The Seven Old Wonders of The World

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza

Of all the ancient seven wonders of the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the one and only wonder that has survived to stand tall through thick and thin. Constructed between the period of 2550 to 2490 B.C., it is the largest of all three pyramids with a base of about 230.4 meters and a height of 146.5 meters.

Best Time To Visit: September to April
Location: Al Haram, Nazlet El-Samman, Al Haram, Giza Governorate, Egypt
Nearby Attractions: Great Sphinx of Giza, Giza Plateau, Grand Egyptian Museum, and more.
Other Things To Do In Giza: Sightseeing, sound and light shows in Giza, camel safari, quad biking, horseback riding, and more.

2. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Considered to be one of the architectural masterpieces in the list of 7 wonders of the world, only the ruins remain of the great Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, which was destroyed by calefaction and floods. Located right in the heart of Turkey, the temple was unearthed again in 1869 in the city of Izmir and was recognized as a World Heritage Site in the year of 2014.

Best Time To Visit: April to May and from September to mid-November
Location: Atatürk Mahallesi, Dr. Sabri Yayla Blv., İzmir, Turkey
Nearby Attractions: Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, and more.
Other Things To Do In Turkey: Explore the thermal spa terraces at Pamukkale, shop at Grand Bazaar, explore the Spice Bazaar, and more.

3. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Though the ruins of Babylon are established in the city of Al-Hillah in Iraq currently, the existence of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon remains as mysterious as ever. It is believed that around 600 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens for his wife Amytis which did not really hang. However, this ancient wonder remains open to the speculations of historians who often find themselves blank due to the lack of evidence of any kind in Babylonian history.

Best Time To Visit: October to November
Location: Al-Hillah, Iraq
Nearby Attractions: Sami Abdulrahman Park, Citadel of Arbil, Erbil-Kurdistan, and more.
Other Things To Do In Iraq: Shopping in Family Mall, exploring the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, visiting the Amna Suraka in Sulaymaniyah, and more.

4. The Lighthouse of Alexandria

Much famed to be the pride of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built between 280 and 247 BC. At a height of about 450 ft., the lighthouse remained the tallest architectural marvel in the world for a very long time until it was completely shattered by earthquakes between 956 AD and 1323 AD.

Best Time To Visit: March to April and late September to early November
Location: Pharos, Alexandria, Egypt
Nearby Attractions: Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Montazah Palace Gardens, Fort Qaitbey, and more.
Other Things To Do In Alexandria: Explore the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, visit Pompey’s Pillar, enjoy a heritage tour in Alexandria, and more.

5. Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Dedicated to the famous Greek God of Zeus, the Statue of Zeus is located in the heart of Olympia and is set on the western coast of Greece and is famous for the Olympic Games. A massive statue that once stood tall at a height of 42 ft., was completely sculpted in wood first and later, was later covered with ivory and gold panels. Destroyed in an unfortunate fire during the 5th Century AD, the statue took about 12 years to be perfected by Phidias, the sculptor.

Best Time To Visit: Mid-April to mid-June or September to mid-October
Location: Olympia, Greece
Nearby Attractions: Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Temple of Hera, Philippeion, and more.

6. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

A tomb built for Mausolus, the ruler of Caria and a Persian Governor, it took four Greek sculptors to perfect the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus to a height of 45 meters between 353 BC & 350 BC. Being one of the 7 wonders of the world which survived to a great extent, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was eventually shattered by a successive series of earthquakes.

Best Time To Visit: April to May and October to November
Location: Tepecik Mahallesi, Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey
Nearby Attractions: Kaunos Beach, Bodrum Castle, Tlos, Marmaris Castle, and more.
Other Things To Do In Mugla: Paragliding in Babadag, exploring the beaches of Sedir Island, camping in Butterfly Valley, Fethiye, and more.

7. Colossus of Rhodes

Remember the giant statue in Game of Thrones? Well, it does not come as a surprise to know that the inspiration was taken from the famous Colossus of Rhodes. Signifying the victory over Antigonus I Monophthalmus – the ruler of Cyprus, Colossus of Rhodes, the statue of the Greek God of the Sun, was constructed in 280 BC and was destroyed to ruins post 54 years in an earthquake.

Best Time To Visit: April to May and October to November
Location: Rhodes, Greece
Nearby Attractions: Kastello, Acropolis of Rhodes, Tsambika Beach, Filerimos, and more.
Other Things To Do In Rhodes: Windsurfing and kitesurfing at Prasonisi, explore the Valley of Butterflies, snorkeling at Antony Quinn Bay, and more.