Incredible Ancient Wonders
From the remains of once-great cities to the temples that have withstood the ravages of time, the world is full of amazing ruins—these are the ones that should be on your travel bucket list.
Banditaccia Necropolis, Italy
While the wood-based cities of the Etruscans have been all but lost to the sands of time, the incredible necropolis that they built for the departed still stands. Located in the town of Cerveteri, the Banditaccia Necropolis is all that remains of the ancient Etruscan city, which was at least 15 times larger than the town one can visit today.
Considered a World Heritage Site, the necropolis is home to more than 400 tombs dating from the 9th-2nd centuries BC. With 3D technology, historians have been able to virtually reconstruct some of the original artwork and grave goods from the tombs, which are kept safe in museums.
Roberto Ferrari, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Calakmul, Mexico
The grand pyramids of the 2,000-year-old city of Calakmul are an unforgettable sight. Once one of the largest Mayan cities, Calakmul was built around 100 BC and flourished for 1,000 years before being abandoned. The forest reclaimed the site and today most of it is protected as a wildlife reserve—toucans, macaws, and jaguars are just some of the animals that live there.
Calakmul is difficult to get to, and there are few services if you manage to make it there—but that only makes a visit to this incredible ruin all the more thrilling and unique.
Dambulla Cave Temples, Sri Lanka
The town of Dambulla is where you’ll find the largest and best-preserved complex of cave temples in Sri Lanka. Here, you’ll find 80 caves housing more than 150 Buddha statues. The complex was built in the 1st century BC, with a monastery dating back to the 2nd century BC—the monastery is still in use today.
Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Chauvet Cave, France
Chauvet is one of the world’s most incredible paleolithic caves, adorned with more than 400 scenes of lions, horses, bison, aurochs, and even wooly rhinos. The artwork here was painted 36,000 years ago—19,000 years before the famous Lascaux caves. Chauvet’s paintings were preserved when the entrance to the cave collapsed, about 20,000 years ago, and look as if they were drawn just yesterday.
The cave was discovered in 1994, but it’s too fragile to facilitate tours. Curious travelers can visit an impressive replica of the cave, just a few kilometers away from the actual site.
Thomas T., CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lalibela, Ethiopia
Here’s a sight you won’t soon forget: Lalibela’s monolithic church is dug into the volcanic rock, occupying a giant pit. It’s the most interesting of the 11 medieval churches that can be found at the site. Back in the 12th century, King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela ordered the construction of the churches after he had a religious vision.
Today, the site is popular with pilgrims and the local Christians have recognized King Lalibela as a saint.
Sailko, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Diocletian’s Palace, Croatia
Facing Split, Croatia's seafront promenade, this 3rd-century palace was once the retirement home of Roman Emperor Diocletian. The emperor’s private quarters overlooked the sea, while the rest of the palace was home to his servants and soldiers. The palace is also home to a cathedral, where Emperor Diocletian made public appearances.
Over the years, the palace slowly grew into a city, with medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings contributing to that growth. Today, it is the most famous attraction in Split and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Great Wall Of China, China
The famous Great Wall of China stretches from the ocean to the deserts of northern China. Built throughout several different eras of Chinese history, the Great Wall is actually many walls that combined to create a fortified front that’s still standing today.
Construction of the wall began around 220 BC, during the reign of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Some of the older parts of the wall are merely packed earth, while other sections reflect the stronger materials, like bricks and stone, that were used in later dynasties.
Prambanan Temple, Indonesia
This temple complex—comprised of 240 temples—was built in the 9th century to serve as the royal temple of the Kingdom of Mataram. It is the second-largest temple complex in Southeast Asia (Angkor Wat takes the top spot).
In the 10th century, the temple was mysteriously abandoned, and in the 16th century, an earthquake damaged much of the complex. Luckily, it’s still home to incredible examples of Hindu architecture, including tall, pointed temple designs.
