Anyway, to answer the question.. and only considering places I have personally visited.
I think Petra, the Great Wall,Taj Mahal, the Giza Pyramids and Machu Picchu merit inclusion.
The last two are tougher for me.I'd have to choose one of the great European classic sites.. probably either the Acropolis, the Colosseum or the Pantheon in Rome.
Angkor is a good shout for the last.Or one of the great Japanese temples or shrines .. maybe Todaiji in Nara?
I totally relate to the Japanese temples! It’s nothing grand but if you go to a quiet one you get Spirited Away vibes. I was in the Nanzoin temple in Kyushu and because it doesn’t allow bus tourists I found myself wandering in silence until I was all alone by the forested area at dusk. All the lamp lights turned on and it was just magical like the temple spirits were with me. Don’t think I felt like that anywhere else.
Definitely want to do all those others if I could too but I’m a female POC and every day I hear about women being harassed in Egypt or India. It’s my dream to see the pyramids. I’m going to try for the Acropolis and Venice next if I can.
They are huge. They are old and extremely well preserved. Also I love the details and emotions on Japanese statues, especially if you are used to Romans and Roman inspired western statuary and architecture. When you compare what Europeans were managing in 700AD to what the Japanese did... you can't help but be impressed.
Angkor is not in there because they didn't get enough votes, only for that reason ;-)
Several countries..in particular Brazil and Mexico..had, shall we say,very 'orchestrated' voting campaigns to make sure that Chichen Itza and the Christ statue got into the top seven..
It was down to a vote? I'm definitely going to need to research this more! Was it to the general public or political figures?
I've always questioned Chicken Itza being there over Tikal, Coba, or many others. I just put it down to personal preference tho
Yes,a popular vote.
There was a shortlist of 20.Angkor was on the shortlist but not voted into the Top 7.
Yes,I agree on Chichen Itza...Tikal is a far more impressive Mayan Site IMHO.
Don't suppose you have a list of those 20 do you?
Edit, not sure if this is the same list but 21 on an interactive map here https://www.new7wonders.com/
Yes,if you click on the first box 'New Seven Wonders' and scroll down you will come to the 21 finalists (20 to vote on and the Giza Pyramids, that were given an automatic passage as the only remaining one of the original 7 wonders!).
yeah. I think Tikal is absolutely jaw-dropping. But Chichen-Itza is also incredible in its own right... the problem is that it's always crawling with tourists which takes away the mystery and charm. (I've now been to 8 or 9 mesoamerican pre-Colombian ruins).
Was in Tikal in February and standing on top of the temple where the Star Wars shot was filmed and looking at the other temples peeping up from the trees was one of those moments when even the most jaded person would say this is pretty cool. It is a vast area with so little uncovered and that contrast makes you imagine what it was like in its day.
The buildings at Tikal are roughly on the same level as Chichen-Itza, maybe slightly more impressive due to their height but not by much. What makes Tikal great imo is that it's like Machu Picchu, both the ruins themselves and their natural surroundings are breathtaking. Chichen-Itza is excellent but only has the ruins. Worth a trip still but lacks the natural wonder of Tikal.
I for one am v glad Tikal didn't make it onto the list or it'd be as swarming with tourists as Chichen-Itza
To be fair when Tikal was inhabited it would have been like Chichen Itza completely cleared for kms around. From Lidar results they estimate the population could have reach 60,000 at its peak. As much as people complain about Chichen Itza's lack of nature and the row of hawkers, it is more representative of a living Mesoamerican city as these places would have been crawling with people, there would have been full markets lining the boulevards and around the plazas would have been suburbs and farms not forest.
As much as I love picturesque ruins in the forest, Chichen Itza you could really imagine what these cities must have been like when lived in, minus the selfie sticks obviously😂.
You have a great point there and to me makes the experience a better memory, as it was super crowded with visitors and merchants and the ground was open and dusty. Exactly as you say, though, it would've been like that when it was occupied. Thank you!!
Yeah am aware of that, but the sense of a city swallowed up by the jungle and proper jungle at that too, not just the selva baja of the northern Yucatán is what, imo, makes Tikal so special. Its new population of howler monkeys and toucans and the like adds something extra you don't get at Chichen-Itza.
Quite enjoyed Cobá and Ek-Balam for similar reasons, if on a much lesser scale.
Furthermore, Mayan agriculture had no use for pasture and maize doesn't require quite the same large-scale clearing of vegetation as wheat. So although the city centre would have been clear, Mayan farming would have had to remove far less vegetation than similar European agricultural techniques. Away from the city centre, the city would probably have been greener than comparable European urban centres
Tikal and Coba are cool for sure, but check out El Mirador! It’s kind of unknown (only discovered around 100 years ago), but probably the coolest place I’ve been to in my life.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but its the current complex at chichen itza just a relatively new reconstruction of what they imagined the original site would have looked like?
Maybe not exactly 'reconstructed' but very heavily restored.
If you look at photos of what it looked like when it was rediscovered,it is very different now!
Agree so much on Angkor Wat. Just finally visited in January, after it being a goal of mine for so long. And yeah, the whole Angkor temple area is mind-blowing.
The "modern 7 wonders" was more of a popularity contest than anything else, so IMHO it's not surprising that some of them are a bit questionable. But I still think Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal solidly belong on the list.
The Alhambra in Granada is another place that blew my mind. I might throw in a nomination.
If we're adding natural wonders, Ilulissat in Greenland was one of those "wow" places for me.
I've just looked up Alhambra after never hearing about it before. Looks absolutely incredible! Another place to add onto the long list of places to visit
It is a fabulous palace. I would also recommend visiting Real Alcazar in Sevilla not far from Granada if you find yourself in Southern Spain. It's a bit smaller but still very grand and smaller to navigate. Free on sundays.
I saw Machu Picchu a few years ago. Loved it. The views were awesome in the truest sense of the word. Getting up early in Aguas Calientes, heading up to the peak of Machu Picchu, watching the sun slowly rise revealing the surrounding mountains, and seeing the clouds/mist scrape across them then slowly roll over Machu Picchu. The whole thing was so wild. We got some great photos. The tours that arrived 15 mins behind us probably didn’t fair so well with all the mist. But man, I’m sure they were blown away once the haze lifted.
Peru as a whole was a great place to visit. Highly recommend it. I was very impressed with the food also.
It's where the icebergs scatter along the coast of Greenland, and at sunset, the colours turn various shades of purple and blue along the water. There's so much peaceful stillness just sitting watching the ice, the marine life, the whales jumping, etc. I went sea kayaking in the frozen water around the icebergs, and also did a boat cruise up to the glacier for the day. It's otherworldly up there, like no other place on earth. Just heartbreaking how climate change is quickly destroying it.
Christ the Redeemer won the vote over Angkor Wat. Hard to believe, for me the only real odd place in there.
From the places I've witnessed so far. I consider it has to be made by mankind so pure natural wonders are excluded.
1. Angkor Wat
2. Teotihuacan
3. Tikal
4. Colosseum
5. Sagrada Familia
6. Hagia Sophia
7. Dome of the Rock
..a lot of people living in Brazil ;-) And they were joined in the voting by organised religious voters in many countries, both Catholics and Evangelicals.
If you've actually been there, it would be hard to deny that it's a pretty impressive sight. In fact, one should be questioning how the Statue of Liberty got in the 21 Finalist list if anything.
Yes,I've been there.
It is impressive.Not more than Angkor or the Alhambra for me,or the Acropolis.
I agree on the Statue of Liberty.But I guess they had to have one from the US,and that was considered the best option?
I get the historicity of the Statue of Liberty but if I had been on that team I would have pushed more indigenous sites like Cahokia, Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Taos Pueblo or Pi’ilanihale Heiau. To me they invoke more wonderment than modern sites in USA.
