To be clear, the “New 7 Wonders of the World” were chosen by a popularity poll launched by a random foundation. It’s just the list of wonders that happens to have been the most publicized, but other lists exist. It’s not something objective or agreed upon, unlike the actual 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.
Unsurprisingly, they’re all located in countries that are more popular and well-known. I’ve seen 6 of the 7 and it’s very impressive, but there are way more other sites that are beautiful and worth visiting too!
That said, it’s still interesting to know which places in the world were selected to be the New 7 Wonders of the World. They’re definitely among the wonders of our world. It’s just that some people think it’s a real honor or title, and it’s not. It’s just a poll.
Here are the New 7 Wonders of the World.
Overview of the New 7 Wonders of the World
Here’s the full list before we look at each:
- Great Wall of China (China 🇨🇳)
- Petra (Jordan 🇯🇴)
- Colosseum (Italy 🇮🇹)
- Chichén Itzá (Mexico 🇲🇽)
- Machu Picchu (Peru 🇵🇪)
- Taj Mahal (India 🇮🇳)
- Christ the Redeemer (Brazil 🇧🇷)
- Honorary status: Giza Pyramids (Egypt 🇪🇬)
1. Great Wall of China (China 🇨🇳)
Construction date: 700 BC (up to 1644)
Location: Huairou District, China
Nearest major airports:
This series of fortifications spans a total of 21,000 km in length. That’s longer than the distance from Toronto to Beijing and back! It’s an impressive wall, with some of the many parts being 1300 years old. It’s the 1st of the New 7 Wonders of the World that I’ve had the chance to visit, and it sure is incredible to see when you think about how long the whole thing is.
2. Petra (Jordan 🇯🇴)
Construction date: 312 BC
Location: Ma’an, Jordan
Nearest major airports:
This archaeological city from 2300 years ago is absolutely stunning. That iconic facade above is the best-known part, but there are many tombs and other ruins to explore. I just went to discover this beautiful spot in November 2024 and I can’t recommend it enough!
3. Colosseum (Italy 🇮🇹)
Construction date: AD 80
Location: Rome, Italy
Nearest major airports:
This amphitheater was the largest ever built and it’s still standing nearly 2000 years later. It’s one of the most famous monuments of Imperial Rome. I saw it only from the outside because I was on a long layover (which saved me a lot of money on my flights). It’s beautiful, but I’ll probably try to go inside too at some point even if a super touristy country like Italy isn’t very high on my list personally.
4. Chichén Itzá (Mexico 🇲🇽)
Construction date: AD 600
Location: Yucatán, Mexico
Nearest major airports:
This archaeological site and its famous step pyramid is where one of the largest Maya cities stood over 1000 years ago. It’s the only one of the 7 I haven’t seen; I’m not personally that attracted to the Americas (compared to other continents, I mean). But when I do go explore this part of Mexico, I’ll certainly go see the wonderful sights like this one. It’s way more fun to visit this than to stay in an artificial resort all along, so we always recommend doing at least some actual traveling instead of vacationing only.
5. Machu Picchu (Peru 🇵🇪)
Construction date: 1450
Location: Cuzco Region, Peru
Nearest major airport:
This citadel at the top of a mountain in the Andes is truly unique and breathtaking. It’s a cliché, but even the best pictures don’t even come close to doing justice to the 500-year-old masterpiece. I went in 2017, and it was jaw-dropping. Definitely a wonder! Being there, completely surrounded by these mountain peaks and seeing how remote this is, is something you absolutely have to do once.
6. Taj Mahal (India 🇮🇳)
Construction date: 1643
Location: Agra, India
Nearest major airports:
- Delhi (DEL)
- Jaipur (JAI)
- Agra (AGR)
- Jewar (DXN) — Coming soon
This white marble mausoleum is a symbol of love and one of the finest examples of Islamic art and architecture, dating back almost 400 years. I enjoyed my visit to the Taj Mahal, even though I was a bit underwhelmed due to a trip I had done in another country before. Of course, this monument is really impressive to see, whether you are a fan of architecture or not. It’s a massive building, and it’s another one definitely worth visiting.
7. Christ the Redeemer (Brazil 🇧🇷)
Construction date: 1931
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nearest major airports:
This statue is by far the youngest of the New 7 Wonders of the World, at under 100 years old. The statue itself is just 30 meters high (on an 8-meter pedestal), but its unique location atop a mountain makes for a remarkable view. I finally went to Brazil and I was able to go see this monument and it indeed has one of the best views I’ve ever seen.
Honorary status: Giza Pyramids (Egypt 🇪🇬)
Construction date: 2560 BC
Location: Giza Necropolis, Egypt
Nearest major airports:
This group of pyramids is the only one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World that is still standing, so it was given honorary status by the New 7 Wonders of the World foundation. I was only able to see them from just outside the site (on another long layover), but seeing them with your own eyes is infinitely better than not seeing them at all. I can’t wait to go back, especially since Egypt is one of the most affordable countries in the world!
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Summary
The New 7 Wonders of the World are definitely beautiful sites. However, it’s still a subjective list that’s more of a popularity contest than a reflection of how wonderful each monument is. But there’s no doubt that these 7 places are among the wonders of our world for sure.
What would you like to know about the New 7 Wonders of the World? Tell us in the comments below.
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Featured image: Petra (photo credit: Ahmad Qaisieh)
Original publication date: September 19, 2023
