Few things excite me more in my travels than the opportunity to explore ancient ruins. From crumbling temples to meticulously planned cities, ingenious engineering, and mysterious monuments, these structures have (somewhat) withstood the test of time.
There’s something utterly enchanting about walking in the footsteps where sophisticated and mysterious cultures that once flourished before decaying and sometimes nearly vanishing.
These ruins are ALL fabulous in their own right and impossible to rate, so I’ve listed them in alphabetical order.
Disclaimer: I’ve visited these ruins over the course of my substantial life, so if some of the photos appear to be a little grainy (e.g. Egypt), it’s because it was before digital, as well as in my younger years when I could not afford a high-end SLR camera. Please forgive.
I’ve also included links to tours to many of these ancient ruins for your convenience, so please bookmark for future ease.
Acropolis
Greece
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is the No. 1 most popular and important site in Greece. Acropolis comes from the Greek words ἄκρον or akron which means “highest point/extremity” and πόλις orpolis which means “city.” The ancient citadel stands sentry on a high craggy ridge overlooking the city of Athens sprawled out below. The complex of ruins contains what’s left of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most well-known of which is the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena, the goddess of War and Wisdom for whom the city was named.
Click here to read How to Spend One Day in Athens
Angkor Wat
Cambodia
Located in Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Archeological Park in Cambodia is the largest religious monument in the world covering 402 acres a 900-year history shared by two religions (Hindu & Buddhist). By far the top Cambodian tourist attraction, Angkor was the Khmer Empire’s capital city, which flourished between the 9th and the 15th centuries.
Today, the stunning jungle-clad city is a picturesque scattering of over a thousand ruins, filled with historic treasures, making it one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and the world.
Click here to read 10 Landmarks in Cambodia to See in Your Lifetime
Akrotiri
Greece
Akrotiri has been inhabited since the 5th century B.C. Bronze Age and was destroyed when the volcano erupted in 1627 B.C. Covered in thick ash, it was not re-discovered until 1967 when archeologists found the Minoan city buried beneath the residue.
Still under excavation, three stories of the town have been revealed, and protective wooden pathways constructed overlooking the city to prevent deterioration as well as provide viewing opportunities. There are also pathways ambling through some of the streets on the lower level making it a fascinating place to see up close (only with a guide, though) without damaging the structures or pottery.
Click here to read 6 Things to Do in Santorini Cruise Port
Aspendos
Turkey
Antalya is known for having the best-preserved ancient amphitheater, built during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180). The theater is said to have the best acoustics in the world, can hold over 20,000 people, and is still used today for performances and festivals.
Just above the theater, there is the acropolis where you can see surviving ruins such as the basilica, agora, and nymphaeum.
Click here to read 21 Best Cities of Turkey to Visit
Ayutthaya
Thailand
This magnificent archaeological site is just a short drive from Bangkok. In 1350, Ayutthaya was the second capital of Siam (Thailand). The Burmese invaded in 1767 and burned the city almost down to the ground. The wats, towers, and palaces which were made out of stone, and the headless Buddhas and other statuary are all that remain, giving the grounds an ethereal atmosphere worthy of the lost kingdom. I can wander for hours through the winding pathways, awed by the remaining vestiges of history I was seeing.
Click here to read Best Things to Do in Bangkok
Butrint
Albania
Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important archaeological and unique archeological sites in the region.. Some of the structures date from at least the 9th century B.C., but legends hint at occupation by Trojan exiles.
Contained within the grounds are historically significant archaeological ruins, the most impressive of which is the theater, which dates from the fourth century, B.C. and seats approximately 1,500.. There’s also a baptistery with intricate mosaics, ancient walls, the great basilica, Venetian castles, and the remains of Roman courtyard houses.
The site is surrounded by woodlands and a lagoon. It is this combination of historic monuments and the natural environment that makes Butrint such a unique place.
Click here to read 10 Things in Albania That Will Blow You Away
Calakmul
Mexico
UNESCO World Heritage site Calakmul (pronounced cah-lack-mool) was an important Mayan city during the Classic Period. Together with Palenque located to the west, and Tikal located just south in Guatemala, they three ruled the highlands and maintained an intense rivalry. Known as the Kingdom of the Snake, Calakmul had a population of 50,000 during its height in the 7th century.
