5 ancient cities buried by nature and natural disaster — Can you visit them today?

Across history, some of the world’s most advanced cities have vanished beneath ash, mud, water, and sediment. Unlike cities destroyed by war, these were overwhelmed by forces far beyond human control, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, rising seas, and shifting rivers. Entire communities were erased in hours or slowly abandoned as landscapes changed around them. Yet the destruction of nature often became the catalyst for the preservation of history. By entombing buildings, roads, artwork, and other artifacts under thick layers of debris, these disasters created archaeological time capsules. Today, these lost cities provide a unique and fascinating look at life in ancient times, and many of them are still accessible to the modern traveler.

Pompeii was a vibrant Roman city with a population of 10,000 to 15,000 people when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE. Within a few hours, the city was buried under several meters of volcanic ash. Roofs caved in, streets were hidden, and inhabitants were interred. What makes Pompeii so remarkable is the extent of its preservation. Houses are filled with wall paintings, mosaics, ovens, amphorae, and even graffiti. Archaeologists later made plaster casts of the spaces in the ash left by decomposed bodies, recreating a chilling last minute in exquisite detail. Pompeii was rediscovered in 1748 and is now one of the most popular archaeological sites in the world. Visitors can walk through the Forum, tour bathhouses and homes, and stand inside an amphitheater that is 2,000 years old, effectively entering a city that was literally frozen in time.

Located closer to Mount Vesuvius than Pompeii, Herculaneum faced a different fate. Instead of gradual ash fall, it was engulfed by superheated pyroclastic flows, fast-moving clouds of gas and volcanic material. The intense heat carbonised organic materials but also preserved them. As a result, Herculaneum offers something Pompeii rarely does: intact wooden doors, furniture, staircases, and even food remains. Multi-story houses still stand, giving visitors a more three-dimensional sense of Roman urban life. The site was rediscovered in the early 18th century. Herculaneum is smaller than Pompeii but is also said to be better preserved. Visitors today can walk through the ruins of the city, its ancient shoreline, and its elaborately decorated villas.

Over 3,500 years ago, one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in the history of mankind hit the island of Santorini. The Bronze Age city of Akrotiri was smothered under thick layers of ash. Akrotiri was an advanced seaport city with multi-story buildings, advanced drainage systems, and vibrant frescoes of ships, animals, and rituals. But what is even more intriguing is the fact that no human bones have been found, which indicates that the inhabitants may have left the city before the eruption, perhaps because of warning tremors. One can view the ruins by walking along elevated walkways.

Unlike cities destroyed by explosive disasters, Pavlopetri gradually disappeared beneath the sea. Located off the coast of southern Greece, it is one of the oldest known submerged cities in the world. Tectonic activity likely caused land subsidence, while rising sea levels completed its submersion. Underwater surveys have revealed streets, courtyards, buildings, and tombs — indicating organised urban planning thousands of years ago. Because it lies in shallow water, parts of the site can be viewed by experienced divers and snorkelers. However, access is controlled to protect the fragile remains. It remains one of the most fascinating examples of how gradual environmental change can erase a city.

Mohenjo-daro was one of the biggest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization. However, it was not destroyed by any natural disaster. Rather, it is believed that the change in the course of the Indus River led to the downfall of this civilization. The river’s sediment covered this ancient city over time. Mohenjo-daro was unearthed in the 1920s. This ancient city had a planned layout with a grid system of roads, uniform bricks, advanced drainage systems, and the Great Bath. This civilization dates back over 4,000 years. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, its ruins are prone to damage from weathering and salinity.