The climb
How many steps in Torre dos Clérigos?
Quantos degraus tem a Torre dos Clérigos? Sources give 225, 240 or 197. Here is who says what, why the counts differ and which to plan around.
Book your climb ↗Quick answer
The figure most often quoted is 225 steps, including in the Portuguese Wikipedia and on the tower ticket. The English Wikipedia and Visit Porto say 240. A 2015 newspaper count explains the gap: 197 steps from the ticket office, 225 from the church and 240 from the chapel. Plan for about 225 steps and a narrow spiral with no lift.
The short answer
Quantos degraus tem a Torre dos Clérigos? About 225, depending on where you start counting. That is the figure on the tower ticket and in the Portuguese Wikipedia. The English Wikipedia and Visit Porto give 240, and the Diário de Notícias counted 197 from the ticket office. No source is wrong about its own starting point, which is why the numbers differ. This page sets the three side by side so you can pick the one that matches what you will actually climb.
Who says what
Four figures turn up in the sources. The same tower is behind all of them, and each one is credited here to the source that gives it, so that you can check the claim yourself and decide which start point matches the visit you are planning.
- 225: the tower ticket and the Portuguese Wikipedia, for the interior staircase
- 240: English Wikipedia and Visit Porto, for the climb to the top
- 197: the Diário de Notícias in 2015, counted from the ticket office
- About 200: a visitor quoted in the same article, who did not count
Why the counts differ
The Diário de Notícias gave the reason in 2015. Its reporter climbed 197 steps from the ticket office to the top, and noted that the number is 225 if you count from the church and 240 from the chapel. In other words the tower's stair has different start points depending on which part of the complex you enter, and each source counts from the one it knows. No one figure is settled.
Six floors, one spiral
English Wikipedia describes the tower as having six floors, and the Portuguese Wikipedia says the interior staircase leads to two viewing balconies at different levels. The Diário de Notícias called the stair narrow and spiral. The tower is about 75 metres high, a figure that also varies slightly by source: English Wikipedia gives 75.6 metres, the Portuguese Wikipedia 75 and the newspaper 76. Those are heights, not steps, but they explain why the climb feels long.
What the climb is like
There is no lift. The tower ticket gives its duration as about 30 minutes, and the climb is the main part of that. The stair is narrow and spiral, and the evening ticket carries a warning for people with claustrophobia, heart problems or vertigo. At the top, the two balconies give a 360-degree view of the Baixa, the Douro and, on a clear day, the sea.
Which number to plan around
If you want one figure to quote, use 225: it matches the ticket and the Portuguese Wikipedia, and the newspaper ties it to a start at the church. If you want the full climb from the lowest start, 240 is the number that English Wikipedia and Visit Porto use. Either way, treat it as about 225 to 240 steps. A sensible plan is to allow time, wear comfortable shoes and take the stair slowly.
Read next: Torre dos Clérigos with kids
Who this isn't for
If counting steps is a way of asking whether you can do the climb, the answer depends on you rather than on the number. The tower ticket is marked not suitable for people with reduced mobility. The tower's own website describes an accessible route and a multisensory space that simulates the climb, so contact the tower before you choose a ticket.
Read next: Torre dos Clérigos: practical guide
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does Torre dos Clérigos have?
About 225 by the count on the ticket and in the Portuguese Wikipedia. English Wikipedia and Visit Porto say 240.
Quantos degraus tem a Torre dos Clérigos?
Cerca de 225, segundo o bilhete e a Wikipédia em português. A Wikipédia em inglês e o Visit Porto indicam 240.
Why do sources give different numbers?
A 2015 newspaper count gave 197 steps from the ticket office, 225 from the church and 240 from the chapel, so the number depends on where you start counting.
Is there a lift?
No. The ticket notes there is no lift to the top, and the stair is narrow and spiral.
Sources