One of the greatest things about travel is that you can truly take a step back in time and rediscover
a bygone era. Visiting some of the world’s oldest cities is like a stroll through history. Conde Nast Traveler has compiled a list of the world’s oldest cities for those who truly want to visit ancient times.
For those who want to visit one of the oldest cities, head to the West Bank. According to Conde Nast, Jericho has been continuously inhabited for more than 10,000 years — and some artifacts have been found that date back more than 11,000 years. It’s location on the Jordan River have continued to attract inhabitants.
Now, history enthusiasts have their work cut out for them with museums and ruins in which to admire these ancient times. Be sure to head to Mount of Temptation Monastery and the archaeological ruins at Tell es-Sultan, recommends Conde Nast.
çatalhöyük, Turkey, also has that lived in feel, with signs of inhabitants dating back 7,500 years.
“A three-hour drive from Ankara, çatalhöyük offers a fascinating bird’s-eye view into what life was like nearly 10,000 years ago. Take a day trip to see the remains of this prehistoric village and learn what life was like in an era when there were no streets—and people entered their homes via ladder,” says Conde Nast.
Byblos, Lebanon, is a bit younger with its days of habitation beginning around 5,000 B.C.
“Byblos is just an hour’s drive along the Mediterranean coast from Beirut. Visit the Crusader Castle, the Old Souk open-air market, and Byblos Public Park, which rests on the sea,” says Conde Nast.
On the younger side, the popular city of Lisbon, Portugal, dates back to 1,200 B.C.
Explore the rich history and architecture of the Jeronimos Monastery (where explorer Vasco de Gama’s tomb is on display), shop in the trendy Baixa neighborhood, or make a day trip to bibliophile mecca óbidos.
These are but a selection of the world’s oldest cities, for the full list, read on here.
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