Top 10 Oldest Cities in the World You Might Want to Know

Jerusalem is one of the most famous cities in the world, known as the birthplace of the Jewish people. Despite being founded in the 4th century BC and having been destroyed twice during historical wars, the city remains a stronghold to this day. Currently, about 200,000 people live in the eastern part of the city. According to the Bible, the Kingdom of Israel was founded by King David, father of King Solomon, the wisest ruler. Jerusalem is also famous as the place where Jesus Christ was crucified. Therefore, it attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims every year.

The Old City of Jerusalem is home to several important religious sites: the Temple Mount and the Western Wall of Judaism, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre of Christianity, and the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque of Islam. This area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981. Traditionally, the Old City is divided into four uneven quarters: the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter. Following the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, the Old City was occupied by Jordan, and Jews were expelled. During the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel captured the Old City and the rest of East Jerusalem, later annexing it into Israeli territory and reunifying it with the western part of the city.

India has long been renowned for its ancient civilization, mystical spirituality, and as the birthplace of many of the world’s oldest cities, including Varanasi, which dates back to around the 12th century BC. For Hindus, it is believed to be the land where Lord Shiva was born. In addition to its name, Varanasi is also known as Benares – a sacred place where Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in the holy river or to cremate their loved ones. Varanasi is an industrial hub, famous for its premium fabrics, perfumes, exquisite carvings, and ivory, while also being a center for arts and crafts.

The culture of Varanasi is deeply intertwined with the Ganges River, which holds immense religious significance. This city has been a religious and cultural center in northern India for thousands of years. Varanasi is known for its distinctive Hindustani music style and has produced many renowned philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians in Indian history, including Kabir, Ravi Das, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Varanasi is also home to Banaras Hindu University, and Tulsidas composed the famous Ramcharitmanas here. The local language spoken in Varanasi is Kashika Bhojpuri, a dialect related to Hindi.

Over 2500 years ago, Cholula was developed from several scattered villages and became a melting pot for many Latin American cultures such as the Aztecs, Toltecs, and Olmecs. The city's prominence grew after the Spanish conquest. Today, it has evolved into a small town with a population of about 60,000, and the most notable feature is the grand Cholula Pyramid. This massive pyramid stretches 8 kilometers and contains numerous caves and tunnels, but only about 800 meters of tunnels are open for public tours.

The Cholula Pyramid is considered one of the most impressive structures ever built on Earth, with a base four times larger than that of the Great Pyramid of Giza. In 1519, Hernán Cortés and his army entered the city, which is now part of Mexico, killing 10% of its population, and subsequently constructing several churches to mark their conquest. The final structure built was the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remediosa church atop the Cholula Pyramid. It wasn’t until 1910 that the pyramid beneath the church was rediscovered. Located on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico’s fourth-largest city, the Cholula Pyramid is 450 meters wide, 66 meters high, and roughly the size of nine Olympic swimming pools.

Archaeological findings have confirmed that over 11,000 years ago, the ancient city of Jericho, Palestine was already inhabited. Situated at the heart of Palestine, the city served as a central hub for trade. Due to its favorable natural features and abundant resources, Jericho attracted the attention of powerful empires throughout history. It wasn’t until 1994 that Jericho officially became part of Palestine, and today, it remains a small town with a population of about 20,000.

Located below sea level along a 16-kilometer stretch of the East-West road north of the Dead Sea, Jericho is the lowest city on Earth that is continuously inhabited. It is also regarded as the longest continually inhabited city in the world. Known in the Old Testament as the "City of Palm Trees," Jericho’s abundant water sources have made it an appealing settlement for thousands of years. In Christian tradition, it is believed to be the site where the Israelites, led by Joshua after their slavery in Egypt, returned to. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of over 20 successive settlements in Jericho, the oldest dating back to over 11,000 years ago, at the very beginning of the Holocene period in Earth’s prehistoric era.

With a population of 2 million, Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and holds a significant strategic position along the ancient Silk Road, connecting the Mediterranean to Asia. People have inhabited this area for around 8,000 years, although archaeological evidence suggests that civilization may have existed here as far back as 13,000 years ago. Throughout history, Aleppo has been influenced by various empires, resulting in a rich blend of cultural and architectural styles. Today, Aleppo is considered the soul of Syria due to its deep historical legacy.

