Ancient sites, artifacts, and structures are usually off-limits to people because of their significant value to our world's history. These places, buildings, and objects are so fragile, we want to protect them from destruction at all costs, which means that many of them are inaccessible to travelers or have strict rules to follow.

However, there are ancient landmarks all over the globe that tourists are actually allowed to access and quite easily. Historical sites like Pompeii, Italy, where the eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried a whole city in ash and pumice, can be freely explored by anyone. In Egypt, tourists are actually allowed to enter the famous Pyramids of Giza and see where ancient Egyptian Pharaohs once ruled.

From ancient Maya ruins throughout Mexico and South America to impressive megalithic stones all across Europe, here are 20 ancient landmarks tourists are actually allowed to access today.

20 Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Is An Ancient Rock Fortress

The people of Sri Lanka admire Sigiriya so much that they have named it the "Eighth Wonder of the World." This ancient fortress is one of the most valuable historical monuments in the country and includes the remains of a ruined palace, vast gardens and an extensive network of fortifications.

19 Pyramids of Giza And Their Elaborate Burial Complexes Are Fascinating

No trip to Egypt is complete without seeing the famous Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Tourists can enter the pyramids and feel like they have traveled back in time and see interesting carvings and hieroglyphics. There is also the Egyptian Museum that houses over 120,000 ancient Egyptian antiquities.

18 The Carnac Stones In France Are A 3,000-Year-Old Mystery

The Carnac Stones are a collection of over 3,000 prehistoric standing stones that unlike England's Stonehenge, are either standing in a pattern or are scattered randomly along this French countryside. What makes these stones even more unique is that there is no real answer as to why they were erected or their purpose.

17 England's Stonehenge Is The World's Most Famous Prehistoric Monument

According to History, Stonehenge is one of the world's most famous prehistoric monuments that consists of a ring of standing stones that took Neolithic builders roughly 1,500 years to erect. While there have been debates as to the purpose of the stones, modern scholars now agree that this site was once a burial ground.

16 Roman Forum In Italy Was A Bustling Ancient Site

In the ancient city of Rome stood a bustling site known as the Roman Forum where many important religious, political and social activities took place. According to History, this was the site where public affairs would be held including elections, criminal trials, public speeches, and even gladiator matches before the Colosseum was built.

15 The Carved Temples Are An Ancient Wonder In Petra, Jordan

Petra is an incredible archaeological site in Jordan that was built in the third century B.C. by the Nabataeans, who carved these awe-inspiring palaces, temples, and tombs from the stone cliffs, explains Lonely Planet. These master builders were extremely skilled in their craft and that is clearly shown by these stone temples that are still perfectly intact today.

14 Takalik Abaj In Guatemala Is Known For Its Olmec-Influenced Sculptures And Structures

The Guatemala site of Takalik Abaj, meaning "standing stones," is very unique because there are distinctive elements of Olmec-influenced sculptures and structures in early Mayan culture. According to Anywhere, in 2002, an intact royal grave thought to be the city's last Mayan ruler was even discovered.

13 Cave of Pettakere In Indonesia Contain Paintings From The Paleolithic

The Pettakere Cave cave is located on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and features 26 primitive stencils of hands which dates back 40,000 years. And, is isn't just one cave, but an entire cave complex that also features figures of animals. People are welcome to visit the cave and see the amazing paintings from the paleolithic.

12 Cradle of Humankind In South Africa Is One Of The World's Most Important Fossil Sites

The Cradle of Humankind is located in South Africa and is one of the world's most important fossil sites that includes the first adult Australopithecus and the first fossils of a very early human called Telanthropus. It also houses the oldest stone tools and a number of cave sites containing fossils of our ancestors and the animals that populated the environment, according to Maropeng.

11 The Nazca Lines In Peru Are Still An Unexplained Mystery

Located about 250 miles south of Lima, Peru, are the Nazca Lines, a collection of giant geoglyphs that have been etched to the ground that depict various plants, animals, and shapes. To really see these impressive 2,000-year-old lines, it's best to view them from above. They are still a puzzling mystery to researches, according to History.