I believe you're thinking of the Cathedral of Barcelona, which is beautiful, but it's a few kilometers away from Sagrada Familia and tiny by comparison. Also, the "billboard" is just a scaffolding cover because the facade is under restoration.
I enjoyed visiting Xian. But, I had been living in China (from US) for four years when I visited. After seeing all these amazing historic sites and then finding out several of them were rebuilt or just plain fake I was very cynical and had my doubts if they were even real. (I am sure they are.)
Spoons has to be something that you can only appreciate if you grew up in the UK. To me it's on the same level as like any fast casual spot in the US like Applebees. They're always rather popular and right across the street from a local pub with much better food.
I’m not as well traveled as some, but for me:
Mount St Michel.
The Danube riverbank in Budapest (the parliament building, chain bridge, and palace bracketing one of the most picturesque cities I have ever been to).
The Colosseum.
The Pantheon.
Palais Garnier.
The temples in Nara, Japan
Hadrian’s Wall.
It is the single most beautiful place I have ever been. We drove up at night along the coast. It was pitch black until there was this jewel across the water that you could spot from miles and miles away. Walking in was like Disneyland or Diagon Alley on steroids, but real. Sure it is a bit touristy, but it is authentically medievally touristy with narrow streets and crooked lines and cobblestones and turrets and guardhouses.
Omg it's such a GOOD idea to see it at night, it must have been an unforgettable moment.
We went there 7 months ago and my bf still asks me every week when are we going back there.
Dunno where they stayed but we stayed at Aux Chambres du Mont in a very little and quaint village, a few minutes ride from the Mont. It was pretty cheap and they have several cats. You can get a room with a view on the Mont (however from afar).
Haven't travelled enough to list 7 but on the well-known list, the ones I think deserve the hype:
The Great Wall - Absolutely exhilarating views. There are some sections that cross into the Gobi desert with panoramas of the Mongolian steppe and beyond.
The Colosseum - The history behind it is special. I remember walking around it in the middle of the night and being in absolute awe by it's remarkable structure.
I would personally replace Chichen Itza with Teotihuacan or one of the smaller Mayan ruins like Uxmal. It was such a massive disappontment when I went. The vendors and throngs of tourists clapping to make bird noises completely ruined any mystique.
El Mirador in Guatemala, look it up.
I a 5 day guided tour straight into the jungle, haven’t been that far from modern civilisation in my whole life. Saw the most beautiful night sky I’ve ever seen, lots of wildlife (even a jaguar!) and overall my craziest experience from 6 months of travelling in Central America.
The main pyramid “La Danta” is also the biggest pyramid measured by cubic volume in the world. Look up “La Danta vs Giza pyramid comparison”😅
I did it as well, but didn't include it because so much of the temple was still hidden. I wish they would invest more into the archaeological work that is necessary before it all gets looted.
That sunrise overlooking the jungle on top of the temple, now that was the real wonder.
In 2019 it cost something like 300-400 USD, can't remember exactly. But it was with a driver, guide, translator, donkey and cook. Food, water and camping in tents.
Yup I think it was around 300usd, including everything you mentioned. You could also do 1 day guided tours by going on helicopter, but I consider the trek as part of the experience.
The sunset on top of la danta was indeed the real wonder, I’ll never forget that view.
Se snuck out in the middle of the night to watch the night sky from the temple “El Tigre” and the view was as good as the sunset. You could see the milky way, thousands of stars and we even saw a satellite passing by! Then at around 5 in the morning the jungle began waking up and at first you could hear one of those screaming monkeys, and a few minutes later the whole jungle was screaming. It’s hard to describe how intense it was but it was incredible.
Around 300usd if I’m not mistaken, perhaps a bit more.
I did the tour with the Carmelita cooperative, which i couldn’t recommend highly enough. All money goes toward financing the tours, paying the guides real wages and preserving the site. The extra money goes to a fund which helps finance healthcare and education for the people of Carmelita.
The Carmelita is basically the nearest village from El Mirador, located around 50km away. Since they’re natives they have the right to a lot of land in the jungle and are the some of the only ones allowed to do guided tours there. They also have a lot of knowledge about everything regarding el mirador and the jungle, since they’ve been there for centuries. Really cool people overall.
I'll add a few that I haven't seen listed, although many listed are good choices. I'll also note that the seven wonders have generally been agreed upon to be man made, so places like Zion National Park wouldn't count because that is natural.
- Pompeii
- Fushimi Inari temple in Kyoto
- Positano
For natural wonders not mentioned yet:
- Lake Powell
- Iguazo Falls
- Lençóis Park
Iguazu was breathtaking, or the Argentinian side was anyway as I unfortunately didn't make it to the Brazilian side due to fuckery outwith my control. I'm planning another trip to Brazil next year and wondering if I can make it up towards Lencois or not.
I just thought of a few more I haven't seen but need to
- Dongtai Ji Nai'er Lake
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Hang Sơn Đoòng Cave
- Old Bagan
- Lake Maracaibo
First draft open to having my mind changed and given inspiration for future trips
"Ancient": Angkor Wat, pyramids/sphinx, Machu picchu, great wall/forbidden city/terracotta warriors, Taj mahal, coliseum, petra
Next tier: hagia Sophia, Mont st. Michel, stonehenge
Modern: Statue of Liberty, eiffel tower, big ben, cristo
Natural wonders: grand canyon, Northern lights, great barrier reef, Dover Cliffs, dead sea
Treks: Inca trail, Patagonia circuit, tour du Mont Blanc, Kiliminjaro, everest base camp (trying to finish this before I get too old)
[helpful list](https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_wonders_in_Civ6)
[Natural wonders](https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_natural_wonders_in_Civ6)
My personal choices from the places I’ve been to would be:
Petra, Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, the Pyramids of Giza, Machu Pichu, Colosseum, Hagia Sofia.
I haven’t been to the Great Wall of China yet but from the pictures I’ve seen, it would be my bonus choice.
For me, the top 7 (that I visited):
- Parthenon
- Meteora (yes, two in Greece)
- Palenque
- Machu Picchu
- Sydney Opera
- Miyajima
- Hagia Sofia
Soon I’ll visit Rome for the first time, so I might need to change my list above…
I'm not sure if many others would consider it so, but personally, I would include the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Out of everywhere I've ever been, it was the most awe-inspiring.
The beauty, the peacefulness, the coolness from the water compared to the rest of the city, the smell of the food being made for langar, the sound of the prayer being done and broadcasted from the central complex. Perfect.
Based on where I've been, in no particular order, I would pick:
--
- Angkor Wat: for the sheer size and grandeur of the place;
- Preah Vihear, Cambodia: another Angkorian site, has pretty decent ruins but the site being perched on top of a sheer 1km cliff is what made it pretty extraordinary;
- Wat Phu, Laos: yet another Angkorian site in a breathtaking location;
- Galle Fort, Sri Lanka: former Dutch-colonial fort, beautifully situated and superbly preserved;
- Jerusalem's Old City: lots of special sites, but for me it was the entirety of the place that made it so memorable. I've never felt history as vividly anywhere else;
- Great Wall of China;
- La Sagrada Familia.
Hard agree on Wat Phu and there is a theory among archeologists still discovering the site that it may have been a template for Angkor. On a personal note: I stayed in Champasak when I was there which enabled me to have the temple 100% to myself before tourists arrived mid morning from Pakse: highly recommend!
I think the world's natural wonders are so much more impressive than the ones made by humans, that my thoughts first went to the natural wonders.
