is tourist sites

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Attractions
• Landmarks + Monuments

The World's Most-visited Tourist Attractions

Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey.

For nearly 500 years, the emperors living within Beijing's opulent Forbidden City dictated who could enter and leave. Well, the gates have opened, and tourists are pouring in to see it all for themselves. Attendance is up by 2.5 million since 2010.

The Forbidden City is a dream destination for some Americans, but most have never researched a trip to Everland or Lotte World. Yet these South Korean theme parks also rank among the world's 50 most-visited tourist attractions—beating out the Eiffel Tower (nearly 7 million), the Great Pyramids (4 million), and Stonehenge (1 million). And there are more surprises.

Where we choose to spend our vacation time says a lot about what we value. Despite—or perhaps because of—what the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) calls "global economic challenges," more travelers are hitting the road than ever. International tourist arrivals increased by five percent in 2013, according to the UNWTO. That translates to a record of more than one billion trips. With its population of 1.36 billion, China has become the second-largest exporter of tourists. Russia, now the fifth-largest outbound market, increased travel spending by 26 percent.

Like it or not, theme parks clearly have worldwide appeal. France's Disneyland Park draws about the same number of visitors (10.5 million) as Sacré Coeur, and four of the world's 20 most-visited tourist attractions are Disney parks.

Many inspiring and iconic places can't quite keep up. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum narrowly missed the top 50, as did the British Museum in London (6.7 million), the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (6.3 million), and the Roman Colosseum and Forum (5.1 million each). The Berlin Wall Memorial Site logged only 500,000 visitors in 2013, though extra crowds arrived in November 2014 for the 25th anniversary of its fall.

Accessibility can be a factor. It takes extra effort to reach Yellowstone National Park (3.2 million) or the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China (4.8 million). And Peru's Machu Picchu has restricted tourism to help maintain the site's integrity; only 2,500 can enter per day, or 912,500 per year.

So what is the most-visited tourist attraction in the world? And can 91 million people be wrong? Read on to see the results—and an explanation of our methods for calculating it all.

Julie Bang/Travel + Leisure

The Methodology: To tally up the world's most-visited attractions, we gathered the most recent data supplied by the attractions themselves or from government agencies, industry reports, and reputable media outlets. In most cases, it was 2013 data. Attractions that don't sell tickets gave us estimates as best they could.

We defined "tourist attractions" as cultural and historical sites, natural landmarks, and officially designated spaces. So Boston's shop-filled Faneuil Hall Marketplace (est. 1742) made the cut, but not Minnesota's Mall of America, which, with 40 million annual visitors, would otherwise have tied for No. 4. Short walkways and plazas also fit our definition of tourist attractions; that disqualified the Blue Ridge Parkway. We also omitted beaches, bridges, and sites that draw almost exclusively religious pilgrims.

Reported by Kate Appleton, Rich Beattie, Adrien Glover, Lyndsey Matthews, April Orcutt, Joshua Pramis, and Ann Shields

No. 1 Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Annual Visitors: 91,250,000

Hand-painted ceramics, lanterns, intricately patterned carpets, copperware, gold Byzantine-style jewelry, and more eye-catching products vie for your attention within this 15th-century bazaar's vaulted walkways. It has since expanded and become increasingly touristy, but locals, too, are among the millions of bargain hunters. To haggle like a pro, lowball your starting offer and don't be afraid to walk away. And if it all gets overwhelming, break for a succulent doner kebab or strong cup of Turkish coffee.

Source: Grand Bazaar management

No. 2 The Zócalo, Mexico City

Jorge Castro/Travel + Leisure

Annual Visitors: 85,000,000

Formally known as the Plaza de la Constitución, the enormous Zócalo thrums with activity. It hosts military parades, cultural and political events, concerts, exhibitions, fairs, and public art installations. Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace flank this historic public square, and an imposing Mexican flag, raised and lowered daily, waves over the scene.

Source: Mexico Tourism Board

No. 3 Times Square, New York City

Annual Visitors: 50,000,000

Tourists flock to New York 's neon heart for the flashing lights, Broadway shows, megastores, and sheer spectacle—including costumed characters eager to pose for photo ops. Pedestrian-only areas with café tables introduced a few years ago have made it easier and more appealing to hang out here. Times Square can even be a convenient, if chaotic, base, thanks to hotels at every price point and easy access to public transportation: subways, rails, buses, and more yellow taxis than you can count.

