What are the New 7 Wonders of the world? The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World are no longer there to entice travellers.
The only remaining site to visit is the famous Pyramids of Giza.
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So naturally, many travellers thought an updated list was needed. Oh and let’s face it, we all love a quick bucket list.
And so the idea of voting for New 7 Wonders of the world was born.
Voted by more than 100 million people around the world and declared in July of 2007, the New 7 Wonders of the World were announced.
On our mission to visit every country in the world, we have managed also to see all of the New 7 Wonders of the World, because why not?
All of them are simply incredible.
1. Petra in Jordan
Hidden in Jordan’s southwest desert, the “Lost City” of Petra was our last of the New 7 Wonders of the World to see. We set off in the morning to explore the capital of Nabatean and were blown away by the sheer size of this place.
As we walked through the narrow gorge that opens up to the famous Treasury carved into sandstone hill, we felt like being part of the Indiana Jones movie. We have walked for hours to be able to see most of it in just a day.
Hint: Come early morning so you can see the Treasury lit up in the morning sun and if you can, stay for the sunset to see the royal tombs radiate the earthy colors.
Where to Stay: Click here for a list of the most affordable, comfortable, and well-located hotels.
Food tip: Don’t miss out on the real Jordanian treat – hummus. Yes, we know, you can find it everywhere in the Middle East, but we found the one in Jordan the best. Hummus is a dip or spread made from cooked, mashed, chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. So delicious! The best we had was at Hashem’s Son in Aqaba, Jordan.
Want to visit Petra and see more of Jordan? Choose from one of these amazing small group adventures with G Adventures.
2. The Colosseum in Italy
The Colosseum deserves to be part of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Built in 80 AD, Colosseum is the ultimate sight to see in the eternal city of Rome. Standing in the middle of the Colosseum, it is easy to imagine why Romans were considered one of the greatest engineers of all time.
The Colosseum could hold up to 50,000 spectators who would enter through 50 entry gates. The best stadium to perform a gig, ever. And let’s face it, one of the most common new 7 wonders of the world to see.
Hint: Purchase your ticket here for fast track entrance with a combined package which includes Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum in central Rome. Enjoy a hassle-free experience at your own pace.
Don’t miss our Perfect 3 days in Rome Itinerary or these top-rated Vatican tours.
Food tip: What to eat in Rome? Everything! We wrote a dedicated blog about the food in Rome and 10 amazing dishes you need to try.
Head to the foodie paradise of the Trastevere region or even Testaccio and find your perfect pizza (or find the best 5 pizzas in Florence here) or pasta. Look out for the locals, they always know where the best food is at.
Why not join one of our favourite food experiences below:
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3. Chichén Itzá in Mexico
Chichen Itza is a Mayan archeological site located in the Yucatan peninsula not far from Cancun and Merida. When it comes to Mayan ruins, this is by far the best example of their architecture. There are clusters of pyramids and temples, the most famous being El Castillo.
This is the main pyramid dedicated to Kukulkan, the Plumed Serpent. The Great Ballcourt is another highlight, measuring 166 metres with remarkable acoustic. You can try it out yourself, simply walk across and speak to the person across it.
Hint: While most people will advise you to come early for 8 am, you could also try to visit at the end of the day – the site closes at 5 pm. There are public buses as well as day tours from Cancun to get you here. The most popular two tours are:
- Visit Chichen Itza, Ik Kil Cenote, and Valladolid with Lunch (from Cancun)
- Day Trip to Chichen Itza and Valladolid from Cancun with Cenote Swim and Lunch
If you’d prefer to get here early, then it might be worth renting a car. The roads are in great shape. After becoming one of the New 7 Wonders of the World there has been an increasing amount of tourists visiting.
Food tip: Well, food in Mexico, where do we even begin?
If you get the chance, join this Street Food & Local Market Tour in Cancun, it’s awesome! We loved the street food market in Cancun downtown – so go for something authentic, get out of your resort, and come here in the evening – Parque de las Palapas.
RELATED POST – Top 5 Food Cities in Mexico
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4. The Great Wall in China
Can you see the Great Wall of China from space? Apparently not, but it still deserves to be one of the new 7 wonders of the world. The Great Wall of China is an ancient series of walls and fortifications located in northern China not far from Beijing.
It was built around 500 years ago so technically is not that old and according to historians it was built for protection, but not against Mongols as is often said. There are different parts of the wall that you can come and see, but be warned, there are a lot of tourists here.
Hint: Badaling is the most famous, most visited, and most restored section of the Great Wall. Nearly everyone comes here and don’t get us wrong, it’s amazing to see. But if you prefer something less busy we recommend checking out Mutianyu or Jinshanling. They see fewer tourists and offer gorgeous views of the wall.
