There are two famous lists of seven wonders. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes, and Lighthouse of Alexandria — were chosen by Greek travellers more than 2,000 years ago, and only the Great Pyramid still stands. The New7Wonders of the World, voted by more than 100 million people and announced on 7 July 2007, are the Great Wall of China, Petra, Chichén Itzá, Christ the Redeemer, the Colosseum, Machu Picchu, and the Taj Mahal — and all seven can still be visited today. The Great Pyramid was added as an honorary candidate because it was the only ancient wonder still standing.
Why “All the Seven Wonders” Has Two Answers
If you ask ten people to name the seven wonders of the world, you will probably get two different lists — and both answers are correct. That is the first thing most articles get wrong: they give you one list and leave you confused when another site shows a completely different seven.
The confusion exists because the phrase “seven wonders of the world” refers to two separate lists made about 2,000 years apart:
- The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — a list of extraordinary buildings from the ancient Mediterranean world, written down by Greek travellers in the second century BC.
- The New7Wonders of the World — a modern list chosen by a worldwide public vote in 2007, featuring monuments that still exist and can be visited.
This guide gives you both lists in full, with every wonder’s location, when it was built, why it made the list, and what happened to it. You will also find a side-by-side comparison, the real story behind the 2007 vote, and a practical plan for visiting all seven modern wonders.
The Seven Wonders of the World at a Glance
| List | Wonders | Still standing? |
|---|---|---|
| New7Wonders (2007) | Great Wall of China; Petra; Chichén Itzá; Christ the Redeemer; the Colosseum; Machu Picchu; Taj Mahal | All 7 — every one can be visited |
| Ancient Wonders (2nd century BC) | Great Pyramid of Giza; Hanging Gardens of Babylon; Statue of Zeus at Olympia; Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; Colossus of Rhodes; Lighthouse of Alexandria | Only 1 — the Great Pyramid of Giza |
The New7Wonders of the World (2007)
In 2001, Swiss-Canadian filmmaker Bernard Weber launched a campaign to choose seven new wonders by public vote. More than 100 million people voted, narrowing over 200 candidates down to 21 finalists. The winners were announced in Lisbon on 7 July 2007 (07/07/07). Unlike the ancient list, every winner still exists — which is exactly why this is the list most travellers mean today.
1. The Great Wall of China — China
The Great Wall is the longest wall in the world and the largest man-made structure on Earth. Its total length, including all branches and sections built by different dynasties, is about 21,196 kilometres (13,171 miles). Construction began as separate walls in the 7th century BC, and the most famous sections were joined and rebuilt under the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
Why it won: No other structure on the list matches its scale. It winds across mountains, deserts, and grasslands, and it took more than 2,000 years of building by millions of workers.
What to know before visiting: The best-preserved and most visited section is Badaling, about 70 km from Beijing, but it is also the most crowded. Mutianyu offers the same dramatic mountain scenery with far fewer people, and Jinshanling is the choice for hikers who want wild, unrestored wall. Go in spring or autumn — summer brings heat and crowds, winter brings biting wind on the ridges.
2. Petra — Jordan
Petra is a city carved directly into rose-red sandstone cliffs by the Nabataeans, an Arab people who made it the capital of a trading empire around 312 BC. Its most famous building, the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), appears suddenly at the end of a narrow canyon called the Siq — one of the great reveals in world travel. The city was lost to the outside world for centuries until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812.
Why it won: Petra is not a single monument but an entire hidden city — tombs, temples, a theatre, and a monastery (Ad Deir) spread across a desert canyon, all cut from living rock.
What to know before visiting: Arrive at opening time and walk the Siq before the crowds. The Monastery is a steep 850-step climb past the Treasury, but the view from the top is worth every step. Budget a full day; two if you want the Petra by Night candle-lit walk through the Siq.
