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. South Beach South Beach
    02 1 hour

    South Beach

    South Beach is Miami Beach's oceanfront visitor district, best understood as a long public beachfront and neighbourhood rather than one ticketed attraction.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Miami
  2. Fenway Park Fenway Park
    03 2 hours

    Fenway Park

    Fenway Park is the Boston ballpark that is home to the Boston Red Sox.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
    • Boston
  3. Fountains of Bellagio Fountains of Bellagio
    04 2 hours

    Fountains of Bellagio

    The Fountains of Bellagio constitute a choreographed water feature situated on the Las Vegas Strip in front of the Bellagio resort. The installation performs musical fountain displays using a system of jets arrayed across an eight-acre lake.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Las Vegas
  4. Miami Beach Architectural District Miami Beach Architectural District
    05 45 min

    Miami Beach Architectural District

    Miami Beach Architectural District is the historic Art Deco area of South Beach, recognised on the National Register in 1979.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Miami
  5. Universal Epic Universe Universal Epic Universe
    06 2 hours

    Universal Epic Universe

    Universal Epic Universe is a major theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Central Florida. It is organized as an immersive destination with distinct themed lands rather than a single uniform ride area.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Orlando
  6. Disney's Animal Kingdom Disney's Animal Kingdom
    07 2 hours

    Disney's Animal Kingdom

    Disney's Animal Kingdom is a Walt Disney World theme park built around wildlife, conservation and themed adventure. The Tree of Life on Discovery Island is its central icon, carrying more than 300 carved animals.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
    • Orlando
  7. San Francisco cable car system San Francisco cable car system
    08 1 hr 30 min

    San Francisco cable car system

    The San Francisco cable car system is a working municipal transit network and a National Historic Landmark, not a staged sightseeing ride.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • San Francisco
  8. Sphere Sphere
    09 1 hour

    Sphere

    Sphere is a purpose-built Las Vegas venue for concerts and immersive screen productions. Its defining systems are a 160,000-square-foot interior LED media plane and the 580,000-square-foot programmable exterior called the Exosphere.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Las Vegas
  9. White House White House
    10 2 hours

    White House

    The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Completed in 1800, it stands among the most globally recognised civic landmarks.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Washington
  10. EPCOT EPCOT
    11 2 hours

    EPCOT

    EPCOT is a theme park at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The name originally stood for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Orlando
  11. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
    12 2 hours

    Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

    Hanauma Bay

    Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a protected marine embayment on Oahu's southeastern coast. It was formed within a volcanic cone and is managed by the City and County of Honolulu.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Honolulu
  12. Little Havana Little Havana
    13 1 hour

    Little Havana

    Little Havana is a living Miami neighbourhood shaped by Cuban migration and enterprise, not a recreated theme district or one controlled attraction.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Miami
  13. Everglades National Park Everglades National Park
    14 1 hour

    Everglades National Park

    Everglades National Park is a vast subtropical wilderness at the southern end of Florida. Sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, and shallow waterways form a landscape shaped by seasonal water movement.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Miami
  14. High Roller High Roller
    15 20 min

    High Roller

    The High Roller is an observation wheel at The LINQ Promenade on the Las Vegas Strip. It stands as a distinctive landmark in the city's entertainment corridor, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area from enclosed cabins.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Las Vegas
  15. Disney's Hollywood Studios Disney's Hollywood Studios
    16 2 hours

    Disney's Hollywood Studios

    Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Originally opened as Disney-MGM Studios in 1989, the park celebrates film, television, music, and theater with immersive lands and attractions.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Orlando
  16. Kualoa Ranch Kualoa Ranch
    17 2 hours

    Kualoa Ranch

    Kualoa Ranch is a private nature reserve and working cattle ranch occupying approximately 4,000 acres of coastal and valley land on Windward Oʻahu. The property extends from the flanks of the Koʻolau Range to Kāneʻohe Bay.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Honolulu
  17. Polynesian Cultural Center Polynesian Cultural Center
    18 1 hour

    Polynesian Cultural Center

    The Polynesian Cultural Center is a large-scale cultural theme park and living museum located on Oʻahu's north-east coast near Lāʻie.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Honolulu
  18. SeaWorld Orlando SeaWorld Orlando
    19 2 hours

    SeaWorld Orlando

    SeaWorld Orlando is a marine-life theme park and entertainment complex in Orlando, Florida. It brings together animal habitats, live presentations, educational themes, and amusement rides, including roller coasters.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Orlando
  19. Wrigley Field Wrigley Field
    20 2 hours

    Wrigley Field

    Wrigley Field is a Major League Baseball stadium on Chicago's North Side, serving as home to the Chicago Cubs since 1914. It holds designation as a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its century-long role in American sports architecture.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
    • Chicago
  20. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
    21 1 hr 30 min

    Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

    The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the official visitor attraction for NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Florida's Space Coast.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Orlando
  21. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
    22 45 min

    Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

    The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is a landmark located on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The sign was designed by Betty Willis and erected in 1959.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Las Vegas
  22. Biscayne National Park Biscayne National Park
    23 1 hour

    Biscayne National Park

    Biscayne National Park protects a predominantly marine landscape south of Miami, where aquamarine water, mangrove shoreline, coral reefs, and offshore islands meet. It includes Biscayne Bay, the coral keys, and part of the Florida Reef.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Miami
  23. Disney Springs Disney Springs
    24 2 hours

    Disney Springs

    Disney Springs is Disney's major dining, retail, and entertainment district at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. It operates as a central non-park destination, meaning visitors do not need theme park admission to enter.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Orlando
  24. Library of Congress Library of Congress
    25 2 hours

    Library of Congress

    The Library of Congress is the United States’ national library, but its Capitol Hill visit is also an encounter with a carefully staged civic interior.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • 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.