10 Cambodia's Angkor Wat Is The Largest Religious Monument In The World

This Hindu temple complex in Cambodia is impressive and was once the center of the Khmer Empire that once ruled most of Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th century. This is a must-see, with carvings depicting historical events and numerous temples that show the remains of a religious and social metropolis, explains Sacred Sites.

9 The Namib Desert Is At Least 55 Million Years Old

The Namib Desert is the oldest desert in the world and has existed for at least 55 million years. According to New World Encyclopedia, the desert also encompasses the world's highest sand dunes, gravel plains, and rugged mountains. The Namib Desert is known for its private nature reserve, magnificent open spaces, and adventurous safaris.

8 The Lost City Of Caral In Peru Is As Old As The Ancient Pyramids In Egypt

While most tourists flock to Peru to see the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, there is another extremely important site in Peru that needs just as much attention and is actually a lot more ancient. The Lost City of Caral is a 5,000-year-old metropolis complete with six pyramidal structures, temples and an amphitheater that is the first known civilization in the Americas, writes Ancient-Origins.

7 France's Cairn of Barnenez Is One Of The Oldest Structures In The World That's Still Standing

France's Cairn of Barnenez may just look like a pile of stones, but it is actually one of the earliest megalithic monuments in Europe and man-made structures in the world. Barnenez is eight meters high, 25 meters wide and 72 meters long and took about 14,000 tons of stone to build. The structure also contains eleven chambers with separate passages.

6 Travelers Can Visit One Of The Oldest Greek Cities Known As Argos

Argos is an ancient site in the Peloponnese in Greece and was a Mycenaean settlement in the Late Bronze Age. According to Ancient, the site's best-preserved example of ancient Greek architecture is the theater, which was once the largest in the country, with a capacity of 20,000 spectators. Visitors can also find ruins of the Roman baths and visit the Archaeological Museum of Argos to see amazing artifacts.

5 Turkey's Göbekli Tepe Is The Oldest Temple In The World

Göbekli Tepe is one of the most important archaeological discoveries ever made because it is the oldest site of significance created by humans. According to Ranker, this ancient site dates back almost 12,000 years, placing in a time period that is considered pre-civilization. The site predates England's Stonehenge and the era of Sumer, and now tourists are welcomed to visit this important site.

4 Shark Bay, Australia Was Inhabited By Aboriginal People 22,000 Years Ago

Shark Bay is an area in Western Australia with a record of Australian Aboriginal occupation extending to 22,000 years ago. This area is known for its colorful landscapes and is home to numerous plants and animals, including some found nowhere else on Earth. Travelers are welcomed to Shark Bay's natural beauty and biological diversity.

3 Pompeii Was Buried By Mount Vesuvius In Italy

Pompeii is one of the most visited sites of Italy where this once-bustling town met its fate with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 7 A.D. The best way for travelers to view Pompeii is to walk through the persevered streets and see the Roman Forum, the public baths, and ancient roman homes. Before ending the trip, take a look at the still-active volcano that stopped life in the city.

2 The Roman Colosseum Is The Largest Amphitheater Built During The Roman Empire

The Roman Colosseum was built between 72 A.D. and 80 A.D. and was built to seat roughly 80,000 spectators who attended gladiatorial combats, wild animal hunts and even ship naval battles. According to National Geographic Kids, below the Colosseum were numerous rooms and underground passages. While two-thirds of the structure has been destroyed over time, it is still a very popular tourist site.

1 New Discoveries Are Still Being Found in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

This ruined ancient Maya city is one of the most visited sites in Mexico and was the center of pilgrimage for the ancient Mayan civilization over 1,000 years ago, writes On the Go Tours. The step pyramid El Castillo is breathtaking, but the entire complex, including the ball court and Temple of the Warriors, must be seen.