticket office from 29 September 2026. The rule covers both elevator and stair access, rather than only one route into the monument.
A group of more than nine people, guide included, must use the dedicated online booking platform regardless of the chosen access option. The operator also says that splitting one group at the ticket office is prohibited, while a guide may accompany only one group of up to eight visitors at a time within a 30-minute slot. The official rule notice for 29 September sets out the change and its application to both access modes.
How the new rule fits the Eiffel Tower visit
The restriction changes the first administrative step for organised parties, not the physical route through the landmark. Individual visitors can still approach the monument as individual visitors, while professional groups need an online reservation before arriving at the ticket office area.
The distinction matters because the tower has two principal visitor approaches after the esplanade: lifts serve the upper levels, while stairs provide access towards the second floor. The operator also states that guided or accompanied group visits must continue at least to the second floor, linking the booking requirement to the structure’s established visitor route.
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris, which marked the centenary of the French Revolution. Its construction took two years, two months and five days, and the monument now reaches 330 metres including its antennas, according to the historical record of the tower.
Paris groups face a different arrival process
The rule gives Western European travellers a practical distinction to check before a Paris visit. A family or small party travelling independently does not fall within the new threshold, while a larger organised group must complete its purchase online and should not expect to obtain group tickets at the monument.
The arrangement also affects the way guides handle arrivals. A guide cannot use the ticket office merely to assist with a purchase, and a professional group cannot be divided into smaller units there to avoid the threshold. These details make the date relevant even when the planned visit itself is weeks or months later.
Visiting Eiffel Tower: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- From 29 September 2026, groups of more than nine people, including the guide, must book lift or stair access online.
- On-site ticket sales for organised groups are no longer available for either elevators or stairs; splitting a group at the ticket office is prohibited.
- The Eiffel Tower stands on the Champ-de-Mars in Paris. The area is served by Trocadéro and Bir-Hakeim metro stations and by the RER C station Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel.
- The structure is 330 metres high, and its visitor route includes lifts and stairs leading towards the second floor.
Searching for Eiffel Tower on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Eiffel Tower
When did the Eiffel Tower group ticket rule start?
The new arrangement took effect on 29 September 2026. Groups of more than nine people, including a guide, must book online for lift or stair access.
Where is Eiffel Tower and how do you get there?
The monument is on the Champ-de-Mars in Paris. Trocadéro, Bir-Hakeim and the RER C station Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel serve the surrounding area.
What is Eiffel Tower?
It is a 330-metre wrought-iron landmark built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle. Construction was completed in 1889 after two years, two months and five days.
