Oldest City in the World, Check the List of Top-10

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a history dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Explore about the top-10 oldest cities of the world in detail through our article.

Akansha Arora Published On October 26th, 2024

Some cities around the world have been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, making them among the oldest known to humanity. These ancient cities have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, cultural changes, and significant historical events, while still remaining vibrant and populated today. Here, we explore some of the world’s oldest cities, each with a rich history and unique stories to tell.

World’s Oldest City

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a history dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Known as the “City of Jasmine,” it was once the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate and remains an important cultural center. Despite suffering damage during the Syrian Civil War, its historic Old City still holds landmarks like the Umayyad Mosque and Saladin’s Mausoleum.

Historical Sites of the Oldest City of the Worl, Damascus

Umayyad Mosque: One of the world’s oldest and largest mosques, famous for its continuous prayer since the rise of Islam, and a shrine believed to house the body of St. John the Baptist. Nearby, the Mausoleum of Saladin commemorates the great Muslim leader.
Citadel of Damascus: Located at the Old City’s northwest corner, this ancient fortress is a significant historic structure.
Straight Street (Via Recta): The city’s ancient Roman east-west street, mentioned in the Bible’s account of St. Paul’s conversion. It consists of Bab Sharqi Street, leading to the Christian quarter, and Souk Medhat Pasha, a covered market.
Bab Tuma: Known as St. Thomas’s Gate, this historic gateway leads to the old Christian district and houses landmarks like St. George’s Cathedral, the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque: A shrine for the youngest daughter of Husayn ibn Ali, near the Umayyad Mosque.
House of Ananias: A chapel beneath the old city, traditionally thought to be the cellar of Ananias, associated with St. Paul’s early Christian experiences.

Top-10 Oldest Cities in the World

Damascus of Syrus, with a history dating back to 11,000 years old, holds the title of the oldest city in the world, followed by Aleppo, Byblos, and Argos.

Here is the list of top-10 oldest cities in the world:

Oldest Cities in the World
Rank	City	Country	Age (years old)	Description
1.	Damascus	Syria	11,000	Oldest continuously inhabited city, dating back to the second half of the seventh millennium B.C. Named the Arab Capital of Culture in 2008. A cultural hub of the Arab world.
2.	Aleppo	Syria	8,000	Capital of Aleppo Governorate, continuously inhabited for over 8,000 years. Located between the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia, it became an important trading hub. Facing conflict since 2012.
3.	Byblos	Lebanon	7,000	Located 42 km north of Beirut, believed to be first occupied by humans between 8800 and 7000 BC. A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its archaeological layers from centuries of habitation.
4.	Argos	Greece	7,000	City in Argolis, Peloponnese, remained neutral throughout history, including the Greco-Persian Wars. Home to numerous ancient monuments.
5.	Athens	Greece	7,000	Capital of Greece, inhabited since the 11th-7th millennium BC. Birthplace of Western civilization, known for its philosophical history. Oldest capital city in Europe.
6.	Susa	Iran	6,300	Ancient city of the Proto-Elamite and a significant city in the Ancient Near East. Located near the Tigris River, it was destroyed and rebuilt before flourishing under the Persian Empire.
7.	Erbil	Iraqi Kurdistan	6,000	Inhabited by Persians, Greeks, Romans, Mongols, and Ottoman Turks. Home to the Erbil Citadel, an ancient structure dating back to 2,000 B.C., and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
8.	Sidon	Lebanon	6,000	One of the most important Phoenician cities, known for glass production and shipbuilding. Third-largest city in Lebanon, located in the South Governorate.
9.	Plovdiv	Bulgaria	6,000	Second-largest city in Bulgaria, with a history spanning over six millennia. Important hub for Persians, Thracians, Macedonians, and Ottomans.
10.	Varanasi	India	5,000	Oldest city in India and birthplace of Hinduism. Located on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, it attracts Hindu pilgrims for religious rituals.