The New 7 Wonders of the World

The 7 Wonders of the World are beautiful historical landmarks and monuments across the world which are proof of humans’ capability, imagination and dedication. There are 7 Wonders of the World since the ancient Greeks believed that the number 7 represented perfection.

In the past, there were 7 wonders of the ancient world that left tourists in awe but in 2001 the Swiss corporation New7Wonders Foundation, launched a project to carefully select the 7 Modern Wonders of the World from a list of 200 incredible architectural sites. The Great Pyramid of Giza was the only remaining wonder of the original 7 wonders of the world in the vote but unfortunately, it didn’t make it to the final list of new wonders. In this blog, you’ll learn more about each new wonder of the world and its history, what airports are best to fly into and the airlines you can fly with to visit the new wonders of the world.

What are the 7 wonders of the ancient world?

The 7 wonders of the ancient world are the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

What are the modern 7 wonders of the world?

The new 7 wonders of the world are the Great Wall of China, Chichén Itzá, Petra, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, The Colosseum, and the Taj Mahal. Continue reading to find out more about each new Wonder of the World.

Great Wall of China  | 7 Wonders of the World

Attracting millions of visitors each year, The Great Wall of China stands as one of the modern seven wonders of the world. The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world located on China’s northern border, with a length of over 21,000km. FUN FACT: It would take 18 months to walk the wall without stopping.

The Great Wall of China was constructed over centuries by China’s emperors to protect their land and prevent invasions. The 2,300-year-old wall represents the unification of China as it was connected to the Qin Dynasty in 221-206 BC for the first time. Ever since 1987, the famous landmark became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thrill-seekers must paraglide in Simatai when visiting the Great Wall! Paragliders will get a perfect bird's eye view of the Great Wall of China and a jaw-dropping view of the Chinese natural breathaking landscape at the height of 300 metres from the take-off zone.

Take me to Beijing

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the closest airport to the Great Wall. From this airport, you can fly directly to over 185 destinations across the world with 45+ airlines including Air China, Hainan Airlines, Air Canada, Emirates and more.

Chichén Itzá | 7 Wonders of the World

Chichén Itzá, located in Yucatán, Mexico is an archaeological site built by the Mayan people as a ceremonial centre for the Maya civilization. In the Mayan language, Chichén Itzá translates to “at the mouth of the well of Itza”. This represents the number of underground rivers that run beneath the region and served as the source of water for the community. Chichén Itzá is home to El Castilo, also referred to as the Temple of Kukulcan, which dominated the ancient city. The best time to visit the 100-foot stepped pyramid is during spring and autumn equinoxes. When the sun hits in the evening the northwest corner of the temple casts triangular shadows which create an illusion of a feathered serpent slithering down the pyramid.

Today, 12 of Chichén Itzá’s buildings remain standing and restored by the Mexican government. The ancient city is now one of the modern 7 wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site visited by millions of travellers worldwide.

Take me to Yucatan

Mérida International Airport (MID) is the international airport of the Mexican city of Mérida. Chichén Itzá is only a 25-minute car ride from Mérida airport. Aeromexico, American Airlines and Viva Aerobus are some of the most popular airlines that operate frequent flights to Mérida Airport. Want to book flights to Chichen Itza? Take a look at our guide on booking flights to Chichen Itza for more information!

Petra | 7 Wonders of the World

In 2007, the ancient city of Petra became one of the 7 new wonders of the world. The rose-red city has become the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan and one of the most visited archaeological sites across the globe. The blushing red-rose city has so much to offer and is bound to leave you amazed - from exploring ancient ruins and monuments to cliff-top views and secret gems. Petra, a new wonder of the world, has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1985 and is known to be ‘one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage’.

Whilst visiting Petra we recommend that you stay at least one night in the city's bubble hotels and admire the breathtaking views, especially at sunset. Sleep under the stars in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Less expensive things to do in Petra include exploring The Siq and The Treasury or taking a camel ride through the picturesque street of the Facades.

Fun Fact: The name ‘Petra’ means ‘Rocks’.

Take me to Petra

Petra is one of the wonders of the world and if you want to visit this historical landmark we advise that you fly into Queen Alia International Airport. This airport is great if you’re looking to fly into Jordan from an international destination. Major airlines that fly from this airport include Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Vueling.

Machu Picchu | 7 Wonders of the World

Machu Picchu is one of the 7 wonders of the world that needs no explanation! The picture-perfect setting is over 7,000 feet above sea level located between the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Peru and South America in general.

