Does visiting sites of great historical importance appeal to you? Scattered across every continent, these places offer glimpses into the distant past, bringing the stories in history books to life.
Whether your interests lie in ancient temples, iconic cultural monuments, or the battlefields of the world wars, we’ve got you covered. This list of 9 historical cities history enthusiasts should visit has it all.
Rouen
According to the WW2 experts of Band of Brothers Tour, Rouen in Normandy is one of the most popular places on World War tour itineraries. Close to the Normandy D-Day beach landing site, it is definitely of major historical importance and a starting point for many WW2 tours.
But the port city of Rouen has other historical claims to fame. It is here that they burned the heroine Joan of Arc at the stake in 1431, at the tender age of 19. Today this historical and cultural capital is home to a church in her honor.
Tours of these historical sites and more, are very popular. The Normandy region is the area of the French countryside that inspired the Impressionists, filled with breathtaking landscapes and fairytale-like medieval chateaus.
Angkor
Once the capital city of the Khmer Empire, Angkor houses one of Cambodia’s most visited tourist attractions, Angkor Wat. This 12th-century temple complex is a beacon to all interested in South-East-Asian history.
Angkor is also the home of the Angkor Archaeological Park, a forested haven of beautiful Khmer Empire ruins. This UNESCO World Heritage Site safeguards the unique architectural remains of this old empire’s cultural, religious, and political monuments.
Giza Plateau
The Giza Plateau is home to the world-renowned Giza pyramids. It’s one of the most visited attractions in the world and one of the reasons why you should visit Egypt. Heralded as one of the original 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, it is also the site of the world-famous limestone leonine statue, The Sphinx.
With the head of a human and the body of a lion, this statue has presided over the desert sands of the Giza Plateau for millennia. It is still mostly intact, despite the ages of exposure to the elements. This historical destination in Egypt is also home to several other ancient tombs and temples. And if you’d like to explore this magnificent country even further, you can find a 15 day Egypt tour package and enjoy exploring the land of the ancients.
Machu Picchu District
Do tales of the Incas inspire you to learn more about these pre-Colombian South American people? Then a visit to the ancient city of Machu Picchu in the Andes mountains region of Peru is a must. Guided tours take place daily and while these treks differ in duration and price, most usually last around 2 hours.
The 15th-century citadel of Machu Picchu is not the only site of interest here. You’ll pass many old villages, farms, and even hot springs along the way. If history and hiking are your passions, this is one for your historical tour bucket list.
Rome
Rome officially became the capital of a unified Italy in 1861. But the name Rome once referred to a vast empire that spread throughout Italy and much of Europe which lasted almost 1500 years. The Vatican is also located here, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, and the home to one of the best museums in Europe.
Historically significant Rome has everything a history lover looks for in a vacation destination. From the infamous Colosseum, a stone and concrete three-story amphitheater built by thousands of slaves to host bloodthirsty games, to the beautiful St. Pauls Basilica.
Rome houses countless ancient monuments, cathedrals, and other heritage sites that exemplify the very worst, and the very best, of human civilization. A private tour of Rome will delight any history fan with historical sites, as well as superb art galleries and museums.
Athens
Like Rome, Athens is certainly not unfamiliar to ancient history enthusiasts. It’s one of the most fascinating places to visit for those with a keen interest in mythology, too. Here you will find the iconic Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and so much more.
While only 21 of Zeus Temple’s once 104 majestic columns still stand, and the white marble exterior of the Parthenon has sustained damage over the ages, they can still be seen today. Athens is a whirlwind of activity, with many daily tours of these historical sites from Greece’s ancient past.
Berlin
The German capital of Berlin is a city that has seen its fair share of controversy. First established in the 14th century, it was the capital of Prussia, in the 19th century, of a unified Germany. But it later played a major role in key world events, particularly during the world wars.
History buffs recognize it instantly as the seat of the famous Reichstag building, and the scene of one of the most divisive structures of the modern era – the Berlin Wall. This latter structure was torn down with the fall of communism in 1989, but remnants are still visible today.
Berlin also features prominently on tours of World War sites and cold-war era underground bunkers. Since the fall of the wall that separated East and West Berlin, the city has become a testament to the power of renewal.
With Germany unified once more, monumental efforts at rebuilding have made the once war-torn city into what it is today, a thriving European capital.
Yucatán
For a glimpse into the pre-Columbian life and times of the Mayan people, head to the Yucatán State in Mexico. There you will find the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. The indigenous Mesoamericanas known as the Mayans were one of the western hemisphere’s greatest civilizations before the Spanish conquests.
They built the Chichen Itza temple complex in honor of their feathered serpentine deity Kukulcan. It is at a stepped temple structure like this, that these people practiced their religious rituals, sometimes including human sacrifices.
You can still see the ruins of Chichen Itza today, and many guided tours and excursions are available.
Mumbai
A visit to the magnificent Elephanta Caves on Gharapuri Island in Mumbai will satisfy any fan of ancient Indian holy sites. These old cave temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have been hewn out of the local rock.
Mumbai is also known for other UNESCO sites, like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as the Victoria Terminus. This historic railway station built in the 1800s is a stunning example of a fusion of Victorian-Italianate-Gothic architectural styles, a remnant of India’s colonial past.