Source: The Times Square Alliance

No. 4 (tie) Central Park, New York City

Annual Visitors: 40,000,000

New York has larger green spaces, but none is more famous than Central Park , which stretches across nearly 850 acres of prime Manhattan real estate—an oasis for both tourists and locals. You can ride in one of the horse-drawn carriages, check out the modest-size zoo, climb to the top of 19th-century Belvedere Castle, or take a break from pounding the pavement to sprawl on the Great Lawn, gazing at the skyscrapers above.

Source: Central Park Conservancy

No. 4 (tie) Union Station, Washington, D.C.

Opened in 1907, this busy station shuttles some 12,500 passengers daily in and out of Washington, D.C. But it also handles millions of tourists who pass through to take in the impeccably mixed architectural styles throughout the colossal building: from Classical to Beaux-Arts to Baroque. More than 70 retail outlets make Union Station a shopping destination, and it's also a jumping-off point for many D.C. tours.

Source: Union Station

No. 6 Las Vegas Strip

Annual Visitors: 30,500,000

In 2013, 77 percent of Vegas tourists—30.5 million—chose to stay at hotels right on the four-mile-long Strip. And why not? Roll out of bed and onto the Strip to catch the Bellagio fountains in action, shop, gamble, and, of course, people-watch (which can get especially fun later at night). For a cool new vantage point, hop aboard the High Roller , a 550-foot-tall Ferris wheel that debuted in March 2014. It's part of Linq, a flashy 300,000-square-foot shopping and entertainment complex by Caesars.

Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

No. 7 (tie) Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo

Annual Visitors: 30,000,000

Built more than 100 years ago to honor the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, this Shinto shrine in bustling Tokyo is a peaceful haven surrounded by a holy forest of more than 100,000 trees. Seasonal gardens feature spring azaleas, summer irises, brilliant autumn leaves on Japanese maples and ginkgos, and black pines dusted with winter snow.

Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

No. 7 (tie) Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo

Tokyo's oldest temple was dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon, the most compassionate Buddha, in 628. Dramatic nighttime illumination highlights vermilion and crimson detailing in the Five-Storied Pagoda. Continuing centuries-long tradition, stalls along the temple's Nakamise Street sell food and goods to pilgrims, whose numbers swell around New Year's.

No. 9 Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario

Annual Visitors: 22,000,000

Straddling the border of the U.S. and Canada, three massive waterfalls, together called Niagara Falls , spill about 6 million cubic feet of water—from a maximum vertical drop of 165 feet—every minute. While there are about 500 taller waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is spectacular for its sheer power. It's also more accessible than many major falls, a short flight or drive for millions of regional tourists.

Source: Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp./Canadian Tourism Commission

No. 10 Grand Central Terminal, New York City

Annual Visitors : 21,600,00

Unlike harried commuters, visitors take their time in the main concourse of this Beaux-Arts landmark , pausing to view its glittering ceiling painted with a map of the constellations from the night sky. Shops, an annual holiday market, special events, and restaurants also attract attention. Two of the grandest venues are the Campbell Apartment, serving craft cocktails, and the historic Oyster Bar —featured on AMC's Mad Men —which shucks 2 million fresh bivalves a year.

Source: Grand Central Terminal

No. 11 Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

Annual Visitors: 20,000,000

The Old Basilica , begun in the 16th century and completed in 1709, stands in stark contrast to the massive new basilica, designed by the Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, which was built in the mid-1970s and looks like a sports arena. It is, in fact, intended to hold 50,000 people, who come for mass—celebrated several times a day—and to see an image of the Virgin Mary that is said to have appeared on an apron in 1531.

No. 12 Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Orlando, FL

Annual Visitors: 18,588,000

The Most Magical Place on Earth is high on virtually every family's to-do list and remains the most-visited theme park on the earth. Expanded Fantasyland now includes the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train family-style roller coaster and a chance to meet Anna and Elsa from the smash-hit Frozen in the Princess Fairytale Hall near Cinderella Castle. Time-tested attractions include the Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain, the daily Disney character parade down Main Street, USA, and a fireworks spectacular that lights up the sky many nights.

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

No. 13 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston

Annual Visitors: 18,000,000

Dating back to 1742, Faneuil Hall ("the Cradle of Liberty") once hosted speeches by such greats as Samuel Adams and George Washington. Today, the downtown marketplace has more than 100 specialty shops and eateries and occupies a pedestrian-only, cobblestoned area that swarms with tourists and street performers. Each winter, Faneuil Hall also hosts Boston's tallest Christmas tree, along with festive light displays and choirs.

