Who counts as a group
SETE sells a group ticket to any party of twenty paying visitors or more, typically through a dedicated form on the official site. A group leader coordinates the booking, often several weeks in advance in the high season.
Practical considerations
- Book early. Group slots are allocated in advance and the lift capacity caps the number of groups per hour. In July and August we recommend eight to twelve weeks of lead time.
- Pick a quieter day. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are the easiest to coordinate because the queue for individuals is at its shortest, which gives the group a smoother entry.
- Allocate a meeting point. The esplanade is large and crowded; agreeing a specific pillar as the meeting point (we prefer the East pillar) prevents stragglers.
- Count twice at each level. Group leaders report that an untidy count on the first floor is one of the single biggest sources of delay. Count on the second floor again before the summit lift.
Schools
School groups have specific reduced prices. The booking procedure is a separate form on the SETE site. Teachers organising a visit should allocate a half-day for the climb — three hours is a reasonable estimate for a class of thirty with a guided itinerary and lunch on the second floor.
Guided tours
Guided tours are offered by SETE and by a number of independent operators. We do not endorse any specific operator and we do not take commission from any. If a guided tour is important for your group, check that the operator has an official contract with SETE for lift priority on the day — the price difference between official and unofficial operators is often small, but the queue difference can be significant.
Private events
SETE operates private events on the first and second floors outside standard opening hours. These are negotiated directly with their events team. We have never organised one; we mention it only to point readers in the right direction.