Discover 20 of the world’s most spectacular staircases

Loop, curve, and climb up to nearly 69 feet on the walkable roller coaster, Tiger & Turtle Magic Mountain. Even with the epic loops closed off by a barrier to the public, the art installation’s twisted metal staircase gives amusement park lovers a new perspective on the classic and exhilarating ride. With 249 steps making up the walkway, visitors can catch striking views of the Rhine, and at night, the handrails are illuminated with LED lights.

Located in one of the world’s most well-known opera houses, the Palais Garnier’s staircases are rich in opulent beauty, intricate carvings, and detailed artwork.

The marble stairs in the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Africa, provides a beautiful foundation to the soaring arches, wide windows, and decorative wood carvings.

Once a path used during World War II to access a radio station antenna on top of Puu Keahi a Kahoe, the Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, climbs nearly 2,500 feet over O’ahu, Hawaii. While the nearly 4,000-step ladder provides stunning views of the island, it is illegal to climb the stairs from top to bottom after the government closed it due to massive weather damage. If caught taking the trek up, you may be slapped with a thousand-dollar fine on the way down.

Used as the command center during the Malayan Campaign and the Battle of Singapore in World War II, the Battle Box was an underground bunker beneath Fort Canning Hill. Explorers can take the cobbled steps down to see where the British made the decision to surrender Singapore to invading Japanese in 1942.

Consisting of 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories, Chand Baori is one of the largest stepwells in the world. In Hinduism, water is a safe boundary between heaven and Earth and provided cleansing powers. Stepwells like Chand Baori were not only a place people could gather to find water and shelter from the heat, but also a haven for bathing, prayer, and meditation.

Following the natural grooves of the Tianshan Grand Canyon, these stairs give climbers stunning views of the wonders that lie below.

Rumored to have been J.K. Rowling’s inspiration when designing Hogwart’s magical moving stairs, the opulent red staircase in Livraria Lello brings its own magic to Muggles in Porto, Portugal.

Two spiral staircases dance and twist to create “Umschreibung,” a 30-foot-tall sculpture whose name translates to “transcription” or “rewriting.” The flights interlock at the peak to create a continuous loop. Erected in 2004 by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, the stairs can be found in front of the KPMG building complex in Schwanthalerhöhe.

Tucked away in the Andes Mountains, the 26-mile-long Inca Trail to Machu Picchu boasts much of the original Incan architecture from the 15th century.

Inspired by the original Bramante Staircase created by Donato Bramante in 1505, Giuseppe Momo’s 1932 take on the iconic staircase allows people to ascend and descend without ever crossing paths. The ornate bronze balustrade around the stairs is illuminated by the glass ceiling above.

Resembling a snail’s spiraling shell, the Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a hidden gem in the Venetian neighborhood of San Marcos. Travellers can climb to the top of its 80 steps to find beautiful views over the rooftops of the city.

The stairs around the dramatic waterfall El Pailón del Diablo, or the Devil’s Cauldron, are studded with observation platforms and jaw-dropping backgrounds. Raincoats are recommended and make sure to approach the slippery steps with caution.

Just outside the Bahnhof St. Johann tram stop in downtown Basel, Switzerland, these stairs spiral to the heavens.

Considered one of Pittsburgh’s first skyscrapers, the Bank Tower’s decorated marble staircase coils in semicircles from the lobby to the 16th floor.

Familiar to Game of Thrones fans, the tiny island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is connected to the mainland by a manufactured stone bridge. The narrow path leading up to a 10th-century church zigs and zags over 241 steps and fills visitors with awe. Pro tip: There is a local legend that after you reach the top you should ring the church bell three times and make a wish.

Made famous by the 1953 film Roman Holiday, the Trinità dei Monti steps, or Spanish Steps, were designed by the architect Francesco De Sanctis in the 1700s. A steep climb, the 174 steps are between the Piazza di Spagna and the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti.

The Batu Caves, home to 13 Hindu temples, received a major makeover in August 2018. The 272 steps leading up to the caves were painted rainbow as part of site-wide renovation project.

Locally known as the 66 steps, the Queen's Staircase was built in the late 1700s to provide direct access from Fort Fincastle to Nassau City. While there are technically 66 steps, only 65 are visible due to the first step being paved over with asphalt in a restoration project.

To celebrate the Masoala Rainforest’s 10th anniversary in 2013, the Zoo Zürich opened the treetop walkway, so visitors can feel like they are a part of the jungle when discovering its native creatures. Comprised of two steel towers, each structure is covered in lianas and epiphytes, and a kapok tree grows in the middle of the large tower.