Cmichel67, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sacsayhuaman, Peru
We’ve all heard of Machu Picchu, but few know about the incredible ruins of Sacsayhuaman. This was once an Inca fortress, and a ceremonial center to honor the sun still towers over the city of Cusco. Historians are still amazed by the masonry here—boulders weighing hundreds of tons were cut into mysterious geometric shapes and pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle without the use of cement or metal tools. And, equally mystifying, the stones were moved to the site without the use of the wheel.
As impressive as the ruins are, what remains is just a fifth of the original size of the fortress—but it still stands as an amazing testament to Inca ingenuity.
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, India
Welcome to India’s largest functional Hindu temple! Sprawling across 155 acres and home to more than 80 shrines, 35 pavilions, 20 towers, and seven enclosures, it’s also one of the largest religious complexes in the world. It’s no surprise then that this is one of the holiest sites in the Hindu religion and is recognized as being the first and most important of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to the god Vishnu.
St Catherine’s Monastery, Egypt
Sitting at the base of Mount Sinai is where you’ll find the ancient Greek Orthodox monastery of St Catherine. Emperor Justinian I ordered the construction of the monastery, to protect the Burning Bush—yes, the one from the Bible. The bush that’s there now is protected with a fence and is, apparently, the original Burning Bush of old.
Even if the bush’s age might be in question, the monastery’s is not. It is one of the world’s oldest working Christian monasteries and a holy site of pilgrimage.
Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Temple Of Isis, Egypt
The Temple of Isis was also once a site of pilgrimage. The Ptolemies began construction of the temple in the 4th century and dedicated it to the goddess Isis and her husband Osiris. During the height of the Roman Empire, the temple was one of Egypt’s most sacred sites. Later, during the 6th century CE, the temple was converted into a Christian church, and an altar and several crosses can still be seen in the ruins of the inner courts.
When the construction of the Aswan Dam began in 1960, the temple was moved to a new island, stone by stone. Today, it remains one of the best temples from the Greco-Roman era.
Teotihuacan, Mexico
Just north of Mexico City is where you’ll find was once the largest city in the Americas. Between the 1st and 6th century CE, Teotihuacan was an amazing cultural and economic center, and home to over 125,000 people.
In 550 CE, the citizens sacked and burned their own city—we still have no idea why. We also don’t know much about the city’s inhabitants, or even how it came to be. Despite the questions it’s raised, the site still contains incredible ancient Mesoamerican architecture, including the renowned Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon.
Coba, Mexico
This set of Mayan towns was linked by extensive paved walkways and was one of the most important Mayan trading centers between 200 CE and 1400 CE. These ruins are less popular than the famous Chichen Itza or Tulum, but unparalleled beauty awaits you here.
The site is in the middle of a lush forest near two beautiful lakes, with the tops of the temples offering incredible views of the surrounding landscape. You also might catch a glimpse of animals like toucans, spider monkeys, coatimundis, and even rare peccaries.
dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hierapolis, Turkey
Dating back to 80 CE, Hierapolis was once a famous center of healing, attracting travelers from all over the Roman Empire to test the powers of its medicinal hot springs. At its height, the town was home to 100,000 people. It was later destroyed by the Persian army and faced even more destruction after an earthquake.
Today, the site is known for what remains of its theater, necropolis, martyrium of St Philip, and its incredible museum.
Iurieph, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Lascaux, France
The Lascaux Caves are home to some of the most famous Paleolithic art. The paintings show amazing scenes of landscapes and animals like bison, horses, reindeer, and aurochs. In 1963, the caves were closed, as the carbon dioxide from tourists’ breath was damaging the paintings.
Luckily, in 2016, a complete replica of the caves opened at the Lascaux International Center of Parietal Art.
Traumrune, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ostia Antica Archaeological Park, Italy
Located where the River Tiber meets the sea, Ostia Antica was a harbor city of ancient Rome and is now one of Italy’s most well-preserved archaeological sites.
The port was influenced by all the cultures who traded there, leaving evidence of shrines to Persian, Egyptian, and Phrygian gods. You can also see beautiful mosaic walkways and ancient baths, houses, apartment buildings, taverns, and a theater.
