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. United States National Arboretum United States National Arboretum
    32 1 hour

    United States National Arboretum

    U.S. National Arboretum

    The United States National Arboretum is a large federal botanical research institution in Washington, D.C. Established by Congress in 1927, it operates under the U.S.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  2. The Battery The Battery
    33 1 hour

    The Battery

    Battery Park

    The Battery, historically known as Battery Park, is a public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City. It occupies the site of historic fortifications that once protected the harbor.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • New York
  3. Fort Tryon Park Fort Tryon Park
    34 1 hour

    Fort Tryon Park

    Fort Tryon Park is a public park in Upper Manhattan, set on elevated ground above the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • New York
  4. President's Park President's Park
    35 1 hour

    President's Park

    The White House and President's Park

    President's Park is a National Park Service landscape in Washington, D.C. encompassing the White House grounds and adjacent public spaces.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  5. Washington Square Park Washington Square Park
    36 1 hour

    Washington Square Park

    Washington Square Park is a public park in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. It occupies approximately 9.75 acres and is defined by its iconic Washington Square Arch at the northern edge.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • New York
  6. Gramercy Park Gramercy Park
    37 1 hour

    Gramercy Park

    Gramercy Park is a private, fenced green space in Manhattan’s Gramercy neighborhood. Established in 1831, it is surrounded by historic townhouses and apartment buildings.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • New York
  7. Waimanalo Beach Waimanalo Beach
    38 1 hour

    Waimanalo Beach

    Waimānalo Beach is a long sandy shoreline on Oahu’s Windward Coast, set beneath the Koʻolau mountain range. Its broad coastal setting feels quieter and less urban than Waikiki, with residential communities inland and open views across the ocean.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Honolulu
  8. Rock Creek Park Rock Creek Park
    39 1 hour

    Rock Creek Park

    Rock Creek Park is a large urban national park in Washington, D.C. Established in 1890, it is one of the oldest federally managed parks in the United States.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  9. Springs Preserve Springs Preserve
    40 1 hour

    Springs Preserve

    Las Vegas Springs Preserve

    Las Vegas Springs Preserve is a cultural and natural-history campus built around the water source that supported Indigenous presence, early settlement and the growth of Las Vegas.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Las Vegas
  10. East Potomac Park East Potomac Park
    41 1 hour

    East Potomac Park

    East Potomac Park is a peninsula park in Washington, D.C., extending into the Potomac River south of the Tidal Basin and the National Mall. Water surrounds several sides of the park, giving the landscape a distinctly open waterfront character.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  11. Fort Mason Fort Mason
    42 1 hour

    Fort Mason

    Fort Mason is a former United States Army post located in San Francisco, California. The National Park Service now manages the site as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • San Francisco
  12. Lincoln Park Lincoln Park
    43 1 hour

    Lincoln Park

    Lincoln Park is a public green space on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. It is one of the city's oldest parks and carries the name of President Abraham Lincoln.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  13. Little Island @Pier55 Little Island @Pier55
    44 1 hour

    Little Island @Pier55

    Little Island

    Little Island at Pier 55 is an artificial island park in the Hudson River, connected to Manhattan's West Side. The structure sits on tulip-shaped concrete pilings rising from the water, creating an elevated landscape above the river.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  14. Roosevelt Island Tramway Roosevelt Island Tramway
    45 1 hour

    Roosevelt Island Tramway

    The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway in New York City. It spans the East River, connecting Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. The system operates as a public transit option alongside the subway.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  15. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn Botanic Garden
    46 1 hour

    Brooklyn Botanic Garden

    Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. It occupies land within Prospect Park's vicinity and serves as a cultural and educational institution focused on horticulture, conservation, and environmental education.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  16. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
    47 1 hour

    Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

    The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is a national memorial honoring the civil rights leader, situated on the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. It features a large granite statue of Dr.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  17. Sailors' Snug Harbor Sailors' Snug Harbor
    48 1 hour

    Sailors' Snug Harbor

    Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden

    Sailors' Snug Harbor is a historic cultural complex on Staten Island, New York City. Founded in 1801 as a retirement home for aged sailors, it has evolved into the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  18. Sewall-Belmont House and Museum Sewall-Belmont House and Museum
    49 1 hour

    Sewall-Belmont House and Museum

    Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument

    The Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, now designated as the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, stands as a pivotal landmark in American women's rights history.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  19. Copley Square Copley Square
    50 1 hour

    Copley Square

    Copley Square is a public civic square in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Boston
  20. Hialeah Park Race Track Hialeah Park Race Track
    51 1 hour

    Hialeah Park Race Track

    Hialeah Park Race Track is a historic thoroughbred horse-racing venue in Hialeah, within the Greater Miami area. Its identity rests on three connected features: racing history, Mediterranean Revival architecture, and the flamingo flock associated with the infield lake.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Miami
  21. Pelham Bay Park Pelham Bay Park
    52 1 hour

    Pelham Bay Park

    Pelham Bay Park is a municipal park located in the Bronx borough of New York City. It occupies a significant portion of the northeastern Bronx, encompassing diverse landscapes including woodland, marshland, and coastal areas along Long Island Sound.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  22. Lafayette Square Lafayette Square
    53 1 hour

    Lafayette Square

    Lafayette Square is a historic public square in Washington, D.C., located directly north of the White House. The seven-acre park forms part of President's Park and has served as a prominent civic space since the early nineteenth century.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  23. Van Cortlandt Park Van Cortlandt Park
    54 1 hour

    Van Cortlandt Park

    Van Cortlandt Park is a major public park in the Bronx borough of New York City. It ranks among the largest parks in the city by land area.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  24. Humboldt Park Humboldt Park
    55 1 hour

    Humboldt Park

    Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park

    Humboldt Park is a 207-acre historic public park on Chicago's West Side and the centerpiece of the surrounding neighborhood. The park combines designed landscape, recreation, and Puerto Rican cultural importance.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Chicago
  25. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
    56 1 hour

    Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

    Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

    Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is a National Park Service site in Washington, D.C. It preserves marsh, pond, and aquatic garden habitats along the Anacostia River.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Washington

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.