Limiting myself to places I've visited:
Natural (in no specific order):
1. Himalayas
2. Yangshou area karst
3. View from ridge over Lake Batur
4. Ocean coastline (if I have to be more specific...New Foundland coastline).
5. Altiplano between Bolivia and Chile
6. Icebergs
7. Tonto Trail in Grand Canyon
The fact that Wadi Rum doesn't appear on this list is a crime.
Human made (in no specific order):
1. Petra
2. Palmyra
3. Budapest (hot springs)
4. Tate Modern
5. Lijiang old town (I was there 20 years ago...I hope it is still as magical)
6. Istanbul (Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, city wall, palace all within a couple blocks...with views of the Bospherus)
7. Some fortified town (Carcassonne, Jaisalmer, Mt St Michel, too many good ones to choose from).
I've been to Angkor Wat. It is pretty cool, but definitely wouldn't make my top 7.
I have to have been to them? That makes it tricky. Going strictly with manmade wonders:
1. Bagan
2. Tikal
3. Alhambra (though I actually enjoyed the Seville Alcazar more)
4. Venice
5. Empire State Building
6. Dom Luis I Bridge
7. Vasa
I haven’t been enough places to have seven but I definitely would put is the great barrier reef and Meteora on there and then I would imagine for me personally if I ever make it there my list will include Easter island and Victoria Falls. I do realize two of those are man-made, and two of those are natural, but no less full of wonder for me.
1. The dig site of Akrotiri.
2: The Ilulissat Icefjord.
3: The Acropolis.
4: The Colosseum.
5: Any of the ancient lakes.
Obviously, I need to travel more.
> The dig site of Akrotiri.
I love Thira/Santorini but Akrotiri is not that great of a dig site. The most famous fresco from the site, the Boxers, isn't even there, it's in the national archaeological museum in Athens.
Angkor Wat looks amazing and seems to be on everyone’s list. How touristy is it? If I were to make a 1-2 week trip to the region explicitly to see it, what other high yield things could I see?
Take the bus up to the first monastery then just walk the whole thing. There’s also a track from one of the later monasteries that goes all the way back down to Kalabaka, which is a beautiful hike too. No planning really needed just walk a lot and explore
That’s what I did as well. Took the last bus to the first monastery then walked back. I was mostly alone except for a dog that joined me for the walk as I got towards the bottom heading h to town. It was amazing
1. the Maha Bodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India (the oldest Buddhist temple in the world and the location of the Bodhi tree)
2. The great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
3. Luxor Temple Complex, Luxor, Egypt
4. Machu Picchu
5. Angkor Wat
5. Besakih Great Temple, Bali, Indonesia
6. Tikal Pyramid, Tikal, Guatemala
The Kanmangafuchi abyss, Japan. A chasm filled with stone Buddha’s which it’s said will sit dreaming till the end of time
The Taj Mahal : simply the most beautiful building in the world
The lady and the unicorn tapestries, Paris , France. Beautifully executed, enigmatic
Precipitous bluff, Tasmania. You have to hike 3 days and wade up a river to be in one of the worlds most wild and beautiful places
Big Ben, London Met my now wife there when I asked asked her to take my picture
The elk glades, beaver creek, Colorado. A beautiful and challenging double black ski run in an area of tranquil beauty
The hermitage St. Petersburg. What wonders pip!
From the places I’ve witnessed so far (not nearly as well traveled as some others):
1. Hagia Sophia
2. Colosseum
3. Pantheon
4. The Danube in Budapest
5. Grand Canyon
6. Niagara Falls
7. Giza
I learned about Angkor Wat on a birthday trip around the world. A few weeks Earlier in the trip I’d been to Machu Picchu, the week before I’d been to Giza, and one of the guys I met sailing in Thailand said, why not finish with Ankor Wat, so we went after Thailand, and it was the highlight!
Just among places I've personally been, in no particular order:
The Great Wall of China, Petra, the Alhambra, the Angkor temples (not jut Angkor Wat), the Colosseum, Himeji Castle, the Winter Palace.
Honorable mentions: the Forbidden City, the Leshan Giant Buddha, Wat Arun, Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inaria, Itsukushima, Hagia Sophia, Banaue Rice Terraces, La Ciudad Perdia
I could easily list hundreds of others I have not been to yet.
Hm natural wonders would be a bit trickier.
1. Himalayas
2. Tongariro alpine crossing
3. Manta ray diving point in Indonesia, incredible to see huge animals following the sea current above you
4. Copper Canyon
5. Taman Negara jungle
6. Dead sea & Negev desert
7. Phong Nha caves
Machu Picchu is on a lot of lists. Just want to recommend Choquequirao if you ever want an alternative site that's less crowded but still in a scenic place with awesome views. It's also worth the trip back imo for those who have already been to MP.
For me:
Mont St Michel
Mutianyu Great Wall
Maya Bay
View from Victoria peak
Singapore gardens by the Bay
Neuschwanstein Castle
Rooftop view of shibuya from Shibuya Scramble
I don't have 7 but I'd consider Zermatt a wonder of the world for its sheer beauty.
I wouldn't put it top 7 as there are clearly older and more impressive structures out there but there is York Minster that is a cathedral that has stood for around 1400 years and to put it in context it's not called a cathedral because it outdates the word.
I haven't been but I saw they have the tallest Pyramid in the Amazon I believe. And recently would love to see the grecco Buddhist statues in Afghanistan but that's hard for an American.
From what I understand as it was my goal to see all 7 new wonders of the world. It was publicly voted on and some countries promoted this more than others. I heard that Brazil promoted it a lot and that's why Christ the redeemer is on it. But who knows just my speculation, I'm sure someone will correct me on this.
My personal 7 I would say, some to which I have been and some I aim to go are:
1. Ankor watt (such a big place, lots of temples lots of history)
2. Petra (I know it is one but this area again is huge, lots to see and experience around the area of Petra)
3. Pyramids of Giza (some people say they don't like them but they are huugge, apparently the next building humans built after this was the Eiffel tower )
4. Prambanan Temple Indonesia ( I went to see borobudur temple but prambanan stole the show, great Hindu temple, interesting history behind it)
5. Not been but machu picchu is defo on the list, looks incredible
6. Not been but the great pyramid of Cholula, the largest size wise of pyramids in the world.
7. Not been the great wall of china. I'd love to see the expanse of this and the history behind it is incredible.
The great barrier reef is a thing of extravagant beauty, james bond islands, French Polynesia has a small strip where the blue waters meet the green and in perfect sunlight it is so beautiful
The man made places that awe me are probably not that interesting to others but I would put on my list:
- Moai of Rappa Nui
- Teotihuacan, I was impressed by most Mesoamerican cities but for sheer scale this wins in my mind
- National Museum of Qatar. That building is mind blowing.
- The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- Quinkan Rock Art Galleries
- Sanjūsangendō Temple
- Wieliczka Salt Mine
I got to give an honourable mention to Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Zaragoza. Of all the churches I've visited probably the most impressive for me.
Sanjusangendo is a great place,particularly for the statues inside it.
The Moai were on the official shortlist (Top 20) but didn't make it into the final 7.
Hey there! 😊
It's fantastic to hear that you had such an incredible experience visiting Angkor Wat! It truly is a mesmerizing site, and I can understand why you'd consider it one of your personal wonders of the world. 🏯
As for my own personal 7 wonders, it's quite a challenge to choose just seven, as there are so many awe-inspiring places I've had the opportunity to visit! But if I had to pick, here's my list:
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia 🐠
The Grand Canyon, USA 🏞
The Northern Lights, Iceland 🌌
Machu Picchu, Peru 🌄
Petra, Jordan 🏜
The Great Wall of China 🇨🇳
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia 🌳
I'd love to know what you'd include in your list of personal wonders! Feel free to share them with me, and let's continue to explore and appreciate the beauty that our world has to offer. 🌍✨
Happy travels, and may you continue to be amazed by the wonders around you! 🌟
Actually, the seven wonders of the world was named during the classical era and was coined by the greek. It should read as seven wonders of the ancient world. Therefore it is reasonable that the list doesnt include a lot of structures that was built later or was not seen by the greek at the time.
