---
title: "How many steps? Towers, monuments and cathedrals"
description: "Steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, St Paul’s and more — with which counts are real climbs and which are service stairs."
url: https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How many steps?

56 structures and how many steps they take, of which 33 are genuinely open to climb. That distinction carries most of the value here: several of the most-quoted step counts in circulation describe stairwells the public will never see.

## The counts that mislead

- The Eiffel Tower’s famous 1,665 steps run up a service spiral to the summit. The public staircase stops at the second floor, 674 steps up.
- The Washington Monument has 897 steps and nobody has been allowed to climb them since 1976.
- The Empire State Building’s 1,576 are a fire stair, climbed once a year by a few hundred runners.
- The Burj Khalifa’s 2,909 are an emergency escape, not a visitor route.

## Most steps first

| Structure | Steps | Reaches | Access |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Burj Khalifa | 2,909 | the 160th floor, via the emergency stairwell — no public access | Not climbable by the public |
| Tokyo Skytree | 2,523 | the upper observation deck at 450 m, via the emergency staircase — no public access | Not climbable by the public |
| Mount Haguro stone stairway | 2,446 | the Sanjin Gosaiden shrine at the summit, through cedar forest | Open to climb |
| One World Trade Center | 2,226 | the 102nd floor | Restricted — events or permit only |
| Willis Tower | 2,109 | the 103rd floor Skydeck | Restricted — events or permit only |
| Taipei 101 | 2,046 | the 91st-floor outdoor observatory | Restricted — events or permit only |
| CN Tower | 1,776 | the main observation level at 342 m; 2,579 steps reach the SkyPod at 447 m | Restricted — events or permit only |
| Ostankino Tower | 1,704 | the observation deck at 337 m, via the emergency staircase | Not climbable by the public |
| Eiffel Tower (summit) | 1,665 | the summit at 276 m, using the service stairs above the second floor — closed to the public | Not climbable by the public |
| Empire State Building | 1,576 | the 86th-floor observatory, via the emergency stairwell | Restricted — events or permit only |
| The STRAT Tower | 1,455 | the observation deck at 260 m | Restricted — events or permit only |
| Kotohira-gū (Konpira-san) | 1,368 | the inner shrine, Okusha; 785 steps reach the main shrine | Open to climb |
| Q1 Tower (SkyPoint Climb) | 1,331 | the SkyPoint observation deck at 230 m | Open to climb |
| Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) | 1,237 | the summit shrine and golden Buddha on the limestone peak | Open to climb |
| Sky Tower | 1,103 | the Sky Deck at 220 m | Restricted — events or permit only |
| Gateway Arch | 1,076 | the observation area at the top of the arch, via the emergency stairs — no public access | Not climbable by the public |
| Berliner Fernsehturm | 986 | the sphere at 203 m, via the emergency staircase — no public access | Not climbable by the public |
| Washington Monument | 897 | the observation level at 152 m — stairs closed to the public | Not climbable by the public |
| Space Needle | 848 | the observation deck at 158 m | Restricted — events or permit only |
| Ulm Minster | 768 | the highest viewing platform at 143 m, in the world's tallest church steeple | Open to climb |
| Eiffel Tower | 674 | the second floor, at 115 m — the highest point the public can reach on foot | Open to climb |
| Tokyo Tower | 600 | the Main Deck at 150 m | 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 |
| Statue of Liberty (crown) | 377 | the crown, at 81 m — 162 steps above the top of the pedestal | Restricted — events or permit only |
| Belfry of Bruges | 366 | the top of the medieval bell tower, at 83 m | Open to climb |
| El Castillo, Chichén Itzá | 365 | the temple at the top of the pyramid — climbing has been prohibited since 2006 | Not climbable by the public |
| United States Capitol dome | 365 | the top of the dome — staff-escorted tours only | Not climbable by the public |
| Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey | 350 | the abbey church and the west terrace, from the village entrance | Open to climb |
| Wat Saket (the Golden Mount) | 344 | the golden chedi at the top of the artificial hill, at 58 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 |
| The Monument to the Great Fire of London | 311 | the viewing platform below the gilded urn, at 48 m | Open to climb |
| Wat Phra That Doi Suthep | 306 | the temple terrace, from the car park on the mountain road | 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 |
| Bunker Hill Monument | 294 | the observation chamber at 67 m | Open to climb |
| Arc de Triomphe | 284 | the roof terrace at 50 m | Open to climb |
| York Minster central tower | 275 | the top of the central tower, at 70 m | Open to climb |
| Batu Caves | 272 | the Temple Cave, in a limestone hill above Kuala Lumpur | Open to climb |
| Saint Isaac's Cathedral colonnade | 262 | the colonnade walkway around the dome, at 43 m | Open to climb |
| Cape Hatteras Lighthouse | 257 | the gallery below the lantern room, at 63 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 |
| Christ the Redeemer | 220 | the statue's viewing platform, from the upper station of the Corcovado railway | Open to climb |
| Statue of Liberty (pedestal) | 215 | the top of the pedestal, at 47 m — the observation level below the statue itself | Open to climb |
| The Motherland Calls (Mamayev Kurgan) | 200 | the base of the statue, from the foot of the memorial complex | Open to climb |
| Wembley Stadium (Royal Box) | 107 | the Royal Box, where trophies are presented | Restricted — events or permit only |
| Lincoln Memorial | 57 | the statue chamber, from the plaza at the Reflecting Pool | 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.

