Martin Luther King, Jr once said ‘’ We are not makers of history, We are made by history’’. It is through going into history that we are able to learn and bring to the present hence, this compilation of the oldest cities in the world.
The world we see today did not just ended up how they are but started from somewhere. Before the emergence of the current popular cities we have today, there were beautiful ancient cities in the world which served as cultural destinations for most travelers. Some are still in existence whiles the others have collapsed but this list will feature the top oldest cities in the world you can explore for history.
What are the lists of top oldest cities in the world?
1. Jericho
Jericho is a city which is one of the oldest cities in the world. Jericho which dates as far back as 9000 BC is a bible city known to have been conquered by the Israelite from the Palestine. It can be found northwest of the Dead Sea in the Middle East. Jericho today is still inhabited populated and serves as a great attraction to tourists for the various site destinations.
Notable tourist destinations in Jericho include the Qumaran Caves, tomb of Moses (according to Islamic tradition), the baptism of Jesus and where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
2. Byblos
One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world you should be visiting is the Byblos in Lebanon. This city which is also known as Jebeil is situated about 26 miles on the north of Beirut. Byblos is believed to be first occupied as far back as 8000 BC.
Currently, the city of Byblos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site serving the purpose of tourism for its great attractions from archaeology, beaches, restaurants, and so on. Enjoying the lovely sceneries on the sea of Byblos from boat rides and the beautiful cultures makes the city worth visiting.
3. Athens
Another great destination you probably need in your bucket list is the city of Athens. Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece and an oldest city in the world since 1600 BC. Athens which is famous for its beautiful cultures was the birth place of Western civilization and democracy. Athens today is one of the best tourist destinations in the world for its old architectural buildings, artifacts and many more.
Get hotels and accommodation information for Athens here
Related article: Latest Travel Restrictions In Greece For Travelers
4. Rome
Another popular city among the oldest cities in the world known for its historical role in Western civilization is Rome. The city of Rome which is also called ” The city of seven hills” is the capital city of Italy and the third most populous city in Europe. Rome was founded around 753 BC and played a vital role and basis of Christianity and Catholic religion.
Rome is currently a popular destination to most travelers and trekkers who visit the city for history and culture. Tourist attractions like the Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain etc makes the city worth visiting for history learning.
5. Damascus
Another oldest city in the world specifically the Middle East is the city of Damascus in Syria. The city which current serves as the seat of the central government of Syria in the Middle East was founded in the third millennium BC. Damascus was an important hub for cultural values, religion, education and also a flourishing craft industry, specializing in swords and lace.
6. Larnaca
Larnaca is another oldest city in world which can be located on the south coast of Cyprus in Europe. The port city is known for its Finikoudes Beach, a sandy strip in the city center backed by a palm-lined seaside promenade. The 9th-century Church of Saint Lazarus contains the tomb of the saint said to have risen from the dead. This city is mostly preferred by travelers who explore the Cyprus for beach life on their holidays.
Where to stay while in Larnaca?
7. Erbil
Erbil also known as Hawler is an ancient city in the Kurdistan which was known as Arbela. The oldest city which can located in the jurisdiction of Iraq in the region Kurdistan is the most populous and capital city of the area. The city of Erbil was founded in the the Fifth Millennium and later conquered by the Assyrians and the Gutians in the 21st century and later ruled by the Ottonam empire.
Erbil’s archaeological museum houses a large collection of pre-Islamic artefacts, particularly the art of Mesopotamia, and is a center for archaeological projects in the area. The city was designated as Arab Tourism Capital 2014 by the Arab Council of Tourism. In July 2014, the Citadel of Arbil was inscribed as a World Heritage Site.
8. Tyre
Tyre is a city in Lebanon, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, though in medieval times for some centuries by just a tiny population. It was one of the earliest Phoenician metropolises and the legendary birthplace of Europa, her brothers Cadmus and Phoenix, as well as Carthage’s founder Dido (Elissa). The city has many ancient sites, including the Tyre Hippodrome, and was added as a whole to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1984. The historian Ernest Renan noted that “One can call Tyre a city of ruins, built out of ruins”.
