What to pack for Tour Eiffel?
Most visitors are caught off guard not by the height but by the cold.
In short, what catches you out here
- Long outdoor queues — often 30 to 90 minutes — with no shelter from wind, rain or cold, particularly on the esplanade and at the lift entrance on the first floor.
- Wind on the second and third floors can be intense even on mild days; the open-air observation deck at 276 m regularly sees gusts that make it bitterly cold and destabilise umbrellas.
- The iron staircase (704 steps to the second floor) becomes slippery and narrower in wet weather, requiring careful footing and appropriate footwear.
Why this list?
January at the Eiffel Tower means standing in an exposed queue on the esplanade for up to 90 minutes in near-freezing temperatures and gusting wind, then riding an open-cage lift to a platform where the temperature drops a further two or three degrees. The iron structure actively conducts cold — metal handrails, barriers and the staircase itself are painfully cold to the touch in wet weather. Rain also makes the 704 steps to the second floor slippery in ways the brochure never mentions. Add to this a phone that drains fast thanks to the official wait-time app and the reflex to photograph every floor, and you have the four things that consistently ruin an otherwise extraordinary visit. This list focuses on those four problems — weather exposure, footing, battery life and entry logistics — rather than the obvious.
✔To do before you leave
Your countdown: every action at the right time, from furthest ahead to departure day.
- Walk-up queues regularly exceed 90 minutes; a timed-entry slot bypasses the main queue and guarantees entry — the website sells out days ahead in peak periods.
- Network coverage at ground level can be patchy in the queue; a saved screenshot prevents panic at the barcode scanner when the app refuses to load.
- Strong gusts above 60 km/h trigger a partial or full summit closure with little notice; in winter it is worth checking the official site on the morning of the visit to avoid a wasted journey.
- Security screening adds an unannounced queue before the ticket barrier; arriving at the last minute risks missing the entry window even with a valid reservation.
✔Nice-to-haves
Not vital, but noticeably more comfortable with them.
- Phones are used constantly for QR-code entry, the official wait-time app, and photos from each floor; battery is routinely under 20% before reaching the summit.
- No visible free water points inside the tower; buying water from the on-site bar costs significantly more than elsewhere in Paris.
- The wait between security, lift queue, and ascent can easily stretch to two hours; on-site food is very expensive and queues at the brasserie add further delay.
✔Weather & season
Adjust to the time of year and forecast for your trip.
- On the rare snow days, the esplanade and approach paths are not always gritted promptly; clip-on spikes over boots prevent falls during the approach.
- The second and third floor terraces funnel wind around your collar; a neck gaiter fills the gap that a hood alone leaves and avoids the bulk of a scarf in the lift.
- With nowhere to leave wet gear, phones and paper tickets tucked into coat pockets absorb moisture from rain and condensation throughout the visit.
- Metal handrails on the stairs and barriers on the observation decks are painfully cold and wet in winter; thin gloves let you grip safely without losing phone dexterity.
- The iron staircase becomes slick in wet weather; flat rubber-soled footwear with ankle support drastically reduces slip risk on the 704 steps.
- Queue exposure on the esplanade can last over an hour with no shelter; a standard umbrella inverts in the upper-floor gusts, so a compact wind-resistant model is worth the difference.
- Security allows small bags; a rain cover keeps contents dry during the exposed queue and on the open decks where umbrellas are unreliable.
- The iron structure and open-air decks stay several degrees colder than ground level; a fleece or down gilet worn under your outer layer makes the upper floors bearable in January.
- Rain combined with gusting wind on the open decks soaks through a standard jacket quickly; a waterproof shell keeps you functional for the full ascent.
✔ My own items
Create an account to save your lists and find them on all your devices.
- Every checklist you generate, kept and available anytime
- On your phone as well as your computer
- Your ticks picked up right where you left them
✔ Good to know
- Book your timed-entry ticket on toureiffel.paris well ahead of your visit — elevator tickets to the 2nd floor go on sale 60 days in advance and sell out fast, especially in summer. source
- Pack light and keep your bag compact: large bags and luggage are likely to be turned away at security, and there is no left-luggage facility or cloakroom on site. source
- Budget time for two separate security checks — one at the main entrance and one before the elevator or stairs — so arrive a little earlier than your timed slot. source
- Both card and cash (euros) are accepted at the on-site ticket offices, so either works — but having a bank card handy speeds things up. source
- If you bring a stroller, choose a foldable one — only foldable pushchairs tend to be accepted inside the tower. source
- The upper platforms are exposed to wind and weather, so layer up even in summer and consider bringing a light rain jacket for extra comfort at the top. source
- Large suitcase or oversized bag — Items over roughly 40×40 cm are likely to be turned away at the security checkpoint, and there is nowhere on site to store them.
- Drone — Flying drones is tightly regulated across Paris, and bringing one to the tower is likely to create problems at security and with local regulations.
- Tripod or professional camera rig — Tripods and professional photo rigs are generally not permitted on the tower platforms, so a compact camera or smartphone will serve you better.
- Glass bottles — Glass containers are among the items likely to be flagged and removed at the security check — opt for a plastic or metal bottle instead.
- Scooter or bicycle — Scooters and bikes are not accepted on the esplanade or inside the tower, so plan to arrive on foot or by public transport.
✔ Frequently asked questions
How do you get to the Eiffel Tower and where do you park?
The nearest Métro stops are Bir-Hakeim (line 6) and Trocadéro (line 9), both a short walk away. RER C stops at Champ-de-Mars–Tour Eiffel. Driving is possible but parking directly around the tower is extremely limited and often occupied; the nearest car parks fill quickly on weekends. Public transport is strongly recommended in winter when road conditions on adjacent quays can be slow.
Do you need to book Eiffel Tower tickets in advance?
Pre-booking a timed-entry ticket online is strongly recommended, particularly in winter when reduced capacity and bad-weather closures compress demand. Walk-up ticket sales exist but queues regularly exceed 90 minutes and the lift-access slots sell out online several days ahead during school holidays. Decide in advance whether you want the lift to the summit or just the second floor, as these are separate ticket types.
What should you wear to visit the Eiffel Tower in winter?
Layer up more than you think necessary: the temperature on the second and third floors is perceptibly colder than ground level and the open terraces channel wind. Waterproof boots with non-slip soles are important if you plan to take the stairs, as wet iron steps are genuinely slippery. A wind-resistant outer layer, thermal mid-layer, thin gloves and a neck gaiter cover most January conditions. Leave fashion-forward but impractical footwear for a different day.
Can the Eiffel Tower summit be closed on the day of your visit?
Yes — strong gusts or exceptional weather can trigger a partial or full closure of the upper levels, sometimes at short notice. The first and second floors usually remain accessible. It is worth checking the official website or social media on the morning of your visit in winter, when closures are more frequent, to decide whether to proceed or rearrange.