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List of oldest continuously inhabited cities

This is a list of present-day cities by the time period over which they have been continuously inhabited as a city. The age claims listed are generally disputed. Differences in opinion can result from different definitions of "city" as well as "continuous habitation" and historical evidence is often disputed. Caveats (and sources) to the validity of each claim are discussed in the "Notes" column.

Africa

Northern Africa and the Horn

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
Girga (as Thinis)Ancient Egypt  Egyptc. 3273 BCSettlement served as the capital of the first Pharaoh of Egypt, Narmer (c. 3273–2987 BC)[1]
Faiyum (as Shedet)Ancient Egypt  Egyptc. 2181 BCSettlement established by the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BC)[1]
Luxor (as Waset, better known by its Greek name Thebes)Ancient Egypt  Egyptc. 2150 BCFirst established as capital of Upper Egypt, Thebes later became the religious capital of the nation until its decline in the Roman period.
Aswan (as Swenett)Ancient Egypt  Egyptc. 650 BCGained prominence in the Late Period (664–332 BC).[2]
Benghazi (as Euesperides)Cyrenaica  Libyac. 525 BCFounded in the 5th century BC, by the Greeks.[3]
AksumKingdom of Axum  Ethiopiac. 400 BCAncient capital of the Kingdom of Axum.[4]
AlexandriaAncient Egypt  Egypt332 BCFounded by Alexander the Great on the town of Rhacotis, which dates back to the Old Kingdom[5][6]
Zeila (as Avalites)Bilad al-Barbar  Somaliac. 100 ADMajor trading city in the Horn of Africa.[7]

Sub-Saharan

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
GaoGao Empire, Songhai Empire  Malic.600 ADGao-Saney called al-kawkaw, Gaw-Gaw[8] by ancient Arab chroniclers is the first site of Gao, founded in the 7th century, it was the capital of the Gao Empire of Za Dynasty.[9]

A marble palace, stelae, houses and cemeteries dating from this period were discovered by archaeologists.[10][11][12]The current Gao built on a site near Gao-Saney was the capital of the largest contiguous land Empire of Songhai (1464-1591,[13] destroyed during the invasion of Songhai by the Saadians it is today the regional capital of the Gao regions in Mali.in Gao is the pyramidal Tomb of Askia where is buried the emperor Askia the Great of Songhai.[14]

Benin CityKingdom of Benin  Nigeriac. 1000 ADCity of Benin, the oldest city in Nigeria.
AgadezSonghai Empire  Niger11th century ADFounded in the 11th century, Agadez was an important stop for caravans crossing the Saharan Desert for centuries. Agadez was captured by the Songhai empire in 1515, and controlled by Bornu in the 17th century.[15]
KanoKingdom of Kano  Nigeria11th century ADThe foundation for the construction of Kano City Walls was laid by Sakri Gijimasu at some point between 1095 and 1134, and was completed in the middle of the 14th century during the reign of Usman Zamnagawa.[16]
TimbuktuMali Empire, Songhai Empire  Mali11th century ADSettled by Tuareg traders as an outpost, its incorporation into the Mali Empire and Songhai, Mande, and Soninke settlement from the 13th century rapidly developed the town.[17]
M'banza-KongoKongo Empire  Angolac. 1390 ADCapital of the Kongo Empire, already organized as a city before the arrival of the Portuguese.[18]
Cidade Velha (as Ribeira Grande)Santiago Island  Cape Verde1462 ADThe first European settlement in Sub Saharian Africa.[19]
Luanda (as São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda)Portuguese Empire  Angola1576 ADFounded by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais on 25 January 1576 as "São Paulo da Assumpção de Loanda".[20]
LagosKingdom of Benin  Nigeria16th century ADInitially established as a war camp for soldiers from the Kingdom of Benin.[21]
OuidahKingdom of Whydah  Benin16th century ADThe primary port of the Kingdom of Whydah, originally called Glehue by the Fon inhabitants. The town was conquered by the Kingdom of Dahomey in the 18th century and eventually exported more than 1 million slaves.[22]
AntananarivoMerina Kingdom  Madagascar1610 AD[23] or 1625 AD[24]Founded by the Merina King Andrianjaka, it is the oldest city in Madagascar.
Cape TownDutch East India Company  South Africa1652 ADFounded by Dutch settlers from Dutch East India Company and is the oldest city in South Africa.