There are many theories as to why Machu Picchu was built but many people believe that it served as a royal estate for Inca emperors and nobles. Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings ranging from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries. Although it was invisible from below the mountains, the Incas abandoned Machu Picchu 100 years after it was built as they feared that the Spanish invaders would find them and destroy the ‘old city’. The Spaniards never discovered Machu Picchu since the forest trails were burnt purposely when the Ancient Inca people left. The famous landmark was only discovered later on in 1911 by Yale Professor Hiram Bingham.

Machu Picchu today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most visited attraction in Peru. Due to the high number of tourists visiting the site each year, the Peruvian government have decided to protect the ruins and prevent erosions of the mountainside.

Take me to Machu Picchu

Jorge Chávez International Airport is Peru’s main international and domestic airport. There are many destinations across the globe that allow you to fly into Jorge Chávez Airport with a range of major airlines including LATAM, KLM, United Airlines, and JetBlue among others. This airport is only 30 minutes away from Machu Picchu’s historical landmark.

Christ the Redeemer | 7 Wonders of the World

Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) is sat at the peak of the 700m Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca National Park in the centre of Rio de Janeiro. The statue began construction in 1926 after World War I when representatives of the Brazilian Republic believed that the country needed to restore its faith. It was requested that the art-deco monument dedicated to Christians would be placed on top of the Corcovado mountain so it would be visible from anywhere across the city.

The landmark is 30m tall and its outstretched arms span 28m, making it the largest Jesus Christ statue worldwide. In 2007, Rio de Janeiro's most recognizable landmark was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Christ the Redeemer statue is the newest built out of all of the Seven Wonders of the World and attracts millions of religious and non-religious visitors each year.

Many tourists will hike up the Corcovado mountain to witness the panoramic views of Rio. The hike lasts between 1 ½ - 2 hours. The hill is steep so if you’re looking for an alternative you can reach Christ the Redeemer by cog train. The train leaves every 30 minutes and the journey to the top of Corcovado Mountain only lasts around 20 minutes.

Take me to Rio de Janeiro

If you're looking to visit Rio de Janeiro to see the Christ the Redeemer Landmark we advise that you fly into Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG). Travellers from the UK can fly directly into Rio de Janeiro with British Airways and US visitors can fly with multiple airlines including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Colosseum  | 7 Wonders of the World

The Colosseum also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre is the national landmark of Italy and one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. The well-known incredible stadia structure was constructed from sand and stone between AD70 and AD80. The Colosseum in Rome was built to entertain people with gladiator battles which often included wild animals. During the middle ages, there were several earthquakes which caused the structure of the Colosseum to be destroyed. Nearly two-thirds of the original building had been shattered by the 20th century. But, a restoration project of the almost 2,000-year-old large amphitheatre was undertaken in the 1990s. With millions of visitors each year, the Colosseum is Italy’s number one tourist attraction.

Learn about its full history with a guided tour of the Colosseum, the Forum and Palatine Hill. This will cost around $30-40 and last 3 hours so you’ll have enough time to explore Rome’s most famous landmark and capture pictures. Rome’s shoulder season is between March and May. To keep away from large crowds avoid visiting Rome during the summer months.

Take me to Rome

To visit the Colosseum the best airport to fly to is Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO). Wizz Air, Vueling, Ryanair, Neos, ITA Airways, American Airlines and AeroItalia are some of the most popular airlines that operate flights to multiple destinations across Europe and The Americas.

Taj Mahal | 7 Wonders of the World

Covered in the beauty of white-washed marble, the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra is without a doubt one of the seven wonders of the world. The semiprecious stone structure is surrounded by looked-after gardens, fountains and pools. The Taj Mahal was built between 1632 and 1648 by order of Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz. It’s now also home to the tomb of his wife and Shah Jahan himself. The unique white marble building was designed to appear pink in the morning light and golden at night when hit by the moon. Incredible, right?

Today, the Taj Mahal is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, hosting millions of visitors a year. It’s especially visited by couples who want to express their love for each other, as the Taj Mahal celebrates Shan Jahan’s unconditional love for his wife.

Take me to Agra

The Taj Mahal is located in Agra. The best airport to fly into is Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi since this airport serves an extensive network across the world. If you’re situated in the UK and are looking to fly into Delhi, you can fly with Vistara, Virgin Atlantic, or British Airways. If you reside in the United States you can fly to Delhi with many carriers including Air India, American Airlines and United Airlines.

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