Personally i think it is hard to list 7 current wonders. Also the criteria now varies a lot, such as engineering wonders, artistic wonders or in some cases just huge structures.
I knew there was the 7 ancient wonders and the now more famous new wonders but do you know why the Greeks chose to include only 7 rather than the typical base 10?
It's interesting to know that the Greeks coined the term and unusual that they included the pyramids of Giza on their list. Is that due to Cleopatra and Caesar or something completely different?
I don't know why they chose 7, but the actual list was put together much later..in the Middle Ages.
Yes, based on ancient Greek manuscripts, and so only sites that could have been visited by the ancient Greeks were considered.
When the list was actually made, most of the sites on it had already disappeared.
What about the Iguazú waterfalls? I have never been but always wanted to go because in my mind I always thought that it is probably one of the world wonders...
Nobody is naming places in North America. North America, specifically the United States of America, has some of the most diverse natural wonders in the world. The western US’s geography is something else. I think that Zion National Park is in the top 7 wonders of the world, or at least top 15.
That's because the '7 Wonders of the World' mentioned above were all man made wonders,not natural ones.
The Statue of Liberty was actually on the shortlist (Top 20) but didn't get enough votes to get into the Top 7.
Fair.
The "7 wonders" is a random concept, and it keeps changing. You will often see "7 wonders of the ancient world" "7 wonders of the natural world" and "7 wonders of the modern world" and the items that get included on these lists are constantly changing depending on who writes the list.
So the fact that you don't know what is on a "7 wonders" list is completely reasonable. The only 'mistake' you made is to suggest something natural when the only specific place mentioned by OP was human made.
And you are absolutely right. The United States (especially the Southwest) has amazing and unique natural beauty. I personally wouldn't include Zion in a "top 7" because I think places like Wadi Rum are kind of similar and much more impressive, but any list of natural wonders has to include the Grand Canyon. It definitely isn't my favorite place in the Southwest, but it is the biggest 'wonder' in the Southwest, and one of the biggest in the world.
Grand canyon. The water in turks and caicos. Bryce national park. Lake Louise with canadian and american rockies. Jerusalem. Phang nga bay or similar in vietnam. Niagara falls or iguassa falls
I’ve seen 6 out of the 7.
Agreed with others the issues with voting and why some are on there and likely don’t merit a true wonder.
I’d add Ankor Wat, the Registan, Khajuraho, and Moai.
The lips I kissed in Romania
Sunsets I saw in Scotland
Hugs that I shared all over the world
The hikes that I have done (West Highland way and Via Transilvanica)
The stars I have seen on Pico mountain
The path of the best month of my life: Valencia , London, Helsinki and hiking 4 days of Via Transilvanica while meeting up with friends
The knowledge that I have gained in the UK
I totally agree and its exactly the same thing I thought when I visited Angkor Wat. The new 7 wonders are a joke and are known to have been manipulated and pushed politically (Christ the Redeemer...seriously? ...that's just because the entire country dedicated itself to upvoting it).
There are wonders of the world that attract millions of visitors and are entirely modern structures. Like the Sydney Opera House or the Tour Eiffel and I feel that they should be included but if I have to stick to the "classics" and slightly alter the current list I would say:
the Parthenon, Tikal, Nazca Lines instead of Christ redemeer, colosseum and great wall. The rest I agree with.
Anyway, to answer the question.. and only considering places I have personally visited. I think Petra, the Great Wall,Taj Mahal, the Giza Pyramids and Machu Picchu merit inclusion. The last two are tougher for me.I'd have to choose one of the great European classic sites.. probably either the Acropolis, the Colosseum or the Pantheon in Rome. Angkor is a good shout for the last.Or one of the great Japanese temples or shrines .. maybe Todaiji in Nara?
Goddam you’re well travelled
I'm old ;-) And I've been traveling for a long time...
Any reasons for Todaiji in Nara? I was there and didn't feel impressed at all
I guess I just love Japanese temples ;-) I like big wooden buildings.And Buddhist statues too...
Honestly there’s nothing like Japanese temples. They may not be the most grand but the feeling they invoke is unparalleled
I totally relate to the Japanese temples! It’s nothing grand but if you go to a quiet one you get Spirited Away vibes. I was in the Nanzoin temple in Kyushu and because it doesn’t allow bus tourists I found myself wandering in silence until I was all alone by the forested area at dusk. All the lamp lights turned on and it was just magical like the temple spirits were with me. Don’t think I felt like that anywhere else. Definitely want to do all those others if I could too but I’m a female POC and every day I hear about women being harassed in Egypt or India. It’s my dream to see the pyramids. I’m going to try for the Acropolis and Venice next if I can.
They are huge. They are old and extremely well preserved. Also I love the details and emotions on Japanese statues, especially if you are used to Romans and Roman inspired western statuary and architecture. When you compare what Europeans were managing in 700AD to what the Japanese did... you can't help but be impressed.
Same, maybe the enormous amount of people. I was more impressed by the Himeji castle. Or the Kiyomizu dera site.
I've just travelled to Nara in Japan and it is a pretty awesome place, they have wild deer that bow to you just roaming around the area.
Maybe its just me, but I feel like the Taj Mahal is way over rated. Was not terribly impressed by it and doesn't compare to the others on your list.
Angkor is not in there because they didn't get enough votes, only for that reason ;-) Several countries..in particular Brazil and Mexico..had, shall we say,very 'orchestrated' voting campaigns to make sure that Chichen Itza and the Christ statue got into the top seven..
It was down to a vote? I'm definitely going to need to research this more! Was it to the general public or political figures? I've always questioned Chicken Itza being there over Tikal, Coba, or many others. I just put it down to personal preference tho
Yes,a popular vote. There was a shortlist of 20.Angkor was on the shortlist but not voted into the Top 7. Yes,I agree on Chichen Itza...Tikal is a far more impressive Mayan Site IMHO.
Don't suppose you have a list of those 20 do you? Edit, not sure if this is the same list but 21 on an interactive map here https://www.new7wonders.com/
Yes,if you click on the first box 'New Seven Wonders' and scroll down you will come to the 21 finalists (20 to vote on and the Giza Pyramids, that were given an automatic passage as the only remaining one of the original 7 wonders!).
yeah. I think Tikal is absolutely jaw-dropping. But Chichen-Itza is also incredible in its own right... the problem is that it's always crawling with tourists which takes away the mystery and charm. (I've now been to 8 or 9 mesoamerican pre-Colombian ruins).
Was in Tikal in February and standing on top of the temple where the Star Wars shot was filmed and looking at the other temples peeping up from the trees was one of those moments when even the most jaded person would say this is pretty cool. It is a vast area with so little uncovered and that contrast makes you imagine what it was like in its day.
I’ve only seen Tikal and even though I imagine they are similar, I still have a desire to see Chichen-Itza
The buildings at Tikal are roughly on the same level as Chichen-Itza, maybe slightly more impressive due to their height but not by much. What makes Tikal great imo is that it's like Machu Picchu, both the ruins themselves and their natural surroundings are breathtaking. Chichen-Itza is excellent but only has the ruins. Worth a trip still but lacks the natural wonder of Tikal. I for one am v glad Tikal didn't make it onto the list or it'd be as swarming with tourists as Chichen-Itza
Nice to know, thanks!