Source: Faneuil Hall Marketplace

No. 14 Tokyo Disneyland

Annual Visitors: 17,214,000

Disney's Tokyo outpost has become the second most-visited theme park in the world (beating out Anaheim, CA's Disneyland, which held that title in 2010). It shares the sweetness of the original parks' Fantasyland with Peter Pan's Flight and Dumbo the Flying Elephant as well as Tomorrowland's Space Mountain and Star Tours—The Adventures Continue. A musical soundtrack and other renovations have improved the Adventureland classic: Jungle Cruise Wildlife Expedition, while a new after-dark night cruise promises more surprises.

No. 15 Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA

Annual Visitors: 16,202,000

Though not as massive as its Orlando counterpart, the original Disney park , which occupies about 85 acres of land, has retro charm and some better features. Here the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction lasts almost twice as long and ends in a humid southern bayou with fireflies (instead of a gift shop). The Indiana Jones Adventure ride careens over lava, past swarms of beetles, and under that 16-foot rolling boulder. Thrill-seekers will also appreciate that the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has reopened.

No. 16 Forbidden City, Beijing

Annual Visitors: 15,340,000

It doesn't have a street address—which is only fitting for a place that was once considered the center of the universe. Nowadays, tourists swarm this 178-acre walled compound of opulent halls, gardens, and winged pavilions. Attendance is up by 2.5 million since 2010. It can easily take half a day to explore the grounds, and history buffs will appreciate the self-guided audio tour—or a hired guide.

Source: Forbidden City Palace Museum and China Odyssey Tours

No. 17 Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco

Annual Visitors: 14,289,121

Beaches, cliffs, hills, forts, and towering redwood trees make up the Golden Gate National Recreation Area , easily accessible from San Francisco. Many visitors come to embrace the outdoors, whether hiking, biking, swimming, birding, riding horses, or whale-watching. But this scenic area is also rich in history and includes landmarks like Alcatraz prison and the Presidio, an 18th-century military post. You can even base yourself within the recreation area; Cavallo Point's rooms and suites occupy restored turn-of-the-20th-century Colonial Revival buildings that overlook San Francisco Bay .

Source: National Park Service

No. 18 Tokyo DisneySea

Annual Visitors: 14,084,000

DisneySea , the companion park to Tokyo Disneyland overlooking Tokyo Bay, took inspiration from aquatic myths, legends and the lore of the sea. Divided into seven "ports of call," the park emphasizes water attractions with Venetian gondolas, a Mermaid Lagoon, a journey to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and an Aquatopia with quirky boats in a sea of rocks, whirlpools and water spouts. But it's not all fountains and bubbles—the park also has scary rides like the Tower of Terror, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull.

No. 19 Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Annual Visitors: 14,000,000

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture—all soaring buttresses, crouching gargoyles, and magnificent rose windows— Notre Dame has survived attacks of Huguenots, sansculottes, occupying armies, and questionable renovations since its completion in 1345. In spite of its often violent past, visitors flock to the cathedral for the hushed peace and reflection it provides, even in the midst of Paris.

Source: Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency

No. 20 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Annual Visitors: 13,000,000

Cascading three miles from the Panhandle down to the Pacific, Golden Gate Park serves as playground and haven for this diverse city. The park's offerings include museums (the de Young Museum and the Academy of Sciences), botanical wonders (the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, a rhododendron forest, and more than 75,000 trees, among others), sporting fields and courts, playgrounds, and even a small herd of buffalo.

Source: San Francisco Recreation & Park Department

No. 21 Balboa Park, San Diego

Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure

Annual Visitors: 12,000,000 to 14,000,000

Balboa Park's 1,200 acres form a mini-city with 15 accredited museums, 19 gardens, nine performing arts groups, a miniature railroad, a golf course, tennis courts, lawn bowling, a gymnasium, a historic carousel, and a Super Sonic Samba School. Not to mention the world-famous San Diego Zoo , with three crowd-pleasing giant pandas. Balboa Park also features the Spreckels Organ, whose 4,518 pipes range from the size of a pencil to 32 feet tall.

Source: Balboa Park

No. 22 South Street Seaport, New York City

Annual Visitors: 12,000,000

This 12-block historic East River site in Lower Manhattan dates back to the 1600s, and its cobblestoned streets are packed with shops and restaurants. Pier 17 will reopen in 2016 after undergoing extensive renovation. Commercialism aside, the history runs deep here and is perhaps best experienced on one of the two 1800s tall-masted schooners the South Street Seaport Museum maintains. Go for a sunset sail with Gotham as a backdrop.

