Just in time for the summer holiday season, PureGym conducted a study analyzing the number of steps required to experience over 70 tourist attractions, along with the total elevation change and average daytime temperature, to determine which has the highest overall ‘exertion score.’
The Flørli Stairs in Norway emerged as the most physically demanding attraction, scoring 76 out of 100 due to the 4,444 steps needed to complete the 740m climb. The Manitou Incline in the USA came in second with a score of 63, while Poenari Fortress (or Poenari Castle, also known as the home of Count Dracula) in Romania placed third.
Therefore, Flørli Stairs, which can be found in Norway, is the world’s most physically demanding landmark to visit, with an exertion score of 76/100. Requiring visitors to climb a dizzying 4,444 steps, it’s the world’s longest wooden staircase and climbs a huge 740m (about 2,427 ft) above sea level, to give visitors dramatic views of the glistening Lysefjord and its surrounding mountains.
Following behind with a score of 63/100, is the Manitou Incline, a popular hiking trail in Colorado, America. With visitors to the destination climbing over 600 metres in just under a mile, this steep and challenging ascent is popular with fitness enthusiasts looking to push themselves for a spectacular view.
Completing the world’s top three most challenging landmarks to visit is Poenari Castle in Romania, with an overall score of 58/100. Famously associated with both Vlad the Impaler and Count Dracula, the castle is perched high on a cliff roughly 800 metres above sea level. Tourists wanting to access the castle must climb a monstrous 1,480 concrete steps, before being rewarded with jaw dropping panoramic views of the surrounding Carpathian Mountains.
The 20 Most Physically Demanding Tourist Attractions in the World
Rank
Tourist Attraction
Location
“Exertion” Score /100
1
Flørli Stairs
Norway
76
2
Manitou Incline
United States of America
63
3
Poenari Castle
Romania
58
4
Konpira-san Shrine
Japan
50
5
Arthur’s Seat
Scotland
48
6
Sigiriya
Sri Lanka
46
7
Park Guell
Spain
43
8
Petra Monastery
Jordan
41
9
Castle of the Moors
Portugal
41
10
Batu Caves
Malaysia
40
11
Vindhyagiri Steps
India
39
12
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Australia
39
13
Guatapé Rock
Colombia
38
14
Seville Cathedral
Spain
35
15
Heaven’s Gate
China
34
16
Monolithos Castle
Greece
34
17
Christ the Redeemer
Brazil
31
18
St. Augustine Lighthouse
United States of America
30
19
Dubrovnik City Walls
Croatia
30
20
Florence Cathedral
Italy
28
European attractions dominate the top 20, with nine different tourist landmarks ranking among the most demanding worldwide. From Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh which takes around an hour to reach, but requires a strenuous uphill climb, to the Monolithos Castle in Greece, situated on a 240m (about 787 ft) high rock on the west coast of Rhodes, that asks tourists to climb around 120 steps to reach.
Other notable attractions that made the top 20 span across the globe, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, a demanding bridge climb that gives tourists epic views over Sydney Harbour, to Heaven’s Gate in China, a beautiful natural arch found at the top of 999 steep steps.
The post Poenari Fortress Named One of Most Physically Demanding Landmarks appeared first on The Romania Journal.