Food tip: Chinese food. Love it or hate it, when in Bejing there are two dishes to try. For the famous Peking duck – check out Siji Minfu near Forbidden City. And for some delicious dim sum, try 24/7 Jin Ding Xuan restaurants – there are a few locations across the city.
We love this food experience – Beijing Hutongs Breakfast Food Tour
Be sure to read our post about how to avoid the most common tourist scams in China before you arrive, many tourists get tricked at some point during their trip.
And for those of you who like to live dangerously, see how many of these 10 bizarre Chinese foods you would try.
And, if you’re not up for eating weird and bizarre foods, these top 10 most popular foods from China will put a smile on your face.
5. Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil
The outstretched arms of the Christ the Redeemer dominated the top of Mount Corcovado. A trip to Rio De Janeiro wouldn’t be complete without seeing this iconic statue. Created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa it was completed in 1922.
To get to the top you must take a train, van, or taxi to the top and then ride a set of escalators to the top. And then pose with your outstretched arms for the photo to look just like one of the new 7 wonders of the world. 🙂
Hint: Check the weather before you. It has to be a clear sunny day, otherwise, you won’t be able to see the statue once you get to the top. There is no point spending half a day getting there if you can’t see it through the clouds.
Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro: Top-rated, yet affordable hotels don’t need to be super expensive. Click here for the best deals on hotels in Rio.
Food tip: Brazil is known for its BBQ and we definitely recommend trying some when in Rio. Bur Rio has some tasty street food, such as empanadas, coxinha (shredded chicken covered in a thick dumpling-like dough -deep-fried), and pastel (another fried-filled pastry).
We highly recommend this Full Day Tour of Rio de Janeiro
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6. Machu Picchu in Peru
Machu Picchu – The last lost city of the Incas as it’s often called. Explorer Hiram Bingham III discovered Machu Picchu in 1911 but he wasn’t looking for it. In fact, he was searching for the city of Vilcabamba. So Machu Picchu might not be the last city of the Incas and it wasn’t really lost.
It was just there, waiting to be discovered. It’s believed smallpox killed most of its population.
Today you can marvel at the remains of a city that it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar. Machu Picchu is built against a cliff with a drop of 400m, which overlooks the Urubamba River. The famous Inca Trail allows you to hike up to the city in a few days – but be warned the restricted Inca Trail Permits sell out now months in advance.
And many travellers prefer to choose a different trek to escape the groups. Check out these Peru Inca Trail Small Group Tours with G Adventures and hike this amazing trail with like-minded travellers.
Machu Picchu was definitely one of the favourites when votes were cast for the New 7 Wonders of the world.
Hint: There are a few options to get to Machu Picchu – the train or trek. If you choose the trek to make sure you get to Cusco a few days before. This ensures you will acclimatize to the high altitude. A few travellers couldn’t finish the trek because of altitude sickness, therefore give yourself some time to acclimatise.
Food tip: Cusco is becoming a foodie city in recent years. We spent almost two weeks in Cusco and found Jacks Cafe the perfect place for lunch, coffee, or breakfast.
7. The Taj Mahal in India
Taj Mahal – a huge mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between the 17th century is on every traveller’s bucket list. Taj was ordered to be built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. It took around 20,000 workers and 16 years to build.
Today the architecture and the symmetry of this structure are adored by thousands of visitors from around the world. Most travellers will get to Agra from Delhi either by train or car.
Hint: The best time to visit is from November to February, otherwise it can be unbearably hot or rainy. While most people visit early morning, we recommend visiting just before the sunset.
Food tip: Joney’s Place is small but it dishes out affordable and tasty Indian dishes.
India is a huge country! See the best of it the right way.
Choose from one of these Small Group Tours with G Adventures in India and discover this diverse destination.
Have you visited one of the new 7 wonders of the world? Let us know in the comments below.
We love exploring countries with amazing structures, and architecture – some of the most incredible Roman Ruins we’ve seen in the world were during our travels to Libya, Algeria and Tunisia.
And, if you’re a history lover like us, don’t miss our Ultimate List of 30 Amazing Historical Places In The World!
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These 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you stretch your hard-earned dollars further.
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For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies. And, if history is your thing, these 30 amazing historical places worldwide will fascinate you!
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1 Comment. Leave new
Great places, I had the chance of visiting Petra, Jordan and the trip was worth every penny and every minute. Petra definitely makes you feel like you’re in a movie, the sights are breathless. Apart from sight seeing I also went scuba diving via deepbluedivecenter.com at the red sea in Aqaba whcih made the trip even more thrilling. Jordan is a country that may not be in every one’s list of top travel destination but it surely deserves a spot!