Cities have existed since humans first settled down to plant wheat, but not every place survived the passing centuries. Some flourished only to fade into the sands of time. Yet there are cities that have remained continuously inhabited since antiquity, turning into open-air museums of human history. From the deserts of the Middle East to the river valleys of South Asia, these 20 cities rank among the world’s oldest still-inhabited places.
#1: Jericho, West Bank (Palestine)
Often called the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city, Jericho’s origins date back to around 9,000 BCE. Archaeologists uncovered ancient walls and evidence of farming, making it a cradle of early civilization. Despite millennia of conquests, wars, and rebuilding, Jericho endures—a small but powerful reminder of humanity’s first steps into urban life.