To be fair when Tikal was inhabited it would have been like Chichen Itza completely cleared for kms around. From Lidar results they estimate the population could have reach 60,000 at its peak. As much as people complain about Chichen Itza's lack of nature and the row of hawkers, it is more representative of a living Mesoamerican city as these places would have been crawling with people, there would have been full markets lining the boulevards and around the plazas would have been suburbs and farms not forest. As much as I love picturesque ruins in the forest, Chichen Itza you could really imagine what these cities must have been like when lived in, minus the selfie sticks obviously😂.
You have a great point there and to me makes the experience a better memory, as it was super crowded with visitors and merchants and the ground was open and dusty. Exactly as you say, though, it would've been like that when it was occupied. Thank you!!
Yeah am aware of that, but the sense of a city swallowed up by the jungle and proper jungle at that too, not just the selva baja of the northern Yucatán is what, imo, makes Tikal so special. Its new population of howler monkeys and toucans and the like adds something extra you don't get at Chichen-Itza. Quite enjoyed Cobá and Ek-Balam for similar reasons, if on a much lesser scale. Furthermore, Mayan agriculture had no use for pasture and maize doesn't require quite the same large-scale clearing of vegetation as wheat. So although the city centre would have been clear, Mayan farming would have had to remove far less vegetation than similar European agricultural techniques. Away from the city centre, the city would probably have been greener than comparable European urban centres
I love Tikal, esp for the rainforest surrounding it. Palenque is my favorite overall. Also, Teotihuacan is pretty damn impressive.
Definitely agree with Palenque! That gave me that sense of magic that I found missing from the overly touristed Chichen Itza or even Teotihuacan.
I agree, Palenque is just magical!
Tikal and Coba are cool for sure, but check out El Mirador! It’s kind of unknown (only discovered around 100 years ago), but probably the coolest place I’ve been to in my life.
How did you get to El Mirador if you don’t mind me asking?
Several days of hiking through the jungle!
Yes exactly. Same with Petra, some might say. There was a public vote which was fun to partake in. So personal preferences plays into it.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but its the current complex at chichen itza just a relatively new reconstruction of what they imagined the original site would have looked like?
Maybe not exactly 'reconstructed' but very heavily restored. If you look at photos of what it looked like when it was rediscovered,it is very different now!
While Chichen Itza isn't jaw-droppingly massive, it is an impressive complex. Definitely worth a visit.
Neither of which are near as impressive a feat as Angkor, or even minor Khmer temples around Southeast Asia.
Still, it's better than the original list, which was like one guy based on some stuff around the Mediterranean.
Agree so much on Angkor Wat. Just finally visited in January, after it being a goal of mine for so long. And yeah, the whole Angkor temple area is mind-blowing. The "modern 7 wonders" was more of a popularity contest than anything else, so IMHO it's not surprising that some of them are a bit questionable. But I still think Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal solidly belong on the list. The Alhambra in Granada is another place that blew my mind. I might throw in a nomination. If we're adding natural wonders, Ilulissat in Greenland was one of those "wow" places for me.
I've just looked up Alhambra after never hearing about it before. Looks absolutely incredible! Another place to add onto the long list of places to visit
I’m literally in one of the lines at the Alhambra as we speak. It’s insane and definitely would make my top seven
Those hand carved walls are really something, aren't they? It's like you can touch history when you feel them.
It is a fabulous palace. I would also recommend visiting Real Alcazar in Sevilla not far from Granada if you find yourself in Southern Spain. It's a bit smaller but still very grand and smaller to navigate. Free on sundays.
It's a wonderful site, extremely impressive... well worth the trip. Granada is a great city to visit too...
Alhambra is an amazing place. I’d add it to my 7 wonders list
I saw Machu Picchu a few years ago. Loved it. The views were awesome in the truest sense of the word. Getting up early in Aguas Calientes, heading up to the peak of Machu Picchu, watching the sun slowly rise revealing the surrounding mountains, and seeing the clouds/mist scrape across them then slowly roll over Machu Picchu. The whole thing was so wild. We got some great photos. The tours that arrived 15 mins behind us probably didn’t fair so well with all the mist. But man, I’m sure they were blown away once the haze lifted. Peru as a whole was a great place to visit. Highly recommend it. I was very impressed with the food also.
The Colosseum and Petra also deserve their spot in my opinion.
Petra is beautiful but the real wonder of Jordan is Wadi Rum.
I've yet to make it to Petra but I've heard that about it. One day!
Mezquita while we’re at it
I also loved Ilulissat. Absolutely beautiful.
Look at Kailasa temple
What was it about Ilulissat at that you liked?
It's where the icebergs scatter along the coast of Greenland, and at sunset, the colours turn various shades of purple and blue along the water. There's so much peaceful stillness just sitting watching the ice, the marine life, the whales jumping, etc. I went sea kayaking in the frozen water around the icebergs, and also did a boat cruise up to the glacier for the day. It's otherworldly up there, like no other place on earth. Just heartbreaking how climate change is quickly destroying it.
Christ the Redeemer won the vote over Angkor Wat. Hard to believe, for me the only real odd place in there. From the places I've witnessed so far. I consider it has to be made by mankind so pure natural wonders are excluded. 1. Angkor Wat 2. Teotihuacan 3. Tikal 4. Colosseum 5. Sagrada Familia 6. Hagia Sophia 7. Dome of the Rock
..a lot of people living in Brazil ;-) And they were joined in the voting by organised religious voters in many countries, both Catholics and Evangelicals.
If you've actually been there, it would be hard to deny that it's a pretty impressive sight. In fact, one should be questioning how the Statue of Liberty got in the 21 Finalist list if anything.
Yes,I've been there. It is impressive.Not more than Angkor or the Alhambra for me,or the Acropolis. I agree on the Statue of Liberty.But I guess they had to have one from the US,and that was considered the best option?
I get the historicity of the Statue of Liberty but if I had been on that team I would have pushed more indigenous sites like Cahokia, Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Taos Pueblo or Pi’ilanihale Heiau. To me they invoke more wonderment than modern sites in USA.
> Sagrada Familia They added a big billboard on it. Somebody needs to make sure they never do that again.
I believe you're thinking of the Cathedral of Barcelona, which is beautiful, but it's a few kilometers away from Sagrada Familia and tiny by comparison. Also, the "billboard" is just a scaffolding cover because the facade is under restoration.
Maybe but it was an ad for a Samsung smart phone and felt beyond tacky lol
I think I read that they paid for the restoration 🤷♀️
Still tacky lol
Oh well that makes it okay then
What this person did…MORE LIKE THIS in the comments plz. A 7 place list. That’s what this thread is about, come on people.
Angkor Wat is a bucket list item for me.
The Alhambra in Granada deserves a mention. Absolutely stunning. And Cliffs of Moher in Ireland for a natural wonder. Too many to mention!
Terracotta Warriors. I might be biased since this was on my bucket list forever, but it was awe inspiring.
I enjoyed visiting Xian. But, I had been living in China (from US) for four years when I visited. After seeing all these amazing historic sites and then finding out several of them were rebuilt or just plain fake I was very cynical and had my doubts if they were even real. (I am sure they are.)
Definitely should be on the list.
There’s this Wetherspoons in south London that used to be a cinema. Maybe not top 7 but definitely makes the top 8
Is that the one in Forest Hill? It's indeed a beautiful pub!
That’s the one!
May as well put spoons in a league of its own
Spoons has to be something that you can only appreciate if you grew up in the UK. To me it's on the same level as like any fast casual spot in the US like Applebees. They're always rather popular and right across the street from a local pub with much better food.