The historic Old City of Aleppo, which dates from the 12th to 16th centuries, remained largely unchanged before the Syrian Civil War. Due to frequent invasions and political instability, residents built independent, communal neighborhoods, each with unique religious and ethnic characteristics. The Old City is enclosed by city walls, with areas resembling a beehive housing structure outside, covering about 350 hectares and housing 120,000 people. Characterized by large homes, narrow alleys, and bustling traditional markets, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria has a rich history dating back to around 4000 BC. Initially, it was under the control of the Thracians, followed by the Romans. During the medieval period, it became a highly sought-after region by Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire, and the Byzantine Empire. Eventually, it became part of Bulgaria in 1885. Today, Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and serves as a major hub for culture, education, and economy.

The city commemorates 133 years since the unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in 1885, marking it as a key moment in its history. In 2019, Plovdiv was designated a European Capital of Culture, sharing the title with Matera, Italy. This recognition is a testament to the city's success in positioning itself as a cultural, tourism, and business center, propelling Plovdiv into the spotlight as a must-visit destination in Europe.

While most ancient cities are located around the Mediterranean, Luoyang is the oldest city in Asia. It has served as the capital for seven major dynasties in China and is considered the cradle of Chinese culture and history. No other city in China has endured as many different dynasties and emperors as Luoyang. With a history spanning over 4,000 years, Luoyang today is home to nearly 7 million residents and boasts numerous famous historical landmarks that draw tourists from all over the world.

The city was originally founded in the 11th century BC by the minister Zhao Kang or Duke Zhao, under the command of the Duke of Zhou, and was named Chengzhou. It became the capital of the Eastern Zhou dynasty in 770 BC. Luoyang was destroyed during internal conflicts in 510 BC but was rebuilt in the following years, continuing as the capital until the Qin dynasty's defeat of the Zhou in 256 BC, when it was renamed Luoyang. In 68 AD, the first Buddhist temple in China, the White Horse Temple, was established in Luoyang. The temple still stands today, although much of its architecture dates from later periods, primarily the 16th century. One of the first monks to promote Buddhism in Luoyang was An Shigao.

In Syria, Damascus is the second-largest city with a population of 2.5 million. Established between 10,000 and 8,000 BC, Damascus is renowned as the world's oldest continuously inhabited city. With its ancient history, it is often considered one of the 'oldest' cities globally. The city boasts countless historical sites from various periods, and excavation of its ruins is nearly impossible due to the depth of layers, with remnants buried as deep as 2.4 meters beneath the surface.

Located on the southern banks of the Barada River, the ancient city was founded in the 3rd millennium BC. Its oval-shaped layout measures approximately 1.5 km across, and it features the famous Straight Street, while its north-south diameter is about 1 km. The Old City, covering around 86.12 hectares, is enclosed by a historical 4.5 km-long wall, initially built by the Romans and later reinforced by the Ayyubid and Mamluk dynasties. The first recorded mention of Damascus was as "Ta-ms-qu" in the 2nd millennium BC, situated in the Amorite region between the Hittite and Egyptian conflict zones. The city paid tribute until the arrival of the Sea Peoples in 1200 BC, which weakened enemy archers. Subsequently, the Aramean Semitic tribal alliance established the independent kingdom of Aram-Damascus, naming the city "Dimashqu" or "Darmeseq".

Ancient Athens, Greece, boasts a history spanning over 7,000 years and a population of around 3 million. The city has been shaped by powerful empires throughout the ages, including the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. It is the birthplace of many world-renowned figures in fields such as art, literature, and philosophy, along with numerous historic and cultural sites that have stood the test of time. Athens, mystical like something out of an ancient myth, is also a vibrant, youthful city that carries the spirit of the future. This blend of the ancient and the modern gives Athens a unique charm, leaving visitors with a lasting and profound impression that is hard to put into words.

The ancient allure of Athens is unmatched by any other city, as its mythical aura—once the heart of Europe—seems to remain in every corner. Standing at the foot of a street, gazing upwards at the towering Acropolis, visitors are transported to a time when the gods themselves may have ruled over this land. These ancient monuments, thousands of years old, are still meticulously preserved, standing majestic and magnificent, their marble columns and stone blocks shimmering under the sun's rays or lit up in the evening. Iconic structures like the Parthenon and the Erechtheion temples have become symbols of Greece, known to people across the world.

Byblos, Lebanon is often regarded as one of the cradles of ancient civilizations due to its incredibly long history. The city has been continuously inhabited for approximately 5,000 years, although evidence suggests human presence here dates back even earlier. This means Byblos may have a history that extends well beyond the known 5,000 years.

Byblos is a coastal city located in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon. It is believed to have been first occupied between 8800 and 7000 BC, and according to the Phoenician mythology of Sanchuniathon, the city was founded by Cronus as the first city of Phoenicia. Byblos is one of the longest-inhabited cities in the world, with continuous settlement dating back to 5000 BC. In 1984, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.