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. J. Paul Getty Museum J. Paul Getty Museum
    02 1 hr 30 min

    J. Paul Getty Museum

    The J. Paul Getty Museum

    The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center is an art museum on a hilltop campus in Los Angeles. The official Getty visitor material describes galleries, architecture, gardens and changing exhibitions as parts of one visit.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Los Angeles
  2. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
    03 45 min

    Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

    Lincoln Center is a major performing-arts complex on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The campus brings together venues and resident organizations devoted to opera, orchestral music, theatre, dance and film.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • New York
  3. USS Bowfin USS Bowfin
    04 45 min

    USS Bowfin

    The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park is a World War II submarine museum located adjacent to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre on Oahu, Hawaii.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Honolulu
  4. Bishop Museum Bishop Museum
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Bishop Museum

    Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

    Bishop Museum is the principal museum for Hawaiʻi and Pacific natural and cultural history. Founded in 1889, it holds the world's largest collection of Polynesian cultural artifacts and natural history specimens.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Honolulu
  5. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

    National Museum of Asian Art

    The National Museum of Asian Art is the Smithsonian Institution's national museum devoted to Asian art. It brings together the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Washington
  6. Ford's Theatre National Historic Site Ford's Theatre National Historic Site
    07 45 min

    Ford's Theatre National Historic Site

    Ford's Theatre National Historic Site combines a functioning theatre, a National Park Service museum, and the Petersen House across Tenth Street. Its defining event is the fatal shooting of President Abraham Lincoln during a performance on April 14, 1865.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Washington
  7. Miami Design District Miami Design District
    08 45 min

    Miami Design District

    Miami Design District is a purpose-built cultural and commercial quarter north of downtown Miami, where streets, buildings, art, fashion and dining are planned as one visitor experience.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Miami
  8. National September 11 Memorial & Museum National September 11 Memorial & Museum
    09 1 hr 30 min

    National September 11 Memorial & Museum

    9/11 Memorial & Museum

    The 9/11 Memorial and Museum occupies the site of the former World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. The memorial features two reflecting pools set within the footprints of the original Twin Towers, each with waterfalls cascading into voids.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • New York
  9. Stratosphere Tower Stratosphere Tower
    10 45 min

    Stratosphere Tower

    Stratosphere Tower, now branded as The Strat, is a freestanding observation tower and hotel-casino at the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Las Vegas

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.