The new Wonders of the World

Getting the right Over 70s Travel Insurance can feel like a minefield, but getting older and living with pre-existing medical conditions shouldn’t stop you from exploring the world and planning those big holidays you’ve always dreamt of.

The only question is, where should you head first? Whether you’ve recently retired and have more time on your hands, or you’re simply taking a sabbatical from work, when it comes to deciding on a bucket-list-worthy destination, it’s the World Wonders we often turn to for inspiration.

The original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World originated in the Middle Ages, and they all stemmed from ancient Greek writings – meaning only sites that were known to the ancient Greeks were included at the time of the list’s inception. In the year 2000, a Swiss foundation decided that with only one wonder still standing, it was high time to collate a new list, asking people around the world to vote on what they believed should be included in the New Seven Wonders of the World. And so, in 2007 a new list including the Great Wall of China, Chichén Itzá, Petra, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, the Colosseum and the Taj Mahal, was born.

But almost two decades later, does this list still stand? And what about all the other incredible monuments located in countries that don’t quite make the top seven? We decided that it’s time for a new list, this time including the most awe-inspiring tourist attractions from every country on our beautiful planet.

The New Seven World Wonders

To determine which attractions around the world are intriguing us the most, thus making them the most awe-inspiring destinations worthy of a “World Wonder” title – we took to Wikipedia, the home of knowledge, and where many of us tend to navigate to in order to satisfy our curiosity about something.

Analysing the page views of over 4,300 landmarks from every country around the globe, we discovered which countries’ pages are visited most, revealing which attractions really are the most ‘wondered’ about.

1. The Taj Mahal (India) – 28,601,383 page views
2. The Burj Khalifa (United Arab Emirates) – 23,423,701 page views
3. Mount Everest (Nepal) – 22,066,676 page views
4. The Statue of Liberty (United States of America) – 19,851,871 page views
5. The Great Wall of China (China) – 17,405,607 page views
6. The Eiffel Tower (France) – 17,316,414 page views
7. Machu Picchu (Peru) – 14,229,131 page views

1. The Taj Mahal

Situated in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum that was once commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a way to memorialise his beloved wife who had passed away during childbirth. Construction started in 1632 AD and took over two decades to complete.

For many tourists and visitors, the building symbolises eternal love; and its magnificent design, which blends Persian, Islamic and Indian styles of architecture, continues to astound visitors from all over the globe (and has pulled in over 28 million page views on Wikipedia in the past five years) – truly earning it its title of World Wonder.

While many medical conditions won’t prohibit you from visiting the Taj Mahal, it’s worth noting that it’s a fair walking distance – so if you are living with mobility issues keep this in mind when planning your day.

2. Burj Khalifa

The tallest skyscraper in the world, sitting pretty with over 23 million page views, the Burj Khalifa is the newest structure in this list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Construction took six years in total and was completed in 2010, with the lofty skyscraper standing at an impressive 828 metres tall. It offers breathtaking views of Dubai, wrapped with over 26,000 glass panels, and constructed in an Islamic style of architecture that was inspired by the Hymenocallis flower.

The Burj Khalifa is one of the most accessible landmarks in the top seven. With medical travel insurance, you should be able to visit this building with complete ease.

3. Mount Everest

The highest peak on earth, Mount Everest is nestled in the picturesque Himalayas and stands at a mind-boggling 8,848 metres above sea level. Translating directly to “Goddess Mother of the World” in both Nepalese and Tibetan, adventurous individuals have been summiting the mountain since 1953.

Summiting, or even climbing to base camp, however, can be dangerous and incredibly challenging. For those who want to see the awe-inspiring mountain, but aren’t experienced in such high-altitude trekking, there are other routes you can opt for to get a view of it, including a trek to what was once the world’s highest hotel, where you can sit next to a crackling fire at night staring at the magnificent mountain instead.

4. The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, though located in New York City, was actually a gift from France, as a way of commemorating the USA’s friendship with the European country. It was designed by a French sculptor and construction started in France, while the framework was designed by the same engineer that designed the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel.

The statue itself was shipped to the USA in 350 different pieces and put back together on Liberty Island in 1885. Representing hope and opportunity for the millions of immigrants who would arrive at nearby Ellis Island, it is a symbol of democracy that has certainly earned itself the title of World Wonder with over 19 million page views on Wikipedia over the past five years.

5. The Great Wall of China

One of the oldest landmarks in our top seven, the Great Wall of China was built to help defend China against invasions, and different sections of the wall have been built and rebuilt over the years – meaning its overall structure is incredibly diverse in terms of its architectural style.

The longest wall in the world (stretching over 21,196 kilometres in total), it’s a remarkable feat of engineering and has impressive views to match its equally impressive cultural and historical significance. Pulling in over 17 million page views on Wikipedia, it cements itself as a World Wonder.

Many sections of the Great Wall can be incredibly challenging to reach, so if you have any medical conditions or disabilities that might make this harder, you’ll be glad to know that after the Beijing Olympics the two sections known as ‘Badaling’ and ‘Mutianyu’ were made more accessible, and even wheelchair friendly – making them wonderful places to be able to experience this iconic landmark.

6. The Eiffel Tower

Named after Gustave Eiffel (his second landmark to feature in our updated list of world wonders), France’s Eiffel Tower was constructed in 1887 and completed within just two years. At the time it was the tallest man-made structure in the world, now overtaken by the likes of the Burj Khalifa, and though it no longer retains this title, it remains a culturally significant landmark within Paris that has truly stood the test of time.

Though Parisians used to describe it as an eyesore, it has come to be one of the most unique and recognisable landmarks in the world and has even been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.