Americas

North America

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
CholulaOld Cholula  Mexicoc. 1000[25] – c. 500 BC[26][need quotation to verify]Pre-Columbian Cholula grew from a small village to a regional center during the 7th century. The city was the site of the Massacre of Cholula during the military campaign of Hernán Cortés.
FloresMaya civilisation, then New Spain  Guatemala900–600 BC[27]Formerly Nojpetén, the capital of the Itza kingdom, it has been occupied continuously since prehispanic times.[28] Earliest archaeological traces date back to 900–600 BC, with major expansion of the settlement occurring around 250–400 AD.[29] Ethnohistoric documents claim the founding of Nojpetén in the mid-15th century AD.[30]
IzamalMaya civilisation, then New Spain  Mexico700–450 BC[31]Also known as the Yellow City. Small city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, 72 kilometres east of state capital Mérida. Izamal is an important archaeological site of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Continuously occupied until the Spanish Conquest. The most important pre-Hispanic constructive activity occurred during the early and late classical periods. It was partially abandoned with the rise of a group that hailed from Chichen Itza, probably around the final classical period (800–1000 AD).
Monte Albán-Zaachila-Oaxaca CityZapotec civilisation (Otomí people), Mixtec civilisation (Otomí people)  Mexicoc. 500 BC[32][better source needed][33][failed verification]The valley of modern Oaxaca City, founded by the Spanish in 1532, has been continuously inhabited by the Oto-Manguean peoples of Mesoamerica since ancient times. The outskirts of Oaxaca City host the ruins of Monte Albán, once the capital of the Zapotecs for around 1000 years. Although Monte Albán proper was abandoned around 1000 AD, the city of Zaachila next to it rose in its place and was continuously inhabited until the arrival of Europeans.
Toluca-CalixtlahuacaOtomí peoples  Mexicoc. 400 – c. 200 BC[34][35]Toluca, in the State of Mexico, has been continuously inhabited at least since the 8th century BC.[36][dubious – discuss] The oldest sedentary remains (Calixtlahuaca) date from around the 600 BC to 400 BC.[citation needed]
Papantla / El TajínTotonac people  Mexicoc. 1st century AD[37][need quotation to verify]The town of Papantla in the state of Veracruz was founded by the Totonac people around the 13th century AD.[38] The neighboring monumental city of El Tajín was settled around the 1st century AD[39][37] until it was destroyed around the same time Papantla was founded.[37][38]
OraibiPuebloan peoples  United Statesc. 1100 AD[40]
Cuernavaca (Cuauhnahuac)-TeopanzolcoNahuan peoples  Mexicoc. 1200 AD[41]Founded by the Nahuatl-speaking people of the Valley of Mexico with the name Cuauhnahuac. The ruins of Teopanzolco, now in downtown Cuernavaca, are thought to be the downtown of Cuauhnahuac, which was sieged and occupied by the Spanish in 1521, who renamed it to Cuernavaca.
TucsonHohokam  United Statesc. 1300 AD[42]Hohokam village founded at the base of Sentinel Peak, later Tohono O'odam. Afterwards, became a Spanish presidio.[43]
Mexico CityMexica culture (Nahuan peoples)  Mexico1325 ADFounded as twin cities Tenōchtitlān (1325) and Tlāltelōlco (1337) by the Mexica. Name changed to Ciudad de México (Mexico City) after the Spanish conquest of the city in 1521. Several other pre-Columbian towns such as Azcapotzalco, Tlatelolco, Xochimilco and Coyoacán have been engulfed by the still growing metropolis and are now part of modern Mexico City. Oldest capital city in the Americas.
Santo DomingoNew Spain  Dominican Republic1496 ADOldest European settlement in the New World.
San JuanNew Spain  Puerto Rico1508 ADOldest continuously inhabited city in a U.S. territory.
Nombre de Dios, ColónNew Spain  Panama1510 ADOldest continuously inhabited European settlement in continental America.
BaracoaNew Spain  Cuba1511 ADOldest European settlement in Cuba.
HavanaNew Spain  Cuba1519 ADOldest major city in Cuba, established 1515, granted city status in 1592 by Philip II of Spain as "Key to the New World and Rampart of the West Indies".
VeracruzNew Spain  Mexico1519 AD[44]The actual location of the settlement known as Veracruz changed multiple times. Originally established by Hernán Cortés in April 1519 – near where he made landfall[a] – as the Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz,[b] it was moved within a month to Totonac Quiahuiztlan. This location lay further inland and required a long overland trek from the port at San Juan de Ulúa to unload cargo, due to which the settlement was again moved in 1525, this time to the present-day location of La Antigua. Veracruz remained there until 1599, when pressure from mercantile elites in Seville, Mexico City, and Puebla de los Ángeles to relocate the settlement closer to the port to speed and secure trade caused it to be refounded at its present location as Nuevo Veracruz.[44]
Panama CityCueva Civilisation. After European colonisation: New Spain  Panama1519 AD[45]Oldest European settlement on the Pacific.
TaxcoNew Spain  Mexico1529 AD[46][better source needed]
CompostelaNew Spain  Mexico1530 AD[47][better source needed]
QuerétaroNew Spain, Otomi people, Purépecha people  Mexico1531 AD[48]
PueblaNew Spain  Mexico1531 AD[49]
TepicNew Spain  Mexico1531 AD[50][better source needed]
CuliacánNew Spain  Mexico1531 AD[51][better source needed]
CampecheNew Spain  Mexico1540 AD[52]
MoreliaNew Spain  Mexico1541 AD[53]
GuadalajaraNew Spain  Mexico1542 AD[54][better source needed]
Mérida (previously known as T'ho by the Mayan)Maya civilization, New Spain  Mexico1542 AD (as the Spanish city)[55]
ZacatecasNew Spain  Mexico1548 AD[56][better source needed]
GuanajuatoNew Spain  Mexico1548 AD[57][better source needed]
AcapulcoNew Spain  Mexico1550 AD[58]
CartagoNew Spain  Costa Rica1563 ADOldest continuously inhabited European established settlement in Costa Rica.
St. AugustineNew Spain  United States1565 ADOldest continuously inhabited European-founded city of the current 50 U.S. states.
Santa FeNew Spain  United States1607 ADOldest continuously inhabited state or territorial capital in the continental United States.
Quebec CityNew France  Canada1608 ADOldest city in Canada and oldest French-speaking city in the Americas.
HopewellVirginia Company  United States1613 ADFounded as Bermuda City in 1613 and later known as City Point, Virginia, this location has undergone several name changes but has remained continuously inhabited.
AlbanyNew Netherlands  United States1614 ADFollowed by Jersey City, New Jersey (Communipaw) in 1617 and New York City (as New Amsterdam) in 1624. (Note: While there was an abandonment in 1617 or 1618 of the Albany settlement, it was re-established within a few years; also, the Jersey City settlement was a factorij or trading post in the 1610s and did not become a "homestead" (bouwerij) until the 1630s. Settlements in New Netherlands sometimes moved around in the early years.)
PlymouthPlymouth Colony  United States1620 ADFourth-oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the United States[59]
New York CityNew Amsterdam  United States1624 ADFounded in 1624 as New Amsterdam. Was renamed New York City in 1667. Is the 12th oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States [60]
BostonMassachusetts Bay Colony  United Statesc. 1625 ADSettled in 1625 and established in 1630, the city of Boston, Massachusetts, was established as the capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on the Shawmut Peninsula. It is one of the oldest major cities of the United States. Boston was a key city in the early American Revolution against the British Empire, eventually becoming the first city free of British rule in the United States. Boston is still one of the wealthiest and most important cities in the United States.
St. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland Colony  Canadac. 1630 ADSome claims [citation needed] to being the oldest city in Canada. Incorporated in 1883; inhabited continuously since sometime after 1630.
Saint JohnNew France  Canada1631 ADOldest incorporated city in Canada.
Trois-RivièresNew France  Canada1634 ADFourth-oldest city in Canada.
MontrealNew France  Canada1642 ADFifth-oldest city in Canada.
Sault Ste. MarieNew France  Canada1668 ADA single settlement until 1817, when it was divided into Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States. The latter is the oldest European-founded city in the Midwestern United States and third-oldest US city west of the Appalachian Mountains.
PhiladelphiaProvince of Pennsylvania  United States1681 ADIn 1681, King Charles II gave William Penn a large piece of his newly acquired American land holdings to repay a debt the king owed to Admiral Sir William Penn, Penn's father. Afterwards, Penn founded Philadelphia with a core group of accompanying Quakers and others seeking religious freedom on lands he purchased from the local chieftains of the Lenape or Delaware nation.[61]
NatchitochesNew France  United States1699 ADNatchitoches was established in 1714 by French explorer Louis Juchereau de St. Denis. It is the oldest permanent European settlement within the borders of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.[62] Natchitoches was founded as a French outpost on the Red River for trade with Spanish-controlled Mexico; French traders settled there as early as 1699.
DetroitNew France  United States1701 ADFirst European settlement above tidewater in North America.
San AntonioNew Spain  United States1718 ADFounded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost in 1718, the city in 1731 became the first chartered civil settlement in what is now present-day Texas.
New OrleansNew France  United States1718 ADJean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville in 1718 upon the slightly elevated banks of the Mississippi River approximately 95 miles (153 km) above its mouth.[citation needed]
WinnipegBritish America  Canada1738 ADFounded as Fort Rouge. Oldest city in the Canadian Prairies.
CharlotteProvince of North Carolina  United States1768 ADArea said to have been pre-colonially settled by the Catawba tribe with records dating back to 1567.
San DiegoNew Spain  United States1769 ADBirthplace of California and oldest city on the West Coast of the United States.
TorontoUpper Canada  Canada1793 ADFounded as York, Upper Canada.
VictoriaColony of Vancouver Island  Canada1843 ADOldest city on the West Coast of Canada.

