Have you ever dreamed of visiting the oldest city in the world to admire the ancient beauty and see the unique architectural structures? Many ancient civilizations have disappeared without a trace, but some still exist for over 10,000 years.

The oldest city in the world you should visit

12 of the oldest cities in the world over a thousand years old

1. The oldest city in the world: Jericho (Palestine) – 11,000 years old

Jericho is a city located in the Jordan Valley and belongs to Palestine. This city is the oldest city for more than 10,000 years. Moreover, it is also the lowest city in the world, at 258m (846 feet) below sea level.

The most impressive place is Jericho Tell (Tell al-Sultan), 2.5 km from Jericho’s main square. This ancient mound is 21 meters (69 feet) high. Jericho is considered a place for archaeologists to study the history of human civilization since it is the oldest inhabited city in the world.

In addition, another place worth visiting is the Mount of Temptation. It is a beautiful pilgrimage site where Jesus fasted after being baptized by John the Baptist.

For centuries, Jericho was occupied, destroyed, and abandoned. Numerous archaeological excavations have attested evidence of human life dating back almost 11,000 years, with at least 20 settlements.

2. The oldest city in the world: Damascus (Syria) – 11,000 years old

Damascus is located in the desert region of southwestern Syria, on the Barada River near the Anti-Lebanon Mountains. In addition, Damascus is honored by many names such as “The Pearl of The East,” “The Earthly Paradise,” or “Flower Garden in The Desert.”

It is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East and the world. This city was used as the residence of the Egyptian and Syrian Kings during the height of the Crusade. Moreover, Damascus hides many historical stories and is a precious cultural monument of humanity. Many scholars believe that Damascus’s origins can date back to 3,000 BC. It began with the name Damascus from the XV century BC. Until the first century AD, Damascus was the seat of the diocesan bishop. In 635, Damascus was occupied by Muslims for a long time. Once again, Damascus was occupied by the Turks in 1076. Damascus fell to the Egyptians in 1154. However, the Ottoman Empire took Damascus from the Egyptians in 1516. And until 1946, Damascus became the capital of independent Syria. Currently, Damascus is in the top 12 Cultural Heritage Sites that are at risk of destruction or heavy losses by war.

3. The oldest city in the world: Aleppo (Syria) – 8,000 years old

Aleppo is located in the heart of the Silk Road, connecting Asia and the Mediterranean. It is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, around 6,000 BC. However, archaeological excavations have found evidence that Aleppo was a residence more than 11,000 years ago.

In the Abbasid dynasty in the 8th century, Aleppo became the main cultural center of the entire region. So, the unique architectural style of Aleppo also shows that it has been a center of knowledge and culture for more than 12 centuries.

During the heyday of the Silk Road from the 12th to the 15th centuries, Aleppo became the center of trade and exchange between countries in the region. In addition, it is home to the trade of porcelain, Indian spices, Italian crystal and glass, and metals from Iran and Iraq…

Aleppo was ruled by the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans… and others. Therefore, it is characterized by a mixed-use structure of various styles. Moreover, Aleppo is like the heart of Syria but is badly hurt by persistent civil wars.

4. Byblos (Lebanon) – 7,000 years old

Byblos is a Mediterranean city about 42km north of Beirut. It has a long history, recorded by the Egyptians as early as 1550 BC. In addition, Byblos was built by the God Cronus as the first city of the Kingdom of Phenicia.

In Ancient Egypt, Byblos served as an important trading center. As one of the leading exporters of cedar and precious resources for Egypt.

According to archaeological research, the first citizens present here were around 6,230 BC. Moreover, in the 3rd millennium BC, the first signs of life at Byblos appeared. To this day, there are still many traces of old stone houses.

5. The oldest city in the world: Athens (Greece) – 7,000 years old

Athens was founded in 4,000 BC. Besides, Athens represents the oldest and most valuable city in the development of Western civilization.

