As the most popular tourist destination in the world, it’s not surprising to find crazy long lines at attractions in Paris. Like seriously long, often with wait times in the hours.
The Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum have the longest and frankly most exhausting lines of all the city’s many sights. It’s almost to the point where you spend more time queuing to buy tickets than enjoying what you’re there to see.
Thankfully, with a little planning, you can buy your tickets online before you go, avoid the queues and skip the line in Paris. It’s very common to buy online in advance, there’s no stress of working the ticket machines, you can book from the comfort of your home or even on the day before from your hotel room.
Eiffel Tower and Louvre – Combo Ticket
If you’re limited in time or want to get your main sightseeing out of the way in one day, a combo skip the line ticket is has a few advantages. This combo ticket in particular is great value and includes not only tickets to the Eiffel Tower and Louvre but all of the following:
- Get a guided exterior tour of Notre Dame Cathedral as you walk towards the Louvre.
- Enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the Louvre including stops at the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s sculptures.
- Take a 30-minute cruise of the River Seine under the city’s beautiful bridges.
- Finish by skipping the hefty lines at the Eiffel Tower with elevator access and summit access (essential for the best views).
Buy the Paris combo ticket here.
Full-day tours can be tiring but you’ll get a great overview of the city while having plenty of time on your other days for a more relaxed visit of Paris.
Eiffel Tower Skip the Line Ticket
You can get incredible views of the Eiffel Tower from the surrounding areas or from almost anywhere in Paris. The most classic view is from the Trocadero, just across the river from the Eiffel Tower. You’ll want to go there whether you intend to go up the Eiffel Tower or not. You can walk on the grass area by the tower called the Champs du Mars and you are free to walk directly under the tower itself.
If that isn’t enough for you then get the Eiffel Tower skip the line ticket which gives you direct elevator access to the second-floor viewing platform plus you can walk up to the summit of the tower for an extra fee. The direct access ticket includes a brief guided tour once you get to the viewing platform and then you have time to admire the view on your own which includes the Louvre, Notre Dame and Les Invalides.
Even though this is a skip the line ticket, you still have to wait to go through security and there might be a short wait for the elevator in peak times. Even so, it saves considerable time instead of purchasing the ticket at the tower ticket office.
Buy the Eiffel Tower skip the line ticket here.
Louvre Fast-Track Guided Tour
You can avoid the long queues at the Louvre by purchasing a fast-track ticket before you go. This means you can skip the ticket line and be shown the quick way into the Louvre by a local guide. The guide will show you some of the highlights of the Louvre (over two hours) such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo but you can walk around on your own for as long as you like.
Purchase the Louvre Fast-Track guided tour here.
A quick tip before you book your Louvre fast-track ticket, the Louvre Museum is free on the first Saturday of each month from 6pm to 9:45pm. Admission is also free at all times for children under 18 and for EEA residents aged 16-25. Check the Louvre website for more details.
Paris Museum Pass – 2, 4 or 6 Days
If you plan on seeing more than just the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, which I highly recommend, then you might find the official Paris Museum Pass to be worthwhile. The pass includes access to more than 60 Parisian museums and monuments including the Louvre, Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, Pompidou Centre, Musee d’Orsay, Chateau de Chantilly and many more. See the full list here.
The Paris Pass is great value if museums and other historic sights are of interest in Paris. There’s a huge variety of museums including the most famous and plenty you’ve never heard of. This pass doesn’t include the Eiffel Tower, if you would like to go up you’ll need this ticket but otherwise, the Paris Museum Pass is an excellent choice for multi-day museum hopping.
Buy the Paris Museum Pass online here.
Note that the Paris Pass must be collected from the tour office (the address will be in your email). It’s also important to note that for the Louvre, you need to book your entrance time online before you go. Read the full details of the pass before you turn up to the museum. It’s not difficult just a small added step.
How Skip the Line Tickets Work
Once you purchase your skip the line ticket, you’ll receive an email from GetYourGuide with your mobile voucher. You can print your voucher if you like but we suggest avoiding doing so for environmental reasons as well as for the safety and convenience of having the voucher on your phone.
Pay attention to the meeting point on the voucher where you will meet your guide who will check your voucher. You can always email GetYourGuide if you have any questions, they are a well-known tour company with excellent service.
If you’re planning a trip to Paris, getting your Eiffel Tower and Louvre tickets online before you go will help make your trip go smoothly. We particularly recommend a tour if this is your first trip to Paris or if you’re an inexperienced traveller.