Calakmul was the largest Mayan city in Mexico with multiple structures, including two large pyramids, one of which still allows visitors to climb. The largest one, Structure 2, is about 150 feet tall and has been named the tallest Mayan pyramid ever discovered.
Click here to read 10 Amazing Mexican Ruins to See in Your Lifetime
Chichen Itza
Mexico
Chichén Itzá is probably the best-known Mayan ruins in the world, and it lives up to its reputation, e.g. it’s the largest pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Yucatan, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Highly excavated, I’ve been to the site twice and learned more each time.
Founded in the 6th century, this sacred Mayan city built in Puuc style flourished between 900-1300 AD. It became one of the largest political and economic cities in the Mayan world with 50,000 inhabitants.
The ancient city covers around six square miles. Looking across the ground to the imposing main Castillo (Kukulcán) pyramid will take your breath away.
It’s also popular for equinoxes when the Castillo (castle) temple forms a shadow of a serpent slithering down the pyramid’s steps. There’s also the Great Plaza, the Ball Court, the Temple of the Jaguars, the Sacred Cenote, and other fascinating structures to explore.
Chichén Itzá is considered one of the most important archaeological sites of pre-Hispanic culture, along with Palenque and Uxmal in Mexico and Tikal in Guatemala. It is unclear why it went into decline and was later abandoned.
Click here to read 10 Amazing Mexican Ruins to See in Your Lifetime
Coliseum of Rome
Italy
The Colosseum, an oval amphitheater that sits in the center of the city of Rome, is the greatest example of Roman architecture and engineering, the very symbol of Ancient Rome. Adjacent to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum, is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built. Construction of the Colosseum began in 72 A.D. under Emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 A.D. under his successor and heir, Titus. The arena was used by gladiators as well as for public executions, and it is said that up to 400,000 people met their demise in the arena, as did one million wild animals of many different species.
Click here to read 20 Jaw-Dropping Places to Visit Once in a Lifetime
Derinkuyu Underground City
Turkey
Derinkuyu is an ancient multi-level underground city in the Nevşehir Province. Likely built by the Phrygians, highly skilled Iron Age architects, it is the largest underground city in the world, estimated to have sheltered as many as 20,000 people together with their livestock and food supplies.
In 1923, the Christian inhabitants of the region were expelled from Turkey and moved to Greece in the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, whereupon the tunnels were abandoned.
Click here to read 10 Things to Do in Cappadocia That Will Blow Your Mind!
Diocletian’s Palace
Croatia
Diocletian’s Palace, the beating heart of Split, remains mostly intact, forms the core of the old city, and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. While many older European cities have castles and fortified churches from the medieval period, Diocletian’s Palace is more than a thousand years older.
Split gained fame after the infamous Roman Emperor Diocletian who ruled between AD 284 and AD 305 and started building his retirement palace there. Diocletian raised himself from low birth through military prowess and finally to the emperor. He died of natural causes (unusual in those times) and was the first emperor to retire voluntarily.
Click here to read How to Spend One Day in Split, Croatia
Ephesus
Turkey
Ephesus (New Testament Book of Ephesians written by the Apostle Paul) is probably the most well-known. The UNESCO city was the 2nd largest city of the Roman Empire and its history can be traced to the tenth millennium BC. Its excavated remains reflect centuries of history, from classical Greece to the Roman Empire – to the spread of Christianity. It was an important port city at the crossroads between East and West. Cobblestone boulevards meander past public squares, baths, theaters, and other ancient ruins.
Click here to read 10 Highlights of Ephesus
Great Wall of China
China
The Great Wall is not one continuous 13,000-mile structure, but a series of fortifications and other barriers such as mountains, trenches, and rivers. The materials used in construction include stones, compacted earth, lime, brick, and rambles east-to-west, originally to protect the country from nomadic assailants.
The rudimentary erection of the wall began as early as the 7th century BC and was added to century-by-century. The first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, added a portion of the wall in 220-206 BC, but most of what exists now was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Click here to read How to Visit the Great Wall of China at Badaling
Hierapolis
Turkey
The Greek city of Hierapolis (“Sacred City”)) was originally a Phrygian cult center of the Anatolian mother goddess of Cybele. In the 1st century, it was part of the tri-city area of Laodicea, Colossae, and Hierapolis. The cities are linked in Paul’s reference to Hierapolis and Laodicea in his epistle to the Colossians. It is also believed to be the place where St. Philip was martyred in 80 A.D.
