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. Riverside Church Riverside Church
    157 30 min

    Riverside Church

    Riverside Church is an interdenominational church in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. The structure features Gothic Revival architecture and stands as a prominent landmark near the Hudson River.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • New York
  2. Twin Peaks Twin Peaks
    158 45 min

    Twin Peaks

    Twin Peaks is a prominent hilltop destination in San Francisco, California, offering sweeping views across the city and surrounding Bay Area.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • San Francisco
  3. Cloud Gate Cloud Gate
    159 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
  4. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
    160 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
  5. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
    161 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
  6. Freedom Trail Freedom Trail
    162 45 min

    Freedom Trail

    The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile (4-kilometre) marked walking route linking 16 historic sites across central Boston, the North End and Charlestown.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Boston
  7. Koreatown Koreatown
    163 45 min

    Koreatown

    Koreatown is a dense cultural district in central Los Angeles, California. It is one of the most concentrated Korean-American communities in the United States, though it also encompasses significant Latino and other populations.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Los Angeles
  8. Orpheum Theatre Orpheum Theatre
    164 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. Old Stone House Old Stone House
    165 45 min

    Old Stone House

    The Old Stone House is Georgetown's oldest unchanged building and a National Park Service historic house museum. Located in Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood, this preserved structure represents pre-Revolutionary architecture in the capital.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Washington
  10. Sailors' Snug Harbor Sailors' Snug Harbor
    166 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
  11. Sewall-Belmont House and Museum Sewall-Belmont House and Museum
    167 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
  12. Charging Bull Charging Bull
    168 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
  13. Hollywood Bowl Hollywood Bowl
    169 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
  14. USS Salem USS Salem
    170 45 min

    USS Salem

    USS Salem is a preserved heavy cruiser museum ship located in Quincy, Massachusetts, near Boston. She is a Des Moines-class cruiser, the third of her class, and served in the United States Navy from 1949 to 1959.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Boston
  15. Copley Square Copley Square
    171 1 hour

    Copley Square

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

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Boston
  16. Granary Burying Ground Granary Burying Ground
    172 45 min

    Granary Burying Ground

    The Granary Burying Ground is a historic cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1660, it is the third-oldest cemetery in the city and holds significant importance in American history.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Boston
  17. Hialeah Park Race Track Hialeah Park Race Track
    173 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
  18. Coral Gables Merrick House Coral Gables Merrick House
    174 45 min

    Coral Gables Merrick House

    Coral Gables Merrick House is a historic residence in Coral Gables, Florida. It was the home of George Merrick, the founder of the City of Coral Gables.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Miami
  19. Los Angeles Theatre Los Angeles Theatre
    175 45 min

    Los Angeles Theatre

    The Los Angeles Theatre is an ornate 1931 movie palace located in the Historic Theatre District of downtown Los Angeles.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Los Angeles
  20. Old City Hall Old City Hall
    176 45 min

    Old City Hall

    Old City Hall is a Second Empire architectural landmark on School Street in Boston. It served as the seat of municipal government from 1865 to 1969.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Boston
  21. Point Fermin Light Point Fermin Light
    177 45 min

    Point Fermin Light

    Point Fermin Lighthouse

    Point Fermin Lighthouse is a historic Victorian lighthouse situated at the southern edge of Los Angeles, in the San Pedro neighborhood. Constructed in 1874, it represents one of the surviving examples of 19th-century lighthouse architecture on the California coast.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Los Angeles
  22. Pullman National Historical Park Pullman National Historical Park
    178 45 min

    Pullman National Historical Park

    Pullman National Historical Park preserves the historic Pullman district on Chicago's South Side. Established as a planned industrial community in 1880 by George Pullman for his railroad car manufacturing company, it represents a significant chapter in American industrial history.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Chicago
  23. Pelham Bay Park Pelham Bay Park
    179 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
  24. African American Civil War Memorial African American Civil War Memorial
    180 45 min

    African American Civil War Memorial

    The African American Civil War Memorial honours the approximately 179,000 Black soldiers and 19,000 Black sailors who served in the Union Army and Navy during the American Civil War.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Washington
  25. Lafayette Square Lafayette Square
    181 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

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.