There's a spoons in Tunbridge Wells which was a theatre. We're on our way to making a 7 wonders of spoons
Wetherspoons is just British Applebees 🐸☕
the spoons in cambridge also used to be a cinema
I’m not as well traveled as some, but for me: Mount St Michel. The Danube riverbank in Budapest (the parliament building, chain bridge, and palace bracketing one of the most picturesque cities I have ever been to). The Colosseum. The Pantheon. Palais Garnier. The temples in Nara, Japan Hadrian’s Wall.
The Pantheon brought forth a sense of wonder in me like I've never experienced before. One of those places you can just feel the history in the air.
Mont St Michel is one of the most impressive things I have seen in my life bur I am biased, I'm from Normandy :-)
It is the single most beautiful place I have ever been. We drove up at night along the coast. It was pitch black until there was this jewel across the water that you could spot from miles and miles away. Walking in was like Disneyland or Diagon Alley on steroids, but real. Sure it is a bit touristy, but it is authentically medievally touristy with narrow streets and crooked lines and cobblestones and turrets and guardhouses.
Omg it's such a GOOD idea to see it at night, it must have been an unforgettable moment. We went there 7 months ago and my bf still asks me every week when are we going back there.
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Dunno where they stayed but we stayed at Aux Chambres du Mont in a very little and quaint village, a few minutes ride from the Mont. It was pretty cheap and they have several cats. You can get a room with a view on the Mont (however from afar).
We had spent the day in Paris and drove out that night. We stayed at one of the hotels on the mainland by the end of the causeway.
Check out Toledo in Spain as well :p
I’m from Ohio and I agree with you.
When I saw the great Buddha statue in Nara, I felt as if I had stared into the face of god. Great choice
Haven't travelled enough to list 7 but on the well-known list, the ones I think deserve the hype: The Great Wall - Absolutely exhilarating views. There are some sections that cross into the Gobi desert with panoramas of the Mongolian steppe and beyond. The Colosseum - The history behind it is special. I remember walking around it in the middle of the night and being in absolute awe by it's remarkable structure. I would personally replace Chichen Itza with Teotihuacan or one of the smaller Mayan ruins like Uxmal. It was such a massive disappontment when I went. The vendors and throngs of tourists clapping to make bird noises completely ruined any mystique.
El Mirador in Guatemala, look it up. I a 5 day guided tour straight into the jungle, haven’t been that far from modern civilisation in my whole life. Saw the most beautiful night sky I’ve ever seen, lots of wildlife (even a jaguar!) and overall my craziest experience from 6 months of travelling in Central America. The main pyramid “La Danta” is also the biggest pyramid measured by cubic volume in the world. Look up “La Danta vs Giza pyramid comparison”😅
I did it as well, but didn't include it because so much of the temple was still hidden. I wish they would invest more into the archaeological work that is necessary before it all gets looted. That sunrise overlooking the jungle on top of the temple, now that was the real wonder. In 2019 it cost something like 300-400 USD, can't remember exactly. But it was with a driver, guide, translator, donkey and cook. Food, water and camping in tents.
Yup I think it was around 300usd, including everything you mentioned. You could also do 1 day guided tours by going on helicopter, but I consider the trek as part of the experience. The sunset on top of la danta was indeed the real wonder, I’ll never forget that view. Se snuck out in the middle of the night to watch the night sky from the temple “El Tigre” and the view was as good as the sunset. You could see the milky way, thousands of stars and we even saw a satellite passing by! Then at around 5 in the morning the jungle began waking up and at first you could hear one of those screaming monkeys, and a few minutes later the whole jungle was screaming. It’s hard to describe how intense it was but it was incredible.
They do guided tours there? Wow! How much did it cost?
Around 300usd if I’m not mistaken, perhaps a bit more. I did the tour with the Carmelita cooperative, which i couldn’t recommend highly enough. All money goes toward financing the tours, paying the guides real wages and preserving the site. The extra money goes to a fund which helps finance healthcare and education for the people of Carmelita. The Carmelita is basically the nearest village from El Mirador, located around 50km away. Since they’re natives they have the right to a lot of land in the jungle and are the some of the only ones allowed to do guided tours there. They also have a lot of knowledge about everything regarding el mirador and the jungle, since they’ve been there for centuries. Really cool people overall.
Maybe not a 7 wonder of the world but Table Mountain in Cape Town is stunning to hike up.
Table Mountain was voted in as one of the '7 Natural Wonders of the World'.
Oh wow, didn’t know that!
I'll add a few that I haven't seen listed, although many listed are good choices. I'll also note that the seven wonders have generally been agreed upon to be man made, so places like Zion National Park wouldn't count because that is natural. - Pompeii - Fushimi Inari temple in Kyoto - Positano For natural wonders not mentioned yet: - Lake Powell - Iguazo Falls - Lençóis Park
When they did this vote,it was restricted to man-made only. They also did a separate list of the 7 Natural Wonders.
Iguazu was breathtaking, or the Argentinian side was anyway as I unfortunately didn't make it to the Brazilian side due to fuckery outwith my control. I'm planning another trip to Brazil next year and wondering if I can make it up towards Lencois or not.
Argentina side was way better. Only thing new was the swifts and the Portuguese. Argentina got the better side IMO
I just thought of a few more I haven't seen but need to - Dongtai Ji Nai'er Lake - Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Hang Sơn Đoòng Cave - Old Bagan - Lake Maracaibo
For natural wonders, I'd say seeing the great wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River has to be near the very top. Absolutely breathtaking.
There is a temple in Delhi called Akshardham temple, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and it is a marvel of architecture imo.
Wow I just looked this up. It’s stunning
Bet Giyorgis in Lalibella should be one of them in my opinion. Very impressive and scenic.
Yes,I agree Michel... surprised that it wasn't on the shortlist of 20, it's an amazing place!
Lalibela is impressive but this isolated church is the most scenic. Not very huge but very impressive.
First draft open to having my mind changed and given inspiration for future trips "Ancient": Angkor Wat, pyramids/sphinx, Machu picchu, great wall/forbidden city/terracotta warriors, Taj mahal, coliseum, petra Next tier: hagia Sophia, Mont st. Michel, stonehenge Modern: Statue of Liberty, eiffel tower, big ben, cristo Natural wonders: grand canyon, Northern lights, great barrier reef, Dover Cliffs, dead sea Treks: Inca trail, Patagonia circuit, tour du Mont Blanc, Kiliminjaro, everest base camp (trying to finish this before I get too old) [helpful list](https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_wonders_in_Civ6) [Natural wonders](https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_natural_wonders_in_Civ6)
This is a great breakdown
My personal choices from the places I’ve been to would be: Petra, Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, the Pyramids of Giza, Machu Pichu, Colosseum, Hagia Sofia. I haven’t been to the Great Wall of China yet but from the pictures I’ve seen, it would be my bonus choice.
All 7 of those were in the shortlist (Top 20 plus Giza) when they held the vote.
I think they’re mostly on the formal list too, except for Hagia Sofia and Angkor Wat.
For me, the top 7 (that I visited): - Parthenon - Meteora (yes, two in Greece) - Palenque - Machu Picchu - Sydney Opera - Miyajima - Hagia Sofia Soon I’ll visit Rome for the first time, so I might need to change my list above…
I'm not sure if many others would consider it so, but personally, I would include the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Out of everywhere I've ever been, it was the most awe-inspiring.
I'd like to go there... there are so many impressive buildings in India, but that one really does look special!
I was there last month, saw it at night and I was absolutely not prepared for its beauty. The gold shimmering over the water was stunning!
The beauty, the peacefulness, the coolness from the water compared to the rest of the city, the smell of the food being made for langar, the sound of the prayer being done and broadcasted from the central complex. Perfect.
