A photograph of United States

Country guide

United States

At 9,833,520 km² the United States has the fourth-largest land area in the world, and its 50 states and federal district span enough longitude that the ordinary...

Photograph · Tuxyso · CC BY-SA 3.0

43,277 Places
10Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

At 9,833,520 km² the United States has the fourth-largest land area in the world, and its 50 states and federal district span enough longitude that the ordinary clock runs from UTC−4 to UTC−10, with the territories reaching −12, +10 and +11. The 2025 population estimate is 341,784,857. Washington, D.C. is the capital and New York the largest city, but neither stands in for the rest of it. Distance is the planning problem here, not choice: a trip works far better as one region covered properly than as anything resembling a national tour.

Checked 2026-08-25

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
English is the principal language; no federal official language
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+1
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and B · 120 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
Water quality is regulated locally; check the current notice for the destination

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall
    07 1 hour

    Radio City Music Hall

    Radio City Music Hall is a prominent entertainment venue in New York City, located within the Rockefeller Center complex in Midtown Manhattan. Opened in 1932, it was designated a New York City landmark in 1978.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • New York
  2. Apollo Theater Apollo Theater
    08 1 hour

    Apollo Theater

    The Apollo Theater is a historic music hall in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. Established in 1914 as a burlesque venue, it became a cornerstone of African American culture during the 1930s.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • New York
  3. Dolby Theatre Dolby Theatre
    09 1 hour

    Dolby Theatre

    Dolby Theatre is a purpose-built live-performance and awards venue in Hollywood, inside the Hollywood & Highland Center.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Los Angeles
  4. Walt Disney Concert Hall Walt Disney Concert Hall
    10 1 hour

    Walt Disney Concert Hall

    Walt Disney Concert Hall is an architecturally distinctive concert venue in downtown Los Angeles. Designed by Frank Gehry, it serves as the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Los Angeles
  5. Watts Towers Watts Towers
    11 1 hour

    Watts Towers

    Watts Towers is a singular self-built art environment in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Constructed by Italian immigrant Sabato Rodia over thirty-three years from 1921 to 1954, the site comprises seventeen interconnected sculptural structures.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Los Angeles
  6. Cloud Gate Cloud Gate
    12 1 hour

    Cloud Gate

    Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by British artist Anish Kapoor, installed in Millennium Park in Chicago.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Chicago
  7. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
    13 1 hour

    John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

    The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the national performing arts center of the United States and Washington, D.C.'s principal classical music venue.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Washington
  8. Orpheum Theatre Orpheum Theatre
    14 1 hour

    Orpheum Theatre

    Orpheum Theatre is a restored 1926 theatre in downtown Los Angeles, known for its historic movie-palace character and continuing live-entertainment programme. Concerts, comedy performances, film screenings and special events bring modern audiences into an early twentieth-century setting.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Los Angeles
  9. Charging Bull Charging Bull
    15 1 hour

    Charging Bull

    The Charging Bull is a bronze sculpture located in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City. Created by artist Arturo Di Modica, the artwork depicts a large, aggressive bull in a charging pose, symbolizing financial optimism and prosperity.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • New York
  10. Hollywood Bowl Hollywood Bowl
    16 1 hour

    Hollywood Bowl

    The Bowl began as a natural amphitheatre used for public performances in the early 1920s, and successive shells transformed the site into one of Los Angeles's defining music venues.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Los Angeles
  11. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
    17 1 hour

    Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

    The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is a major performing arts venue within the Los Angeles Music Center in downtown Los Angeles.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Los Angeles
  12. Vessel Vessel
    18 1 hour

    Vessel

    Vessel is a honeycomb-like landmark in Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s far West Side. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, it is formed from an interconnected network of staircases rising above the surrounding plaza.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • New York
  13. Jay Pritzker Pavilion Jay Pritzker Pavilion
    19 1 hour

    Jay Pritzker Pavilion

    Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a Frank Gehry-designed outdoor concert venue located in Chicago's Millennium Park. It serves as the park's principal performing arts space and is recognized for its distinctive architectural character.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Chicago
  14. The Fillmore The Fillmore
    20 1 hour

