In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins. In some cases, newer developments on the periphery of the original settlement may have become the town's principal commercial and/or residential hub, leaving the historic "old town" as a secondary focus. There are many places throughout the world referred to as the old town (sometimes construed as a proper noun and capitalized). This is a list of some famous old towns:

Africa

Algeria

Côte d'Ivoire

Egypt

Ethiopia

Kenya

Libya

Mali

Morocco

Niger

Tanzania/Zanzibar

Tunisia

Asia and the Pacific

Australia

Bangladesh

China

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

East China

Southwestern China

Northwestern China

South Central China

Northeast China

Fiji

India

Indonesia

Japan

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Chūbu

Chūgoku

Kansai

Kantō

Kyushu

Shikoku

Tōhoku

Malaysia

Nepal

New Zealand

Pakistan

Philippines

Philippines as the former colony of Spain has numerous heritage structures, most notably in:

Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Uzbekistan

Vietnam

Europe

Austria

UNESCO World Heritage old towns in Austria: Other notable/famous old towns include:

Armenia

Albania

Azerbaijan

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Czech Republic

Cyprus

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

The equivalent of "Old Town" in French is vieille ville, although the more formal centre historique ("historical center") is usually written on road signs. UNESCO World Heritage old towns in France: Other notable/famous old towns include:

Georgia

Germany

Other notable/famous old towns include:

Greece

Crete

Attica

Macedonia

Thessaly

Thrace

Epirus

Peloponnese

Ionian Islands

Aegan Islands

Central Greece

Italy

I Borghi più belli d'Italia is an association of small Italian towns of historical interest. Other notable old towns include:

Kosovo

Latvia

Lithuania

Montenegro

Netherlands

The standard term for 'Old Town' in the Netherlands is "binnenstad", which translates as "innercity", i.e. in city on the inside of the city walls.

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Central Federal District

Volga Federal District

Northwestern Federal District

Southern Federal District

North Caucasian Federal District

Ural Federal District

Siberian Federal District

Far Eastern Federal District

Serbia

Slovakia

Spain

Other notable/famous old towns include:

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

UNESCO

Aegan region

Black Sea Region

Central Anatolia Region

Eastern Anatolia Region

Marmara Region

Mediterranean Region

Southeastern Anatolia Region

Ukraine

United Kingdom

England

Scotland

Wales

Overseas territories

Middle East

Israel and Palestine

Lebanon

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Yemen

Iran

Iraq

North America

Canada

Quebec

Other

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Mexico

Panama

Puerto Rico

United States

California

Florida

Northeastern USA

North Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

Other US states

South America

Argentina

Brazil

Northeast

Center-West

Southeast

South

Colombia

Ecuador

Uruguay

Other uses