In ancient times, Athens flourished during the reign of monarchs and leaders such as Pericles. The city became the center of ancient Greek civilization, which developed art, philosophy, science, and politics.

Furthermore, Athens underwent change and occupation by various empires and states, such as the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Roman army. In 1834, Athens became the capital of independent Greece.

6. Argos (Greece) – 7,000 years old

Argos in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece, is the second-oldest city in Greece and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

The city is more than 7,000 years old. In addition, Argos is derived from Argus, the son of Zeus and Niobe. It was the birthplace of many soldiers who fought in the Trojan War.

According to numerous studies, Argos remained neutral throughout history and did not participate in the Greco-Persian Wars.

7. Susa (Iran) – 6,300 years old

Susa is the nearly 7,000-year-old city of the Elamite, Persian, and Parthian Empires. The former capital of the Elamite empire, founded around 4000 BC, was an ancient civilization that extended to southern Iraq.

In addition, Susa was occupied by the Assyrians and the Achaemenids of Greece. It belongs to the Iranian government.

Now, Susa no longer exists. However, Shush (a small town in Khuzestan Province) is located on the site of ancient Susa and has about 65,000 residents.

8. Erbil (Iraqi Kurdistan) – 6,000 years old

Many studies suggest that the first document referring to the ancient city of Erbil dates back at least to 2300 BC. However, the oldest traces are believed to have been between 7,000 and 10,000 BC.

Furthermore, there are many different ethnic groups living on this land, such as the Hassuna, Akkadians, Sumerians, Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Greeks, Parthians, and Abbasids.

It was an important center during the Neo-Assyrian period, especially during the reign of King Ashurbanipal (669-627 BC). In addition, during the Middle Ages, the city was inhabited by poets, historians, and scholars, and later the cultural and administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. It is one of the oldest settled landmarks in the world.

9. Sidon (Lebanon) – 6,000 years old

Sidon is one of the oldest Phoenician cities. This is where Jesus, St. Paul, and Alexander the Great, who occupied the city in 333 BC, once visited.

The ancient city of Sidon was built in 4,000 BC. The city represented the base of the Phoenician Empire and continued to grow throughout the years in the Mediterranean.

Today, Sidon is one of Lebanon’s main tourist attractions. In addition, the Sidon Sea Castle, built in the 13th century, represents a part of the city’s cultural heritage. Sidon is now home to 200,000 residents.

10. Plovdiv (Bulgaria) – 6,000 years old

Plovdiv is considered the oldest city in the world, with 6,000 years of history. It was also the 2nd largest city in Bulgaria and was founded by the Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans.

In 1885, Plovdiv officially became part of Bulgaria. The ruins of these kingdoms and reigning empires in Plovdiv still exist together. Therefore, they left an imprint on architecture, art, and cultural life deeply in the history of Plovdiv.

11. The oldest city in the world: Varanasi (India) – 5,000 years old

Varanasi (Benares) is about 500 km from Agra. This city is one of the oldest cities in the world and has a history of more than 5,000 years.

In addition, it is said that the city was founded about 6,000 years ago by Shiva – one of the most important deities in Hinduism.

The first settlements in Varanasi date back to the 11th century BC. This is one of the earliest inhabited places in the world. Moreover, it is also a sacred place for both Hindus and Jains.

12. Jerusalem (Israel) – 5,000 years old

Jerusalem was founded between 4,000 and 5,000 BC. In particular, Jerusalem is politically and geographically sensitive. It is home to three major religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Besides, Jerusalem was destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. It is now the capital of Israel.

For the Jews, this land was where King David built the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel, and King Solomon built the First Temple. So every year, millions of Jews come to the “Wailing Wall” for pilgrimage.

In addition, Jerusalem is where Jesus was crucified and the most important Christian holy site. Every year, millions of Christians visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

According to the Koran, Jerusalem is a stop in the mysterious Night Journey of Prophet Mohammed. The Holy Land of Jerusalem is where Muslims visit all year round, especially during Ramadan.