Eiffel Tower Stairs vs Elevator: Which Should You Choose?

The Eiffel Tower can be climbed by stairs or ascended by elevator — and the choice affects your experience significantly. The featured Eiffel Tower ticket uses the elevator for all levels. Here’s a complete comparison to help you decide which option is right for your visit. Rated 4.4/5 by 20,440 visitors.

The Stairs Option

The Eiffel Tower has 674 steps from ground level to the 2nd floor. A typical visitor takes approximately 20–35 minutes to climb. The stairs are not a secret shortcut — they’re a deliberate choice made by visitors who want the physical experience and the unique close-up view of the tower’s interior ironwork.

What’s included with the stairs ticket:

• Access from the ground to the 1st and 2nd floors
• Closer proximity to the iron lattice structure as you climb
• Often shorter waiting times than the elevator queue
• A genuine sense of achievement

What is NOT included:

• Summit access — the very top (276 metres) is only reachable by elevator, regardless of which ticket you hold
• The stairs reach 2nd floor only; you must take an elevator for the summit

The stairs experience: The climb is not technically difficult for most healthy adults, but it is 674 steps. The iron steps spiral upward inside the tower’s leg structure. The views as you climb are fascinating — you can see how the structure is assembled, the rivets and beams up close. Many visitors who choose stairs say this is the most memorable part of their visit.

The Elevator Option

The featured ticket uses the elevator throughout — to the 1st floor, 2nd floor, and (with the summit upgrade) to the top.

Elevator advantages:

• No physical effort — suitable for all fitness levels, families with strollers, older visitors
• Access to all three levels including the summit
• Faster ascent — the elevator ride is about 2 minutes per section
• The hosted experience guides you through security and to the elevator efficiently

Elevator queue: Even with pre-booked hosted access, some elevator waiting is normal — typically 15–30 minutes for security and the lift itself. The featured ticket’s host significantly reduces this vs independent entry.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Who Should Take the Stairs?

• You’re a fit adult who enjoys the physical challenge
• You want the unique interior-structure experience — seeing the tower from inside
• You don’t need summit access (the stairs don’t reach the top)
• You’re visiting in quieter months when the climb is most enjoyable
• You want potentially shorter wait times for the ascent

Who Should Take the Elevator?

• You’re travelling with children, older family members, or anyone with mobility limitations
• You want summit access (the stairs don’t go there)
• You want the most time-efficient route to the views
• You prefer the hosted, guided format — the featured ticket is elevator-based and includes an English-speaking host

A Note on the Summit

This is the decisive factor for many visitors: if you want to reach the summit (276 metres), the elevator is not optional — it’s the only way up. The stairs-climb ticket goes to the 2nd floor only. If seeing Paris from the very top is your goal, choose the elevator route.

The Glass Floor (1st Floor)

Regardless of stairs or elevator, every visitor can access the 1st floor’s glass floor — 57 metres above ground, looking straight down to the Champ de Mars. It’s included with all ticket types and is a highlight for visitors who’ve never experienced it.

Ready to Book?

The featured Eiffel Tower ticket with hosted access — rated 4.4/5 by 20,440 visitors — uses the elevator throughout, with optional summit upgrade. From $43 per person.