Click here to read Best Places in Turkey
Jerash
Jordan
Jordan is home to dozens of ancient Roman sites, but Jerash, one of the oldest citadels in the Middle East, is easily the most impressive and compelling, even better than its counterpart in Rome, IMHO.
Boasting an unbroken chain of human occupation since the Bronze Age, the grand, walled Greco-Roman settlement is entered through the 2nd-century Hadrian’s Arch, then progresses on to the Temple of Zeus, Hippodrome, Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis, and the huge Forum’s oval colonnade lined with 56 Corinthian columns.
Once an important city on Rome’s ancient trade route, Jerash was buried and preserved in the dry climate for centuries, until excavation began in 1925.
Click here to read 10 Spectacular Jordan Places
Karnak
Egypt
Karnak Temple is the largest open-air religious sight in the world. What sets Karnak apart from other Egyptian sites is the length of time under construction, with contributions of approximately thirty pharaohs. While the atmosphere and appearance of the structures seem similar to Luxor, the sheer volume of Karnak is overwhelming. The Hypostyle Hall covering 50,000 square feet with 134 massive columns is a highlight of this site.
Click here to read Best Places to Visit in Egypt.
Palace of Knossos
Crete
Located about three miles south of the capital of Crete, Heraklion, the Palace of Knossos is Greece’s second most-visited archaeological site (behind the Acropolis in Athens) and best-known Minoan site in Crete. According to local folklore, it was once the home of the mythical Minotaur of King Minos.
Constructed between 1700 and 1400 BC – making it the oldest European city – the complex with massive columns and beautiful frescoes was home to the Minoan civilization, which flourished on the island, conducting trade with other important Mediterranean cultures.
Excavated by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evens in 1900, the compound is a maze of chambers, the Throne Room, Temple Tomb, storage rooms, staircases, in-tact frescoes, a theater, and engineering innovations, including an extensive piping system.
Click here to read 10 Cool Things to See in Crete
Luxor Temple
Egypt
Constructed in approximately 1400 BC by New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279–1213 BC), Luxor Temple was once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Thebes. Called “the world’s largest open-air museum,” many of the country’s most astonishing monuments, tombs, and temples are located here.
Dedicated to the god Amun, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu, the temple is made from Nubian sandstone and underwent several reconstructions over the centuries, culminating in its final form under Ramses II in 1250 BCE who built the entrance known as the first pylon.
Click here to read 10 Best Places to Travel in Egypt
Machu Picchu
Peru
Often (mistakenly) referred to as “the Lost City of the Incas,” American historian Hiram Bingham is credited with discovering (more accurately exposing) Machu Picchu in 1911.
The exact purpose of the remote and sprawling bastion in the heights of the Andes Mountains remains shrouded in mystery. One of the recent theories suggests that Machu Picchu was built to be a palatial retreat for Pachacuti, but was abandoned at the time of the Spanish invasion so that the conquerors would not find and ransack their cherished citadel. Another theory insists that due to the eight access routes into the city, it must have been an administrative and trading center between the Amazon and the Urubamba Valley and highlands. It is estimated that approximately 1200 people could have lived in the area. Whatever its purpose, Machu Picchu remained “lost” for almost 400 years.
Click here to read How to Visit Machu Picchu
Masada
Israel
Masada is an ancient fortress in southern Israel’s Judean Desert. Built in the year 30 BC by King Herod, Masada was built on a massive plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. The site is accessible by a dramatic ascent via cable car or a long, winding path (called the Snake Path) up to the fortifications. Among the ruins is King Herod’s Palace, which encompasses three rock terraces.
According to the writings of ancient historian Flavius Josephus, the siege of Masada was one of the final events in the First Jewish–Roman War, occurring from 72 to 73 A.D. The long siege by Roman troops led to the mass suicide and martyrdom of the Jewish families living in the Masada fortress.
Meteora
Greece
Perched on the peaks of towering limestone pillars formed millions of years ago, the monasteries of Meteora view is hauntingly enchanting. Constructed during the Middle Ages, Meteora is a marvel of human creativity. The Greek word meteora means “suspended in the air,” and this phrase aptly describes the otherworldly Meteora view. Originally there were 24 uniquely different Byzantine monasteries; today only six remain, inhabited by 60 monks and nuns, and are living museums housing fascinating historical relics. The Meteora complex is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is one of the best places to visit in a lifetime.