Currently, Tyre is the fourth largest city in Lebanon after Beirut, Tripoli, and Sidon. It is the capital of the Tyre District in the South Governorate. There were approximately 200,000 inhabitants in the Tyre urban area in 2016, including many refugees, as the city hosts three of the twelve Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon: Burj El Shimali, El Buss, and Rashidieh.
9. Istanbul
One of the oldest cities in the world that comes in mind in modern times is the city of Istanbul. Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here.
In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.
Hotels and Guest houses in Istanbul
10. Plovdiv
Another oldest city in the world continuously inhabited city in Europe is Plovdiv in Bulgaria. This city is built around 7 hills in the southern part of Bulgaria. In the city, there is a regional archaeological museum which exhibits a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence in Plovdiv. The Roman-era Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, which once seated around 6,000, now hosts opera and concerts. A 3D movie at the Emperor Hadrian era Ancient Stadium re-creates Plovdiv in the 2nd century A.D.
11. Varanasi
The city’s winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Varanasi is famous for its production of silks and brocades with gold and silver thread work. A renowned carpet-weaving centre is at Bhadoi. Wooden toys, bangles made of glass, ivory work, and brassware are also produced in Varanasi. The city is host to numerous religious festivals in India.
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12. Argos
Argos is another oldest city in the country Greece which is still inhabited since the fifth millennium BC. The city of Argos is believed to the domicile of the dynasty of Argaed which is the ancient Macedonian royal house of rulers. The city has a powerful influence in the history of the Greeks and has amazing monuments serving the purpose of tourism for tourists.
13. Luxor
Luxor is an oldest city in Africa specifically Egypt. The ancient city of the Thebes which was known to the ancient Egyptians as Waset is a very modern city today and currently undergoing a renewal plan that will bring the city new roads, more ritzy hotels, and tons of shopping opportunities for tourists, as well as an excavation and restoration of the nearly two-mile long Avenue of Sphinxes built by the ancient pharaoh Amenhotep III.
Related article: Travel in Egypt: What You Must Know Before Traveling
14. Jerusalem
Jerusalem is another oldest city in the world which was founded around 1800 BC. It is among the cities which is been claimed by Israel and the State of Palestine. It is also the only city that is considered as a holy city by three major religions Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
The City of David, which is Jerusalem’s southeast hill, is considered the pinnacle of historical Jerusalem. The area attracted shepherds who camped near the water and left behind flint artifacts and ceramics, dating back about 6,000 to 7,000 years ago.
15. Hebron
Hebron is another holy city and among the oldest cities in the world. The city can be situated in the Judea Mountains of the southern West Bank of Palestine. Hebron is a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, as it is the location of the Cave of the Patriarchs the burial site of Abraham and his family. Today, the beautiful old city is known for its pottery workshops, glassblowing factories, and production of grapes, figs, and limestone and also serving the as a tourist destination to tourists.
16. Tarsus
Tarsus is a city which was founded around the 2500 BC making one of the oldest cities in the world. With prehistoric development dating back to the Neolithic period, the settlement of Tarsus was located at the intersection of multiple important trade routes linking Syria to Anatolia along with others. The city is said to be where Mark Antony and Cleopatra first met and where Paul the Apostle was born.
17. Beirut
Beirut is the largest and capital city of Lebanon. It is an oldest city inhabited for over 5,000 years now. The city of Beirut is considered as “the Paris of the Middle East” prior to the start of the country’s civil war in 1975, where it had been part of the Roman Empire and the Ottonam. Beirut is very popular destination in the Middle East for its great food, a thriving nightlife, and beautiful sights.
18. Lisbon
Another oldest city in the world that can be located in the European continent is the city of Lisbon in Portugal. Lisbon is second-oldest European capital city which origin is believed to have dated as far back as 1200 BC though archaeologists have also uncovered proof that Iron Age people occupied the area from the 8th to 6th centuries B.C.
There are lots of rich culture and history in Lisbon, showcased at its many monuments and museums full of art and artifacts that chronicle the country’s ancient history and rise and fall as a colonial superpower. Due to that colonial past, Lisbon cuisine is also likely another reason this Portuguese capital is becoming such a hot spot, with dishes influenced by Moorish, South Asian, South American, and African as well as East Asian flavors.
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