Some of the world's attractions take a bit of extra effort to see. Ancient monuments, historic cathedrals and sacred temples were not built with accessibility in mind. Pure Gym has put together a ranking of the world's most physically demanding landmarks.
They used factors including the number of steps, the elevation change during the ascent of the landmark, and the average temperature of the location to produce rankings. "Many people will know the feeling of climbing hundreds of stairs and reaching the top of a viewpoint feeling like you've just completed a gym class, so we wanted to take a closer look and find out which landmarks are the most physically demanding overall," the company said . Here's the top 15 list.
Heaven's Gate or Tianmen Mountain in China is a Tianmen Mountain National Park, Zhangjiajie, in the northwestern part of Hunan Province, It has a 999 step entrance known as "the Stairway to Heaven". READ MORE: Here are all the best places to stay in Phuket, depending on what vibe you're after It does have a cable car part of the way up, but you have to walk the final ascent. The World Heritage listed Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See in the Spanish city of Seville was finished in 1519.
There are 700 steps to reach the top of the tower, making it a bit of a workout. That incredible staircase clinging to the side of Guatapé Rock has 740 steps. But it's the steepness which helped to put it at number 13 on the list.
READ MORE: The best beaches in the world for nudists have been revealed The familiar landmark in Sydney Harbour can be climbed via attraction BridgeClimb. It has a hefty 1332 steps , which curve around the arch. You can also climb the pylons for free.
You'll need to tackle 660 steps in the heat of India at the rock cut steps leading to the Gomateshwara temple, in Karnataka, India. READ MORE: The 'one thing' you have to do in Paris, according to Catriona Rowntree You'll have to climb 200 steps to get to Batu caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But it's fairly steep, and the weather is generally pretty steamy too.
It ranked number 10 on the list. The Castle of the Moors has 500 steps, and an elevation of 400m, making it a quite taxing spot to see. READ MORE: Would you give up your plane seat for a new bride on her honeymoon? Seeing the monastery at Petra in Jordan is on many people's bucket lists.
But beware- you'll need to climb 800 steps at an elevation of 22 metres in the Middle East heat to tick it off. Gaudi's Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain is a colourful wonder to see There are an incredible 1984 steps to tackle to get to the top however. You have to buy tickets as only 1400 people per day are allowed to visit.
READ MORE: Hawaii food guide: All the best places to eat and drink on the island of O'ahu This little known landmark has a massive 1200 steps to get to the top, which is 200m high. We're sure the view are worth it. The beloved Edinburgh landmark, Arthur's Seat was seen in Netflix hit One Day .
The old volcano is a popular site for tourists who want to burn off all that haggis. It's 3220 steps to get up there, and it's at an elevation of 279m. READ MORE: The questionable ways Aussies are stashing their cash when travelling Japan is filled with sacred shrines, and to visit this one you'll face 1368 steps.
The Shinto shrine is on Mount Zozu in Kotohira and is patron of sea ship transport and sailors. READ MORE: New research reveals the most magical and 'otherworldly' travel destinations Also known as Poenari Citadel, this landmark is the site of a once impenetrable fortress that was a home of Vlad the Impaler. Situated on the top of a mountain and accessed by climbing 1,480 concrete steps, the castle is often called the 'real Dracula's castle'.
The position provides an amazing vantage point over the Arges River Valley and Vidraru Dam, which will give a great distraction to the muscle aches that are sure to await anyone who tackles the climb. The 800m elevation change, which is the greatest of any of the landmarks analysed, puts the Castle in third place with a score of 58 out of a possible 100. The Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs, Colorado is one of the most popular hiking trails in the state - but also one of the most challenging.
T he Incline ascends on the east slope of Rocky Mountain and follows the remains of a funicular railway. With sweeping views and an average grade of 45 per cent, and 68% in places, it's not for the faint hearted. Over the 1.
42km distance, hikers gain 613m in elevation, so your legs will definitely get a good workout. With a score of 63 out of 100, the Incline is in second place in the rankings. Flørli in Norway is home to a hydroelectric power station, as well as the world's longest wooden staircase, coming in at 4,444 steps.
The staircase follows a pipeline that was used for the old Flørli Power Station, but as this has since been replaced, the staircase and pipeline have been left as an activity for tourists. Though it has a total ascent of 750m, the climb is said to be child-friendly, thanks to the rails and cables on offer to help support hikers during their climb. However, it may not be best for those with vertigo or a fear of heights, as it is very steep in sections.
It's estimated to take up to four hours to complete the full ascent. A score of 76 out of 100 puts the Flørli Stairs at the top spot on the most physically demanding landmarks.
