15 of the Oldest Cities in the World That You Can Still Visit Today
Think of the oldest cities in the world and you'll likely come up with the names of the usual suspects: Athens. Rome. Istanbul. But have you heard of Luoyang, a city in China older than even Beijing? Or Byblos, which gave the ancient Greeks the word biblos, for book? Or Flores, an ancient town, once the capital of a Mayan kingdom, that still stands today in the middle of a Guatemalan lake?
To satiate the curious—and the history nerds—here are 15 of the oldest cities in the world that have survived to our present day. There are so many fascinating ancient places across the globe that we've limited the list to cities that have been, for the most part, continuously inhabited since their founding; and whose ages can be validated by scholarly resources. Additionally, we've emphasized geographical diversity, highlighting places both expected and unexpected. (For what it's worth, if this list consisted of only the top 15 oldest, you'd only read about China and Iran.)
Note: The US Department of State currently advises US citizens against traveling to the countries in which some of these cities are located. Should you decide to visit, research your destination and exercise caution.
Now, on to our list.
Tan Yilmaz/GettyCholula
Present-day nation: Mexico
Inhabited since: as early as the year 100, perhaps earlier
The history: To those who do know it, Cholula is best known as the home of the largest man-made pyramid in the world, the Great Pyramid of Tepanapa (also called the Great Pyramid of Cholula, naturally). Over the years, after playing its part as a significant cultural center for a number of pre-Columbian civilizations, including the Aztecs, nature reclaimed the monument for itself. It was so covered in dirt and foliage that, by the time the Spaniards arrived, they mistook it for simply a large hill and built a church on top of it.
The present: Of course, the Great Pyramid and the church, Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, are both worth a visit. From that vantage point, you should also be able to see the two nearby volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl. The former is active; the latter is dormant—and, fittingly, seems to resemble a woman asleep.
Andrea Pistolesi/GettyAxum
Present-day nation: Ethiopia
Inhabited since: as early as 400 BCE
The history: Axum is a town in the Tigray Region of present-day northern Ethiopia and was once the capital of the Aksumite Empire, a major maritime power that ruled the Horn of Africa from the classical period to the Middle Ages. Scholars believe that, over time, competing Persian and Arab empires in the region led to the decline of Axum (also spelled Aksum), though it has always remained religiously significant in the Ethiopian region.
The present: Today, the ruins of ancient Axum are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to national symbols of Ethiopia: two stone structures taller than they are wide, called stelae—King Ezana’s Stele and the Obelisk of Axum. The latter was stolen by the Italian Army in 1937 and returned to the country only in the early 21st century.
Note: The US State Department currently advises against traveling to the Tigray Region of Ethiopia.
Oleh Slobodeniuk/GettyFlores
Present-day nation: Guatemala
Inhabited since: as early as 900–600 BCE
The history: Flores is a small municipality in Guatemala that has been continuously occupied since pre-Hispanic times. It rests on the shores of—and on an island in—Lake Petén Itzá, the country’s third largest lake. The old town, once called Nojpetén, still stands on the island and is connected to the rest of the city on the mainland. It was the capital city of Petén Itzá, the kingdom of the Itza Maya.
The present: Tourists often use Flores as a base from which to visit the archaeological sites at Tikal National Park, where architecture in the area goes back as far as the fourth century BC. But Flores itself is picturesque and worth a stay; these days, artisans’ boutiques and restaurants thrive in the old city, from which you can easily go kayaking into Lake Petén Itzá.
GettyLisbon
Present-day nation: Portugal
Inhabited since: as early as 1,100 BCE
The history: Lisbon is a port city, the capital of Portugal, and named after Ulysses, a.k.a. Odysseus of Homer’s Odyssey—or so say classical authors. But other etymological roots can be traced back to the Phoenician name Alis Ubo and to the Roman Olisipo. Until the age of conquest in the 16th century, Europeans considered Lisbon the edge of the known world. Much of the city’s ancient architecture was destroyed by a major earthquake in 1755, but Lisbon’s beauty shines brighter than ever.
The present: Explore the rich history and architecture of the Jerónimos Monastery (which houses the tomb of the explorer Vasco da Gama), shop in the trendy Baixa neighborhood, or make a day trip to bibliophile mecca Óbidos.