South America

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
CuscoInca Empire  Peruc. 1100 AD [dubious – discuss]The Killke occupied the region from 900 to 1200, prior to the arrival of the Incas in the 13th century. Carbon-14 dating of Sacsayhuamán, the walled complex outside Cusco, has demonstrated that the Killke culture constructed the fortress about 1100.[63]
QuitoQuitu culture  Ecuador15th century AD[64]
CumanáNew Granada  Venezuela1515 ADOldest continuously inhabited, European-established settlement in the continent.
Santa MartaNew Granada  Colombia1525 ADOldest still-inhabited city founded by Spaniards in Colombia.
São Vicente, São PauloGovernorate General of Brazil  Brazil1532 ADFirst Portuguese village in South America.
PiuraPeru  Peru1532 ADOldest European-founded city in Peru.[65]
LimaPeru  Peru1535 ADSecond-oldest continuously inhabited European-settled capital city in South America. The oldest being Quito.
Vila Velha, Espírito SantoGovernorate General of Brazil  Brazil1535 ADSecond-oldest continuously inhabited Portuguese-settled village in South America. The oldest being São Vicente.
CaliNew Granada  Colombia1536 ADOn 25 July 1536 Belalcázar founded Santiago de Cali, first established a few kilometres north of the present location, near what are now the towns of Vijes and Riofrío.
AsuncionViceroyalty of Rio de la Plata  Paraguay1537 ADJuan de Salazar y Espinoza, traversing the Paraguay River on his way from Buenos Aires, stopped briefly at a bay in the left bank to resupply his ships. He found the natives friendly, and decided to found a fort there in August 1537. He named it Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción (Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption – the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption on August 15).
BogotáNew Granada  Colombia1540 ADThe name of Bogotá, is derived from Bacatá, an indigenous area inhabitanted by the native Muisca encompassing what is presently the Colombian capital.
SantiagoCaptaincy General of Chile  Chile1541 ADOldest continuously inhabited European established settlement in Chile.
SalvadorGovernorate General of Brazil  Brazil1549 ADFirst city founded by Portuguese, and first capital of Brazil
Santiago del EsteroRío de la Plata  Argentina1553 ADOldest continuously inhabited city in Argentina.

