A Guide to the New Seven Wonders of the World

What are some of the most wonderous man-made structures still standing today? Ya know—the ones worth crossing oceans for to see with your own two eyes?

To find out, early aught researchers surveyed 100 million people to name their favorite classical monument from a list of 200 nominees. After all the votes were counted, the winners were dubbed the “New 7 Wonders of the World.” Given their natural beauty and heightened status, flocks of tourists have been visiting ever since.

Located on five different continents and erected anywhere from 2500 BC to the 1930s, the 7 Wonders of the World vary in size from a giant carving that’s half the size of the Statue of Liberty to ancient cities or military fortifications that span 5,000 miles. All are wondrous in their own right. But some hit differently than others, based on the surrounding environments, as well as personal tastes.

If you could only travel to seven places in your lifetime, you could do a lot worse than these. Here’s a rundown of each, listed from newest to oldest, as well as key considerations before planning your next visit.

Christ The Redeemer | South America

Christ the Redeemer

What is it? Finished in 1931, Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue that stands 125 feet tall on top of a 2,300 foot mountain in stunning Rio de Janeiro. As both the newest and smallest 7 Wonder of the World, this famous Brazilian icon might not seem like much. But all that changes when you’re standing next to it, overlooking what’s arguably the most beautiful city on Earth. Green soaring mountains have never been this close to white sandy beaches. And underneath the statue’s outstretched arms is the perfect place to take it all in, as if you were a high-flying bird.

How do I get there? Easy. Fly into Rio International Airport. Hail an Uber. Then drive 30 minutes south to the base of the statue. From there you’ll jump on a 20 minute tram ride to the top (book in advance to avoid lines), which is the most popular and scenic option. While you can also hike (around an hour each way) or ride an official van to the top, the former is plagued by reports of petty crime, and the latter is more costly and only available at special designated stops throughout the city, making both more of a hassle than they should be. Either way, the view is unreal, and can be enjoyed in one to two hours (or three if you take advantage of the restaurant).

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Taj Mahal | Asia

What is it? Erected in 1648 by an emperor to entomb his beloved wife, The Taj Mahal is a marble masterpiece of ivory-white symmetry and one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements. The massive building and its gardens are located in the city of Agra in Northern India. The complex took 20 years, 20,000 workers, and 1,000 elephants to build, which you can see in stunning detail. As a mausoleum, the inside is quite small and pictures aren’t allowed, making the color-changing exteriors the real star of the show.

How do I get there? This one’s a bit out of the way. Most people fly into Delhi International Airport, then drive four hours to Agra. Public trains can take several hours more and aren’t known for their comfort, so a hired car is recommended. Once on site, there are two entrances into the Taj Mahal: the less-crowded East Gate, which is closer to foreign hotels, and the more-crowded West Gate, intended for locals (but open to everyone). Most visitors stay two to three hours.

Machu Picchu | South America

What is it? Built in 1450 by the Inca, the “Lost City” of Machu Picchu sits high in the Andes Mountains of Peru and was re-discovered in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham. He’s the dude Indiana Jones was based-on. But the Hollywood-like sense of adventure and history here is actually real! After 1,000 residents mysteriously abandoned the mountain-top village in 1550, the jungle overtook it until Bingham and company hacked their way through it nearly 400 years later. Today you can see it for yourself.

How do I get there? First you’ll need to fly into Cusco, Peru. Once there, the most direct route is a 45-mile train, car, or bus ride to Ollantaytambo, where you can catch another short but panoramic train ride to the top. The other, more scenic option, is a five-day guided hike along the Inca Trail that starts in Cusco and finishes in Machu Picchu. Most hikers then take the train back to town for a best of both world’s approach. Either way, you can spend nearly an entire day here, depending on how much you like to hike.

Chichen Itza | North America

What is it? Built in 600 AD, Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan ruin complex located in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The centerpiece building is the 365-step El Castillo pyramid, which the brilliant Mayans engineered to look like a snake was slithering on it twice a year during the spring and fall equinoxes. In between all of the buildings, most people spend at least a half day here, followed by a swim in one of the many nearby flooded sinkholes called “cenotes.”

