Famous Lifts around the World

Take a look at the amazing, jaw dropping, eye popping optical illusion painted on this lift floor!

As a self confessed lift lover, when I go on my travels I always look out for unusual and amazing lifts. Although lifts were originally created as a means to an end, today, many lifts have become tourist attractions in their own right. Here's a list of the top ten most amazing lifts in the world.

The Taipei 101 Lift

Taiwan's Taipei 101 skyscraper stands 508 metres tall and was the world's tallest building until 2007. However, the Taipei 101 building still holds the record for the world's fastest lifts, which travel at the incredible speed of just over 60km per hour.

Oregon City Municipal Lift

Incredibly, this outdoor lift is the only one of its kind in an American city and one of only three in the world. Oregon City is split into three levels by basalt terraces and the lift was installed to transport passengers 100 feet between city levels. There has been a lift in the same position since 1915, when it was powered by water, but a new electric lift was installed in 1955.

The Eiffel Tower Lift

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous and well loved tourist attractions in the world and a trip on its spectacular lift is not to be missed. The towers highest platform is only reachable by lift and stands 180 m tall.

St Louis Gateway Arch

Considered an eyesore when it was first constructed, the St Louis Gateway Arch is now a much loved landmark in the city. An egg shaped lift transports passengers to the top of the arch of this building in a truly futuristic style.

Luxor Hotel Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of the most spectacular places in the world and a place where crazy is the norm and the pyramid shaped Luxor Hotel is no exception. The hotel's spectacular glass fronted lift transports hotel guests to their rooms at an angle of 39 degrees.

The Louvre Museum Platform Lift

This wonderful lift provides disabled access at The Louvre in a typically avant-garde manner. The huge cylindrical lift runs up the centre of the building, elegantly wrapped in a sweeping spiral staircase. The lift affords users a fantastic bird's eye view of the interior of the Louvre as they travel.

The Hammetschwand Lift

One of the world's best kept secret, the Hammetschwand lift is a magical sight to behold. Built on the North side of Switzerland's Burgenstock Mountain, the lift travels over 150 metres in just over a minute. The views of the surrounding mountains and the icy blue Lake Lucerne are truly awe inspiring.

The Santa Justa Lift

The Santa Justa lift, sometimes called the elevator of Carbo, proudly stands in the heart of Portugal's capital city. Built at the turn of the century, the ornate structure connects the city's lowest and highest points. Standing 45 metres tall, the lift was originally powered by steam, but has since been converted to electricity.

The Lacerda Lift

The Lacerda lift, situated in Salvador Bahia, Brazil, transports passengers from the city's commercial districts on the bay to the residential areas in the hills above. 30,000 people make the 38 second trip in the lift each day and passengers are rewarded with wonderful views of the city's coastline when they reach the top.

The Bailong Lift

China's Bailong Lift is situated in Zhangjiajie National Park, one of the world's most exquisite nature reserves. The lift, which is made up of three glass capsules, begins underground and carries passengers up a cliff to a height of 326 metres. The view from the top allows visitors to the park to take in views of the famous Golden Whip Stream and the incredible surrounding landscape.

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