3. Chichén Itzá — Mexico
Chichén Itzá was one of the largest Maya cities, flourishing between roughly AD 600 and 1200 on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Its centrepiece is El Castillo, a step pyramid with 365 steps — one for each day of the year. At the spring and autumn equinoxes, the afternoon sun throws a shadow across the pyramid’s staircase that looks like a serpent sliding down to earth, a deliberate piece of Maya astronomy built in stone.
Why it won: It is the most complete and most visited Maya site, and the equinox serpent effect is one of the most famous astronomical alignments in the ancient world.
What to know before visiting: Come early — the site opens at 8 a.m. and the midday heat on the open grass is fierce. The equinox events (around 20–21 March and 22–23 September) draw huge crowds, so book ahead. Combine it with a swim in a nearby cenote, the natural sinkholes the Maya considered sacred.
4. Christ the Redeemer — Brazil
Christ the Redeemer stands on top of Corcovado Mountain, 710 metres above Rio de Janeiro, with arms spread wide over the city. The statue itself is 30 metres tall (38 metres including its pedestal) and was completed in 1931 after nine years of construction. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and it has become the symbol of Brazil itself.
Why it won: It is the youngest wonder on the modern list and the most recognisable — a statue that turned a mountain into an icon and a city into a postcard.
What to know before visiting: Take the cog train up through Tijuca Forest rather than a van — the ride is part of the experience. Go on a clear morning for the view over Rio, Guanabara Bay, and Sugarloaf Mountain. Clouds roll in most afternoons, so an early start genuinely matters.
5. The Colosseum — Italy
The Colosseum in Rome is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, constructed between AD 70 and 80 under the emperors Vespasian and Titus. It could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators for gladiator contests, animal hunts, and public spectacles. Despite earthquakes and centuries of stone-robbing, its outer skeleton still dominates central Rome — and it remains the model for every modern sports stadium.
Why it won: It is the most visited monument in Italy and the most famous ruin of the Roman Empire — a building that has defined what an arena looks like for nearly 2,000 years.
What to know before visiting: Book tickets online in advance; the ticket line is famously long. The combined ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so plan half a day for all three. Go inside the arena floor if you can — standing where gladiators stood changes the whole experience.
6. Machu Picchu — Peru
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel built around 1450 under the emperor Pachacuti, perched 2,430 metres above sea level in the Andes. It was never found by the Spanish and remained unknown to the outside world until American explorer Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911. Its dry-stone walls fit together so precisely that no mortar was needed, and its terraces, temples, and observatories align with the sun at the solstices.
Why it won: It is the most famous symbol of the Inca civilisation — a whole city hidden on a mountain ridge, so well built that it survived centuries of earthquakes intact.
What to know before visiting: Entry is by timed ticket and daily numbers are capped, so book weeks ahead. Most visitors arrive by train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then bus up the mountain. If you want the classic postcard photo from the Watchman’s Hut, arrive for the first entry slot and walk straight up before the crowds fill the viewpoint.
7. The Taj Mahal — India
The Taj Mahal in Agra is a white marble mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1653 for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Around 20,000 workers and 1,000 elephants helped build it, and the marble was inlaid with 28 types of precious and semi-precious stones. Its perfect symmetry, its reflection in the long pool, and the way the marble changes colour from pink at dawn to gold at sunset have made it the most photographed building in India.
Why it won: It is widely considered the most beautiful building in the world — and the most famous monument ever built for love.
What to know before visiting: Visit at sunrise, when the crowds are thinnest and the marble glows pink. The Taj is closed on Fridays. The view from across the Yamuna River at Mehtab Bagh at sunset is the best free view in Agra, and it is far quieter than the main platform.
