Mika

These city-sized archaeological structures are definitely worth a visit, whether they are ancient religious sanctuaries or tombs and temples cut into sandstone.

As they say, "the past is never dead," and among the oldest towns in the world, this is still very much true. There are must-see historical ruins in every direction in some places, such as Varanasi and Athens. Others, like as Pompeii and Petra, offer detailed glimpses into the daily life of the inhabitants but aren't nearly living cities. In any of these locations, the past (pardon the cliché) comes to life as you stroll amid the ruins. Add these ancient wonders, the most of which are over a millennium old, to your travel bucket list if you enjoy discovering the wonders of the ancient world.

1.        Petra, Jordan

"Rose City" has endured for almost two thousand years.

Petra means "rock" in ancient Greek, but this city is more than just its stone remnants. Built inside a rose-colored sandstone valley over 2,000 years ago, this former fortress of the Arabian kingdom of Nabataean is still mostly intact, with its clever water systems and rock-cut architecture.

After exploring Petra (one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site), indulge in a long-standing Jordanian desert custom: go on a safari through the Wadi Rum, often known as the "Valley of the Moon," a breathtaking red-rock wilderness that is home to Stone Age petroglyphs.

2.        Pompeii, Italy

For nearly two millennia, these ruins were renowned for being preserved beneath volcanic ash.

Pompeii is the undeniable king of old ruins in a country full of them, and it provides the closest thing to an actual ancient city exploration experience. After obtaining your site ticket, proceed down Decumanus Maxius, the main street, and visit the public areas and homes that have been preserved for around 2,000 years in volcanic ash. From the sensual sculptures and frescoes in the House of the Vettii (and other villas) to the silhouettes of the city's final residents, whose final moments were preserved in lava and reconstructed as plaster casts, scenes of life and death may still be seen here.

3.        Athens, Greece

The birthplace of Western civilisation, cannot be skipped.

One of the world's oldest towns, Athens has been inhabited since at least 3000 BC and is rightfully known as the birthplace of Western civilisation. Look no farther than the Acropolis citadel and the Parthenon's ruins, the Temple of Athena, and other ancient structures to see where the proof for this assertion can be found. There is a fantastic archaeological museum at the location as well.

Athens is also a great starting point for seeing Delphi, another UNESCO site on the southern slopes of Mount Parnassus that has magnificently intact remains. The Temple of Apollo (which has a magnificent museum of its own), the Stoa of the Athenians, and the Sacred Way are the main features of the site.

4.        Matera, Italy

Rich in historic towns, Matera was formerly the poorest city in Italy.

Despite being blatantly whitewashed, Matera resembles many other hill towns in Southern Italy's Basilicata region. But if you venture inside the ancient centre, you'll discover the Sassi of Matera, UNESCO-listed cave dwellings carved out of tufa limestone caverns that provided refuge over 9,000 years ago. The town, which was once derided as the "shame of Italy" due to the miserable living circumstances of the impoverished in the ancient homes, is now a bizarre blend of the old and the new. If you enter the carefully constructed sassi, you'll discover upscale eateries, churches, lodging, retail establishments, and even vacation rentals.

5.        Varanasi, India

The oldest and holiest city in Hinduism.

One of India's seven sacred towns, Varanasi (also known as Benares) is situated along the holy Ganges River and has cremation facilities for those who wish to execute funeral rites believed to end the cycle of reincarnation. According to some estimates, it is also one of the world's oldest cities still inhabited. One of the greatest locations to get a close-up look at Hindu customs is Varanasi, where you can visit ghats (ancient cremation grounds), view holy bathing areas, and explore temples along the river. You can also go to Sarnath, which is just outside of town and is thought by Buddhists to be the location of the first sermon delivered by the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, some 2,500 years ago.

6.        Ankor Wat, Cambodia

One of the biggest religious buildings in the world is Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat, often known as the "City of Temples," is worth including on this list due to its history, cultural significance, and artistic merits, even if it isn't a city and is just 900 years old. At 400 acres (160 hectares), the temple complex is about the size of a village and has over a thousand buildings, all of which are adorned with sculptures of Hindu myths and apsaras (celestial beings). Get an early start to see the dawn over the temples, or go around sunset, when the heat of the day has subsided, for the best views.

7.        Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona, US

The North American oldest "castle."

Early in the 15th century, the Indigenous Sinagua of the southwestern United States, who were the final inhabitants of Montezuma, abandoned the buildings. The ruins, however, are believed to be much older than that and were probably first inhabited by the Hohokam people in the early 1100s. They are a five-story hamlet of multi-family homes constructed into a cliffside rather than a castle. The site is one of the first national monuments ever named in the United States and, along with the smaller Tuzigoot National Monument, contains some of the best-preserved ruins in the American Southwest.

8.        Choquequirao, Peru

A second look at the "other" Machu Picchu is warranted.

Choquequirao is a true adventurer's paradise, even if many of the ancient monuments on this list are well-known and accessible. The archaeological site, which is 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level in the Peruvian Andes, includes Inca temples, homes, baths, and agricultural terraces that are thought to have been constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries AD. In comparison to its more well-known relative, Machu Picchu, it is also more isolated and difficult to reach: A strenuous 4-day round-trip walk is required to reach the ruins. You might choose a 5-day hike if the pace of the journey seems too fast, or an 8-day excursion that includes a visit to Machu Picchu for an even more amazing experience.

9.        Tiwanaku, Bolivia

The journey to Bolivia is worth it to see the lost metropolis of the Andes.

We know relatively little about the building and abrupt abandonment of this ancient city near Lake Titicaca in the Bolivian Altiplano, and its gates, mounds, and platforms are still mysterious. Its actual age is actually a matter of some debate. More precise dating techniques have established its age at roughly 2,300 years, whereas earlier estimations put it between 11,000 and 17,000 years. According to some archaeologists, the magnificent UNESCO-listed ruins may represent the remnants of the Tiwanaku Empire's ancient capital, which formerly spanned Bolivia and the surrounding South American nations.