Asia

Central and South Asia

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
MultanPunjab  Pakistan3000–2800 BC[66]Perhaps the oldest city in Central and South Asia. Also known as Mulasthana or Kashyapapura, this city was founded by Kashyapa, according to Hindu Puranas.[67] The region is home to numerous archaeological sites dating to the era of the Early Harappan period of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
KandaharArachosia  Afghanistan3000–1500 BC[68]Perhaps the oldest city in Afghanistan. Mundigak is an important archeological site and is located in the present day Kandahar Province.[69]
BalkhBactria  Afghanistan2000-1000 BC[70]It was considered a major stop on the Silk Road as well as the birthplace of Zoroastrianism and was a major hub for Buddhism. Arab conquerors have called it Umm-al-belad, mother of cities.
DelhiIndraprastha  India1200–900 BC[71][72][73]Established as the ancient city of Indraprastha, the later capital of the Kuru empire (after Hastinapura) by the ruling Kuru dyansty, around 12th-9th BCE over the Upper Ganges-Yamuna doabs of Northern India.
VaranasiKashi  Indiac. 1200 BC[74][75]Oldest continuously inhabited city in India. Finds its mention in Ancient Vedas.
SayramTransoxiana  Kazakhstan1000 BC[76]Oldest continuously inhabited city in Kazakhstan. The city of Sayram is believed by some historians to have been mentioned in the Avesta, with Sairima possibly meaning Sayram. Evidence of an early plumbing system has been found around Sayram and Transoxiana.
DushanbeAchaemenid  Tajikistan1000 BC[77]Bronze Age burials were discovered dating from the end of the second to the beginning of the first millennium BC. Achaemenid dishes and ceramics were found 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) east of Dushanbe in Qiblai, as the city was controlled by the Achaemenids from the sixth century BC.[78]
SamarkandSogdia  Uzbekistan800–500 BC[79]Oldest continuously inhabited city in Uzbekistan.
UjjainMalwa  Indiac. 600 BC[80]Rose to prominence in c. 600 BC as capital of Avanti.[citation needed]
PeshawarGandhara  Pakistan539 BC[81]One of the oldest cities of Pakistan.
BukharaSogdia  Uzbekistanc. 500 BC[82]
Patna (Pataliputra)Haryanka dynasty of Magadha  India490 BCThe city of Pataliputra was formed by fortification of a village by Haryanka ruler Ajatashatru, son of Bimbisara.
Sialkot (Sagala)Punjab  Pakistan4th century BCThe first record of Sialkot dates from the invasion of Alexander the Great, who conquered upper Punjab in 326 BCE.[83]
AnuradhapuraKingdom of Rajarata  Sri Lanka4th century BC[84]
MaduraiPandyan Kingdom  India3rd century BCCarbon dating evidences of artefacts found at Vaigai Civilisation are found to be from 3rd century BCE [85]Megasthenes may have visited Madurai during the 3rd century BC, with the city referred as "Methora" in his accounts.[86] The view is contested by some scholars who believe "Methora" refers to the north Indian city of Mathura, as it was a large and established city in the Mauryan Empire.[87]
TiruchirappalliChola  IndiaAt least from 200 BCE.Currently a major city in Tamil Nadu
GuwahatiPragjyotishpura  India2nd century BCThe Ambari excavations trace the time period of the city of Guwahati between the 2nd century BCE and the 1st century CE, in the Shunga-Kushana period of Indian history.[88]
BamyanBactria  Afghanistan1st century AD
LahorePunjab  Pakistanc. 1-7th century ADThe origin of Lahore can be traced back somewhere between 1st and 7th centuries A.D.[89] One of the oldest cities of South Asia. The first document that mentions Lahore by name is the Hudud al-'Alam ("The Regions of the World"), written by an unknown author in 982 AD.
Kathmandu-Lalitpur, NepalNepal  Nepal2nd century ADThe epigraphically attested history of Kathmandu valley begins in the 2nd century.

East Asia

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
Yanshi, Henan (Erlitou Site)Xia dynasty  Chinac. 1900 BC [90]
Luoyang (as Xibo, Luoyi, Zhongguo, Henan, Dongdu, Shendu)Shang dynasty  Chinac. 1600 BC [91]
HandanJin, Zhao  Chinac. 1080 BC [92]
Beijing (as Ji, Youzhou, Fanyang, Yanjing, Zhongdu, Dadu)Ji, Yan  Chinac. 1045 BCPaleolithic Homo sapiens lived in the caves from about 27,000 to 10,000 years ago.[93]
Zibo (as Yingqiu, Linzi, Qiling, Zichuan, Boping)Qi  Chinac. 1045 BC [94]The Lord of Qi, Jiang Ziya, set the capital of his manor at Yingqiu(营丘), which is today's Linzi District.
Jingzhou (as Jinan, Yingdu, Jiangling, Jingsha, Nanjun)Chu  Chinac. 689 BC [95]
Weinan (as Dongfu)Qin  Chinac. 668 BC
Hefei (as Luyi, Ruyin, Luzhou, Hezhou, Lujiang)Zhou dynasty  Chinac. 650 BCThe Viscount of Lu was asked to set the capital of his manor at Luyi(庐邑), which is in the north of today's downtown Hefei.
Suzhou (as Gusu, Wu, Pingjiang)Wu  China514 BC
Taiyuan (as Jinyang)Jin  Chinac. 497 BC
Nanjing (as Yecheng, Moling, Jianye, Jiankang, Jinling, Yingtian, Jiangning)Wu  Chinac. 495 BCFu Chai, Lord of the State of Wu, founded a fort named Yecheng (冶城) in today's Nanjing area.
ChengduShu  Chinac. 400 BCThe 9th Kaiming king of the ancient Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's nearby Pixian.
Changsha (as Linxiang, Xiangzhou, Tanzhou, Tianlin)Chu  Chinac. 365 BC
Kaifeng (as Daliang, Bianzhou, Dongjing, Bianjing)Wei  Chinac. 364 BCThe State of Wei founded a city called Daliang (大梁) as its capital in this area.
ChongqingBa  Chinac. 316 BC
Liaoyang (as Xiangping, Changping, Liaodong, Pingzhou, Liaozhou, Dongdu, Dongjing)Yan  Chinac. 279 BC
Guangzhou (as Panyu)Qin dynasty  China214 BC[96][97]Some traditional Chinese histories placed Nanwucheng's founding during the reign of Ji Yan,[98][99] king of Zhou from 314 to 256 BC. It was said to have consisted of little more than a stockade of bamboo and mud.[100][99]
Hangzhou (as Lin'an, Yuhang, Qiantang)Qin dynasty  Chinac. 200 BCThe city of Hangzhou was founded about 2,200 years ago during the Qin dynasty.
KashgarShule Kingdom  China2nd century BCThe city of Kashgar was the capital of the Iranic Shule Kingdom and served as a major hub of the Silk Road.[101]
Pyeongyang (as Wanggeom-seong)Gojoseon  North Korea194 BCBuilt as the capital city of Gojoseon in 194 BC.
GyeongjuSilla  South Korea57 BCBuilt as the capital city of Silla in 57 BC.
Seoul (as Wiryeseong)Baekje  South Korea18 BCBuilt as the capital city of Baekjae in 18 BC.
Osaka (as Osumi)Japan  Japan390 ADIt was inhabited as early at the 6th–5th centuries BC, and became a port city during the Kofun period. It temporarily served as the capital of Japan from 645 to 655.
Nara (as Heijō)Japan  Japan708 ADBuilt in 708 and became the capital city in 710 as Heijō-kyō.
Kyoto (as Heian, and sometimes known in the west as Miyako)Japan  Japan710 ADShimogamo Shrine was built in the 6th century, but the city was officially founded as Heian in 710 and became the capital city in 794 as Heian-kyō.

