The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt are the only ancient wonder of the world still in existence.
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Carved from stone in the desert, built along thousands of miles or erected on mountainsides, the seven wonders of the world are on many of our travel bucket lists. Here’s an explainer on what they are, where to find them, and when’s best to visit.
What Are The 7 Wonders Of The World?
When we talk about the 7 wonders of the world, we might be talking about either the ancient world or the modern world.
Greek scholars compiled a list of the 7 wonders of the ancient world over centuries but only one remains that travelers can visit today.
Since 2007, there has been a new register that lists 7 wonders of the modern world, all of which are open to travelers. Here’s an explainer of what the 7 wonders of the world are, where to find them, and when to visit.
The 7 Wonders Of The Ancient World
The historian Herodotus (484 BC-ca. 425 BC), the scholar Callimachus (ca 305-240 BC), and Philon of Byzantium in 200 BC are all believed to have contributed to lists, over centuries, of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
This list only included regional sites known to them at that time, and these became known as the 7 wonders of the ancient world: the Temple of Zeus at Olympia; the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; the Colossus of Rhodes; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; the Pharos of Alexandria and the Pyramids of Giza.
Can I Visit The 7 Wonders Of The Ancient World?
The simple answer is that you can’t visit the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Only the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt still exists.
Also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, it was built as pharaoh Khufu’s tomb, and you can visit it by traveling to Cairo. It’s best to visit the 4,000-year-old site when the weather is less intense, from October to April, and visit early mornings or late afternoon to avoid the crowds.
The other six of the seven wonders of the ancient world were destroyed, or there is even some debate as to whether some existed:
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iran. No definitive archaeological evidence exists. Still, they may have been built around 600 BC, and their remains may have been destroyed by an earthquake or currently lie under the Euphrates River.
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece. It was destroyed in the 5th or 6th century CE, possibly by fire, an earthquake, or maybe by Christian rulers to discourage paganism.
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Turkey. It was destroyed multiple times, the last time by people in 401 CE. Some ruins exist near Selçuk in Turkey.
- Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Turkey. Some remnants exist in Bodrum, Turkey, but earthquakes destroyed the site in the Middle Ages.
- Colossus of Rhodes, Greece. It was possibly as tall as the Statue of Liberty in New York, but no substantial remains exist because an earthquake destroyed it in 226 BCE.
- Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt. It was built in the 3rd century BC but was damaged by several earthquakes although some underwater ruins are still visible.
The 7 Wonders Of The Modern World
The Seven Wonders of the Modern World, unveiled in 2007 by the New7Wonders Foundation, were chosen for their scale, ingenuity, and cultural significance by millions of people who voted around the world.
The seven modern wonders are spread over five continents across mountains and deserts alike, comprising the Great Wall of China, Petra, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Taj Mahal.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient and Modern World are similar in that they’re all extraordinary feats of engineering. Think of the Pyramid of Giza, an ancient wonder or the (relatively) more modern Taj Mahal.
Rulers built them to showcase power, and they carried symbolic, cultural, or religious significance. For example, the ancient Temple of Artemis and the more modern Christ the Redeemer carried both religious and spiritual meaning.
There is one key difference in that the 7 ancient wonders of the world reflect the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern focus of Greek historians. In contrast, the 7 wonders of the modern world showcase more of a global perspective as they span more continents.
The Great Wall of China, one of seven wonders of the modern world.
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1. The Great Wall Of China, China
The Great Wall of China was built to protect the country from invasion and spans an impressive 13,000 miles (over 20,000 km) from the Gobi desert in the west to the ocean in the east. What began in the third century BC as a way of keeping warring nomads out of the country also ended up as a hugely unifying force.
It was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987 and though it’s refuted by NASA, people still often say that it’s the only man-made structure to be seen from space.
How Can Travelers Visit The Great Wall Of China?