How do I get there? Fly into Cancun international airport, then hire a guide, shuttle, or car to drive you two hours into Chichen Itza. You might be surprised to find so many pesky vendors so close to ancient history, but they are required to stay in designated but still kind of annoying commercial sections. Nevertheless, the complex and Mayan history is totally worth seeing and experiencing first-hand, cenote swimming afterwards very much included. From Cancun, plan on a really long, 12-hour day to see and do it all.

Colosseum | Europe

What is it? Finished in 80 AD, The Colosseum in Rome, Italy, is one of the most iconic wonders of the world. The largest amphitheater ever built was formerly used to showcase gladiator fights, hunting shows, and public executions. These events were free to all ages, included meals, and were meant to unify Romans and make them proud. Granted, the stadium’s interior looks really weird now that the subflooring is gone. But seeing this massive gem in the middle of bustling Rome for the first time is one of my all-time favorite European memories.

How do I get there? Fly to Rome’s international airport, take a 45 minute train or car ride, and you’re in. To skip the ticket lines (but not the security lines), it’s best to book in advance. Most people only spend an hour at the Colosseum, plus a couple more at the nearby ruins of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. It may seem like a travel cliche, but the Colosseum is anything but.

Petra | Asia

What is it? Completed by the Nabateans in 300 BC, the “Rose City” of Petra, Jordan, is accessed via a dramatic slot canyon called “Al Siq” and features several famous rock-facade buildings—most notably The Treasury (pictured) and Monastery. Like other wonders of the world on this list, visiting Petra is a surreal experience that gets you closer to ancient history than you’ve probably ever been before. While you can go inside some of the buildings, they are mysteriously small and likely used as tombs or religious ceremonies. But it’s obvious these people made a lot of money in the incense business, which was as lucrative as the oil business is today.

How do I get there? Fly into Amman international airport, then drive a car or one of the many public buses three hours to the city of Petra. From there you can walk right into the canyon and spend most of the day walking long stretches to see all of the buildings scattered about and interacting with the Bedouin merchants at their souvenir shops, restaurants, and official restrooms. You also have the option to hike four to five days along the Jordan Trail into the “back door” of Petra, which I recently did to enhance the amazing sense of adventure. Both ways are beautiful, however, and more than deserving as a designated wonder of the world.

The Great Wall | Asia

What is it? The Great Wall of China was an ancient military fortification built to keep enemies out of Northern China. Construction started in 700 BC but didn’t finish until 1644. Although the wall is, in fact, the longest building in the world, contrary to popular myth, you cannot see it from space. But you can see it up close, with the best vantage points at either Jinshanling (the more scenic, if not famous pictured section) or Mutianyu (closer to Beijing).

How do I get there? Fly to Beijing, then drive an hour and a half north to the Mutianyu Great Wall Scenic Area Ticket Office or two hours north to the Jinshanling Great Wall Tourist Area. Most people stay two to eight hours at either section, depending on how much of the wall they plan to walk. Either way, this is an ancient experience in the epicenter of Asian culture. And yet, of all the wonders in the world, it isn’t the oldest. Which brings us to…

BONUS: Giza Pyramids | Africa

What is it? Built in 2,500 BC, The Giza Pyramids in Cairo are the three most famous pyramids out of hundreds scattered about Egypt. The former were awarded honorary “new wonder” status for being the only surviving “wonders of the ancient world,” which included the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, among others. What you might not know is just how close the pyramids are to Cairo—literally right next door! But they’re still deserving of their wondrous status, especially since they are believed to be the world’s first foreign tourist attraction when international travel really started taking off a hundred years ago.

How do I get there? Fly to Cairo International, then take an hour Uber ride to the Giza Necropolis. Although you can visit the site by yourself, most guided tours are affordable, include hotel pickup and drop-off, and come highly recommended as they help you navigate the sometimes pesky vendors and ancient history better than you otherwise would. Most people spend half a day leisurely exploring the entire complex.

NOTE: Given their popularity, visitors will easily find bathrooms and restaurants at all of the above wonders of the world, although wheelchair accessibility can vary from site to site.

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and frequent travel columnist. He lives in Provo, Utah with his adolescent family and two dogs.