eiffel tower

hi, there are lines to everywhere and everything in/on the Eiffel tower. including the bathrooms. Long line is relative, but yes, you will have to wait in line for another elevator to get to the top. Use RS advice, Go straight up to the top asap, do your ooooh...aaaaaahs and then go back down and repeat. Then walk down to the ground. just an For Your Information (fyi), if the weather is bad, they WILL close the top. just so you know ahead of time. i didnt count the stairs since i didnt take them. im getting toooo old for that stuff and i was going to climb the Arch de triomphe that day. just in case (jic) youre not aware,they offer reserved tickets to go up the Tower. if you know what day/time you want to go, it beats waiting in a longer line to buy tickets. all i did was to show up 5 minutes before my time and walk up to the security checkpoiont. after that it was waiting for lifts. happy trails - mahalo.

If you walk the stairs, you still need to buy a ticket to the top, but it is less than the full ticket. Once you have your ticket, you have the same standing as people who bought full trip tickets, meaning you just get in line with everyone else for the second elevator.

Ray, sam and Elle,
thanks for your replies. Unfortunately the days we will be in Paris, online tickets are sold out. I have given up idea for walking to 2nd level as I would have to start now! I guess only option is go very early and wait in lines. :(((