Source: The Howard Hughes Corporation

No. 23 San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio, TX

Annual Visitors: 11,500,000

Cypress-lined cobble-and-flagstone paths meander for four miles along both sides of the narrow San Antonio River. Locals and visitors come to the River Walk's horseshoe-shaped loop downtown to browse shops and hang out at restaurants like Boudro's for a prickly-pear margarita and guacamole prepared tableside. The Museum Reach river walk section stretches an additional 1.7 miles north, past art installations under every bridge and the San Antonio Museum of Art.

Source: San Antonio River Walk (Paseo del Rio)

No. 24 Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure

Annual Visitors: 11,229,000

Built to honor the late Walt Disney's utopian ideal of the innovative future (the name is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), Epcot attracts guests who skew a little older than those of its neighbor, the Magic Kingdom. Restaurants are aimed at more sophisticated palates, and annual celebrations include a flower and garden show and an international food and wine festival. Perennial favorite rides like Soarin', Mission: SPACE, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends keep the kids and kids-at-heart happy. Expect visits to the Norway pavilion to spike when a Frozen -themed ride debuts in 2016.

No. 25 St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Italy

Annual Visitors: 11,000,000

One of the holiest Catholic sites, St. Peter's Basilica teems with ornate gold, marble columns, paintings of angels, iconic statues, and works created by a who's who of Renaissance artists, including Raphael, Brunelleschi, Bernini, and Michelangelo, who sculpted the marble Pietà and designed the massive dome. For a nominal fee, you can climb 320 steps to the top and soak up the most famous panorama of Rome.

Source: Italian Government Tourist Board

No. 26 Great Wall of China

Annual Visitors: 10,720,000 (Badaling and Mutianyu areas combined)

Once used as a wartime defense, the Great Wall winds "like a dragon tail" from eastern China to western, spanning some 5,500 miles. While much of what is visible today was built during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), construction began on various sections as far back as 770 B.C. Credit goes to the million slaves and prisoners of war who carried blocks of granite, bricks, stones, and dirt on their backs up to the top of the ridgelines. The Badaling section, closest to Beijing, draws the biggest crowds. Word has gotten out, inspiring some travelers to make the longer drive to the more serene Mutianyu section.

Source: National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China and China Odyssey Tours

No. 27 Sacré Coeur Basilica, Paris

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Annual Visitors: 10,500,000

Sacré Coeur lures visitors to the summit of Montmartre for a litany of reasons—while some come to pray and meditate, most come for the remarkable 360-degree views of the City of Light from its highest vantage point. The construction of the basilica, which started in 1871, was intended to restore peace to a site stained by violence during the Paris Commune.

No. 28 Disneyland Park, Marne-la-Vallée, France

Annual Visitors: 10,430,000

When Disney's first European theme park opened in 1992, many French protested the "cultural imperialism" of such an American symbol opening 40 minutes outside of Paris. Today it's one of the most-visited locations in Europe. So be prepared to queue for popular rides like It's a Small World, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast. A 3D ride inspired by the film Ratatouille opened in 2014; enter through a replica of Gusteau's restaurant.

No. 29 Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Annual Visitors: 10,198,000

Since 1998, this animal-themed park has successfully marketed Mickey Mouse and silverback gorillas under one all-inclusive "roof." If it has four legs or wings or a tail, chances are you'll find it at this zoo/museum/school theme park. Don't miss the Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, or the 14-story Tree of Life sculpture carved with some 325 animals. Fun fact: at one point park creators also wanted to include a section for mythological creatures called "Beastly Kingdom."

No. 30 Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Annual Visitors: 10,110,000

Disney describes this park (est. 1989) as " the Hollywood that never was and always will be ." Laid out much like a real-life motion picture studio, with a 154-acre network of streets and buildings and miniature replicas of famous landmarks, it showcases the golden age of film. But most kids make a beeline to Toy Story Midway Mania! at Pixar Place and Star Tours—The Adventures Continue.

No. 31 Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan

Annual Visitors: 10,100,000

Opened in 2001 and a near twin to its Orlando sibling—albeit one with more sushi— this popular movie theme park is one of four operated by Universal in Japan. Highlights include a Jaws -like shark encounter, Jurassic Park roller-coaster ride, Sesame Street in 4-D, and now the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Interesting fact: investment banking firm Goldman Sachs is the park's largest shareholder.

No. 32 Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood, CA

Annual Visitors: 10,000,000 to 12,000,000

Nothing says Hollywood like the (literally) star-studded Walk of Fame , with each star bearing the name of a celebrity with enough cachet to be immortalized on the street. That means stars from James Dean and Marilyn Monroe to, more recently, Tina Fey and Neil Patrick Harris.