Click here to read Meteora’s Hanging Monasteries
Montezuma Castle
United States of America
Montezuma Castle is a well-preserved historic Native American dwelling carved into an ancient limestone cliff. The structures were built and used by the pre-Columbian Sinagua people, between 1100 and 1425 A.D., but incorrectly named for Chief Montezuma by 1800s explorers who assumed it was an Aztec structure. The castle towers five stories and contains 20 rooms, highlighting the resourcefulness of the dwellers who survived in the inhospitable environment.
Ollantaytambo
Peru
Dating back to the 15th century, Ollantaytambo was established as the royal estate of Inca Emperor Pachacuti and is one of the best-preserved Inca sites and an example of Inca urban planning.
The archaeological site, strategically located in the western Sacred Valley, is the only site in which the Incas were successful in fending off the relentless Spanish conquistadors in 1536. The Incas probably chose Ollantaytambo due to its strategic location on a mountain between two valleys. The fortress was built at the top of the mountain, enabling guards to see incoming invaders. Unfortunately, Pizarro returned in 1540 with his army of Spanish conquistadors who were this time successful in conquering Ollantaytambo.
Click here to read Amazing Things to Do in Ollantaytambo
Petra
Jordan
Originally known as Raqmu, Petra is a spectacular historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan. The site lies around Jabal Al-Madbah in a basin surrounded by mountains that form the eastern flank of the Arabah valley that runs from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. The rose city’s appeal is famous for its multicolored sandstone and genuine Nabatean architecture, making it one of the most important archaeological treasures not just in the Middle East and the world. The long, deep, and narrow gorge opens to the Siq and then the famous and spectacular Treasury.
Click here to read Inside Petra: What to See and Do
Pompeii
Italy
Pompeii is a vast UNESCO World Heritage excavated archaeological site near the coast of the Bay of Naples. Once a booming and sophisticated Roman port city, in 79 A.D. Pompeii was buried under up to 20 feet of ash and pumice after the catastrophic 2-day, 10-mile-high eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The fine ash and mud preserved the site but asphyxiated its 200,000 residents. Visiting Pompeii reveals excavated ruins of streets, temples dedicated to various gods, shops, houses, frescoes, pottery, and artifacts, giving visitors a glimpse into Roman life at that moment in history.
Click here to read 11 Incredible Ruins in Pompeii
Pyramids of Giza
Egypt
The pyramids, built some 4,500 years ago, have endured time as the eternal resting place of the great Pharaohs, – although the Pharaohs themselves or their treasures are no longer housed there. The Giza Pyramid Complex in Cairo is often cloaked in mystery as to how they were constructed. While originally thought to have been built on the backs of slaves, after thorough excavation was done, it was discovered that the construction workers were actually Egyptian laborers from low-income families.
Click here to read 20 Jaw-Dropping Places to Visit in a Lifetime
Roman Forum
Italy
The Forum is one of the most spectacular sights in Rome — a vast, rectangular setting that hails back to the glory days of the Roman Empire. For centuries the Forum was the center of day-to-day life and commercial affairs in Rome, surrounded by governmental buildings.
Although wrecked by centuries of earthquakes, pollution, and thieving of its stones and columns, the crumbling but picturesque Roman Forum remains the heart of ancient Rome.
Sacsayhuaman
Peru
The city of Cusco is cradled by several Inca ruins, the most impressive of which is Sacsayhuamán. At an altitude of 12,142, the fortress which overlooks the city was thought to be impregnable, but Spanish conquistadors charged uphill and in an epic battle, defeated the Inca army. I can attest to what an extraordinary feet that must have been. Just climbing the multitude of steps to get to the top for the panorama left me breathless.
Click here to read Best Hikes in Peru’s Sacred Valley
Stonehenge
United Kingdom
Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure consisting of an outer ring of lintel-topped vertical standing stones, each around 13 feet, seven feet wide, and weighing around 25 tons. The ruins are aligned towards the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice. One of the most iconic landmarks in the United Kingdom, archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was constructed in several phases from around 3100 BC to 1600 BC. before the first pyramid was built. Stonehenge was built by Neolithic Britons, not by Druids or Celts, as previously theorized.
