Ancient ruins around the world offer a fascinating way to travel through history and discover how earlier civilizations lived, built cities, worshipped, and shaped their societies.. Still today, these ancient landmarks are visited by millions, from the temples of Greece, the Maya pyramids of Mexico and Guatemala, the enigmatic stones of Stonehenge, to the mighty Colosseum in Rome.
Every ruin is unique in its architecture, its culture, its story and its secrets. From history enthusiasts to archaeologists, architects, and adventurers, these phenomenal places are bound to be memorable. These are the seven ancient ruins that are a must see at least once in one's lifetime.
7 Ancient Ruins Around the World Worth Exploring
Here are seven ancient ruins around the world worth exploring, each offering a fascinating glimpse into the history, culture, and achievements of past civilizations. From grand temples to mysterious stone circles, these remarkable sites make unforgettable travel destinations.
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Little way off the sun-baked beaches and cenotes of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, you will find one of the best preserved remnants of Maya architecture; the political and commercial centre of Maya culture from around AD750 and AD1100. Visiting the impressive ruins provides insight into a society with evidence of astonishing astronomical and mathematical knowledge.
Visit the El Castillo (pictured) at dusk and observe how the shadows appear to magically slither down its staircase – it’s popular so make sure to arrive before the crowds and consider arranging a tour.
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Acropolis, Greece
This natural rock hill, which stands high above Athens, boasts some of the world's greatest buildings and serves as the location of the famous temple of the Parthenon (shown).
The builders constructed the Doric style building as one of the first monuments placed on the Acropolis, completing it between 447 and 438 BC. The temple of the Parthenon honors Athena, the patron saint of the city.
While there are more than just the Parthenon at the Acropolis, including the temple of the Erechtheum, the temple of Athena Nike and the theater of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, I hope these pictures beautifully capture a sliver of the grandeur and timelessness of this ancient wonder.
Borobudur, Indonesia
Borobudur, with Mt Merapi in the distance, has few views that are considered as breathtaking as watching the sun ascend to illuminate this massive Buddhist temple. Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, Borobudur is recognized as the largest Buddhist monument in the world and was constructed in Central Java between AD 778 and AD 850, during the reign of the Shailendra dynasty.
It is believed by ancient scholars that it was used by them for just two centuries before volcanic eruptions, occurring from AD 928 to 1006, were sufficient to send the resident monks scrambling away to more geologically sound shores. Today, the temple is viewed with a guide as the optimal option.
Tikal, Guatemala
Located deep in the amazing Petén rainforest, the famous pyramids of Tikal were built between AD 300 and 900. This ancient Maya city, once called Yax Mutal, became one of the greatest states that ever rose out of Mesoamerica.
In all, the city proudly boasts six temples, accompanied by plazas, pyramids, and intricate Maya art and hieroglyphics. The tallest of these impressive structures, Tikal's Pyramid IV (named as such because the Maya city has a total of seven pyramids), soars majestically 213 feet (63 m) into the heavens from base to summit, and visitors can climb it to enjoy some truly incredible views of the rest of the ancient city and the surrounding jungle.
You should consider taking a guided tour of the area for an optimal Tikal experience, and try to arrive as early as possible in order to avoid the larger tourist groups that often gather later in the day.
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Colosseum, Italy
Quite possibly the most famous Roman ruin on Earth, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheater of its kind ever built. Emperor Vespasian (AD 69–79) took approximately eight years to construct it as a “gift” to the Roman people.
At its peak, it could seat as many as 80,000 spectators! Today, however, it continues to serve as a harsh reminder of Roman brutality, as approximately 60,000 enslaved people worked to build the massive edifice, while an estimated 400,000 lost their lives here either through executions or in a life-or-death gladiator contest.
Stonehenge, England, UK
It’s impossible not to marvel at this enormous stone circle that emerges majestically from Salisbury Plain in south-west England. Builders created Europe’s most well-known prehistoric site in the late Neolithic around 2,500BC, and it now proudly stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside its remarkable neighbour, Avebury.
While researchers have well-documented that the smaller bluestones used in Stonehenge originate from Wales, some evidence has suggested that craftsmen originally constructed a section of the famous stone circle at a site named Waun Mawn, located on the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast around 150 miles (241km) south-east of Stonehenge, before taking it to the Wiltshire site where they meticulously rebuilt it.
Memphis, Egypt
If you are a fan of ancient ruins, Egypt is a place you definitely should visit, and Memphis is considered one of the best preserved ancient ruins located on the Nile Delta. It is situated just 15 miles (24 km) south of Cairo, and was founded in 2925 BC by King Menes, serving as the capital of Egypt until 2240 BC when the city yielded to Thebes (modern-day Luxor).
Today, at the location of this ancient city, an open-air museum allows you to explore what remains, which contains remarkable artifacts such as a monolith alabaster sphinx, the impressive colossus of Rameses II and the iconic Djoser Pyramid
FAQs
1. What are some of the best ancient ruins around the world?
Some famous ancient ruins include Chichen Itza, the Acropolis, Borobudur, Tikal, the Colosseum, Stonehenge, and Memphis.
2. Which ancient ruin is famous for Maya architecture?
Chichen Itza in Mexico is one of the best-known Maya archaeological sites and is famous for its impressive temples and pyramid, El Castillo.
3. What is the oldest site mentioned in the article?
Memphis in Egypt dates back to around 2925 BC, while Stonehenge was developed during the late Neolithic period around 2500 BC.
4. Which ancient ruin is located in a rainforest?
Tikal is located deep in Guatemala's Petén rainforest and features impressive Maya temples, pyramids, plazas, and ancient artwork.
5. Why should people visit ancient ruins?
Ancient ruins provide an opportunity to experience history, architecture, archaeology, and the cultural achievements of civilizations from thousands of years ago.