7. Machu Picchu

The oldest landmark in this list, Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca Citadel that was constructed during the 15th century AD. To this day its purpose is still debated by historians and archaeologists. It was abandoned and forgotten for a lengthy period, before being rediscovered in 1911, restored and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

These days, many tourists make the journey to visit to discover its impressive stone structures and marvel at the fantastic views of the Andean mountains that surround it. Machu Picchu was elected one of the New Seven Wonders of the World back in 2007, and with over 14 million page views to back it up now, we’re glad its title of World Wonder still stands.

For those who don’t have experience with hiking at the altitude required to reach Machu Picchu, luckily there’s two train companies that can also take you there, complete with breathtaking panoramic views of the Andes mountains.

Europe’s World Wonders

Europe’s Top Three Wonders: Eiffel Tower – France (17.3 million page views), Berlin Wall – Germany (13.6 million page views) & Stonehenge – UK (13.5 million page views)

On the European continent there’s a plethora of exciting landmarks to choose from if you’re wanting to visit something truly awe-inspiring. The list includes just three modern architectural sites (France’s Eiffel Tower, Estonia’s Tallinn TV Tower and Monaco’s Monte Carlo Casino) while the majority are cultural or historical sites – including the likes of Spain’s (and Gaudí’s) impressive Sagrada Familia, Romania’s Bran Castle and Austria’s stunning Schönbrunn Palace. Ancient ruins like Italy’s Colosseum also make the list, as do natural wonders like Switzerland’s vast Matterhorn and Macedonia’s vivid Lake Ohrid.

Asia’s World Wonders

Asia’s Top Three Wonders: Taj Mahal – India (28.6 million page views), Burj Khalifa – United Arab Emirates (23.4 million page views) & Mount Everest – Nepal (22 million page views)

Within the vast and diverse continent of Asia, there are many man-made and natural wonders to marvel at and design a dream trip around. The list includes several religious landmarks like Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, spectacular parks and reserves like the Maldives’ Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, and a fantastic variety of mountains and volcanoes for the adventurous hikers – including the Taal Volcano in the Philippines, Mount Fuji in Japan and Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress in Sri Lanka. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon also make the list, located in Iraq and one of the original Seven World Wonders.

North & Central America’s World Wonders

North and Central America’s Top Three Wonders: The Statue of Liberty – United States of America (19.8 million page views), Niagara Falls – Canada (8.7 million page views) & the Panama Canal – Panama (8.1 million page views)

North and Central America plays host to a fantastic variety of landmarks, with a diverse list of top wonders including parks and reserves, natural wonders, lakes, statues and ancient ruins. Tourists looking to tick off some landmarks worthy of a world wonder title can head to Cuba’s remote Viñales Valley, Belize’s Great Blue Hole, Guatemala’s stunning volcanic Lake Atitlán or even the mysterious Bimini Road in the Bahamas, speculated over the years to have been the road to the Lost City of Atlantis.

South America’s World Wonders

South America’s Top Three Wonders: Machu Picchu – Peru (14.2 million page views), Easter Island – Chile (8.6 million page views) & Christ the Redeemer – Brazil (6.8 million page views)

South America’s top wonders are also incredibly diverse, from the more notable natural wonders like Bolivia’s world-renowned Salar de Uyuni salt flats and Ecuador’s phenomenal Galapagos Islands to Colombia’s ancient archaeological site Ciudad Perdida and Argentina’s Iguazu Falls. Also making the list of top South American World Wonders is Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, which also featured in the most recent 2007 iteration of ‘World Wonders’ as voted for by the public.

Oceania’s World Wonders

Oceania’s Top Three Wonders: The Great Barrier Reef – Australia (5 million page views), Nan Madol – Micronesia (1.3 million page views) & Milford Sound – New Zealand (649,859 page views)

Oceania offers an abundance of natural wonders, lakes, islands and archipelagos that are all worthy of World Wonder titles, but the cream of the crop includes Australia’s impeccable Great Barrier Reef, Micronesia’s Nan Madol (an ancient, ruined city built on artificial islands) and New Zealand’s Milford Sound, a jaw-dropping fjord with impressive scenery. Also making the list are some lesser-known but fantastic natural wonders, including Palau’s Jellyfish Lake, Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands and Vanuatu’s Mount Yasur (an active volcano).

Africa’s World Wonders

Africa’s Top Three Wonders: Nile River – Sudan (8.2 million page views), Mount Kilimanjaro – Tanzania (7.5 million page views) & Carthage – Tunisia (5.5 million page views)

On the African continent, the vast majority of World Wonders are incredible parks and reserves, including South Africa’s Kruger National Park (one of Africa’s largest game reserves), Namibia’s Skeleton Coast National Park and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. The list also includes awe-inspiring mountains like Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro and Morocco’s Atlas Mountains alongside ancient structures like Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.

If you’ve been inspired to finally take that dream trip to a World Wonder-worthy destination, make sure you’re covered for your trip with comprehensive over 70s travel insurance, so you can enjoy your bucket list experience with peace of mind.

Methodology:
We collated a list of over 4,300 landmarks from every country around the globe, consisting of cultural/historical sites, parks/reserves, ancient structures/ruins, mountains/volcanoes/rocks, natural wonders, lakes/lagoons/rivers/seas, religious landmarks, islands and archipelagos, modern architectural sites, dams/canals, statues/monuments and deserts.
We then assessed how many page views each landmark’s Wikipedia page had in the past five years and ranked them accordingly to reveal which ones are drawing the most visitors, and thus are the most ‘wondered about’.
Culturally or historically sensitive sites or disputed areas were removed from the data, for sensitivity reasons, as well as any countries that had too low data.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License