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Planning your ultimate bucket list trip to visit the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about these iconic ancient sites.
Visiting the Seven Wonders of the World can be confusing since many people do not realize that most of these marvels no longer exist. I am here to clear up the confusion and help you discover the magic behind these historic destinations.
As a travel writer who loves exploring ancient ruins, I have had the chance to visit historical sites of three of the accessible wonders.
It is important to know that the Great Pyramid of Giza is the only wonder still largely intact today. The other six wonders were destroyed by earthquakes or fires centuries ago, or have no archeological evidence to confirm.
However, visiting the archaeological sites where they once stood is a phenomenal experience that gives you a glimpse into ancient human ingenuity. I cannot wait to share the history of these sites and my experiences with you.
What are the Seven Wonders of the World?
The original list of the Seven Wonders was created by ancient Greek travelers who wanted to document the most spectacular human made structures they saw while exploring the Mediterranean and Middle East.
This list became a popular guidebook for ancient tourists.
Today we refer to these as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to distinguish them from modern lists. The ancient Greeks chose the number seven because they believed it represented perfection and plenty.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Here are the Original Seven Wonders of the World.
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and the only surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Located just outside Cairo in Egypt, this massive tomb was built for the Pharaoh Khufu.
It took thousands of workers and over two million stone blocks to complete this architectural masterpiece. Historians estimate that the construction of this architectural masterpiece was completed around 2560 BC.
Standing at the base of the pyramid makes you realize how advanced ancient Egyptian engineering truly was.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the most mysterious of the Seven Wonders because historians are not entirely sure they actually existed.
According to legend, King Nebuchadnezzar II built these lush gardens in ancient Iraq for his homesick wife. The gardens were said to feature cascading terraces filled with exotic plants and trees.
Historical texts place the gardens in the ancient city of Babylon, likely built around 600 BC. Today, this area corresponds to the Babil province near the city of Al Hillah in modern day Iraq, sitting along the banks of the Euphrates River.
Since no archaeological evidence has been found, some experts believe the gardens were purely mythical or located in an entirely different city.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
I have been to three of the Seven Wonders sites and this is one of them. When I did the Holland America Mediterranean cruise, it was my first time visiting Olympia.
You can read more about my Holland America cruise tips if you are preparing for a similar voyage.
At the Port of Katakolon, I did the Best of Olympia Tour where we visited Ancient Olympia and explored the site. We walked through the ruins of the Temple of Zeus and the stadium where the Olympic Games began.
This wonder is special because it was the ultimate centerpiece of the ancient Olympic Games. The original Statue of Zeus was a giant seated figure made of ivory and gold created by the sculptor Phidias.
The magnificent statue was completed around 435 BC. It was completely destroyed but standing on the very grounds where it once sat is a truly unforgettable experience as you reminisce of the time of great glory among the Olympians.
I even ran the Olympic Stadium!
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
During my Turkish coast road trip, an ancient wonder I had the pleasure of exploring is the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. I visited this incredible site when I spent 2 days in Selcuk and Ephesus.
The Temple of Artemis was renowned for its breathtaking size and its brilliant white marble architecture. It was completely dedicated to the Greek goddess of the hunt and it served as both a religious sanctuary and a bustling marketplace.
The temple actually went through several iterations as it was destroyed by floods and arson over the centuries with the most famous iteration completed around 550 BC. When I visited, there is only a single column left standing in a marshy field.
Seeing that solitary column still gives you a sense of the massive scale of the original building and also a sense of how much historical sites we’re losing. I feel grateful to have seen the column before it disappears too.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The third ancient wonder site I visited is the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. I explored this area during my Turkish Riviera road trip when I visited Bodrum.
If you are heading to that beautiful coastal city, be sure to read my Bodrum travel guide.
The tomb was commissioned by Artemisia II for her husband Mausolus who was a powerful ruler of the region. Completed around 350 BC, the structure was so impressive that his name became the origin of the word mausoleum.
Earthquakes eventually ruined the building over the centuries. You can still visit the foundation ruins today and see some of the original stones that were later used to build the nearby Bodrum Castle.
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes was a massive bronze statue of the Greek sun god Helios. It stood near the harbor entrance of the island of Rhodes in Greece.
The people of Rhodes built the statue to celebrate their successful defense of their city against a year long siege.
Roughly the same height as the modern Statue of Liberty in New York City, the Colossus was completed around 280 BC and only stood for about fifty years before a massive earthquake snapped it at the knees.
The ruins lay on the ground for hundreds of years and ancient travelers would still visit just to marvel at the sheer size of the fallen statue.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
Completed around 280 BC, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built on the island of Pharos in Egypt. It was one of the tallest human made structures in the ancient world and served as a working lighthouse for centuries.
A mirror at the top reflected sunlight during the day and a fire guided ships safely into the harbor at night.
Like many of the other Seven Wonders, it was eventually destroyed by a series of earthquakes. Divers have actually discovered massive stone blocks from the lighthouse submerged in the harbor.
First time visitors to Alexandria can now visit the Citadel of Qaitbay which was built right on the exact site of the original lighthouse.
Plan to Visit the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Before It’s Too Late
Visiting the locations of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is a fantastic way to connect with history and appreciate the incredible achievements of ancient civilizations before its completely ruined and lost.
Even though the Great Pyramid of Giza is the only structure still standing, exploring the ruins of places like the Temple of Artemis in Selcuk and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in Bodum is incredibly rewarding and connects you to the past in a way that reading a history book never could.
I hope this guide helps you understand these historic marvels and inspires you to add them to your travel bucket list before it’s too late. Let me know which ancient wonder you plan to visit first in the comments.
As always, happy travels and eating!
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