There are 15 areas that allow a ‘pass’ through sections of the wall and Jiayu Pass in the Gobi desert is one of the most well-preserved. Several sections are accessible from Beijing, such as Badaling, Mutianyu, or Jinshanling.
Badaling, just 43km from Beijing was rebuilt in the 1950s, is one of the best known sections and probably the busiest. Jinshaling is twice the distance but one of the best preserved sections, with original walls and towers intact. Jiankou (93km north of Beijing) is steep, challenging and unrestored but also therefore less touristy and rugged.
Why Should Travelers Visit The Great Wall Of China?
There are many cultural insights visitors can gain from the Great Wall of China. The scale is immense. The fact that it took over 2,000 years to build and is more than just a wall; it’s made up of beacon towers, barriers, barracks, garrison stations, and fortresses.
This engineering feat represents more than just good construction—it’s a way to view China’s exchanges with its neighbors, and the cultures and legends that grew up alongside the soldiers, prisoners and the locals who built it—many died during the Great Wall’s construction and their bodies are said to buried within the wall itself.
What Are The Best Seasons To Visit The Great Wall Of China?
Visit in spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October).
Al-Khazneh in the ancient Arab Nabatean city of Petra, one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
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2. Petra, Jordan
The ‘Rose Red City’ in southern Jordan is the country’s most visited tourist attraction, getting a million visitors each year. The archaeological site dates from 300 BC and was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. It became protected in 1993 and was used in the filming of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as the site of the Holy Grail.
How Can Travelers Visit Petra?
Travelers enter through the Visitor Centre in Wadi Musa, which is also where you can book guided tours. Visitors usually reach the site from Amman or Aqaba via an organised tour but you can arrive by car, bus or à la Indiana Jones, by camel or horse.
Why Should Travelers Visit Petra?
There are many cultural insights visitors can gain from Petra but above all it’s an appreciation of the culture of the historically nomadic Nabataean community (a blend of Hellenistic, Roman, and Arab cultures) with advanced water systems, trading routes, and the skill to intricately carve sandstone rock facades, temples and tombs by hand.
What Are The Best Seasons To Visit Petra?
Arrive in spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November) for mild weather as summer can be extremely hot. Get there early in the mornings to avoid the crowds.
Aerial view of Christ the Redeemer, Brazil, one of the seven wonders of the modern world
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3. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Towering over Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, Christ the Redeemer is an art deco statue of Jesus designed by French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski and erected in 1931.
It is 30 meters high and made of reinforced concrete, clad with thousands of soapstone veneer tiles. It can be seen from anywhere in Rio and more than two million people visit every year.
How Can Travelers Visit Christ The Redeemer?
The statue sits on Mount Corcovado in Rio which visitors can reach by train from Cosme Velho station, by van from Paineiras, or through hiking trails from Parque Lage. Before escalators and elevators were added in 2002, visitors would have to climb the 200 steps to the top.
Why Should Travelers Visit Christ The Redeemer?
There are many cultural insights visitors can gain from Christ The Redeemer. Beyond the engineering feat of erecting such a work of art, it is said to be emblematic of the city of Rio and in turn, Brazil itself.
What Are The Best Seasons To Visit Christ The Redeemer?
Visit during spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May) for clearer skies and cooler temperatures.
Macchu Pichu in Peru, one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
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4. Machu Picchu, Peru
Nestled high in the Peruvian Andes where it meets the Amazon basin, Machu Picchu is an Incan city built at 2,430 meters above sea-level in the 15th century. It is a citadel comprising 200 buildings on mountain slopes that are crisscrossed with stone terraces.
How Can Travelers Visit Machu Picchu?
The Andean mountain village of Cusco is the starting point for either one of two trekking routes that take around four days. Alternatively, take the more civilised train ride that lasts four hours into the nearby village of Aguas Calientes. From there it is a thirty-minute bus ride or a reasonably challenging 2.2 mile trek, that should take an athletic person around two hours.
Why Should Travelers Visit Machu Picchu?
