Scared of heights..

Hello all,

I am visiting Paris for the first time in 2 weeks and am really excited about the trip. I absolutely want to go to the top of the Eiffel tower, via the lift not walking! However, I am not very good at heights - especially so when you can see through the floor, ie you are standing on a mesh not a solid floor. Can anyone tell me if they are scared of heights and have been to the top of it, and if so was it ok? I dont want to get half way up and then panic at the lift change!!!

Many thanks!!

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I%26#39;m not scared of heights, but as I recall, the lift changing was all in the middle so it didn%26#39;t really seem that you were up high unless you looked. Don%26#39;t stand by the windows in the lift, though, that was a little disconcerting.

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«when you can see through the floor, ie you are standing on a mesh not a solid floor»

I share your concerns. It%26#39;s a big thing for me too. The stairs of the e-tower don%26#39;t have the mesh floor but the heights are intimidating once you get up a few flights. I%26#39;m really uncomfortable on those stairs.

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I have a height fright and I don%26#39;t go higher than the second level. The third is just way too high for me.

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I%26#39;m the %26quot;scared of heights%26quot; queen. I%26#39;ve never gone to the top of the Eiffel tower, but that%26#39;s because I wasn%26#39;t interested in going there. As this is something you absolutely want to do, you should do it. Here are a few things (mostly devices that distract)that have helped me keep panic at bay when I%26#39;ve gone to high places that have beckoned to me.

Keep your eyes closed (sunglasses hide the fact that you%26#39;re doing this) and go up with someone in the lift

who can guide you along.

Take deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose, counting to 10 and out through your mouth.

Count backwards by threes from 200 or even a higher number.

Keep writing in a notebook about something ... anything, even the stress you may be feeling.

Carry something with rough edges and keep fingering the object.

You should be able to find many other tips on the Internet for combating fear of heights, anxiety, etc., that will help you enjoy the Eiffel tower experience. Have a great trip!

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I actually suffer from vertigo once I am up too high. My plan was to stay away from the windows. Well, I was %26quot;stuck%26quot; by the front window so that didn%26#39;t work. I tried to stay focused on something else. Like at the time, my boyfriends face. I did not go to the top b/c the view from the 2nd level is better than the top level, from what I heard from the TA members. So, that is as far as I went. I was happy with the 2nd level. My advice is, if you are stuck by a window, let someone else go in front of you and take the next lift so you are not near windows.

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I am terrified of heights (I refuse to go on a Ferris Wheel or roller coaster no matter how high. Hairpin turns in the west terrify me too!)and I have gone 3 times to the top via elevator. I take a deep breath and either close my eyes or look at the innerworkings of the tower as we rise (never ever look down). The top is fine. The floor is solid , the area has large, iron mesh so you can%26#39;t fall and depending on the quality of the air the day you go, the view can be spectacular. Bite the bullet and try it if it is really on your list of things to do. I can%26#39;t pass it up.

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Hi!

I have been up the Eiffel tower many times, always by stairs to the 2nd floor and then with the lift from the 2nd to the 3rd. I am scared of heights too but I find it easier to take the stairs, as this way,I gradually get used to getting higher and higher. The worst experience for me was the lift from the 2nd to 3rf floor as you can see through the windows as you get higher and that seems to NEVER stop. My legs were shaking so much that I think the whole lift was shaking!

Once you are up there it is much better. Outside is very windy so it can be scarier but I felt much safer. So if you want to make it to the top,make sure you keep your eyes closed all the way! Otherwise, being on the 1st and 2nd floor, I feel much more steady and safe and the view is still great!

If you want a great view of Paris, I would definitely recommend you to go up the Tour Montparnasse. This is done through a fast but %26quot;regular%26quot; elevator (not see-through) and once on the top it is very high but the building is done in a way that there is a wider platform underneath you so it doesn%26#39;t feel like it. And the view is just magical!

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I vote for the stairs - they are very fenced in so they don%26#39;t feel very scary (plus a much shorter line and it costs less).

Once up to the second level you can decide if you want to take the life to the top - but frankly the view from the second level is great - no need to go higher.

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There was a similar thread back in May this year by %26#39;MrsBLeicester%26#39; - %26#39;Scared of heights - can I do the Eiffel Tower?%26#39;

Many people posted replies, myself included, and despite her worries she successfully managed to %26#39;do%26#39; the Tower.

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I have been up the ET too many times,, stairs and elevators .

If you are nervous of heights ,, as I am.. the worst thing is taking the STAIRS DOWN,, I HATED that,, you are forced to look down the whole time.. yikes. Taking the stairs up is not so bad at all. I thought it was fine. I found the 1st and 2nd levels are so big you can easily stand well back and enjoy views,, so you don%26#39;t have to look directly down( looking right down is hand sweaty scary for me)you can just look %26quot;out%26quot;. I only did the top once years ago,since is is smaller I didn%26#39;t like it as much, and the day I went found the haze made the view from the 2nd just as good.

Taking the elevators is not too bad ,,if you keep in the middle so you are not near a window.I like the tip about wearing sunglasses so no one sees you are closing your eyes too. !