New7Wonders: Facts at a Glance
| Wonder | Country | Built | Key fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Wall of China | China | 7th century BC – 1644 | ~21,196 km long; longest wall on Earth |
| Petra | Jordan | ~312 BC | City carved into rose-red cliffs; Treasury revealed through the Siq |
| Chichén Itzá | Mexico | AD 600–1200 | El Castillo has 365 steps; serpent shadow at the equinox |
| Christ the Redeemer | Brazil | 1922–1931 | 38 m tall incl. pedestal; 710 m above Rio |
| Colosseum | Italy | AD 70–80 | Largest ancient amphitheatre; 50,000–80,000 seats |
| Machu Picchu | Peru | ~1450 | Inca citadel at 2,430 m; revealed to the world in 1911 |
| Taj Mahal | India | 1632–1653 | White marble mausoleum; ~20,000 workers |
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The original list was compiled by Greek travellers in the second century BC as a kind of guidebook to the most impressive sights of the classical world. All seven were in or around the Mediterranean, and all were human-made. Only one survives today — which is precisely what makes the ancient list so fascinating: it is a list of things that are mostly gone.
1. The Great Pyramid of Giza — Egypt (still standing)
Built around 2560 BC as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu, the Great Pyramid is the oldest wonder on either list and the only ancient wonder that still exists. It was the tallest human-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years, standing 146.6 metres when completed (about 139 metres today). It is made of roughly 2.3 million stone blocks, and its sides align almost perfectly with the points of the compass. It was also made an honorary candidate in the 2007 New7Wonders vote, precisely because it was the one ancient wonder that refused to disappear.
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon — Iraq (gone)
The gardens were said to have been built around 600 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife Amytis, who missed the green hills of her homeland. They were described as a tiered mountain of trees and flowers rising above the city, watered by an ingenious system of screws and pumps. Here is the twist most articles skip: archaeologists have never found conclusive proof the gardens existed in Babylon at all. Some scholars now believe the gardens were actually in Nineveh, built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib — or that they were a beautiful legend all along.
3. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia — Greece (gone)
The statue, created by the sculptor Phidias around 435 BC, was about 12 metres tall and made of ivory plates over a wooden frame, with gold robes and ebony and precious stones in its details. It sat inside the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, home of the Olympic Games. It was probably destroyed by fire in the 5th or 6th century AD, after being carried to Constantinople. The workshop where Phidias built it has been excavated — you can still visit the site in Olympia today.
4. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus — Turkey (gone)
The temple, built around 550 BC, was about four times the size of the Parthenon and was considered the most beautiful structure on earth by many ancient writers. A young man named Herostratus burned it down in 356 BC — on the very night Alexander the Great was born — simply to make his own name immortal. It was rebuilt even larger, then destroyed again by the Goths in AD 262. Today a single reconstructed column stands on the site near Selçuk, Turkey, marking the scale of what was lost.
5. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus — Turkey (gone)
Built around 350 BC as a tomb for Mausolus, ruler of Caria, the mausoleum was so grand that it gave the English language the word “mausoleum” — every grand tomb since has been named after it. It stood about 45 metres tall, decorated with sculptures by the greatest Greek artists of the day. Earthquakes between the 12th and 15th centuries brought it down, and its stones were later reused to build Bodrum Castle, where you can still see carved fragments in its walls.
6. The Colossus of Rhodes — Greece (gone)
The Colossus was a bronze statue of the sun god Helios, about 33 metres tall — roughly the height of the Statue of Liberty from feet to crown — built between 292 and 280 BC to celebrate Rhodes surviving a siege. It stood for only 56 years before an earthquake snapped it at the knees in 226 BC. The fallen statue lay on the ground for nearly 900 years and was so impressive in ruins that visitors still came to see it, until its bronze was finally sold for scrap in the 7th century AD. Contrary to the popular image, it almost certainly did not straddle the harbour entrance — it stood on one side, on a pedestal.
7. The Lighthouse of Alexandria — Egypt (gone)
The Pharos of Alexandria, built around 280–247 BC, was one of the tallest structures in the ancient world at an estimated 100 metres or more, and it guided ships into Egypt’s great port for over 1,500 years. Its light was visible for miles, produced by a fire at the top reflected by polished bronze mirrors. A series of earthquakes between AD 956 and 1323 finally destroyed it. Its stones were used to build the Citadel of Qaitbay, which still stands on the same spot in Alexandria’s harbour — and the word “pharos” became the root of the French word for lighthouse, phare.
