Roavina

Country guide

United States

A photograph of United States
Photograph · Tuxyso · CC BY-SA 3.0

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.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

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

  1. Nuuanu Pali Lookout Nuuanu Pali Lookout
    02 2 hours

    Nuuanu Pali Lookout

    Nuʻuanu Pali

    Nuʻuanu Pali is a section of the Koʻolau mountain range on Oʻahu, Hawaii. The Pali Lookout offers views of the Windward Coast.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Honolulu
  2. Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail
    03 2 hours

    Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail

    Makapuʻu Point

    Makapuʻu Point is the easternmost point of the island of Oʻahu in the Hawaiian Islands.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Honolulu
  3. Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck
    04 20 min

    Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck

    The Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck is a separately ticketed observation attraction located at Paris Las Vegas, a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Las Vegas
  4. Prudential Tower Prudential Tower
    05 1 hour

    Prudential Tower

    The Prudential Tower is a 52-story skyscraper in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, completed in 1964 as part of the larger Prudential Center complex.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Boston
  5. Coit Tower Coit Tower
    06 20 min

    Coit Tower

    Coit Tower is a 64-metre reinforced-concrete landmark on Telegraph Hill, completed in 1933 with funds left to San Francisco by Lillie Hitchcock Coit.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • San Francisco
  6. 360 CHICAGO 360 CHICAGO
    07 20 min

    360 CHICAGO

    360 Chicago

    360 CHICAGO is an observation deck located in the former John Hancock Center, a prominent skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. The deck occupies a high floor of this distinctive building, offering visitors elevated views across the city and Lake Michigan.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Chicago
  7. Bunker Hill Monument Bunker Hill Monument
    08 20 min

    Bunker Hill Monument

    Bunker Hill Monument is a granite battle monument and Boston’s principal memorial to the Battle of Bunker Hill, standing above Charlestown as the final major stop of the Freedom Trail.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Boston
  8. Tribune Tower Tribune Tower
    09 20 min

    Tribune Tower

    Tribune Tower is a historic neo-Gothic skyscraper located on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. It served as the headquarters for the Chicago Tribune newspaper from 1925 until 2018.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Chicago
  9. Mount Davidson Mount Davidson
    10 20 min

    Mount Davidson

    Mount Davidson is San Francisco’s highest natural point, rising above the city’s southern neighborhoods. Its summit combines natural hillside terrain, walking trails, and a large concrete cross that serves as a prominent landmark.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • San Francisco
  10. Manoa Falls Manoa Falls
    11 20 min

    Manoa Falls

    Mānoa Falls is a rainforest waterfall reached by a popular valley trail above Honolulu.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Honolulu
  11. Strawberry Hill Strawberry Hill
    12 20 min

    Strawberry Hill

    Strawberry Hill is a wooded island hill in Blue Heron Lake, the body of water also known as Stow Lake, inside Golden Gate Park. The hill gives a small but distinct change of elevation within the park’s carefully designed landscape.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • San Francisco
  12. Edge Edge
    13 20 min

    Edge

    Edge is an outdoor observation deck high above Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side. Its platform projects outward from the skyscraper, creating a floating sensation above the city.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • New York
  13. Top of the Rock Top of the Rock
    14 20 min

    Top of the Rock

    Top of the Rock is an observation deck at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. It occupies the upper floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, a landmark Art Deco skyscraper.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • New York
  14. Beacon Hill Beacon Hill
    15 20 min

    Beacon Hill

    Beacon Hill is a historic residential neighbourhood in central Boston, Massachusetts. It sits directly north of Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden. The district is renowned for its well-preserved Federal-style rowhouses, narrow gaslit streets, and brick sidewalks.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Boston
  15. Old Post Office Tower Old Post Office Tower
    16 20 min

    Old Post Office Tower

    The Old Post Office Tower rises above Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington, D.C. Its Romanesque Revival form belongs to the historic federal building that once served as the city's main post office.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Washington
  16. One World Observatory One World Observatory
    17 1 hour

    One World Observatory

    One World Observatory occupies the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • New York

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.