Southeast Asia

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
HanoiÂu Lạc  Vietnam257 BCIn 257 BC, after defeating the last Hùng king, An Dương Vương merged Văn Lang and Nam Cương in to Âu Lạc and set the capital at Cổ Loa citadel, nowadays Đông Anh district of Hanoi. It was also mentioned as Tống Bình in 454 AD and the Đại La citadel was built in 767 during the reign of Emperor Daizong of Tang. Ly Cong Uan then renamed it Thăng Long in 1010.
HuếLâm Ấp  Vietnam1st century ADHuế was built under the name Kandarpapura and used for about 1 century from the beginning of the 4th century to the end of the 4th century (after 380) during the period when Hinayana Buddhism (Thevarada) and Hinduism heavily influenced Lâm Ấp.[102][103]
PyayPyu city-states  Myanmar638 ADMuch debate surrounds the construction of Sri Ksetra. Htin Aung suggests that Pyu might have been founded in 78 CE, based on the Sanskrit / Pyu Era. D. G. E. Hall and Gordon Luce, however, claim that civilisation of the Irrawaddy Valley could not have been possible before the 4th century, thus, attributing the founding of Sri Ksetra to 638, from which the current Burmese Kawza Era begins.
PalembangSrivijaya  Indonesia683 AD[104]Believed to be the oldest city in the Malay realm, capital of the Srivijaya empire. According to Kedukan Bukit inscription[104] Jayanasa established Srivijaya kingdom in Palembang area.
Luang PrabangMuang Sua  Laos698 AD
YogyakartaMataram Kingdom  Indonesia732 AD[105]The historic realm of Mataram of Southern Central Java region, which corresponds to today Yogyakarta city and its surrounding has its root in 8th century Mataram Kingdom. According to Canggal inscription dated 732, the area traditionally known as "Mataram" became the capital of the Medang Kingdom, identified as Mdang i Bhumi Mataram established by King Sanjaya.[105] The city reestablished again as the capital of Mataram Sultanate in 1587, and Yogyakarta Sultanate in 1755.
MalangKanjuruhan Kingdom  Indonesia740 ADAccording to Dinoyo inscription, Malang in the past known as Kanjuruhan kingdom and badut temple dated 740 AD but the city itself established older than the temple and inscription. Today Malang Raya or Malang city is the 2nd largest city and metro area in east Java.
Nakhon Si ThammaratTambralinga  Thailand775 ADAn inscription was found at Wat Sema Muang that bore: The king of Srivijaya "had established a foothold on the Malay Peninsula at Ligor" by 775, where he "built various edifices, including a sanctuary dedicated to the Buddha and to the Bodhisattvas Padmapani and Vajrapani."[106]: 84–85, 91 
Siem ReapKhmer Empire  Cambodia801 AD[107]Capital of the Khmer Empire.
LamphunHariphunchai  Thailand896 AD
MagelangMataram  Indonesia907 ADMagelang was established on 11 April 907. Magelang was then known as a village called Mantyasih, which is now known as Meteseh.[108]
Hưng YênTĩnh Hải quân  Vietnam966 ADSet as the temporary capital of area controlled by warlord Phạm Bạch Hổ during the Anarchy of the 12 Warlords
Hoa LưĐại Cồ Việt  Vietnam968 ADAfter reunifying Vietnam and ending the anarchy of the 12 warlords, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh was crowned Emperor of Đại Cồ Việt and set the capital at Hoa Lư, Ninh Bình. The city lies in a mountainous area and had a defensive position that contributed to the victory of Đại Cồ Việt against the Song dynasty of China.
Bandar Seri BegawanPo-ni and Bruneian Empire  Brunei977 AD[109]Oldest city in Borneo.
ButuanRajahnate of Butuan  Philippines1001 AD[110][111]Oldest continuously inhabited city in Mindanao.
Bắc NinhĐại Cồ Việt  Vietnam1009 ADIn 1009, Cổ Pháp village was converted into the city of Thiên Đức, nowadays Bắc Ninh city.
KediriKediri Kingdom  Indonesia1042 AD[112]Along with changes in name, it is essentially a union of the two capitals of Panjalu Kingdom and Janggala Kingdom. The settlements are always interspersed along both banks of Brantas River. Administratively, the Government of Indonesia divides Kediri into two political entities, Kediri Regency and the Town of Kediri which is located in the middle of the regency. Nevertheless, archaeological remains exist beyond administrative boundaries and settlements often spread disregarding administrative boundaries between both entities.
YangonKonbaung dynasty  Myanmar1043 AD[113]Yangon was founded as Dagon in the early 11th century (circa 1028–1043) by the Mon but was renamed to "Yangon" after King Alaungpaya conquered Dagon.
SurabayaJanggala Kingdom  Indonesia1045 AD[114]: 147 

The port city of Janggala or Hujung Galuh was one of the two Javanese capital city that was formed when Airlangga abdicated his throne in 1045 in favour of his two sons.[114]: 147  The Kingdom of Janggala comprised the northeastern part of the Kingdom of Kahuripan. The other Kingdom was Kediri. Derived its name from the words "suro" (shark) and "boyo" (crocodile), two creatures which are in a local myth.[115]

SingaporeKingdom of Singapura  Singapore1170 AD[116]
SukhothaiLavo Kingdom  Thailand1180 AD
SinghapalaRajahnate of Cebu  Philippinesc. 1300 AD[117][118]Ancient city founded by Sri Rajahmura Lumaya or Sri Lumay, a half Tamil Chola prince.[119] Now part of Barangay Mabolo in Northern district of Cebu City.[117][118]
Banda AcehAceh Sultanate  Indonesia1205 AD

Originally named Kutaraja, which means "City of the King".