Knossos Palace, Greece
Knossos has the renown of being the oldest city in Europe and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Dating back to the Neolithic period, it is now the largest Bronze Age site on Crete. 4,000 years ago, it was the palace of King Minos—and is also said to be the place where the king’s daughter, Ariadne, helped the hero Theseus navigate the labyrinth and slay the Minotaur.
The ruins of the palace do seem like a labyrinth, taking visitors on a winding journey past breathtaking frescoes, painted columns, mosaics, and ceramic vessels.
Jebulon, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Sutton Hoo, United Kingdom
Discovered in the 1930s, Sutton Hoo is one of the world’s greatest archaeological discoveries. It dates back to the 6th century and is home to what remains of a ship burial for an Anglo-Saxon king. The king was buried with an incredible array of armor, weapons, and artifacts—historians think it is the resting place of King Raedwald, the first East Anglian king to convert to Christianity.
The site is located on a 225-acre estate, so there are lots of beautiful places for a walk and an Edwardian house that's also waiting to be explored.
Abu Simbel, Egypt
The two temples for Ramesses II—or Ramesses the Great—are among the world’s most incredible surviving ruins. They were carved into the rock above the Nile floodplain more than 3,000 years ago. Four gigantic statues of the pharaoh stand guard at the entrance, accompanied by the smaller statues of Queen Nefertari and their children.
In the 1960s, the temples were relocated during the construction of the Aswan Dam. They are angled so that on February 21 and October 21, the sun illuminates the statues of the gods in the innermost sanctuary.
MrSnooks, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mesa Verde, United States
With 600 ancient dwellings carved into the cliffs, the Mesa Verde National Park is one of the most fascinating ruins to explore. The most famous dwelling is the Cliff Palace, which had over 150 rooms and 23 sacred kiva rooms for spiritual ceremonies.
There’s evidence that people lived in these cliffside dwellings for nearly a hundred years, but they abandoned the area in the 13th century. We’re still not sure why.
Ayutthaya, Thailand
The city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and began as a trading post for the Khmer Empire. For four centuries, it was a bustling center of trade and the capital of Thailand.
In 1767, the city was razed to the ground by Burmese invaders. All that remains today are about 50 temples and stone relics that weren’t destroyed by the fire.
chai photographer, Shutterstock
Stonehenge, England
With origins that date back more than 5,000 years, Stonehenge is now one of the most well-known ruins in the world. No one knows how this ring of sandstone pillars came to be, but the widely believed theory is that they were used for spiritual rituals or astronomy.
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Carved into a 200-meter cliff face called Lion Rock, this fortress is believed to have been the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Kassapa. The fortress was abandoned after the king passed and a Buddhist monastery up until the 14th century.
If you’re feeling brave, you can make the trek to the summit of Sigiriya—the cave shrines, terraced gardens, and water features are definitely worth the climb.
Diwyanjalee Wanigasekara, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ephesus, Turkey
Dating back more than 2,000 years, Ephesus is an incredible testament to Greco-Roman architecture. People love visiting this site because every part of it is open for the public to walk through and touch.
These ruins are also very well-preserved, with some of the most popular attractions being the Library of Celsus, Hadrian Temple, and The Greater Theater of Ephesus, the ancient world’s largest outdoor theater.
ultimatejourneys, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ellora Caves, India
Construction on the Ellora Caves began in 600 CE and took over five centuries to complete. Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monks carved 100 monasteries, temples, and caves into a basalt cliff, though only 34 of those caves are open to the public today.
Kailasa Temple is the most famous site at Ellora Caves. It was dedicated to Lord Shiva and is still the world’s largest monolithic structure.
Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Baalbek, Lebanon
Baalbek is home to some of the world’s best Roman ruins. The three temples there, dedicated to Venus, Jupiter, and Bacchus, took 200 years to build. The columns of the temples rise 60 to 70 feet high and are inscribed with detailed carvings.
Every summer, the site is home to the Baalbek International Festival, which features music and theater.