Ancient Wonders: What Happened to Each One
| Wonder | Built | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| Great Pyramid of Giza | ~2560 BC | Still standing — the only survivor |
| Hanging Gardens of Babylon | ~600 BC | May never have existed in Babylon; vanished or legendary |
| Statue of Zeus at Olympia | ~435 BC | Destroyed by fire, 5th–6th century AD |
| Temple of Artemis at Ephesus | ~550 BC | Burned 356 BC, rebuilt, destroyed by Goths AD 262 |
| Mausoleum at Halicarnassus | ~350 BC | Fell in earthquakes, 12th–15th centuries |
| Colossus of Rhodes | 292–280 BC | Toppled by earthquake 226 BC, after only 56 years |
| Lighthouse of Alexandria | ~280–247 BC | Destroyed by earthquakes AD 956–1323 |
Ancient Wonders vs New7Wonders: The Real Differences
| Ancient Wonders | New7Wonders (2007) | |
|---|---|---|
| Chosen by | Greek travellers, 2nd century BC | 100M+ public votes worldwide |
| Location | All around the Mediterranean | Spread across 4 continents |
| Still standing | 1 of 7 | 7 of 7 |
| Oldest | Great Pyramid, ~2560 BC | Great Wall’s first sections, 7th century BC |
| Newest | Lighthouse of Alexandria, ~247 BC | Christ the Redeemer, 1931 |
| Can you visit? | Only the Great Pyramid | All seven |
| How chosen | Reputation among travellers | Global online/phone vote |
The most common mistake travellers make is mixing the two lists together. The Great Pyramid belongs to the ancient list, not the 2007 list — it was added only as an honorary candidate. And the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall are modern wonders, not ancient ones, even though they are centuries old.
The Other Lists People Confuse With the Seven Wonders
The “seven wonders” idea has been copied many times, which is why you will see other lists online:
- Seven Natural Wonders of the World — natural sites such as the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, Mount Everest, and Victoria Falls. There is no single agreed list; CNN published one popular version in 1997.
- Seven Wonders of the Modern World — a 1994 list by the American Society of Civil Engineers, featuring engineering feats such as the Channel Tunnel, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Panama Canal.
- Seven Wonders of the Underwater World — a 1989 list by CEDAM International, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Belize Barrier Reef.
None of these is “the” seven wonders. When most people say the phrase, they mean either the ancient seven or the New7Wonders of 2007.
Can You Visit All Seven New Wonders?
Yes — and people do it regularly. The seven are spread across China, Jordan, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Peru, and India, so a round-the-world trip is the efficient way to see them all.
| Route idea | Time needed | Rough order |
|---|---|---|
| Americas leg | 2–3 weeks | Chichén Itzá (Mexico) → Christ the Redeemer (Brazil) → Machu Picchu (Peru) |
| Europe + Middle East leg | 1–2 weeks | Colosseum (Italy) → Petra (Jordan) |
| Asia leg | 2–3 weeks | Taj Mahal (India) → Great Wall (China) |
A focused trip covering all seven is possible in about 4–6 weeks of travel, and several travel companies sell dedicated seven-wonders tours. If you only have one trip, pick the wonder that matches your travel style: the Great Wall for scale, Machu Picchu for adventure, the Taj Mahal for beauty, Petra for mystery, the Colosseum for history, Chichén Itzá for astronomy, and Christ the Redeemer for the view.
Practical tips that apply to all seven:
- Book ahead. Machu Picchu, the Colosseum, and the Taj Mahal all cap daily visitors. The days of turning up and buying a ticket at the gate are ending.
- Go early or late. Every wonder is quieter and more beautiful in the first hour after opening or the last hour before closing.