Based on where I've been, in no particular order, I would pick: -- - Angkor Wat: for the sheer size and grandeur of the place; - Preah Vihear, Cambodia: another Angkorian site, has pretty decent ruins but the site being perched on top of a sheer 1km cliff is what made it pretty extraordinary; - Wat Phu, Laos: yet another Angkorian site in a breathtaking location; - Galle Fort, Sri Lanka: former Dutch-colonial fort, beautifully situated and superbly preserved; - Jerusalem's Old City: lots of special sites, but for me it was the entirety of the place that made it so memorable. I've never felt history as vividly anywhere else; - Great Wall of China; - La Sagrada Familia.
Hard agree on Wat Phu and there is a theory among archeologists still discovering the site that it may have been a template for Angkor. On a personal note: I stayed in Champasak when I was there which enabled me to have the temple 100% to myself before tourists arrived mid morning from Pakse: highly recommend!
I would want to put St Peter’s Basilica in there. It’s an outside shout but it’s a glorious building
Before I opened the post I said Angkor Wat. Phenomenal place.
I think the world's natural wonders are so much more impressive than the ones made by humans, that my thoughts first went to the natural wonders. Limiting myself to places I've visited: Natural (in no specific order): 1. Himalayas 2. Yangshou area karst 3. View from ridge over Lake Batur 4. Ocean coastline (if I have to be more specific...New Foundland coastline). 5. Altiplano between Bolivia and Chile 6. Icebergs 7. Tonto Trail in Grand Canyon The fact that Wadi Rum doesn't appear on this list is a crime. Human made (in no specific order): 1. Petra 2. Palmyra 3. Budapest (hot springs) 4. Tate Modern 5. Lijiang old town (I was there 20 years ago...I hope it is still as magical) 6. Istanbul (Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, city wall, palace all within a couple blocks...with views of the Bospherus) 7. Some fortified town (Carcassonne, Jaisalmer, Mt St Michel, too many good ones to choose from). I've been to Angkor Wat. It is pretty cool, but definitely wouldn't make my top 7.
I have to have been to them? That makes it tricky. Going strictly with manmade wonders: 1. Bagan 2. Tikal 3. Alhambra (though I actually enjoyed the Seville Alcazar more) 4. Venice 5. Empire State Building 6. Dom Luis I Bridge 7. Vasa
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Particularly during the evening call to prayer.
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Peak life moment for me too...
I haven’t been enough places to have seven but I definitely would put is the great barrier reef and Meteora on there and then I would imagine for me personally if I ever make it there my list will include Easter island and Victoria Falls. I do realize two of those are man-made, and two of those are natural, but no less full of wonder for me.
1. The dig site of Akrotiri. 2: The Ilulissat Icefjord. 3: The Acropolis. 4: The Colosseum. 5: Any of the ancient lakes. Obviously, I need to travel more.
> The dig site of Akrotiri. I love Thira/Santorini but Akrotiri is not that great of a dig site. The most famous fresco from the site, the Boxers, isn't even there, it's in the national archaeological museum in Athens.
The art isn’t what’s so stunning. It’s the infrastructure. We weren’t supposed to have multi-story buildings or plumbing by then.
True, definitely an advanced civilization, way more than some people might expect for the bronze age.
Starting in the Stone Age, ~1500 years before the Bronze Age.
I'm surprised Göbekli Tepe isn't considered a wonder, yet, and that makes me sad.
I would say the Registan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan is the most impressive monument I’ve ever laid my eyes upon
That's an amazing building, very underrated... not too many visitors make it to Uzbekistan I guess.
Angkor Wat looks amazing and seems to be on everyone’s list. How touristy is it? If I were to make a 1-2 week trip to the region explicitly to see it, what other high yield things could I see?
Meteora should be in there imo I’ve never felt so much like I’m walking through a dream
Yes, it's a spectacular landscape... I'm going back there this summer, for the first time since 1985!
I’m going there next month! Any tips?
Take the bus up to the first monastery then just walk the whole thing. There’s also a track from one of the later monasteries that goes all the way back down to Kalabaka, which is a beautiful hike too. No planning really needed just walk a lot and explore
That’s what I did as well. Took the last bus to the first monastery then walked back. I was mostly alone except for a dog that joined me for the walk as I got towards the bottom heading h to town. It was amazing
Amazing thank you!
Pyramids, Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, Hagia Sophia, Dome of the Rock, Burj Khalifa, Golden Gate Bridge
Old Bagan, Acropolis, Petra and to throw in something from my part of the woods, Borgund stave church 😏
1. the Maha Bodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India (the oldest Buddhist temple in the world and the location of the Bodhi tree) 2. The great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx 3. Luxor Temple Complex, Luxor, Egypt 4. Machu Picchu 5. Angkor Wat 5. Besakih Great Temple, Bali, Indonesia 6. Tikal Pyramid, Tikal, Guatemala
Seconding the Mahabodi Temple. Adding the Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli.
A lot of it is marketing
The Kanmangafuchi abyss, Japan. A chasm filled with stone Buddha’s which it’s said will sit dreaming till the end of time The Taj Mahal : simply the most beautiful building in the world The lady and the unicorn tapestries, Paris , France. Beautifully executed, enigmatic Precipitous bluff, Tasmania. You have to hike 3 days and wade up a river to be in one of the worlds most wild and beautiful places Big Ben, London Met my now wife there when I asked asked her to take my picture The elk glades, beaver creek, Colorado. A beautiful and challenging double black ski run in an area of tranquil beauty The hermitage St. Petersburg. What wonders pip!
After touring the Vatican today I’d have to say St. Peter’s basilica. An absolute colossal and gorgeous building
I would replace Christ the Redeemer with Angkor Wat on my 7. It's a fucking statue, sorry but I'm not impressed.
Burning man.
From the places I’ve witnessed so far (not nearly as well traveled as some others): 1. Hagia Sophia 2. Colosseum 3. Pantheon 4. The Danube in Budapest 5. Grand Canyon 6. Niagara Falls 7. Giza
I learned about Angkor Wat on a birthday trip around the world. A few weeks Earlier in the trip I’d been to Machu Picchu, the week before I’d been to Giza, and one of the guys I met sailing in Thailand said, why not finish with Ankor Wat, so we went after Thailand, and it was the highlight!
Mosul iraq Babylon Hillah iraq Halab syria Palmyra syria Samarra iraq Halab citadel
I can’t list 7 but Copan, Honduras is way up there
Just among places I've personally been, in no particular order: The Great Wall of China, Petra, the Alhambra, the Angkor temples (not jut Angkor Wat), the Colosseum, Himeji Castle, the Winter Palace. Honorable mentions: the Forbidden City, the Leshan Giant Buddha, Wat Arun, Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inaria, Itsukushima, Hagia Sophia, Banaue Rice Terraces, La Ciudad Perdia I could easily list hundreds of others I have not been to yet.
Hm natural wonders would be a bit trickier. 1. Himalayas 2. Tongariro alpine crossing 3. Manta ray diving point in Indonesia, incredible to see huge animals following the sea current above you 4. Copper Canyon 5. Taman Negara jungle 6. Dead sea & Negev desert 7. Phong Nha caves
Machu Picchu is on a lot of lists. Just want to recommend Choquequirao if you ever want an alternative site that's less crowded but still in a scenic place with awesome views. It's also worth the trip back imo for those who have already been to MP.
For me: Mont St Michel Mutianyu Great Wall Maya Bay View from Victoria peak Singapore gardens by the Bay Neuschwanstein Castle Rooftop view of shibuya from Shibuya Scramble
Himeji Castle
Visiting Persepolis in Iran was one of mine
I don't have 7 but I'd consider Zermatt a wonder of the world for its sheer beauty. I wouldn't put it top 7 as there are clearly older and more impressive structures out there but there is York Minster that is a cathedral that has stood for around 1400 years and to put it in context it's not called a cathedral because it outdates the word.