There are many cultural insights visitors can gain from Machu Picchu, not least the skill of a civilisation that managed to build such a masterpiece so high in the Andes surrounded by such rich flora and fauna.
It’s an archaeological complex that displays the religious, ceremonial, astronomical and agricultural centre at the heart of this mountain city that also showcases Incan expertise through an extensive road and trail system, irrigation canals and agricultural terraces.
What Are The Best Seasons To Visit Machu Picchu?
You can visit all year round but May and September are ideal months, which offer fewer crowds and usually less rainfall.
Chichen Itza, Mexico, one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
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5. Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza is a complex of sacred Mayan ruins, including a huge step pyramid on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico that was part of an ancient city that was thriving between 600 AD to the 1200s. The pyramid is known as El Castillo or the Temple of Kukulcan.
How Can Travelers Visit Chichen Itza?
Located in the Yucatan Peninsula, it is easily accessible from Cancún, Tulum, or Mérida by car, bus, or organised tours.
Why Should Travelers Visit Chichen Itza?
There are many cultural insights visitors can gain from Chichen Itza, primarily because it showcases the brilliance of Mayan civilisation and their construction techniques. Visitors can also find out about Mayan beliefs, the significance of human sacrifices in their rituals and how the pyramid was built to reflect the Mayan calendar year—the pyramid has 365 steps to the top.
What Are The Best Seasons To Visit Chichen Itza?
Visit during dry season (November-April) to avoid humidity and rain.
The Roman Colosseum, one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
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6. Roman Colosseum, Italy
The Colosseum is an enduring icon of ancient Rome, renowned for its massive amphitheatre and gladiatorial games. This architectural masterpiece offers a glimpse into the grandeur and complexities of Roman civilisation and their architectural know-how.
How Can Travelers Visit The Roman Colosseum?
Located in central Rome, it is accessible by metro, bus, or walking. The Colosseo metro stop is the closest.
Why Should Travelers Visit The Roman Colosseum?
There are many cultural insights visitors can gain from the Roman Colosseum. It’s a symbol of ancient Roman engineering, architecture and culture, the place where Romans conducted gladiatorial battles, where emperor’s wielded imperial power and where people came to see and be seen.
What Are The Best Seasons To Visit The Roman Colosseum?
Visit in spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November) for milder weather and possibly slightly fewer crowds.
Taj Mahal in Agra, India, one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
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7. Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal is a magnificent white marble mausoleum built as a symbol of love by Emperor Shah Jahan to his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal which translates to ‘Chosen One of the Palace.’
Mahal died in childbirth in 1631 and it is said that on her deathbed, the Emperor promised to build her the most beautiful tomb.
How Can Travelers Visit The Taj Mahal?
Located in Agra, the Taj Mahal can be reached by train, car, or flights to nearby airports.
Why Should Travelers Visit The Taj Mahal?
There are many cultural insights visitors can gain from the Taj Mahal. National Geographic calls it “an enduring monument to love” but also testament of how a wealthy empire could showcase its artistic and scientific prowess—20,000 stonemasons and artists worked on the building between 1631 and 1648.
What Are The Best Seasons To Visit The Taj Mahal?
Visit during winter (October-March) for cooler weather and clearer views. It can get very overcrowded so sometimes visitors choose to arrive at sunrise.
Visiting All 7 Wonders Of The Modern World
The 7 wonders of the modern world are spaced out across the globe so visiting them all will likely take a lot of time and money compared to the average trip. There are some tours that offer to take in all seven in one trip, often lasting up to a month and costing over $10,000. Some tours will also take in the one remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramid of Giza.
Regardless though of whether you visit all or just one of the 7 wonders of the world, nothing beats the feeling of trekking to a place that, regardless of the number of fellow travelers, makes you consider the wonder of humanity for a few hours. How centuries of people have built feats of engineering in sometimes the most hostile of environments as a testament to their culture and beliefs. And the feeling of gratitude we can have as visitors to share in that for just a little while before heading back to our daily lives.
