Famous public stairs of all time and best urban stairs. Here are 15 amazing staircase designs from around the world!
Some were designed by star architects like Renzo Piano, while others were designed by people who lived centuries ago. What they have in common is their breathtaking(!) beauty… There is no doubt that stairs are one of the first architectural inventions of mankind. It is possible to find various examples of public stairs in all cultures and geographies. The oldest example of stairs in history was found in Gobekli Tepe near Sanlıurfa in 10000 BC. Since their first invention, urban stairs continue to be used without losing their popularity.
Beyond their function, staircases have been important throughout history because they provide information about the splendor of the building and the status of its owner. For this reason, the staircases in royal palaces and state buildings in Europe are much larger and more magnificent. Staircases, the most beautiful and magnificent examples of which can be found in public spaces, have not lost any of their importance today despite all kinds of technological and structural innovations.
It is indisputable that elevators are much faster and more practical than stairs. But stairs allow us to perceive the space we are in from different perspectives. In fact, there are some staircases where we are willing to climb hundreds of steps just to stay in the perfect view. Like the 740-step staircase carved into the 10 million-ton El Peñol rock in Colombia and the Moses Bridge staircase buried in the water in the southern Netherlands.
Below you will see some of the world’s most famous public stairs built over the centuries. If you are not afraid of heights, you should definitely add these 15 of the world’s most famous staircases, breathtaking in their design, to your travel plans.
Famous Public Stairs in The World
1. Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy
The two staircases in the Vatican museums, known as the “Bramante Staircase”, are one of the most beautiful parts of the building. The original staircase inside the Pio Clementin Museum was built in 1505. The other famous Bramante Staircase was built in 1932 by Guiseppe Momo, inspired by the old staircase. This snail-shaped staircase is one of the most popular staircases in the world, designed as a double helix so that those going up and down the staircase do not meet each other.
2. Patagonia, Chile and Argentina
These wooden stair treads are specially designed for travelers who want to explore the wilderness of Patagonia. Located at the very tip of South America, Patagonia is one of the most stunning natural wonders in the world. If you are ever in that part of the world, you must see this wonderful nature and its famous stairs.
3. Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul, South Korea
These extraordinary stairs belonging to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul were designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid in collaboration with the South Korean architectural office Samoo.
4. Heaven’s Gate Mountain, Zhangjiajie, Çin
Heaven’s Gate Mountain, located in Tianmen Mountain National Park in southern China, has a stairway for visitors to ascend the mountain. The top of the staircase leads to a 431-meter-long natural hole in the mountain. When visitors make it all the way up this long staircase, they are treated to an extraordinary view.
5. Chand Baori, Abhaneri, India
Built between 800 AD and 900 AD, Chand Baori is one of the oldest and most interesting structures in the village of Abhaneri in the Indian state of Rajasthan. At 33 meters deep, it is the deepest water well in the world. The 13-story well was built to collect rainwater to meet the water demand in the region. This famous public stairs, consisting of approximately 3500 steps, provides easy access to the water level for the people of the village.
6. Stairs in Santorini, Greece
Santorini is a Greek island in the middle of the Aegean Sea. This small island is known for its breathtaking views and white-painted houses. Located on a steep hillside, these houses are accessed by stairs with wonderful views.
7. Würzburg Residence, Würzburg, Germany
Built in the mid-18th century, the Würzburg residence in southern Germany is one of the best examples of baroque architecture. With an area of 670 m2, it has the largest fresco in the world. Under this work depicting different continents, there is a magnificent staircase design with small sculptures on the railings.
8. Pompidou Center, Paris, France
Designed in the 1970s by renowned architect Renzo Piano, the Pompidou Center is located in the fourth arrondissement of Paris. The building houses various cultural and art institutions, including the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Europe’s largest museum of modern art. The exoskeleton of the building is left exposed and the unusual staircase is located on the facade facing the street. Four colors are used symbolically in the design of the building. Yellow is the electrical circulation of the building, green is the water circulation, blue is the air circulation, and red is the human circulation, namely the stairs and elevators.
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9. El Peñon de Guatape, Medellin, Colombia
Located about 40 kilometers east of Medellín, El Peñon de Guatape is a seven thousand square meter symbolic structure formed by a boulder. Also called El Penol, this place at the top of the Guatape rock is used for worship by the Tahami people. Visitors must climb a 740-step staircase carved into the rock to get a view of the swamp from the summit.
10. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu, about 8000 meters above sea level, is the ruins of the Inca civilization. Visitors have to climb 3000 steps to see this giant fortress city built by the Incas. As always, the most beautiful views are on the stairs that require the most difficult climb. You should definitely add this extraordinary place, one of the seven wonders of the world, to your travel plans.
11. Tiger & Turtle Magic Mountain, Duisburg, Germany
The “Tiger and Turtle Magic Mountain” staircase, which resembles a roller coaster in amusement parks with its appearance, is made in such a way that you can walk around its entire surface. Designed by German artists Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth, this stair system is more sculptural than functional. Nevertheless, the staircase is very attractive and provides visitors with exercise and a wide view of the Duisburg countryside.
12. Sanxiantai, Taiwan
Off the far east coast of Taiwan, there are a series of islands in the Pacific Ocean. For those who want to go to Sanxiantai Island on foot, there is a beautiful bridge with 8 arches stretching from the shore to the island. If you like adventure, you can climb to the top of the island and enjoy the unique view of the Pacific Ocean.
13. Moses Bridge, Halsteren, Netherlands
This extraordinary bridge, which we are used to seeing over the water, is now embedded in the water, splitting the water surface in two and allowing visitors to cross the water without getting wet. Constructed from waterproof wood, the bridge may seem simple at first glance. However, the bridge designed by RO&AD architecture firms is high-tech. Adjustable dams on both sides of the bridge allow the water height to be controlled.
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14. KPMG, Munich, Germany
In the courtyard in the center of the office buildings of the audit firm KPMG, there is a sculptural staircase. This endless stairs was designed by artist Olafur Eliasson.
15. Taihang Mountains, Linzhou, China
Next to the Taihang Mountains in China, a 300-meter-long spiral staircase stretches towards the sky. There are some health procedures and an age limit of 60 years for the use of this challenging stairs.
We hope you enjoyed our article on “Famous Public Stairs of All Time & 15 Amazing Staircase Designs”. If there are other famous stairs that you think should be on this list, please let us know in the comments. 🙂