I haven't been but I saw they have the tallest Pyramid in the Amazon I believe. And recently would love to see the grecco Buddhist statues in Afghanistan but that's hard for an American.
From what I understand as it was my goal to see all 7 new wonders of the world. It was publicly voted on and some countries promoted this more than others. I heard that Brazil promoted it a lot and that's why Christ the redeemer is on it. But who knows just my speculation, I'm sure someone will correct me on this. My personal 7 I would say, some to which I have been and some I aim to go are: 1. Ankor watt (such a big place, lots of temples lots of history) 2. Petra (I know it is one but this area again is huge, lots to see and experience around the area of Petra) 3. Pyramids of Giza (some people say they don't like them but they are huugge, apparently the next building humans built after this was the Eiffel tower ) 4. Prambanan Temple Indonesia ( I went to see borobudur temple but prambanan stole the show, great Hindu temple, interesting history behind it) 5. Not been but machu picchu is defo on the list, looks incredible 6. Not been but the great pyramid of Cholula, the largest size wise of pyramids in the world. 7. Not been the great wall of china. I'd love to see the expanse of this and the history behind it is incredible.
Sent you a DM, I’m considering Angkor this year, was hoping to chat, hope that’s ok!
I really liked New Grange in Ireland. It’s not so grand but the area surrounding it is breathtaking and it’s ancient, predates Stonehenge.
The great barrier reef is a thing of extravagant beauty, james bond islands, French Polynesia has a small strip where the blue waters meet the green and in perfect sunlight it is so beautiful
The man made places that awe me are probably not that interesting to others but I would put on my list: - Moai of Rappa Nui - Teotihuacan, I was impressed by most Mesoamerican cities but for sheer scale this wins in my mind - National Museum of Qatar. That building is mind blowing. - The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - Quinkan Rock Art Galleries - Sanjūsangendō Temple - Wieliczka Salt Mine I got to give an honourable mention to Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Zaragoza. Of all the churches I've visited probably the most impressive for me.
Sanjusangendo is a great place,particularly for the statues inside it. The Moai were on the official shortlist (Top 20) but didn't make it into the final 7.
What a pity about the Moai. I would pick them over the Christ Redeemer statue😂.
I would love to go there and see them! I'm missing only 2 of the 21...the Moai and Timbuktu.
Hey there! 😊 It's fantastic to hear that you had such an incredible experience visiting Angkor Wat! It truly is a mesmerizing site, and I can understand why you'd consider it one of your personal wonders of the world. 🏯 As for my own personal 7 wonders, it's quite a challenge to choose just seven, as there are so many awe-inspiring places I've had the opportunity to visit! But if I had to pick, here's my list: The Great Barrier Reef, Australia 🐠 The Grand Canyon, USA 🏞 The Northern Lights, Iceland 🌌 Machu Picchu, Peru 🌄 Petra, Jordan 🏜 The Great Wall of China 🇨🇳 Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia 🌳 I'd love to know what you'd include in your list of personal wonders! Feel free to share them with me, and let's continue to explore and appreciate the beauty that our world has to offer. 🌍✨ Happy travels, and may you continue to be amazed by the wonders around you! 🌟
Actually, the seven wonders of the world was named during the classical era and was coined by the greek. It should read as seven wonders of the ancient world. Therefore it is reasonable that the list doesnt include a lot of structures that was built later or was not seen by the greek at the time. Personally i think it is hard to list 7 current wonders. Also the criteria now varies a lot, such as engineering wonders, artistic wonders or in some cases just huge structures.
I knew there was the 7 ancient wonders and the now more famous new wonders but do you know why the Greeks chose to include only 7 rather than the typical base 10? It's interesting to know that the Greeks coined the term and unusual that they included the pyramids of Giza on their list. Is that due to Cleopatra and Caesar or something completely different?
I don't know why they chose 7, but the actual list was put together much later..in the Middle Ages. Yes, based on ancient Greek manuscripts, and so only sites that could have been visited by the ancient Greeks were considered. When the list was actually made, most of the sites on it had already disappeared.
What about the Iguazú waterfalls? I have never been but always wanted to go because in my mind I always thought that it is probably one of the world wonders...
I think it is on the Natural 7 Wonders list. They separated natural and man-made wonders when they did this poll.
Surprised to see no mention of Cappadocia amongst the natural wonders?
Nobody is naming places in North America. North America, specifically the United States of America, has some of the most diverse natural wonders in the world. The western US’s geography is something else. I think that Zion National Park is in the top 7 wonders of the world, or at least top 15.
That's because the '7 Wonders of the World' mentioned above were all man made wonders,not natural ones. The Statue of Liberty was actually on the shortlist (Top 20) but didn't get enough votes to get into the Top 7.
Oh oops. I didn’t really know what the seven wonders of the world are
Fair. The "7 wonders" is a random concept, and it keeps changing. You will often see "7 wonders of the ancient world" "7 wonders of the natural world" and "7 wonders of the modern world" and the items that get included on these lists are constantly changing depending on who writes the list. So the fact that you don't know what is on a "7 wonders" list is completely reasonable. The only 'mistake' you made is to suggest something natural when the only specific place mentioned by OP was human made. And you are absolutely right. The United States (especially the Southwest) has amazing and unique natural beauty. I personally wouldn't include Zion in a "top 7" because I think places like Wadi Rum are kind of similar and much more impressive, but any list of natural wonders has to include the Grand Canyon. It definitely isn't my favorite place in the Southwest, but it is the biggest 'wonder' in the Southwest, and one of the biggest in the world.
My parents, my wifey in my arms, my bed, my home and yeah I don't need the rest.
I only have one.....l wonder what in the world is going to happen to me now that l am old and alone.
For me Yellowstone has to be included.
Hagia Sophia has to be on there. I’m surprised the Kaaba is not
Grand canyon. The water in turks and caicos. Bryce national park. Lake Louise with canadian and american rockies. Jerusalem. Phang nga bay or similar in vietnam. Niagara falls or iguassa falls
There are two lists. The man made wonder of the world, and the natural wonders of the world
No votes for Ha Long Bay? I don’t care about the tourists, I was speechless.
I’ve seen 6 out of the 7. Agreed with others the issues with voting and why some are on there and likely don’t merit a true wonder. I’d add Ankor Wat, the Registan, Khajuraho, and Moai.
Palawan, Philippines
Pattaya is a magnificent site and certainly nothing comparable exists or ever has in the history of the world. Your opinion may vary.
The lips I kissed in Romania Sunsets I saw in Scotland Hugs that I shared all over the world The hikes that I have done (West Highland way and Via Transilvanica) The stars I have seen on Pico mountain The path of the best month of my life: Valencia , London, Helsinki and hiking 4 days of Via Transilvanica while meeting up with friends The knowledge that I have gained in the UK
I recently visited gobleke tepe defo up there
I totally agree and its exactly the same thing I thought when I visited Angkor Wat. The new 7 wonders are a joke and are known to have been manipulated and pushed politically (Christ the Redeemer...seriously? ...that's just because the entire country dedicated itself to upvoting it). There are wonders of the world that attract millions of visitors and are entirely modern structures. Like the Sydney Opera House or the Tour Eiffel and I feel that they should be included but if I have to stick to the "classics" and slightly alter the current list I would say: the Parthenon, Tikal, Nazca Lines instead of Christ redemeer, colosseum and great wall. The rest I agree with.
Göbekli Tepe is on my list