ManilaTondo and Rajahnate of Maynila  Philippines1258 AD[120]A settlement in the Manila area already existed by the year 1258. This settlement was ruled by Rajah Avirjirkaya whom described as a "Majapahit Suzerain". This settlement was attacked by a Bruneian commander named Rajah Ahmad, who defeated Avirjirkaya and established Manila as a "Muslim principality".[120] By 1570, when the Spanish, led by Miguel López de Legazpi, arrived, it was still inhabited and led by at least one Lakan and several Rajahs.
Nam ĐịnhĐại Việt  Vietnam1262 ADIn 1262, Tức Mặc village was converted into the city of Thiên Trường, nowadays Nam Định city.
Chiang RaiNgoenyang  Thailand1262 AD
Chiang MaiLanna Kingdom  Thailand1294 AD or 1296 ADMangrai founded Chiang Mai in 1294[121] or 1296[122]: 209  on a site that the Lawa people called Wiang Nopburi.[123][124]
TaungooPagan Kingdom  Myanmar1279 ADTaungoo was founded in 1279 in the waning days of Pagan as part of frontier expansion southwards.
SagaingSagaing Kingdom  Myanmar1315 ADSagaing was the capital of Sagaing Kingdom (1315-1364), one of the minor kingdoms that rose up after the fall of Pagan dynasty, where one of Thihathu's sons, Athinkhaya, established himself.[106]: 227 
AyutthayaAyutthaya Kingdom  Thailand1350 AD

Derived its name from the holy Hindu city of Ayodhya, it was the capital city of Siam from 1350 until 1767.

MuarMajapahit  Malaysia1361 AD[125]
Phnom PenhKhmer Empire  Cambodia1372 AD[126]
MalaccaMalacca Sultanate  Malaysia1396[127]
BangkokAyutthaya Kingdom  ThailandEarly 15th century ADThe history of Bangkok dates at least back to the early 15th century, when it was a village on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, under the rule of Ayutthaya.[128]
Hải DươngĐại Việt  Vietnam1469 AD[129]
Hội AnĐại Việt  Vietnam1471 AD[130]
BogorSunda Kingdom  Indonesia1482 AD

Middle East

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
BeirutLevant  Lebanon3000 BC[131]
ByblosLevant  Lebanonc. 3000 BC[132]Settled from the Neolithic (carbon-dating tests have set the age of earliest settlement around 7000 BC[133]), a city since the 3rd millennium BC.[134][132] Byblos had a reputation as the "oldest city in the world" in Antiquity (according to Philo of Byblos).
DamascusLevant  Syriac. 3000 BCExcavations on the outskirts of the city have revealed evidence of inhabitation as early as 8000 to 10000 BC, with inhabitation attested to since 3000 BC.[135][136][137]
JerusalemLevantClaimed by
Israel and Palestine, and controlled by the former		c. 3000 BC[138][139]The Execration Texts (c. 19th century BC), which refer to a city called rwš3lmm, variously transcribed as Rušalimum/Urušalimum/Rôsh-ramen[140][141] and the Amarna letters (c. 14th century BC) may be the earliest mention of the city.[142][143] Nadav Na'aman argues its fortification as the centre of a kingdom dates to around the 18th century BC.[144]
TyreLevant  Lebanon2750 BC[145]
TarsusAnatolia  Turkeyc. 2500 BC[146]Prehistoric development of Tarsus reaches back to the Neolithic Period.
JeninLevant Palestinec. 2450 BCJenin's history goes back to 2450 BC, when it was built by the Canaanites. After 1244, Jenin flourished economically because of its location on the trade route, until a major earthquake completely destroyed the city.
ErbilMesopotamia  Iraq (Kurdistan Region)3300 BC[147]The Citadel of Erbil is a fortified settlement in Erbil, Iraq. The city corresponds to the ancient Assyrian city of Arbela. Settlement at Erbil can be dated back to possibly 5000 BC, but not urban life until c. 2300.[citation needed]
Kirkuk (as Arrapha)Mesopotamia  Iraq (Claimed by Kurdistan Region)3000–2200 BC[148]
AnkaraAnatolia  Turkeyat least 2000 BCThe oldest settlements in and around the city center of Ankara belonged to the Hattic civilization which existed during the Bronze Age.
JaffaLevant  Israelc. 2000 BCArchaeological evidence shows habitation from 7500 BC.[149]
AcreLevant  Israelc. 2000 BCThere were initial settlements in the Acre area dated around 3000 BC.[150]
SidonLevant  Lebanon2nd millennium BCSidon becomes a city-state during the 2nd millennium BC.[151]
AleppoLevant  Syria2nd millennium BC
TripoliLevant  Lebanonc. 1400 BC
BatrounLevant  Lebanonc. 1400 BCThe Phoenicians founded Batroun on the southern side of the promontory called in Antiquity, Theoprosopon and during the Byzantine Empire, Cape Lithoprosopon. Batroun is said to have been founded by Ithobaal I (Ethbaal), king of Tyre, whose daughter Jezabel (897–866 B.C.) married Ahab.[152]
Dumat al-JandalAl-Jawf  Saudi Arabiac. 1000 BCIt was named after Dumah, son of Ishmael and was The Capital City of Qedarite Kingdom
EskişehirAnatolia  Turkeyc. 1000 BCThe city was founded by the Phrygians in at least 1000 BC, although it has been estimated to be older than 4,000 years old. Many Phrygian artifacts and sculptures can still be found in the city's archeological museum.
GazaLevant Palestinec. 1000 BCWhile evidence of habitation dates back at least 5,000 years, it is said to be continuously inhabited for a little more than 3,000 years.[153][154]
HebronLevant PalestineIron Age[155]
JerichoLevant Palestineearly 1st millennium BCTraces of habitation from 9000 BC.[156][157] Fortifications date to 6800 BC (or earlier), making Jericho the earliest known walled city.[158]

Archaeological evidence indicates that the city was destroyed and abandoned several times (sometimes remaining uninhabited for hundreds of years at a time), with later rebuilding and expansion.[159][160]