## Towers

- [How many steps up Eiffel Tower?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/eiffel-tower/) — 674 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Empire State Building?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/empire-state-building/) — 1,576 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up Eiffel Tower (summit)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/eiffel-tower-summit/) — 1,665 steps · not climbable by the public
- [How many steps up Burj Khalifa?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/burj-khalifa/) — 2,909 steps · not climbable by the public
- [How many steps up CN Tower?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/cn-tower/) — 1,776 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up Tokyo Tower?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/tokyo-tower/) — 600 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Taipei 101?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/taipei-101/) — 2,046 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up One World Trade Center?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/one-world-trade-center/) — 2,226 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up Tokyo Skytree?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/tokyo-skytree/) — 2,523 steps · not climbable by the public
- [How many steps up Willis Tower?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/willis-tower/) — 2,109 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up Space Needle?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/space-needle/) — 848 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up Ostankino Tower?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/ostankino-tower/) — 1,704 steps · not climbable by the public
- [All 17 towers](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/tower/)

## Monuments

- [How many steps up Statue of Liberty (pedestal)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/statue-of-liberty-pedestal/) — 215 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Statue of Liberty (crown)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/statue-of-liberty-crown/) — 377 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up Washington Monument?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/washington-monument/) — 897 steps · not climbable by the public
- [How many steps up Arc de Triomphe?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/arc-de-triomphe/) — 284 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Lincoln Memorial?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/lincoln-memorial/) — 57 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Christ the Redeemer?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/christ-the-redeemer/) — 220 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up The Monument to the Great Fire of London?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/monument-great-fire-london/) — 311 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/mont-saint-michel/) — 350 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Bunker Hill Monument?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/bunker-hill-monument/) — 294 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Gateway Arch?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/gateway-arch/) — 1,076 steps · not climbable by the public
- [How many steps up United States Capitol dome?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/us-capitol-dome/) — 365 steps · not climbable by the public
- [How many steps up The Motherland Calls (Mamayev Kurgan)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/motherland-calls/) — 200 steps · open to climb

## Cathedrals and churches

- [How many steps up Leaning Tower of Pisa?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/leaning-tower-of-pisa/) — 251 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up St Peter's Basilica dome?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/st-peters-basilica/) — 551 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/elizabeth-tower/) — 334 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up St Paul's Cathedral?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/st-pauls-cathedral/) — 528 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Brunelleschi's Dome, Florence Cathedral?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/florence-duomo/) — 463 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Notre-Dame de Paris towers?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/notre-dame-de-paris/) — 422 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up Sagrada Família towers?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/sagrada-familia/) — 400 steps · restricted — events or permit only
- [How many steps up Cologne Cathedral south tower?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/cologne-cathedral/) — 533 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Milan Cathedral rooftop?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/milan-duomo/) — 251 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Sacré-Cœur dome?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/sacre-coeur/) — 300 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Giotto's Campanile?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/giotto-campanile/) — 414 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Belfry of Bruges?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/bruges-belfry/) — 366 steps · open to climb
- [All 19 cathedrals and churches](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/cathedral/)

## Temples

- [How many steps up Batu Caves?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/batu-caves/) — 272 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up El Castillo, Chichén Itzá?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/chichen-itza/) — 365 steps · not climbable by the public
- [How many steps up Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/tiger-cave-temple/) — 1,237 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Wat Phra That Doi Suthep?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/doi-suthep/) — 306 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Wat Saket (the Golden Mount)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/wat-saket/) — 344 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Mount Haguro stone stairway?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/mount-haguro/) — 2,446 steps · open to climb
- [How many steps up Kotohira-gū (Konpira-san)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/kotohira-gu/) — 1,368 steps · open to climb

## Stadiums

- [How many steps up Wembley Stadium (Royal Box)?](https://atoneplace.net/how-many-steps/wembley-stadium/) — 107 steps · restricted — events or permit only

## Common questions

### How many steps up the Eiffel Tower?

674 to the second floor, which is as high as the public staircase goes. The quoted 1,665 to the summit uses a service spiral closed to visitors, and even that number is disputed — 1,710 and 1,792 also circulate.

### Why do published step counts differ?

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. Those routinely account for five to ten per cent.

### Which famous step counts cannot actually be climbed?

The Washington Monument’s 897 have been closed since 1976, the Empire State Building’s 1,576 are a fire stair used once a year for a race, and the Burj Khalifa’s 2,909 are an emergency escape.