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Roberto Moiola/Sysaworld/GettyCadíz
Present-day nation: Spain
Inhabited since: as early as 1,100 BCE
The history: The walled city of Cádiz straddles a narrow but long peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The Phoenicians founded it as a seaport and trading hub called Gadir, meaning “an enclosure.” The city changed hands multiple times through history: the Romans held it as Gades after the Second Punic War; the Moors as Jazīrat Qādis for five centuries since the year 711; then, by the 13th century, the old Spanish kingdom of Castile as Cádiz.
The present: Visit the Cadíz Archaeological Museum, where two sarcophagi from the fifth century BCE are on display, giving credence to the city’s ancient Phoenician history. Stop by the Catedral de Santa Cruz de Cádiz and climb up its tallest tower to get a panoramic view of the entire city. Carnaval festivities in Cadiz, happening in early February, are not to be missed.
GettyVaranasi
Present-day nation: India
Inhabited since: as early as 1,800 BCE
The history: The ancient city of Varanasi, also called Banaras, stands proudly along the Ganges River in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh. According to Hindu mythology, the city was founded by Shiva, one of the three principal gods in Hinduism; today, it is a holy site and sometimes referred to as a spiritual capital. Archaeological discoveries suggest that local settlements have been occupied since 1,800 BCE, with signs of life dating as far back as 11,000 BCE.
The present: Take in the architecture of some of India’s most stunning temples like the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Go on an art and grub crawl to hit the city’s many galleries and street food stalls. Grab one of the finely appointed suites at the 10-room Taj Nadesar Palace and kick your feet up.
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GettyLuoyang
Present-day nation: China
Inhabited since: as early as 2,000 BCE
The history: Luoyang is located in the province of Henan, in central China. The settlement’s geography—in the middle of a plain, surrounded by mountains, with several rivers flowing through it—made it an agriculturally valuable territory and a naturally-defended capital city for several ancient Chinese dynasties. The nation’s religious history has roots here too: the first Buddhist temple in China, the White Horse Temple, was founded in Luoyang in 68 CE.
The present: Visit the White Horse Temple, which still stands after two millennia, though its architecture has since been updated from its ancient origins. Count as many as 100,000 Buddhist statues within the 2,345 caves of the Longmen Grottoes, dating back to the fifth century, cut into the area’s limestone cliffs.
Mohammad Ali Bazzi/GettyDamascus
Present-day nation: Syria
Inhabited since: as early as 3,000 BCE, perhaps earlier
The history: The cultural and commercial hub of Damascus has sat at the crossroads of East and West, of Asia and Africa, for thousands of years. Several civilizations—from Hellenistic to Roman, Byzantine to Islamic—have all left their mark on this city in its architecture, culture, and history. In the 10th century, the Arab traveler and geographer al-Maqdisī claimed the city was an “earthly paradise.” Others have called it “the pearl of the East.”
The present: Al-Hamidiyeh Souq is famous for its shopping: spices, silks, and all manner of souvenirs. The souq is also home to Bakdash, the landmark ice cream parlor famous for its traditional booza—a frozen dessert made of milk, cream, sugar, mastic, and orchid flour.
Note: The US State Department currently advises against traveling to Syria.
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Rudy Balasko/GettyJerusalem
Present-day nation: Claimed by both Palestine and Israel
Inhabited since: as early as 3,000 BCE
The history: Jerusalem sits between the Mediterranean and Dead Seas, and has long been a holy site for the three major Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. According to archaeological evidence, the area’s first settlement was founded at Gihon Spring, just outside of the modern city, some time between 4,500 to 3,500 BCE.
The present: Currently, Jerusalem is claimed by both Palestine and Israel. Conflict in the region is ongoing and complex, but both local day-to-day life and tourism continue in the city. On average, it welcomes over three million visitors annually. The landmarks in the Old City of Jerusalem are perhaps the most popular sites for tourists, both faithful and not: the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and the al-Aqsa Mosque.
GettyLuxor
Present-day nation: Egypt
Inhabited since: as early as 3,200 BCE
The history: Not to be confused with the Las Vegas hotel, modern Luxor grew out of the site of the ancient city of Thebes—that’s its ancient Greek name; the ancient Egyptians knew it as Waset—which was once the capital of Upper Egypt (which is to say, southern Egypt) and one of its most significant centers of worship. In a way, the capital has survived after many millennia along the Nile: the ruins of Thebes are found within Luxor’s city limits.