MedinaHejaz  Saudi Arabia9th century BC[161]Medina has been inhabited at least 1500 years before the Hijra.[161]
VaniColchis  Georgiabefore 8th century BC[162][163]
Hamadan (Ecbatana)Media  Iranc. 800 BC[164]The capital city of the Median Empire.
YerevanYerevan  Armenia782 BC[165][166]Founded as Erebuni Fortress by the Urartians[166] and most likely inhabited continuously thereafter; though, historical sources from the 5th century BC to the 7th century AD are lacking.[165] Alternatively, it was founded in 3000 BC (Shengavit Settlement).[citation needed]
TabrizMedia  Iran714 B.C.[167]An important and prosperous city along the silk road, it was made the capital city several times during various periods under various ruling dynasties of the region.
Tripoli (as Oyat)Phoenicia  Lebanonc. 700 BCFounded in the 7th century BC, by the Phoenicians.[168]
Istanbul (as Byzantion)Thrace, Anatolia  Turkey685 BC Anatolia; 660 BC Thrace[169]Founded as a colony of Megara. Neolithic site dated to 6400 BC, over port of Lygos by Thracians c. 1150 BC.
KutaisiColchis  Georgia6th to 4th century BCArchaeological evidence indicates that the city functioned as the capital of the kingdom of Colchis in the sixth to fifth centuries BC.[170]
Qabala (as Kabalaka)Caucasian Albania  Azerbaijan4th century BC[171]Archeological evidence indicates that the city functioned as the capital of the Caucasian Albania as early as the 4th century BC.[171]
ZghartaLevant  Lebanon200 BC[172][173]The Plain of Zgharta around Zgharta was likely inhabited from at least the beginning of the Neolithic Revolution by the Qaraoun culture as evidenced by some large, heavy Neolithic flints and double-headed axes found in the area that are documented by R. Wetzel and J. Haller in 1945.[172][173]

Europe

NameHistorical region/periodPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
PlovdivNeolithic Europe, Iron Age Europe  Bulgaria6000 BC[174][better source needed]Evidence of continuous settlement since 6000 BC.[175][174][better source needed] Later a Thracian settlement in the Iron Age. In the 4th century BC, Philipopolis (Plovdiv) emerged as a city, founded as such by Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great.[176][177]
ArgosNeolithic Europe, Mycenaean Greece  Greece5000 BC[178]The city has been continuously inhabited mostly as an urban settlement for 7,000 years. Recorded history begins in mid 2nd millennium BC.
AthensMycenaean Greece  Greece5th–4th millennia BC[179][180][181]Oldest recorded history begins at least from 1600 BC,[182] making it the oldest European capital city.
ThebesMycenaean Greece  Greecec. 5000 BC[183]
LarisaMycenaean Greece  Greecec. 4000–5000 BC[184]According to archaeological excavations, inhabited continuously from Early Bronze Age.
ShkodraIllyria  Albania2250–2000 BC[185]Continuously inhabited since the Early Bronze Age,[185] an urban settlement called Skodra was founded by Illyrians in the 4th century BC and fortified in moenia aeacia style,[186][187] it became the capital of the Illyrian kingdom under the Ardiaei and Labeatae and was one of the most important cities of the Balkans in ancient times.[188]
ChaniaCrete  Greecec. 1700–1500 BC[189][unreliable source?]Minoan foundation as Kydonia.
NafplioMycenaean Greece  GreeceEarly 14th century BC[190]Mentioned as Nuplija, the port of Mycenae, in the "Aegean List" of the Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III, early 14th century BC.[190]
CádizPhoenicia  Spainc. 1100 BC[191]Founded as Gadir by the Phoenicians.
MateraPrehistoric Italy  Italyc. 1000 BC[192]According to Leonardo A. Chisena, the area was first settled in the Palaeolithic (10th millennium BC).[193][verification needed] According to Anne Parmly Toxey, Matera has been "occupied continuously for at least three millennia".[192]
MdinaAntiquity Malta  Malta8th century BC[194]founded as Phoenician Melite.
DerbentCaucasus  Russia8th century BCContinuously inhabited since the 8th century BC, it was a part of Caucasian Albania that became a satrap of the Persian Achaemenid Empire.[195]
LisbonLusitania  Portugal8th century BC[196][197][198]Roman city of Olisipo. Phoenician settlement since as early as 1200 BC.[199][200][201][202]
RomeLatium  Italyc. 753 BCThe traditional founding date is 753 BC. Archaeology shows that the site has been inhabited since c. 1200 – c. 1000 BC, with urbanisation beginning around the mid-eighth century BC.[203]
Reggio di Calabria (as Rhegion)Magna Graecia  Italy743 BC[204]
Catania (as Katane)Sicily, Magna Graecia  Italy729 BC[205]Built at the foot of Mount Etna, the city has a seismic history and it was destroyed several times by earthquakes or by eruptions and lava flows; but every time it was rebuilt again. For this reason, Catania adopted the symbol of the Phoenix and the Latin motto Melior de cinere surgo (I rise from my ashes in a better state than before).
Corfu (city) (as Kerkyra)Corfu  Greecec. 709 BC.[206]Founded as a colony of the Greek city of Corinth
Istanbul (as Byzantion)Thrace, Anatolia  Turkey685 BC Anatolia; 660 BC Thrace[169]Founded as a colony of Megara; Neolithic site dated to 6400 BC, over port of Lygos by Thracians c. 1150 BC.
SyracuseSicily  Italyca. 680-675 BC (traditionally 734 BC)[207][208][209]A colony of the Greek city of Corinth.
NaplesMagna Graecia  Italyc. 680 BC[210]Actually the date at which an older settlement close by, called Parthenope, was founded by settlers from Cumae. This eventually merged with Neapolis proper, which was founded c. 470 BC.
DurrësIllyria  Albania627–625 BC[211]Founded as the Greek colony of Epidamnos in cooperation with the local Illyrian Taulantii.[212]
SozopolThrace  Bulgaria610 BC[213]Founded by Milesian colonists around 610 BC, was named Apollonia Pontica in honour of the patron deity of Miletus – Apollo. The Ancient authors identify the philosopher named Anaximander as the founder of the city.
KerchCrimea  Ukrainec. 610 BCFounded as an Ancient Greek colony known as Panticapaeum.[214]
Marseille (as "Massalia)Gaul  France600 BC[215][216][217]Founded as a colony of the Greek city of Phocaea.
Bilhorod-DnistrovskyiBudjak  Ukraine6th century BC[218]Founded as an Ancient Greek colony of Tyras.[219][220]
NesebarThrace  Bulgariabeginning of the 6th century BC [221]Originally a Thracian settlement, known as Mesembria, the town became a Greek colony when settled by Dorians from Megara at the beginning of the 6th century BC, then known as Mesembria. It was an important trading centre from then on and a rival of Apollonia (Sozopol). It remained the only Dorian colony along the Black Sea coast, as the rest were typical Ionian colonies. At 425–424 BC the town joined the Delian League, under the leadership of Athens.[221]
VarnaThrace  Bulgaria585–570 BC[222]Founded as Odessos by settlers from the Greek city of Miletus.[223]
SofiaMoesia  Bulgaria4th century BC[224]Celtic foundation as Serdica.[225] Habitation in the area since 7000 BC,[226]
LezhëIllyria  Albania4th century BCFounded by Illyrians in the 4th century BC as an urban settlement with the name Lissos, it became an important city in the Illyrian kingdom under the Ardiaei and Labeatae.[227]: 177 [228][229][230]
Stara ZagoraThrace  Bulgaria342 BC[231][232]It was called Beroe in ancient times and was founded by Philip II of Macedon[231][233][234][232] although a Thracian settlement neolithic inhabitation have been discovered as well. It also has the oldest copper mines in Europe (5th millennium BC)
ThessalonikiMacedonia (ancient kingdom)  Greece315 BC[235][236]Founded as a new city in the same place of the older city Therme.
BeratIllyria  Albania4th century BCFounded by Illyrians or Cassander of Macedon as Antipatreia.[237][238]
BelgradeIllyria  Serbia279 BC[239]The present day territory of Belgrade continuously inhabited for more than 7000 years. Proto-urban Vinča culture prospered around Belgrade in the 6th millennium BC. The fortified city of Belgrade founded around 279 BC as Singidunum.
BragaLusitania  Portugalc. 16-15 BC[240]Bracara Augusta was founded in 16-15 BC under the order of the emperor Augustus.
StrasbourgGermania Superior  France12 BCFirst official mention as the Roman camp of Argentoratum. The area had been populated since the Middle Paleolithic.[241]
ColchesterBritain  United Kingdom20-10 BCConsidered to be the oldest recorded town in the United Kingdom. First British town to be given the status Colonia in the Roman empire, where it was known as Camulodunum and was recorded by Pliny the Elder. The Celtic name of the city, Camulodunon appears on coins minted by tribal chieftain Tasciovanus in the period 20–10 BC. Before the Roman conquest of Britain, it was already a centre of power for Celtic king Cunobeline.[242]

