Ticket prices for visiting the Eiffel Tower have gone up by 20 percent to cover its high maintenance costs. This increase comes just before the 2024 Olympics and follows disagreements between the company managing the “Iron Lady” and Paris City Hall over its earnings. The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s top 10 most-visited landmarks, rises 330 meters above Paris and costs a lot to maintain.
Starting June 17, adults now pay over €35 for a ticket, up from €29.10 before. This price hike applies to all tickets and is expected to help the company operating the tower, SETE, recover from losses due to the pandemic and settle a labor dispute that led to a temporary closure in February.
The tower’s popularity remains strong, with a record 6.3 million visitors in 2023. SETE, mostly owned by Paris, faced a significant drop in revenue during the pandemic, losing millions. Meanwhile, maintenance costs skyrocketed, surpassing €130 million, partly due to delays blamed on Paris City Hall and SETE itself.
Originally, the tower was to be repainted every seven years, but the 20th repaint began in 2020, 11 years late, due to lead paint issues. The project, aiming to finish before the Olympics and change the tower’s color, is four years behind schedule.
SETE also faces a steep rise in the license fee paid to Paris, increasing from €8 million to €15 million in 2021 and set to hit €50 million by 2025. This increase has sparked criticism and threats about the tower’s future.
To stabilize finances by 2025, SETE negotiated new measures after a strike in February. These include additional funds for maintenance and employee involvement in tower management and upkeep. An extra €156 million is earmarked for maintenance, including completing the overdue repainting project for the 135-year-old icon.
