Climb the Eiffel tower
Climbing the Eiffel Tower by stairs makes its iron structure, changing views and physical scale unfold one landing at a time. The public staircase reaches the second floor; reaching the summit requires a ticket that combines stairs with an elevator from the second floor. Defining whether the goal is the stair ascent or the summit avoids discovering at the barrier that one ticket cannot be upgraded. Buy through the Tower’s official ticket office and select either stairs to the second floor or stairs plus elevator to the top. Official availability and advance-sale windows change, and summit access can close for weather, capacity or operations. Check current FCDO France advice, arrive for the timed slot and allow additional time for both external and internal security checks. Travel without large luggage because the Tower has no left-luggage service. Wear shoes suitable for hundreds of steps, carry only permitted items and pace the ascent without blocking landings. The stairs and summit are not suitable for people with limited mobility; choose the official lift option and discuss access needs rather than treating stairs as the only valid experience. Keep tickets available for checks, supervise children and stay within public routes. Pause at the first and second floors to understand the structure and city rather than forcing speed, then use only the authorised lift for any summit section. Completion is climbing the official public staircase to the second floor, with the summit optional according to the purchased ticket—not using a fraudulent reseller, crossing a closed gate or measuring success by exhausting yourself on an unsafe day.