Oceania

NameHistorical regionPresent locationContinuously
inhabited since		Notes
SydneyNew South Wales  Australia1788 ADOldest city in Australia. Radiocarbon dating suggests human activity occurred in and around Sydney for at least 30,000 years, in the Upper Paleolithic period.[243][244] However, numerous Aboriginal stone tools found in Sydney's far western suburbs' gravel sediments were dated to be from 45,000 to 50,000 years BP, which would mean that humans could have been in the region earlier than thought, although they lived exclusively as hunter-gatherer tribes until the early British colonial period.[245][246][247] The first people to occupy the Sydney region were an Indigenous Australian group called the Eora.[248][249]
HobartTasmania  Australia1803 ADSecond-oldest city in Australia. Prior to British settlement, the area had been occupied for at least 8,000 years, but possibly for as long as 35,000 years,[250] by the semi-nomadic Mouheneener tribe, a sub-group of the Nuennone, or South-East tribe.[251]
George TownTasmania  Australia1804 ADThird-oldest city in Australia.
NewcastleNew South Wales  Australia1804 ADFourth-oldest city in Australia.
LauncestonTasmania  Australia1806 ADFifth-oldest city in Australia.
KerikeriNorthland  New Zealandc. 1818 ADOldest European-founded settlement in New Zealand.
LevukaKubuna  Fiji1820[252]Oldest European settlement in Fiji.[252]
BluffSouthland  New Zealand1824 ADPreviously known as Campbelltown, the oldest European-founded settlement in the South Island.
BrisbaneQueensland  Australia1825 ADOldest city in Northern Australia, State Capital.
AlbanyWestern Australia  Australia1827 ADOldest city on the West Coast of Australia.
PerthWestern Australia  Australia1829 ADThe area had been inhabited by the Whadjuk Noongar people for over 40,000 years, as evidenced by archaeological findings on the Upper Swan River.[253]
MelbourneVictoria  Australia1835 ADBefore the arrival of European settlers, the area was occupied for an estimated 31,000 to 40,000 years.[254] At the time of European settlement, it was inhabited by under 20,000 hunter-gatherers from three indigenous regional tribes: the Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung and Wathaurong.[255][256]
KingscoteSouth Australia  Australia1836 ADFirst official European settlement in South Australia, Australia's first free settled colony. Situated on Kangaroo Island, it was occupied by an Aboriginal group from as long as 16,000 years ago until their disappearance 2,000–4,000 years ago.
AdelaideSouth Australia  Australia1836 ADState Capital of South Australia, Australia's first free settled colony. European settlement began in 1836.
GeelongVictoria  Australia1838 ADThe second-largest city in Victoria.
WellingtonWellington Region  New Zealand1839 ADNew Zealand's capital city from 1865 until the present day.[257]
AucklandAuckland Region  New Zealand1840 ADNew Zealand's capital city from 1841 to 1865. Prior to this, it was inhabited by Māori from about the 14th century.
DunedinOtago Region  New Zealand1848 ADFirst New Zealand centre to be officially named a city (1865). Briefly the country's largest settlement.
BendigoVictoria  Australia1851 ADFourth-largest city in Victoria.
DarwinNorthern Territory  Australia1869 ADTerritory Capital.
CanberraAustralian Capital Territory  Australia1913 ADCapital city of Australia. Artifacts suggests early human activity occurred at some point in Canberra dating at around 21,000 years ago.[258]

See also

Notes

References

External links

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