About This Resource
The Niesen Stairway in Switzerland holds the Guinness World Record as the world's longest stairway with 11,674 steps. Built alongside the Niesen funicular railway on Mount Niesen near Lake Thun, the stairs climb 1,669 meters (5,475 feet) from the base station to the summit. The stairs are normally closed to the public for safety reasons but are opened once per year for a special race event (Niesenlauf). The annual race attracts hundreds of serious stair climbers from around the world. Elite athletes complete the climb in under an hour, while most participants take 2-4 hours. The Niesen represents the ultimate challenge in stair climbing.
