Quick answer: The New Seven Wonders of the World — the Great Wall of China, Petra, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, the Colosseum and the Taj Mahal — are humanity’s most awe-inspiring landmarks, chosen by global vote in 2007. Here’s what each one is, where to find it, the best time to visit, and how to see them all.
The New 7 Wonders of the World
| Wonder | Country | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Great Wall of China | China | Spring & autumn |
| Petra | Jordan | Spring & autumn |
| Christ the Redeemer | Brazil | Apr–Oct (drier) |
| Machu Picchu | Peru | May–Sep (dry) |
| Chichen Itza | Mexico | Nov–Apr |
| Colosseum | Italy | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Taj Mahal | India | Oct–Mar |
The wonders, one by one
Great Wall of China — over 13,000 miles of fortifications; hike a restored section like Mutianyu to beat crowds. Petra — Jordan’s rose-red city carved into cliffs; arrive early for the Treasury at sunrise. Christ the Redeemer — Rio’s 30m Art-Deco statue with sweeping bay views. Machu Picchu — the Inca citadel in the Andes; book timed tickets ahead (see our Machu Picchu itinerary).
Chichen Itza — the Maya pyramid of El Castillo in the Yucatán. Colosseum — Rome’s 2,000-year-old amphitheatre (see our Italy itinerary). Taj Mahal — the white-marble mausoleum in Agra, breathtaking at dawn.
Easiest to combine with a trip
The Colosseum, Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu slot neatly into wider Italy, India and Peru itineraries — three of the most photographed places on earth.
The most adventurous
Petra and the Great Wall reward those who venture further (and arrive at sunrise) with unforgettable, crowd-beating moments.
Ancient & honorable mentions
Of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only the Great Pyramid of Giza still stands — an honorary eighth wonder well worth adding in Egypt.
FAQ
What are the 7 wonders of the world? Great Wall, Petra, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, Colosseum and the Taj Mahal.
Can you visit all 7 wonders? Yes — they span 6 countries; most travellers tick them off across several trips.
Plan with our Machu Picchu and Italy itineraries.
What it costs to get in (2026 prices and hours)
Entry fees for the New 7 Wonders vary wildly, and a few have rules that will ruin your day if you don’t know them in advance. Here’s what each gate actually charges in 2026 for a foreign adult, and when it’s open:
- Machu Picchu (Peru): 152 soles (about $40) for a standard circuit; add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and it jumps to 200 soles (~$53). Open daily; entry is by timed slot, not all-day.
- Taj Mahal (India): 1,100 rupees (~$13) for foreigners, plus 200 rupees to step inside the main mausoleum. Closed every Friday for prayers. Open roughly sunrise to sunset (about 6am-6pm).
- Colosseum (Rome): 18 euros, and that single ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Full Experience tickets (arena floor, underground) run 22-24 euros.
- Petra (Jordan): 50 JOD (~$70) for a one-day visit if you stay a night in Jordan; 90 JOD if you don’t. The Jordan Pass (70-80 JOD) bundles Petra plus your visa fee.
- Christ the Redeemer (Rio): roughly R$100-130 ($18-24), including the cog train or van up Corcovado.
- Chichen Itza (Mexico): 697 pesos (~$40), collected as two separate federal and state fees at the gate.
- Great Wall (China): Mutianyu is 40 yuan (~$6); Badaling is 40 yuan in peak season.
When to actually go (and what to dodge)
Weather and crowds at these sites swing hard by month, and the “high season” is usually exactly when you should not show up. Time your trip around the climate, not the school calendar:
- Machu Picchu: The dry season runs May to October; July and August give the most reliable skies (under 60mm rain, 12-20C) but also the worst crowds. Locals swear by May or October as the sweet spot: green hillsides, dry trails, and visitor numbers well below the June-August peak.
- Petra: Go in spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November). Summer in the desert canyon is brutal; midday heat off the rock makes the long walk to the Monastery genuinely punishing.
- Christ the Redeemer: Rio’s drier, clearer stretch is roughly May to September. The view is the whole point, and the statue vanishes into cloud on humid summer afternoons, so go on a clear morning.
- Taj Mahal: October to March dodges the punishing pre-monsoon heat. A sunrise slot rewards you with soft light and far thinner crowds than midday.
- Great Wall: September-October brings crisp air and autumn color; April-May is the spring alternative. Skip summer haze and the May Day and October national holidays, when domestic crowds are overwhelming.
The booking traps that catch first-timers
More people get burned by logistics than by price at these sites. Several enforce hard daily caps and timed entry that sell out, so “we’ll buy tickets when we arrive” is a recipe for a wasted trip. Plan around these specifics:
- Machu Picchu runs on circuits and time slots. Daily capacity is capped at 4,500 visitors (rising to 5,600 on peak dates like Jun 19-Nov 2). You must pick a numbered circuit and an entry time when you book. Circuit 2 covers the iconic postcard view; Huayna Picchu is limited to just 400 people a day and goes fast.
- The classic Inca Trail is the hardest ticket of all. Only 500 permits per day exist, and barely ~200 go to actual trekkers (the rest are mandatory guides, cooks, and porters). The 2026 season opened for sale in late October 2025; popular May-September dates vanish within hours. Book 6-8 months out. The trail is closed entirely in February.
- The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday, full stop. No exceptions, so never build a Friday into your Agra itinerary. Booking online also shaves 50 rupees off the foreigner fee.
- Colosseum tickets are time-stamped and routinely sell out days ahead in summer; book the official slot in advance rather than queuing.
- Children under 15 enter the Taj Mahal free, and many sites offer steep child and student discounts worth asking about at the window.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.