Véronique Dauge, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Heart of Neolithic Orkney, Scotland
The relics in the Orkney Islands date back 5,000 years ago. The four most well-preserved groups of monuments—the Stones of Stenness, Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the Ring of Brodgar—form what is called the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.
The monuments have been well-preserved due to the climate in the region and are so pristine that Skara Brae has been called the “Scottish Pompeii”.
Dg-505, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hegra Archaeological Site, Saudi Arabia
Hegra began as an outpost in the Nabataean Kingdom and was a thriving city from the 4th century BCE to the 1st century CE.
Now, the ruins are home to over 100 tombs carved into the sandstone. The tombs show influences of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian architecture, and are inscribed with warnings of a curse against anyone who dares to disrupt them.
![Hegra an archaeological site located in the area of Al-'Ula[5] within Medina Province in the Hejaz region, Saudi Arabia.](https://www.factinate.com/storage/app/media/splashtravels/2024/2/8/madainsaleh6811791359.jpg)
Sammy Six, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Derinkuyu Underground City, Turkey
Descending 18 stories beneath the ground, this ancient subterranean city is one of the world’s most unique ruins. Ventilation shafts and aqueducts provided air and water for nearly 20,000 residents.
During sieges, the city could be closed by massive stone wheels and there were miles of tunnels that connected Derinkuyu to other underground towns.
Nevit Dilmen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Volubilis, Morocco
This magnificent city was built 5,000 years ago, by the Berbers. Eventually, it became an outpost for the Roman Empire, and a place where various cultures and religions melded together.
The site has seen damage from earthquakes, but the thermal baths, triumphal arch, and mosaic floors in the House of Orpheus are still well-preserved.
Subhros, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Masada, Israel
Situated atop a cliff that overlooks the Dead Sea and the Judaean Desert is one of the world’s most astonishing ruins: Masada.
Masada was the palace of King Herod and, more infamously, the place where the Jewish Revolt against the Romans came to an end, with everyone in the fortress taking their own lives rather than live as Roman slaves.
Hampi, India
Hampi was once the center of the Karnata Empire and is renowned for being the second-largest medieval city (Beijing takes first place). In the 14th century, two princes created a religious center near the river here, and it grew to be the impressive city that we see remnants of today.
Apadegal, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pompeii, Italy
Most people are familiar with the tragic tale of Pompeii: In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering the city and its 2,000 residents in lava. The lava preserved the city, leaving us with eerie stone remains of people in their last moments.
Much of the city has been excavated, so you can walk the streets and image what Pompeii may have been like before its destruction.
ElfQrin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tulum, Mexico
Built by the Mayans in 564 CE, Tulum still enchants tourists for the beautiful design of the fortress. It’s situated on a clifftop, with the fourth wall of the fortress left open to provide breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea.
In the 13th and 14th centuries, Tulum was a thriving trading hub and home to 1,600 residents.
Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Built in 600 CE by the Mayans, Chichen Itza was a thriving city until it was abandoned in 1221. That's when Mayapan was made the new capital, but remnants of Chichen Itza’s glory days still remain.
The Temple of Kukulkan is one the most famous buildings and features four stairways with 365 steps for the days of the year. During the spring and fall equinoxes, the sun’s shadow over the pyramid creates the illusion of a snake down the north staircase.
Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Acropolis, Greece
First built by renowned Athenian leader Pericles in the 5th century, the Acropolis eventually became the site of many temples. Perched high above Athens, the remains of these impressive monuments to the gods still stand today and can be seen from anywhere in the city.
If you got to the Acropolis, it's best to visit early in the morning, when it’s least crowded. You should also check out the Acropolis Museum to see some of the original artifacts that were found at this site.
Carole Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tikal, Guatemala
Around 600 CE, Tikal was the largest Mayan city and it remains one of the biggest archaeological sites in Mesoamerica.
Exploring these pyramids and temples makes for an unforgettable experience and climbing to the top of the Temple of the Two Headed Snake will give you an incredible view of the surrounding rainforest.