    The Fillmore

    The Fillmore is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California. It rose to prominence during the 1960s as a central stage for psychedelic rock and the counterculture movement.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • San Francisco
  15. War Memorial Opera House War Memorial Opera House
    21 1 hour

    War Memorial Opera House

    The War Memorial Opera House is a major performing-arts venue in San Francisco’s Civic Center. It is the home venue of the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Ballet, placing opera and ballet at the centre of its identity.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • San Francisco
  16. Albert Einstein Memorial Albert Einstein Memorial
    22 1 hour

    Albert Einstein Memorial

    The Albert Einstein Memorial is a large outdoor bronze sculpture depicting the renowned physicist seated in relaxed posture.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Washington
  17. Hawaii Theatre Hawaii Theatre
    23 1 hour

    Hawaii Theatre

    Hawaiʻi Theatre is a restored 1922 theatre and landmark performance venue in downtown Honolulu. Its historic character gives an evening at the theatre a different mood from a modern concert hall: the building itself forms part of the cultural experience.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Honolulu
  18. National Theatre National Theatre
    24 1 hour

    National Theatre

    The National Theatre is a historic performing arts venue located in downtown Washington, D.C. Established in 1835, it is one of the oldest continuously operating theatres in the United States.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Washington
  19. Lyric Theater Lyric Theater
    25 1 hour

    Lyric Theater

    The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater

    The Lyric Theater, also known as the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater, is a historic Black cultural landmark in Miami’s Overtown neighbourhood.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Miami
  20. Olympia Theater Olympia Theater
    26 1 hour

    Olympia Theater

    Olympia Theater at Gusman Center

    Olympia Theater is a restored 1926 atmospheric theatre in downtown Miami. Its design belongs to an era when cinemas were created as immersive environments, giving the auditorium a character beyond a simple projection room.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Miami
  21. James A. Garfield Monument James A. Garfield Monument
    27 1 hour

    James A. Garfield Monument

    The James A. Garfield Monument is a large memorial on the grounds of the United States Capitol honoring James A. Garfield, the twentieth president of the United States.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Washington
  22. Chicago Picasso Chicago Picasso
    28 1 hour

    Chicago Picasso

    The Chicago Picasso is an untitled monumental sculpture by Pablo Picasso, installed in 1967 in Daley Plaza.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Chicago
  23. De la Cruz Collection De la Cruz Collection
    29 1 hour

    De la Cruz Collection

    de la Cruz Collection

    The de la Cruz Collection is a contemporary art space in Miami's Design District. It was established by Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz to present their private collection to the public.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Miami
  24. Coconut Grove Playhouse Coconut Grove Playhouse
    30 1 hour

    Coconut Grove Playhouse

    Coconut Grove Playhouse is a historic theatre landmark in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood. Its identity is tied to live performance, theatrical architecture, and the cultural life of one of Miami’s oldest communities.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Miami
  25. Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
    31 1 hour

    Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

    Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is Miami’s major downtown destination for live theatre, music, dance and opera.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Miami

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to United States be?

Ten to fourteen days should focus on one US region: New York, Washington, and Boston work together by rail, while San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas form a different trip. Miami, Orlando, and Honolulu each require separate travel time and should not be appended casually.

What entry documents are needed for United States?

US admission depends on passport, visa status, and eligibility for the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA. Confirm both the Department of State visa guidance and Customs and Border Protection requirements for the actual route.

What is the best way to travel around United States?

Domestic flights are often necessary between US regions, while Amtrak is strongest on the Northeast Corridor. A car is unnecessary in New York or Washington but can be useful in Los Angeles and beyond compact city centres.

When is a practical time to visit United States?

April to May and September to October are broad shoulder-season references, not a national weather forecast. Florida heat, western wildfire conditions, hurricane exposure, and Hawaii's trans-Pacific logistics require destination-specific checks.

What money and payment basics apply in United States?

The United States uses the US dollar (USD). Card use is widespread, but taxes, deposits, and gratuities can make the final amount differ from the displayed base price; keep a second payment method for holds or terminal failures.

What practical safety details should I save for United States?

Dial 911 for police, fire, or medical emergencies in the United States. Type A and B sockets use 120 V; national tap-water safety is not recorded here, so consult the local utility or accommodation.