World’s Greatest ‘Lost Cities’ That Will Take Your Breath Away
Knowing that entire cities once thrived, then vanished without warning, is quite thrilling on its own. The thought of discovering–or exploring them–draws thousands of curious visitors worldwide. Keeping that in mind, let’s check out a few of the world’s greatest lost cities.
Machu Picchu, Peru
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Reaching Machu Picchu involves a winding train ride or a multi-day trek through misty mountains. What makes it extraordinary isn’t just the journey, but how long it remained hidden. It’s currently protected by altitude and vegetation that escaped Spanish eyes and was only made known globally in 1911.
Choquequirao, Peru
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Buried in remote cloud forest, Choquequirao vanished from common memory after the Incas fell. Unlike Machu Picchu, it’s still being excavated. The steep switchbacks and cross river valleys take days to cross.
Babylon, Iraq
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Babylon fell into decay and was eventually swallowed by desert sands before being rediscovered in the 19th century. It can now be visited via authorized cultural tours in Iraq; you can walk through ceremonial gates, gaze at a reconstructed ziggurat, and stand in the heart of what was once Mesopotamia’s crown jewel.
Pompeii, Italy
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The city vanished beneath volcanic ash in a matter of hours. That once-disaster is now an open-air museum. Visitors roam Roman homes and see frescoes that survived 2,000 years. Guided tours and preserved casts reveal Pompeii as a place paused mid-life.
Akrotiri, Greece
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One glimpse of Akrotiri’s preserved staircases and pottery tells you this Minoan city was hidden. A volcanic eruption buried it whole. Unlike most ruins, this site can be viewed from elevated walkways under a protective roof, while Santorini’s museums display vivid wall art from its excavated homes.
Helike, Greece
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Centuries passed before anyone believed Helike existed, but the leftover ruins show what the tsunami left behind. Seasonal digs near Aigio offer close-up looks at submerged foundations. Nearby exhibits explain how an earthquake in 373 BC created one of the Mediterranean’s oldest natural-disaster legends.
Angkor, Cambodia
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Vines and silence overtook Angkor after the Khmer Empire fell. Modern visitors approach it by tuk-tuk or bicycle, winding through temple corridors once lost beneath trees. At Angkor Wat and quieter surrounding shrines, it becomes clear how an entire city faded into the forest.
Petra, Jordan
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Long before tourists filed through the narrow Siq, Petra thrived as a Nabataean trade hub. After earthquakes and shifts in commerce, it faded from view. Today, hikers climb to high-altitude tombs and lesser-known temples, while camels and candlelit paths offer different ways to rediscover its carved majesty.
El Dorado, Colombia
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The search never uncovered a golden city, but it did preserve a culture’s story. Visitors hike around Lake Guatavita or walk Bogotá’s Gold Museum halls to learn how Muisca rituals gave rise to centuries of obsession. The real El Dorado lies in the symbolism, not the treasure.
Paititi, Peru
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No confirmed ruins have been found, but that hasn’t stopped explorers. Guided treks into the Peruvian jungle trace oral traditions and colonial records hinting at Paititi’s existence. The legend describes a wealthy Incan refuge hidden deep in uncharted territory, perhaps still untouched by archaeologists or time.
Mesa Verde, USA
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Climbing into a cliffside dwelling, you can almost hear the echoes. For centuries after the Ancestral Puebloans left, Mesa Verde was forgotten. It can be seen from the ledges of Colorado’s canyons through ranger-led tours and scenic overlooks.
Thonis-Heracleion, Egypt
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Divers surfaced with statues, tablets, and shipwrecks after discovering this underwater city near Alexandria in 2000. Thonis-Heracleion sank due to unstable Nile delta soil and disappeared entirely. Artifacts recovered from the site live in museums across Egypt.
Troy, Turkey
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For a long time, it was just a setting for poetry. Then the spade confirmed it: Troy existed. Its ramparts and gates in modern-day Turkey are layered with centuries of rebuilding. A museum nearby walks guests through myth, history, and the blurred line between the two.
Camelot, England
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Cadbury Castle in Somerset offers one of the most convincing landscapes linked to Camelot. The summit has interpretive signs that explore the Arthurian possibility. It’s more legend than limestone, yet the hill feels heavy with story.
Persepolis, Iran
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Persepolis was once the ceremonial heart of Persia. After Alexander the Great sacked the city, it was abandoned and buried by time. From Shiraz, travelers can explore all the palaces and gateways built for kings.