Have you ever wanted to see the Man-made Wonders of the World?  Ever wonder which ones are the most impressive? Or, where you can find them?  Well….This is my ranked listing of the Wonders, where they are and how to get to them…without spending a ton as well.

Background: There are 8 existing wonders of the world.  One of the ancient seven wonders survived…the other six have been destroyed.  Several years ago, seven new wonders were selected in 2000 through a global voting contest.  I don’t completely agree with the list (sorry Rio) but it’s a good way to get out and see some amazing sites.  So, here is my listed ranked in from the “do not miss” to the “eh, everyone needs to be somewhere”.

For me the most amazing Wonder of the World is the remaining ancient one.  The Pyramids of Giza!  This was recognized as a Wonder of the World well before Christ was born.  Hard to believe that this was the tallest man-made structure before the Eifel Tower was unveiled in 1889.  For 3,800 years, these were the tallest structures ever built.  That’s damn impressive!  There are secret rooms inside the Pyramids and you can go into two of them.  This is definitely a tourist trap and definitely worth visiting!

How to see it:  We tried three times to visit on a cruise.  All three times, the stop was cancelled.  Eventually, we just booked a flight and stayed two days in Cairo.  A private tour through Viator was very good and inexpensive…about $120 for two.  Another option would be to take a tour with Exoticca Travel to Egypt.  Expect to pay less than $2,000 per person for everything including flights and hotels for about a week trip.

There are seven new wonders of the world: Chichen Itza in Mexico, Machu Pichu in Peru, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, the Coliseum in Rome, Italy, Petra in Jordan, the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Wall of China.

Of the new wonders, the Great Wall of China stands out for me.  The massive wall that extends 13,000 miles can be reached easily from Beijing. We accessed the wall mid-afternoon and virtually had it to ourselves.  Much of it however have not been repaired and is not very accessible.  Badaling is the most popular location to view the wall and you can either climb steps, take a chair lift or cable car up to the wall.  It’s very impressive.

How to see it:  We flew into Beijing and took advantage of the Chinese Transit Visa Exemption.  As long as you enter China from one country and depart to a different country; the government allows you to enter without a VISA.  In 2025, the time you can remain in China increased from up to seven days to up to 30 days.  In our case, we flew in from Hong Kong and departed to Singapore; spending 3 nights in Beijing.  We booked a Viator tour for approximately $400 for two days of tours of Beijing, including the wall.

The second coolest wonder, I believe, is Petra in Jordon.  This is one, I would have enjoyed spending more time.  It is probably a half mile hike through a canyon to reach the lost city and it is expansive and beautiful.  The crowds were manageable; however, this is a difficult place to visit.  It is worth the effort.

How to see it:  This was a cruise ship tour for us.  We were enroute from Athens to Dubai and stopped in Aqaba, Jordan.  From there it is only a few hours bus ride to the site.  We did this through the ship, but there are many local tour operators who can arrange it.  Viator offers tours from Isreal, but this is very difficult due to the border crossing.  This is especially true in 2025.  It is much more cost effective to fly to Amman, Jordan and start your tour from there.  A day tour in Jordan is around $100 per person.

I have visited Machu Pichu twice.  The first time, my son and I spent 4 days hiking the Inca Trail.  The second time was in 2024, traveling by train.  The remoteness of the site, only reachable by foot or train makes it very special.  However, as an architectural site, although very beautiful, it’s not very impressive.  Most structures are single story and the thatched roofs are long gone.  It’s worth a visit but don’t expect too much.  Visits only last a few hours.

How to see it:  In this case I recommend an Exoticca Tour.  A one-week trip with all international and local flights, the train to the site, hotels and guides can be obtained for about $1,500 per person in 2025.  That is a great deal and probably cheaper than you can do it on your own.

It’s been many years since I made it to Chichen Itza.  It is an impressive structure and the engineering that went into its design is quite impressive.  Especially, if you can arrange to be there on the Equinox.  That is when the shadows cast by the stones form the shape of a snake from the top of the pyramid to the base.  Unfortunately, now that they don’t let you climb the pyramid, it’s really kind of boring.  Also, hot in the jungle and the site is crowded.

How to see it:  This is an easy drive from Cancun.  An interesting new option, is the ability to take a train from the Cancun Airport.  As an alternative, if you stop at the cruise port of Progresso, Mexico, you can get a bus tour for around $100.  If you travel to the area, put it on your list for a day-trip. 

The Taj Mahal in Agra India is quite a structure and a testament to love.  The grounds and the structure are definitely impressive.  But it is just a mausoleum containing two bodies. It’s difficult to get to and crowded.  India is dirty, polluted and not a favorite place to visit.  Go see the Taj and get out!

How to see it:  We flew in and did a private three-day tour of the “Golden Triangle” with Tour Radar.  If I was going to do it again, I would just fly to New Delphi, and hire a private driver.  Plan on spending your first night in Agra and the second back in New Delphi.  India is cheap and you can do this for a few hundred dollars a person.  Note:  the Taj is a long way from the coast and cruise ship tours tend to be crazy expensive!  $2,000 or more per person!  Just plan on doing it on your schedule when time permits.

Christ the Redeemer is just a stature on a hill overlooking Rio.  The cog railway to the top of the mountain is impressive but I really don’t know why this is a “Wonder of the World”.  Obviously, Brazil has a large population and they really got out the vote to pull this one off.

How to see it:  This is an easy Wonder to visit.  Travel to Rio and take a taxi from your hotel.  Buy your tickets on line and arrange for the earliest train possible.  After your tour, grab a taxi to Sugarloaf Mountain and take the cable car up.  This makes for a pleasant morning and early afternoon….you will be back on the beach by 3:00.

The Colosseum is old and ruined and possibly the biggest tourist trap in the world.  If you are in Rome anyway, it’s worth visiting just to say you were there. 

How to see it:  Just take the metro line to the Colosseum station and fight the crowds.  There are plenty of tour operators in Rome but it’s just as easy to go on your own.

There are so many man-made wonders in the world, it’s hard to narrow the list to seven.  Overall, this is a good list and if you want some adventures, check them out. 

I really think several amazing creations were not represented.  For me Ankor Wat in Cambodia and the Burg Kalifa in Dubai are worthy of the title “Wonder of the World” but I didn’t vote:}Please comment and tell me what man-made structures you think are worth visiting….we need more ideas😊