The present: The big draw? Unsurprisingly, the ancient temples. Check out the grand obelisks and columns at the Temple of Karnak, the imposing Colossi of Memnon—and, of course, the breathtaking tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings.
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GettyPlovdiv
Present-day nation: Bulgaria
Inhabited since: as early as 4,000 BCE
The history: Archaeologists have found evidence of life in the area of Plovdiv that date back to 4,000 BCE: everyday tools on the Nebet Tepe, one of Plovdiv’s seven syenite hills on which the ancient city was founded. Throughout its history, it was a Thracian settlement; a city called Philippopolis, founded by Philip II of Macedon in the fourth century BCE); incorporated into the Roman Empire in the first century; and claimed by the First Bulgarian Empire in the ninth century. Most recently, Plovdiv was named a European Capital of Culture in 2019.
The present: Today, Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second largest city, after its capital Sofia, so visitors get to witness the bustle of Eastern European modernity juxtaposed against bygone history. Old Town Plovdiv is still home to ancient ruins, including theaters, monasteries, and the stadium of Philippopolis.
GettyShush
Present-day nation: Iran
Inhabited since: as early as 4,395 BCE
The history: Shush is located in western Iran, in the province of Khuzestan, at the base of the Zagros Mountains. It is also known by the name Susa, the ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site out of which the modern settlement grew. According to excavations, Susa has been continually inhabited since the fifth millennium BCE, but evidence of life can be dated back to circa 7,000 BCE.
The present: Shush is one of six cities that claim the Tomb of Daniel, the traditional burial place of the biblical figure. The tomb in Shush, Shush-e Daniyal, is the most widely accepted site and a popular destination for pilgrims.
Note: The US State Department currently advises against traveling to Iran.
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GettyArgos
Present-day nation: Greece
Inhabited since: as early as 5,000 BCE
The history: Argos sits in the northeastern region of the Peloponnese in Greece. The name has a number of etymological roots, but one belief ascribes its origin to the mythic Argus who was a king of the city, a son of Zeus and Niobe, and famous for being “all-seeing” and/or literally covered in eyes. In the ancient Greek world, the city played host to the Nemean Games, one of four sporting festivals that made up the Olympiad. The Visigoths sacked the city and rampaged through the region in the fourth century, but Argos was never fully abandoned.
The present: If you’re staying in Athens during your Greecian odyssey, you can take a day trip to Argos: It’s just an hour and a half away from the Athenian city center by car. Once you’re there, you can explore the remains of the Ancient Theater of Argos and the Fort of Larisa, as well as several museums and local wineries.
GettyByblos
Present-day nation: Lebanon
Inhabited since: as early as 5,000 BCE, perhaps earlier
The history: Byblos, a World Heritage Site found in present-day Lebanon, has stood on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea since the fifth millennium BCE—a city so old, it was ancient to even the ancients. The Phoenician alphabet (the likeliest precursor to the Greek alphabet and, in turn, all Western alphabets) and its development are strongly tied to Byblos. In antiquity, Byblos traded so much papyrus that the Greeks took the city’s name and adapted it into their word for book: biblos.
The present: From Beirut, you can drive along the Mediterranean coast and get to Byblos in roughly thirty minutes. Visit the Byblos Citadel, a Crusader castle that overlooks the archaeological sites of the Temple of Baalat Gebal (dedicated to an ancient patron goddess of the city) and the Temple of Resheph (also called the Temple of the Obelisks).
Note: The US State Department currently advises US citizens to “reconsider travel” to Lebanon.
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GettyJericho
Present-day location: West Bank
Inhabited since: as early as 9,000 BCE
The history: Jericho is located in the West Bank, near the Jordan River. The fresh water springs attracted Neolithic-era hunting tribes who settled the region. Soon after, circa 8,000 BCE, the settlers built walls to protect their homes, making it the first known walled city in history. Admittedly, the settlement of what we know as modern-day Jericho was intermittently abandoned and reoccupied and expanded over the millennia, but we couldn’t very well omit the oldest city in the world from this list, could we?
The present: Visit the archaeological digs at Tell es-Sultan, the site of Bible-era Jericho, a.k.a. the City of Palms. Drive thirty minutes from the Jericho city center to the caves at Qumran National Park, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Climb (or take a cable car) up the Mount of Temptation, the location where, in Christian tradition, the Devil tempted Jesus with an offer to rule over all the kingdoms in the world.