Paris: Eiffel Tower Stair Climb to 2nd Floor & Optional Summit

700 Stairs, a Guide, and the City Spread Below You

You climb 700 stairs with a guide to the Eiffel Tower's 2nd floor, walk the glass section, and see Paris from a height most visitors miss. Upgrade to the summit by elevator for even higher views. A Seine River cruise ticket is included on select options: valid for a year, so you choose when to use it. Small groups mean you're not crushed in a crowd.

Step-by-step itinerary

Eiffel Tower Climb and Views

• Meet guide at Eiffel Tower
• Climb stairs to first level
• Walk on glass floor
• Climb stairs to second level
• Enjoy views of Paris
• Optionally take elevator to summit
• Admire panoramic city views

The experience

"How many flights is that, exactly?" someone always asks on the landing between the first and second level. Your guide will have already told you (roughly 700 stairs from ground to the 2nd floor), but hearing it again while your legs remember the count makes it real. The stair climb itself is the point. You're moving through the tower's iron lattice with a small group, not shuffled through a queue with thousands, and the guide is talking about Gustave Eiffel's engineering choices, the original 1889 construction, the way the tower sways in wind. You notice details: the rivets, the angle of the beams, how the light changes as you spiral up.

The first level comes with a glass floor section: that moment when you look straight down and Paris drops away beneath your feet. It's disorienting in the best way. Then you keep climbing. By the time you reach the 2nd floor, you're breathing harder but the views have opened up completely. The Seine winds through the city like a ribbon, the neighborhoods fan out in every direction, and you can actually see how Paris is organized instead of just walking through it. If you've added the summit upgrade, an elevator takes you the rest of the way, no more stairs, and the perspective shifts again. Higher, wider, the city becomes almost abstract from up there.

The Seine River cruise ticket comes depending on which tour option you book, and it's valid for a full year, so you can use it whenever you want during your stay in Paris. Boats run every 30 minutes from 9am to 9pm, which means you have flexibility to do it the same day or save it for another afternoon. The guide will explain the timing and how to use your ticket before you leave the tower.

One thing to know: the summit can close without warning if weather turns or the tower authorities decide it's unsafe. If that happens on your day, you get a refund for the summit portion. It's not something you can control, but the 2nd floor climb itself is solid: that part doesn't depend on conditions. You'll need moderate fitness to handle the stairs. The climb is steady and takes time, but it's not a sprint. Pregnant travelers and anyone with cardiovascular concerns should skip this one.

What’s included

Professional guide leading the stair climb, entrance tickets to the 1st and 2nd floors, access to the glass floor on the first level, and optional summit access by elevator if you upgrade. Depending on your tour option, you also receive a Seine River cruise ticket valid for one year, with boats running every 30 minutes between 9am and 9pm.

Options for this experience

4 options

Climbing to second floor only, no summitGuide in English · 11:15, 13:15 and 16:15Guided climb with reserved access to the second floor only, with a professional guide, lasting about two hours.

Lift to second floor, no summitGuide in English · 13:15 and 17:15Guided lift from the ground floor to the second floor with reserved access.

Lift to second floor, then summitGuide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 19:15Reserved lift to the second floor, then a second lift up to the summit, with a guide.

Summit lift with Seine cruise ticketGuide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 19:15Reserved lift to the second floor and summit with a professional guide, plus a Seine cruise ticket.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 19:15

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Please meet the guide at the meeting point 15 minutes prior the tour start time. NOTE: Meet our representatives outside the Eiffel Tower, at the corner of the avenue.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Uncle Sam Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to actually experience the Eiffel Tower's structure instead of just passing through it, and who can handle a sustained stair climb. The small group format keeps you from being lost in the crowds, and the guide's stories make the climb itself the attraction, not just the view at the top.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How many stairs do you actually climb?

Approximately 700 stairs to reach the 2nd floor. The summit upgrade uses an elevator from there, so no additional climbing.

Is the summit included or optional?

The 2nd floor is included. Summit access is an optional upgrade and uses the elevator, not stairs.

What if the summit is closed on my tour date?

If the summit closes due to weather or operations, you receive a refund for that portion. The 2nd floor climb proceeds as planned.

Does the tour include a Seine River cruise?

Depending on which tour option you select, yes. The cruise ticket is valid for one year and boats depart every 30 minutes from 9am to 9pm.

Is this suitable for people with fitness concerns?

You need at least moderate cardiovascular fitness. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

How big are the groups?

Small group setting, which keeps the experience more personal and less crowded than standard Eiffel Tower visits.