- Check the season. The Great Wall is brutal in winter wind and summer crowds; Machu Picchu’s rainy season runs roughly November to March; Chichén Itzá is fiercest at midday.
- Hire a local guide at least once. The difference between looking at Petra and understanding Petra is a guide who can read the carvings and explain the water system.
- Respect the sites. Climbing is banned at Chichén Itzá’s pyramid and restricted at Machu Picchu, and touching the Taj Mahal’s marble is not allowed. These rules exist because millions of visitors a year would otherwise wear the wonders away.
How the 2007 Vote Actually Worked
The New7Wonders campaign is often described as a simple online poll, but it was bigger and messier than that. The campaign opened in 2001, collected nominations from around the world, and narrowed more than 200 candidates to 21 finalists through expert panels and public voting. The final vote ran by internet and telephone, and the campaign reported more than 100 million votes cast.
The result was controversial in exactly the way a popularity vote would be. UNESCO distanced itself from the campaign, pointing out that it had nothing to do with the official World Heritage List — all seven winners are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but the vote itself was private. Egypt was unhappy that the Great Pyramid had to compete against newer monuments and campaigned for its honorary status, which it received. And some countries campaigned hard for their candidates, which critics said made it a contest of national pride as much as of beauty.
None of that changes the result’s usefulness: the 2007 list is the one travellers actually use, because it is the only list of seven wonders where all seven still exist.
FAQ: Seven Wonders of the World
What are all the seven wonders of the world?
There are two lists. The New7Wonders of the World (2007) are the Great Wall of China, Petra, Chichén Itzá, Christ the Redeemer, the Colosseum, Machu Picchu, and the Taj Mahal. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
How many wonders of the world are still standing?
Of the ancient seven, only the Great Pyramid of Giza still stands. All seven New7Wonders from 2007 still stand and can be visited.
Why is the Great Pyramid not on the new list?
The Great Pyramid was not one of the 2007 winners because it was the only surviving ancient wonder, and it was given honorary-candidate status instead of competing against the newer monuments.
What is the oldest wonder of the world?
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2560 BC, is the oldest wonder on either list — and the only ancient wonder still standing.
Which wonder of the world is the most visited?
The Colosseum in Rome and the Great Wall of China are the most visited, each drawing millions of visitors a year. The Taj Mahal is also among the most visited monuments in the world, with several million visitors annually.
What are the seven natural wonders of the world?
There is no single official list of natural wonders. Popular versions include the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, Mount Everest, Victoria Falls, the Northern Lights, the Parícutin volcano, and Rio de Janeiro’s harbour — but different organisations publish different lists.
Can you visit all seven wonders in one trip?
Yes. A round-the-world trip of about 4–6 weeks can cover all seven New7Wonders, travelling through Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Italy, Jordan, India, and China. Several companies sell dedicated seven-wonders tours.
Which wonder should I visit first?
If you can only visit one, choose by what you love most: the Taj Mahal for beauty, the Great Wall for scale, Machu Picchu for adventure, Petra for mystery, the Colosseum for history, Chichén Itzá for ancient astronomy, or Christ the Redeemer for the view over Rio.
Are the seven wonders UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Yes — all seven New7Wonders are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Great Pyramid of Giza is one too. The other six ancient wonders are gone, so only their sites and ruins remain.
Bottom Line
“All the seven wonders of the world” means fourteen wonders on two lists. The ancient seven are a story of loss — six masterpieces destroyed by fire, earthquake, and time, with only the Great Pyramid still standing after 4,500 years. The new seven are a story of survival — seven monuments, chosen by 100 million voters in 2007, that you can still walk through, climb, and photograph today. Start with the new list for travel, and read the ancient list to understand what the world has lost — and why protecting the wonders that remain matters so much.
Note: construction dates for ancient monuments are approximate and follow the dates most commonly cited by historians; the Hanging Gardens’ very existence is debated by scholars. Visitor numbers and opening arrangements change — check official sites before travelling.
