A photograph of United States

Country guide

Places to visit in United States — page 12

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. East Potomac Park East Potomac Park
    276 1 hour

    East Potomac Park

    East Potomac Park is a peninsula park in Washington, D.C., extending into the Potomac River south of the Tidal Basin and the National Mall. Water surrounds several sides of the park, giving the landscape a distinctly open waterfront character.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  2. Fort Mason Fort Mason
    277 1 hour

    Fort Mason

    Fort Mason is a former United States Army post located in San Francisco, California. The National Park Service now manages the site as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • San Francisco
  3. Lincoln Park Lincoln Park
    278 1 hour

    Lincoln Park

    Lincoln Park is a public green space on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. It is one of the city's oldest parks and carries the name of President Abraham Lincoln.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Washington
  4. USS Cassin Young USS Cassin Young
    279 1 hr 30 min

    USS Cassin Young

    USS Cassin Young is a preserved Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, now a museum ship at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts. The vessel saw service in World War II and the Korean War.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Boston
  5. Little Island @Pier55 Little Island @Pier55
    280 1 hour

    Little Island @Pier55

    Little Island

    Little Island at Pier 55 is an artificial island park in the Hudson River, connected to Manhattan's West Side. The structure sits on tulip-shaped concrete pilings rising from the water, creating an elevated landscape above the river.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  6. Museum of the Bible Museum of the Bible
    281 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of the Bible

    The Museum of the Bible is a large museum in Washington, D.C. dedicated to examining the Bible's history, narrative, and cultural influence. It opened in 2017 near the National Mall.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Washington
  7. National Postal Museum National Postal Museum
    282 1 hr 30 min

    National Postal Museum

    The National Postal Museum is a Smithsonian Institution museum dedicated to the history of the United States Postal Service and philately. Located adjacent to Union Station in Washington, D.C., it occupies the historic City Post Office building constructed in 1914.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Washington
  8. African Meeting House African Meeting House
    283 45 min

    African Meeting House

    The African Meeting House is a historic church building on Beacon Hill in Boston, Massachusetts. Constructed in 1806, it is recognized as the oldest extant Black church building in the United States.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Boston
  9. Miami-Dade County Courthouse Miami-Dade County Courthouse
    284 45 min

    Miami-Dade County Courthouse

    The Miami-Dade County Courthouse is a historic government building in downtown Miami, Florida. It serves as a functioning courthouse for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Miami
  10. Old Corner Bookstore Old Corner Bookstore
    285 45 min

    Old Corner Bookstore

    Old Corner Bookstore Building

    The Old Corner Bookstore is a historic commercial building in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It stands at the intersection of Washington and School Streets in the colonial core of the city.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Boston
  11. Roosevelt Island Tramway Roosevelt Island Tramway
    286 1 hour

    Roosevelt Island Tramway

    The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway in New York City. It spans the East River, connecting Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. The system operates as a public transit option alongside the subway.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  12. Wrigley Building Wrigley Building
    287 2 hours

    Wrigley Building

    The Wrigley Building is a prominent office building and Chicago landmark located on the Near North Side, directly across Michigan Avenue from the Tribune Tower.

    • High
    • Activity
    • Chicago
  13. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
    288 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
  14. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn Botanic Garden
    289 1 hour

    Brooklyn Botanic Garden

    Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. It occupies land within Prospect Park's vicinity and serves as a cultural and educational institution focused on horticulture, conservation, and environmental education.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • New York
  15. Painted Ladies Painted Ladies
    290 45 min

    Painted Ladies

    The Painted Ladies are a famous row of Victorian and Edwardian houses on Steiner Street, facing Alamo Square in San Francisco. Their layered colours highlight gables, bay windows, trim and other architectural details.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • San Francisco
  16. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
    291 1 hr 30 min

    Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

    The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is a major film museum in Los Angeles tied to the Academy Awards institution. It opened to the public as a dedicated institution for celebrating and exploring the art and science of cinema.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Los Angeles
  17. Pérez Art Museum Miami Pérez Art Museum Miami
    292 1 hr 30 min

    Pérez Art Museum Miami

    Pérez Art Museum Miami is a waterfront museum in Maurice A. Ferré Park, where architecture, terraces and views across Biscayne Bay frame a collection devoted to modern and contemporary art.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Miami
  18. The Broad The Broad
    293 1 hr 30 min

    The Broad

    The Broad Museum

    The museum opened in 2015 to house the collection assembled by Eli and Edythe Broad. The Broad collection is particularly associated with artists working in the second half of the twentieth century and after.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Los Angeles
  19. Adams National Historical Park Adams National Historical Park
    294 1 hr 30 min

    Adams National Historical Park

    Adams National Historical Park is a National Park Service unit preserving the homes and grounds associated with the Adams family in Quincy, Massachusetts, within the Boston visitor-metro area.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Boston
  20. Eames House Eames House
    295 1 hr 30 min

    Eames House

    The Eames House, also known as Case Study House No. 8, is a landmark modernist residence in Los Angeles, California.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Los Angeles
  21. Louis Armstrong House Louis Armstrong House
    296 1 hr 30 min

    Louis Armstrong House

    Louis Armstrong House Museum

    The Louis Armstrong House Museum preserves the Corona, Queens home where Louis Armstrong and his wife, Lucille, lived from 1943 until Armstrong’s death in 1971.

    • High
    • Museum
    • New York
  22. Michigan Avenue Bridge Michigan Avenue Bridge
    297 1 hr 30 min

    Michigan Avenue Bridge

    McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

    McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum occupies the historic bridgehouse at the Michigan Avenue Bridge, now known as the DuSable Bridge, over the Chicago River.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Chicago
  23. Paul Revere House Paul Revere House
    298 1 hr 30 min

    Paul Revere House

    The Paul Revere House is Boston's best-preserved Revolutionary-era house museum. Built around 1680, this wooden structure in the North End is the oldest surviving building in downtown Boston.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Boston
  24. President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home
    299 1 hr 30 min

    President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home

    President Lincoln's Cottage

    President Lincoln's Cottage is a historic house museum on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. It served as Abraham Lincoln's seasonal residence during his presidency, offering retreat from the White House.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Washington
  25. Riverside Church Riverside Church
    300 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

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.