Teotihuacan
Mexico
(“place where gods were born”) is an ancient Mesoamerican city located 30 miles northeast of Mexico City in the Valley of Mexico. Construction of this important archeological site began around 300 BC and at its peak in the 5th century AD, it was the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, reaching a total population of 150,000 in its heyday.
It is unknown who first inhabited the mysterious city. The Aztecs found the abandoned city in 1400 AD and named it “the place where the gods were created.” It’s known for the Aztec practice of human sacrifice.
The UNESCO site contains pyramids, plazas, temples, and palaces. The Pyramid of the Sun, located on the east side of the Avenue of the Dead, is the third-largest pyramid in the world and offers a stunning view of the Pyramid of the Moon at the summit.
Click here to read 10 Amazing Mexican Ruins to See in Your Lifetime
Terra Cotta Warriors
China
Crammed into the viewing area with some 10,000 other tourists (it’s true, China is crowded), we gazed in amazement at the famous Terracotta Warriors, considered to be one of the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Discovered in 1974, the UNESCO excavation site is a mausoleum of 8,000 life-sized ancient sculptures.
Click here to read 20 Reasons to See China with Viking Cruises
Tikal
Guatemala
North Acropolis, Tikal
impressed with the sheer height and majesty of the Tikal Mayan ruins, shrouded deep in the lush 180’ high jungle canopy of northern Guatemala, guarded by myriad creatures such as howler monkeys, toucans, parrots, deer, ocelots, wild turkeys, and the occasional jaguar. According to Rough Guides, “Tikal is possibly the most magnificent of all Maya sites.”
Dating as far back as 400 BC, Tikal was once an affluent metropolitan area housing as many as 100,000 residents and the base of the great Jaguar clan lords. It is the largest excavated site on the American continent and is considered by some archaeologists as the capital of the Maya.
Click here to read Tikal: Most Majestic of the Mayan Ruins
Tulum
Mexico
Though the Tulum Ruins are not the most impressive of their kind, this cliff-hanging pre-Columbian site in Tulum has always been my favorite ancient Mayan site because it’s the only one that overlooks the sea. Dramatically poised over the sparkling turquoise Caribbean Sea (well, when the dread seaweed isn’t there!) surrounded by dense jungle, exploring the well-preserved and expansive walled city is a treat for the eyes.
Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya and was a major trading and religious center between the 11th and 16th centuries.
Click here to read Best Tulum Instagram & Tourist Attractions
Uchisar Castle
Turkey
The centuries-old 200-foot high rock citadel is one of the most stunning landmarks in Cappadocia.
Originally admired for its fairy chimney shape, the Swiss cheese-looking rock castle was later adapted to serve as the main point of defense against attacks during the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods.
It takes about an hour to explore Uchisar Castle. After taking a look at the inside of the castle, climb the 275 steps up to the top of the castle for panoramic views. The castle is the highest point in Cappadocia.
Click here to read 10 Things to Do in Cappadocia That Will Blow Your Mind!
Valleys of the Kings and Queens
Egypt
On the west bank of the Nile is the Valley of the Kings, where two colossal statues of Amenhotep III stand as sentries to the burial place of the great pharaohs. At first blush, it doesn’t look like much more than a valley between limestone cliffs. But within that bleak landscape are hidden entries cut into the rock leading to what were once magnificent caches of treasure, buried with rulers to accompany them in the afterlife. Although each tomb is now guarded, the treasures were discovered and removed by tomb raiders in antiquity; luckily the wall paintings of mythological scenes and hieroglyphics remain intact. The highlight is the tomb of Tutankhamun, the boy king, discovered in the 1920s which was one of the few and last tombs still containing its treasures.
Adjacent is the lesser-known Valley of the Queens, a smaller U-shaped valley and burial place for royal wives and children. The most famous tomb of Queen Nefertari, royal wife of Ramses II, is considered to be the most beautifully painted tomb in Egypt. Unfortunately, the tomb is now closed to the public due to preservation concerns.
Click here to read Best Places to Visit in Egypt.
Conclusion
While this is undoubtedly a substantial list of the world’s best ancient ruins, there are still more on my bucket list:
- Bagan (Myanmar)
- Borobudur (Indonesia)
- Mesa Verda (USA)
- Sigiriya (Sri Lanka)
- Moai Statues (Easter Island)
- Ellora Caves (India)
I hope to visit most of these in the near future.
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About the Author
Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
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