How to get to a wonder of the world?

In 2007, new wonders of the world were chosen in Lisbon. In general, such a practice—“re-electing” wonders of the world—seems right. After all, every cool place wants to bear such a title! And for traveler-collectors, it’s an endless challenge.

If you think that wonders of the world are unrealistic and difficult to reach, cast aside those thoughts, it’s not true. In our article, we will tell you in detail and prove that they are closer than you think and getting to them is no more difficult than getting home from a hardware store with baseboards in hand.

Colosseum

What could be simpler than approaching the foot of the Colosseum? We are sure many have been to the Colosseum even before it became a wonder of the world. If so, confidently check it off your list!

If you haven’t yet seen this enormous architectural masterpiece, head to Rome. Only a part of the arena where gladiators once fought to the death remains, but this view only adds to its charm. So, you can walk from the main Termini train station, which takes about half an hour. We recommend taking a stroll, as there’s a lot to see along the way! However, there can be crowds and queues at the entrance. But there’s a loophole.

Book your ticket online and print it (otherwise you’ll still have to queue at the ticket office to get a ticket). An adult entrance ticket costs 12 euros, a child’s ticket is 7.5 euros, and children under 17 enter for free. But be aware: you will need to visit the Colosseum at your booked time. With this ticket, you can also access the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. And yes, a Schengen visa will be required for Italy.

Great Wall of China

There’s nothing complicated here either, you just need to be careful. As you’ve probably heard, access to Badaling, one of the popular sections of the Great Wall of China, has been restricted — now only 65,000 people can visit it per day (previously over 85,000). Tickets must be booked using your passport number 7 days before your visit.

Now for the journey. Since not all of the wall has survived to this day, only certain sections, you need to travel to them differently. Badaling is the most popular section of the wall for tourists. To get there, take bus #877 from Deshengmen Station in Beijing. There’s another option: the Beijing Tourist Hub tourist bus, which departs from the south side of Tiananmen Square.

Simatai is another interesting preserved section dating back to the 14th century! The engraved date of its construction is still visible on the wall’s stones. To reach this section, head to Beijing’s Dongzhimen Station and take bus #980. Get off in Miyun city, and from there, take a taxi to the fortress.

A visa will be required for China.

Machu Picchu

Oh, how many legends revolve around this Peruvian town. Scientists still haven’t understood its purpose. But it’s beautiful, and tourists are drawn to it — that’s a fact.

So, there are several ways to get to the ancient Inca city. The closest major city to Machu Picchu is Cusco, and — oh, wonder! — these cities are connected by a direct railway (Peru Rail or Inca Rail companies). From Cusco, you arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes, from where a bus takes you directly to the entrance of Machu Picchu. You can buy a ticket for it right in the town at the bus station (and train station).

The train will cost from $60, and if you want to travel in comfort, it’s from $100. An entrance ticket to Machu Picchu costs from $60, the price varies depending on what else you want to visit besides the city itself.

Petra

This collection of existing wonders of the world features stone structures. Petra is an ancient rock-cut city, meaning a city carved into rock amidst canyons. It is located in Jordan. The place is beautiful, with many passages between the rocks, just like in the American Grand Canyon. In the city, you can ride camels and buy traditional scarves. In the evening, there’s a small light show, which makes the place even more magical.

The location is not very convenient, but not inaccessible. The closest city to Petra is Ma’an, but it has an airport only for domestic flights. Therefore, it’s better to fly to Aqaba or Amman. However, from Aqaba to Petra, you can only get by car, so fly directly to Amman.

The most reliable way to get to Petra is by bus from Amman. The journey takes 3.5 hours, and Jett buses depart early in the morning from the Abdali bus station. You can book an excursion; you’ll travel on the same buses. Check the schedule and prices on the website. Excursions can also be arranged from Eilat, Wadi Rum desert.

Taj Mahal

Now let’s head to India! There awaits the famous Taj Mahal — a mausoleum-mosque in the city of Agra. It’s not just a mosque, but a monument to love — Emperor Shah Jahan built it in memory of his beloved wife. We recommend seeing it at least three times, and here’s why: it was built from white marble, and during the day it’s white, at sunset it’s pink, and in the evening it’s silvery.

To get to the Taj Mahal, head to Agra, which is about 200 km from Delhi. The fastest way to get there is by the high-speed Shatabdi Express train; get off at the Agra Cantt stop.

The Taj Mahal is open every day except Friday — on this day, prayers are held, and tourists are not allowed entry. On other days, opening hours are from sunrise to sunset, entry from 1000 rupees, children under 15 enter for free.

Christ the Redeemer Statue

That very statue that every tourist in Rio de Janeiro yearns to see. The height of Jesus is 30 meters (+ 8-meter pedestal), and the arm span is 28 meters.

The poor statue is located on a high point, so lightning strikes it almost 4 times a year. There’s even a reserve of the stone from which the statue is made left in the city, so that restoration work isn’t noticeable.

The most convenient way to get to the statue is by metro + minivan. You arrive at Largo do Machado metro station and immediately find the minivan parking. They start exactly at 8 AM, so arrive early. The convenience of this method is that these minivans are allowed to the statue’s parking lot without queuing (unlike taxis). The trip will cost approximately $13, and you’ll be brought back to the same square near the metro.

The most scenic way is by electric train, but you still need to get to it. To do this, take buses #180, 405, 422, 497, 498, 569, 570, 580, 583, 584 to the Cosme Velho stop and then transfer to the train there. The trip will cost approximately $21. And for affluent tourists, there’s a helicopter. But the mini-tour lasts only 10 minutes and costs $150.

We highly recommend going up to the statue itself, rather than viewing it from other observation decks. The view from there is absolutely amazing!

Ancient City of Chichen Itza

Heading to Mexico? Then don’t bypass the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza. The most popular structure in the city is the Kukulcan pyramid. It is surrounded by 91 steps on all four sides, but you can only climb to the top from one side.

We recommend not getting carried away with self-guided tours and simply taking an organized excursion to this ancient city. Why bother looking for a rental car when you can ride in a comfortable bus and enjoy nature? It’s a full-day excursion, and the program also includes a visit to a cenote — a sinkhole in a limestone cave with a natural pool at the bottom.

You can join an excursion from Cancun resorts or from Merida, the city closest to Chichen Itza. The cost is quite reasonable — about $90 per adult.

So, convinced that seeing the wonders of the world is no more difficult than a trip to Disneyland Paris? Then all that’s left is to pick your tickets and pack your suitcase!