Lift to the second floor
The simplest ticket. Two lift rides (ground to first, first to second) and the esplanade. On the second floor you get: a 115-metre view which is already very wide; a café; a small boutique; and benches. For most first-time visitors who are not particularly set on the summit, this is enough.
Lift to the summit
Buys the above plus one additional lift ride (second floor to summit). The additional ride is short — about fifty seconds — and the summit is open-air and glass-sided. The summit lift is small; expect to wait a short while on the second floor for a free car. On busy days a short line forms. We think of this as the main choice for travellers for whom the view is the point.
Stairs to the second floor
674 steps up the east pillar, with a landing on the first floor where you can rest. The view through the ironwork during the climb is one of the memorable experiences of the tower, in our opinion more memorable than the lift. Not suitable for visitors with reduced mobility. The staircase is open to the wind and can be unpleasant in bad weather, in which case we recommend the lift.
Stairs to the second, lift to the summit
Climb the stairs to the second floor, then take the summit lift from the second-floor lift lobby. The small saving on price is secondary; the real reason to choose this is to combine the physical experience of the stairs with the geographical finish at the summit. We have taken this combination three times and recommend it on a cool, dry day without wind.
Youth and children
- Under 4: free entry.
- Children 4 – 11: reduced price. Must be with an adult.
- Young adults 12 – 24: reduced price. Student card may be requested at the entrance.
Reduced mobility
SETE offers a reduced-price ticket for visitors with a mobility impairment and one for their companion. Documentation may be requested. See the official site for the current rules.
Groups
Groups of twenty people or more have a specific booking process on the SETE site. We have written a short overview on the groups page.
Combined and night tickets
From time to time SETE launches special categories — a combined ticket with another cultural institution, a night-only ticket when the lift schedule allows. These change; the official site is the only reliable record.