A photograph of United States

Country guide

Places to visit in United States — page 2

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. The Venetian Las Vegas The Venetian Las Vegas
    26 2 hours

    The Venetian Las Vegas

    The Venetian Las Vegas is a major themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip. It replicates Venice, Italy through architectural reproductions including canals, plazas, and landmarks.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Las Vegas
  2. Discovery Cove Discovery Cove
    27 2 hours

    Discovery Cove

    Discovery Cove is a reservation-only day resort and marine animal encounter attraction in Orlando, Florida. It operates as a premium experience distinct from conventional theme parks, limiting daily attendance to create an intimate environment.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Orlando
  3. Hoover Dam Hoover Dam
    28 45 min

    Hoover Dam

    Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between Nevada and Arizona. Constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression, it was dedicated by President Franklin D.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Las Vegas
  4. Adler Planetarium Adler Planetarium
    29 2 hours

    Adler Planetarium

    The Adler Planetarium is a public museum dedicated to astronomy and astrophysics.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Chicago
  5. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
    30 1 hour

    Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

    The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is an indoor horticultural attraction located within the Bellagio Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Las Vegas
  6. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
    31 1 hour

    Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

    Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an 83-acre botanical garden in Coral Gables, Florida, serving the Miami metropolitan area.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Miami
  7. Ellis Island Ellis Island
    32 1 hour

    Ellis Island

    Ellis Island is a federally owned island in New York Harbor. It operated as the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954, processing approximately twelve million arrivals.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • New York
  8. Nuuanu Pali Lookout Nuuanu Pali Lookout
    33 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
  9. Harvard University Harvard University
    34 2 hours

    Harvard University

    Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston. Established in 1636, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Boston
  10. ICON Park ICON Park
    35 1 hour

    ICON Park

    ICON Park is an entertainment complex located on International Drive in Orlando, Florida. It functions as a concentrated destination combining rides, dining options, and entertainment venues in a single pedestrian-friendly area.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
    • Orlando
  11. Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail
    36 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
  12. Zoo Miami Zoo Miami
    37 1 hr 30 min

    Zoo Miami

    Zoo Miami is a zoological park located in southern Miami-Dade County. It is recognized as the only tropical zoo in the continental United States.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Miami
  13. AREA15 AREA15
    38 1 hour

    AREA15

    AREA15 is an immersive entertainment and retail complex located northwest of the Las Vegas Strip. The venue occupies a large warehouse-style building and surrounds itself with an atmosphere of art, technology, and interactive experiences.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Las Vegas
  14. Battleship Missouri Memorial Battleship Missouri Memorial
    39 45 min

    Battleship Missouri Memorial

    USS Missouri

    The Battleship Missouri Memorial is a museum ship and war memorial located at Pearl Harbor. The USS Missouri is an Iowa-class battleship that served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Honolulu
  15. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
    40 1 hour

    Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

    Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park occupies the southern tip of Key Biscayne, a barrier island east of downtown Miami. The park protects approximately 400 acres of coastal landscape including beach, dunes, and mangrove shoreline.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Miami
  16. Gatorland Gatorland
    41 2 hours

    Gatorland

    Gatorland is a long-running alligator and wildlife attraction in Orlando, Florida. Established as a distinctive Florida experience, it operates independently of the state's major theme parks.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Orlando
  17. Massachusetts State House Massachusetts State House
    42 1 hour

    Massachusetts State House

    The Massachusetts State House serves as the seat of government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Boston
  18. Aquatica Orlando Aquatica Orlando
    43 1 hr 30 min

    Aquatica Orlando

    Aquatica Orlando is a water park operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment in Orlando, Florida. Its South Pacific-inspired setting combines water slides, pools, beaches, lazy rivers, and animal viewing areas.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Orlando
  19. Chicago Cultural Center Chicago Cultural Center
    44 1 hour

    Chicago Cultural Center

    The Chicago Cultural Center is a landmark municipal building in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Opened in 1897 as the city's first central public library, it was converted to an arts and culture venue in 1977.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Chicago
  20. Deering Estate Deering Estate
    45 45 min

    Deering Estate

    The Deering Estate is a historic house museum and archaeological site located in southern Miami-Dade County, Florida. It preserves the former winter residence of Charles Deering, an industrialist and art collector.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Miami
  21. Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck
    46 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
  22. Old South Meeting House Old South Meeting House
    47 1 hour

    Old South Meeting House

    Old South Meeting House is a historic church building in Boston, Massachusetts. Built in 1729, it served as a Puritan meeting house and later became famous as a gathering place for political debate before the American Revolution.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Boston
  23. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
    48 1 hr 30 min

    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum occupies historic hangars on Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor. The museum preserves and interprets aviation history related to the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and broader Pacific aviation heritage.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Honolulu
  24. Broadway Theatre District Broadway Theatre District
    49 2 hours

    Broadway Theatre District

    The Broadway Theatre District is a concentrated zone of commercial theatres in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is the epicentre of professional English-language theatre in the United States.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • New York
  25. Chinatown Chinatown
    50 2 hours

    Chinatown

    Chinatown in San Francisco is one of the oldest and most established Chinatowns in North America. It emerged during the mid-nineteenth century and remains a nationally important historic district.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • San Francisco

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.