At One Place

Steps to the top: cathedrals and churches

19 cathedrals and churches, most steps first. The access column is the one worth reading before booking anything.

Structure Steps Reaches Access
Ulm Minster 768 the highest viewing platform at 143 m, in the world's tallest church steeple Open to climb
St Peter's Basilica dome 551 the lantern at the top of Michelangelo's dome, at 136 m Open to climb
Cologne Cathedral south tower 533 the viewing platform at 97 m, below the spire Open to climb
St Paul's Cathedral 528 the Golden Gallery at 85 m, the highest point open to visitors Open to climb
Brunelleschi's Dome, Florence Cathedral 463 the lantern at the top of the dome, at 91 m Open to climb
Notre-Dame de Paris towers 422 the top of the north and south towers, at 69 m Restricted — events or permit only
Giotto's Campanile 414 the open terrace at the top of the bell tower, at 85 m Open to climb
Sagrada Família towers 400 the descent from the Nativity or Passion façade towers — the ascent is by lift Restricted — events or permit only
Torre del Mangia 400 the bell chamber at 87 m, above the Palazzo Pubblico Open to climb
Belfry of Bruges 366 the top of the medieval bell tower, at 83 m Open to climb
Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) 334 the belfry, where the Great Bell hangs Restricted — events or permit only
Washington National Cathedral central tower 333 the top of the Gloria in Excelsis tower, the highest point in the city Restricted — events or permit only
Strasbourg Cathedral 332 the platform at 66 m, at the base of the spire Open to climb
Sacré-Cœur dome 300 the dome gallery at 83 m above the basilica floor, 200 m above sea level Open to climb
York Minster central tower 275 the top of the central tower, at 70 m Open to climb
Saint Isaac's Cathedral colonnade 262 the colonnade walkway around the dome, at 43 m Open to climb
Leaning Tower of Pisa 251 the bell chamber at the top, at 56 m Open to climb
Milan Cathedral rooftop 251 the roof terraces, at 70 m among the spires Open to climb
La Giralda, Seville Cathedral 17 the bell chamber at 70 m — the rest of the ascent is 35 ramps, not stairs Open to climb

Published counts for the same structure routinely disagree by five to ten per cent, and nearly always for one of three reasons: whether intermediate landings count as steps, whether the final platform step counts, and where the climb is deemed to start. The figure here says what it reaches.

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