Can You Climb the Eiffel Tower? Everything You Need to Know
One of the biggest decisions when visiting the Eiffel Tower is whether to take the stairs or the elevator.
During our trip to Paris, we chose the stairs and ended up having one of the most memorable experiences of our week in the city.
If you’re wondering whether you can climb the Eiffel Tower and what the experience is actually like, here’s everything you need to know.
Can You Climb the Eiffel Tower?
Yes.
While most people think of taking the elevator, it’s also possible to climb the Eiffel Tower using the stairs.
During our visit, we purchased stair tickets and climbed to the second floor rather than taking the elevator. It gave us a completely different perspective of the tower and allowed us to appreciate parts of the structure that many people simply ride past.
When planning our Paris itinerary, we knew we wanted to visit the Eiffel Tower, but we liked the idea of experiencing the structure itself rather than simply using it to reach an observation deck. Taking the stairs allowed us to see the tower up close and appreciate the incredible ironwork as we climbed higher above Paris.
The stairs only take you to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. If you want to reach the summit, you’ll need to take an elevator from the second floor.
When booking tickets, you’ll typically have the option of purchasing a stair ticket to the second floor or a more expensive ticket that includes elevator access to the summit.
Since our goal was to experience the climb itself, we opted for the stairs-only ticket and stopped at the second floor.
Honestly, we never felt like we were missing much. The views from the second floor were already incredible, and the climb itself ended up being one of the highlights of the experience.
How Difficult Is the Climb?
One of the first questions people ask is how many steps they’ll need to climb.
To reach the second level of the Eiffel Tower, you’ll climb approximately 700 steps.
That may sound intimidating at first, but we found the climb much more manageable than we expected.
It took us about 8 minutes to reach the first floor and another 8 minutes to climb from the first floor to the second floor. The stairs are spread fairly evenly between the two levels, and there are plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the views along the way.
Because we treated the climb as part of the experience rather than a race to the top, it never felt overwhelming.
The staircases are well maintained and easy to navigate. As we climbed higher, the views of Paris gradually improved, making the journey just as enjoyable as reaching the observation platforms.
While climbing 700 steps sounds challenging, we never found it overly difficult.
If you’re comfortable walking and climbing stairs, you’ll likely be fine. That said, anyone with mobility concerns or difficulty with stairs will probably be more comfortable using the elevator.
How Much Does It Cost to Climb the Eiffel Tower?
We booked our Eiffel Tower experience through Viator and paid about $48 per person.
Our ticket included access to the first and second floors using the stairs, along with a guided tour.
While it’s possible to buy tickets directly from the Eiffel Tower website for less money, we appreciated having a guide who shared information about the history and construction of the tower throughout the experience.
At the time of our visit, the Viator option that included elevator access to the summit was approximately $77 per person.
Since we were primarily interested in climbing the tower itself, we decided the less expensive stair option made the most sense for us.
Is a Guided Tour Worth It?
For us, yes.
While you can certainly visit the Eiffel Tower on your own, we enjoyed having a guide explain the history of the tower and point out details we probably would have missed otherwise.
The tour also helped the climb feel like more than just walking up 700 steps. We learned about the tower’s construction, engineering, and significance while making our way to the second floor.
One of the most surprising things we learned was that an elephant was once carried up the Eiffel Tower. It’s the kind of unusual fact we never would have discovered on our own and quickly became one of the stories we told friends and family after returning home.
For first-time visitors to Paris, we’d recommend considering a guided tour, especially if you’re interested in the history behind one of the world’s most famous landmarks.
Eiffel Tower Stairs vs. Elevator
Having climbed the Eiffel Tower ourselves, we’d choose the stairs again.
The elevator is certainly faster and provides access to the summit, but the stairs make the visit feel much more immersive.
Taking the stairs allowed us to appreciate the structure itself, enjoy changing views of Paris as we climbed, and experience the tower from angles that elevator riders never see.
The climb also added a sense of accomplishment that made reaching the second floor feel even more rewarding.
If your primary goal is simply getting to the top as quickly as possible, the elevator is the better choice.
If you’re looking for a more unique experience and don’t mind a little exercise, we’d recommend the stairs.
Final Thoughts
Taking the stairs turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Paris.
The combination of exercise, incredible views, fascinating history, and a closer look at the tower’s engineering made the journey just as enjoyable as the destination.
While the elevator is the more popular option, we’d choose the stairs again without hesitation. Climbing the Eiffel Tower gave us a much deeper appreciation for one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.
If you’re physically able and looking for a slightly different Eiffel Tower experience, we’d highly recommend taking the stairs.
For us, those 700 steps were well worth it.