Raymond Ostertag, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
City of Caral-Supe, Peru
Caral-Supe was once a sacred city, and the ruins here date back more than 5,000 years. Stretching across 150 acres, the site features a temple, circular places dug into the earth, and earth-and-stone dwellings.
The dwellings are particularly interesting because this kind of architecture would have been difficult to achieve at the time.
Percy Meza, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Aksum, Ethiopia
These ruins are all that remains of the capital city of the Kingdom of Aksum. Here you’ll find the ancient palace ruins, royal tombs, and obelisks that tower above the site. The largest obelisk is more than 60 feet tall.
cotterillmike, Wikimedia Commons
Karnak, Egypt
This ancient temple complex is famous for its massive size and is bigger than most cities in the ancient world.
It took more than 2,000 years to complete and bears the distinct architectural characteristics of the different pharaohs who oversaw its construction. Today, it’s one of Egypt’s most famous and photographed tourist attractions.
René Hourdry, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Borobudur, Indonesia
Originating in the 9th century, Borobudur is still the world’s largest Buddhist temple. After a period of ruin, it was rediscovered in the 1800s and has been a popular destination ever since.
This monument is made of two million blocks of volcanic stone and is decorated with over 500 Buddha statues and 2,000 reliefs.
Heri nugroho, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Moai Statues, Easter Island
This group of more than 800 statues is one of the most recognizable ruins in the world. They were carved out of volcanic ash by the Rapa Nui people, probably between 400 and 1500 CE.
With limited tools, it probably would have taken about a year to complete each of these 80-tonne monoliths.
Ian Sewell, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bagan, Myanmar
Bagan was the capital of a mighty kingdom in the 11th and 13th centuries. At one point, there were over 10,000 temples, shrines, monasteries, and pagodas, but much of the city was destroyed by the Mongols.
Now only 2,000 ruins are scattered along the landscape. One of the coolest ways to view them is with a hot air balloon ride.
Corto Maltese 1999, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Colosseum, Italy
This iconic Roman ruin opened in 80 CE and is infamous for the brutal gladiator fights that took place upon its sands. With three levels of archways and a combination of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns, the Colosseum is still one of the world’s most impressive displays of architectural engineering.
FeaturedPics, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Petra, Jordan
Nestled between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, the Rose City of Petra was once a bustling metropolis full of palatial houses and lush gardens. Nomads carved the town into pink sandstone cliffs thousands of years ago.
Abandoned caves, temples, and tombs are all that remain today, though most of this ancient city has yet to be discovered.
Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Machu Picchu, Peru
This famous city from the Incan Empire was so well hidden that even the Spanish conquistadors couldn’t find it. That’s because a large part of the city was built underground.
In 1911, an explorer stumbled upon the ruins of the city, and today they are only accessible by walking or by train.
Pedro Szekely, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Between the 9th and 15th centuries, Angkor Wat was the capital city of the Khmer Empire. The site is home to over 1,000 temples that have been reclaimed by the trees and vines around them.
The Angkor Wat Temple is the most popular attraction here, as it is the largest religious shrine on the planet.
Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Giza, Egypt
Though we know they were created to be tombs for pharaohs, we still don’t know exactly how the pyramids of Giza were built. The size of these pyramids and the precise details in their construction highlight the ingenuity of Ancient Egyptian architects.
Ricardo Liberato, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Terracotta Army, China
This assortment of life-sized warriors and horses was found in underground pits near the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Though only three are open to the public, there are about 600 pits that were built in the 3rd century BCE, and each statue was carved by hand.
In total, creating this massive stone army would have taken about 40 years—but few people know the chilling truth about its construction. Up to 700,000 workers contributed to building the tomb, and according to some historical accounts, when the work was finished, the workers were sealed in the tomb to protect its secrets. Perhaps lending some evidence to these tales, a mass grave was discovered near the site in 2003. The remains are thought to be those of workers on the site. The 121 skeletons identified in the grave belonged to people aged 15 to 40 years old.
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