Source: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

No. 33 Pike Place Market, Seattle

Annual Visitors: 10,000,000

One of the oldest continually operating farmers' markets in the U.S. (est. 1907), this nine-acre National Historic District is famous for kitschy Seattle souvenirs, salmon-throwing fishmongers, and its "gum wall" installation art. The many seafood restaurants include Market Grill and Emmett Watson's for oysters. It's just down the street from one of the original Starbucks—complete with an early-edition logo featuring a more, er, risqué mermaid.

Source: Pike Place Market

No. 34 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

Annual Visitors: 9,345,695

Originally Cherokee homeland, America's most-visited national park first opened in 1940 and covers some 520,000 acres of protected Tennessee and North Carolina forestland that's bisected by the Appalachian Trail. Whether hiking Chimney Tops (or any of the 800 miles of trails) or driving the super-scenic U.S. Highway 441, visitors are sure to get an eyeful of the mystical haze that inspired the park's name. To escape the crowds, park ranger Caitlin Worth recommends heading to Balsam Mountain Road, a high-elevation gravel road accessible from the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

No. 35 Musée du Louvre, Paris

Annual Visitors: 9,334,000

The world's largest museum is both the subject of ongoing architectural controversy—not everyone agrees with the 1989 addition of I. M. Pei's 69-foot-high glass pyramid entrance—and an art-lover's wonderland of some 35,000 masterworks. Throngs parade through the former 12th-century palace to see such famous highlights as Leonardo da Vinci's smiling La Gioconda , a.k.a. Mona Lisa —a painting that, rumor has it, was originally commissioned by François I to hang in his château at Fontainebleau. And the crush of visitors continues to increase, up about 10 percent since 2010. One tip: avoid peak crowds by timing your arrival to Wednesday or Friday evening, when the museum is open until 9:45 p.m.

No. 36 Navy Pier, Chicago

Annual Visitors: 8,900,000

While the USS Chicago —docked at the end of the pier—is a reminder of its World War I military past, this bustling Lake Michigan promenade now caters to civilians with a mix of carnival rides, dancing fountains, trinket stalls, an IMAX theater, and local food favorites Garrett Popcorn and Billy Goat Tavern. Don't miss the exceptional stained-glass museum featuring colorful works by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Source: Navy Pier

No. 37 Disney's California Adventure, Anaheim, CA

Annual Visitors: 8,514,000

Cars Land, a 12-acre real-life rendition of Radiator Springs from the films that pay homage to Route 66 and retro-cars culture, remains a big draw at Disney's California Adventure . Guests "racing" in the Radiator Springs Racers attraction never know which car will get the checkered flag. Most fun, though, is still Soarin' Over California, a simulated hang-glider flight over the Golden State complete with motion, wind, and the sweet scent of orange blossoms.

No. 38 Sydney Opera House, Sydney

Annual Visitors: 8,200,000

With its dramatic cantilevered roof and harbor setting, the Sydney Opera House is easily Australia's most recognizable landmark—and its most visited. Few tourists leave Sydney without at least stopping here for a photo op. But you can do much more: go backstage for a tour, attend one of the 40-plus weekly performances, and watch the sun set over the city and Sydney Harbour Bridge from the alfresco Opera Bar. Make your grand exit on the scenic Manly Ferry, which passes right by.

Source: Sydney Opera House

No. 39 Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando, FL

Number of Visitors: 8,141,000

Hogwarts fans went hog wild when Islands of Adventure opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010, and the attendance numbers continue to reflect Harry's magic touch. Shops, restaurants (The Three Broomsticks), and rides are all branded with the boy wizard; nonbelievers can find rides themed with Marvel superheroes and other trademarked characters. The Jurassic Park River Adventure, for instance, is a hairy river-raft ride with a terrifying T. rex attack, set in a habitat for animatronic dinosaurs.

No. 40 (tie) Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.

Annual Visitors: 8,000,000

Dinosaur fossils, a huge stuffed elephant, and an insect zoo have been wowing kids for generations (and for free). The 126-million-item collection even includes the notorious Hope Diamond. But this National Mall favorite continues to innovate, in the last few years opening the Ocean Hall and the ambitious Hall of Human Origins, where visitors come face-to-face with specimens and models of their ancestors.

No. 40 (tie) Grand Palace, Bangkok

Number of Visitors: 8,000,000

The gold-spired Grand Palace in Bangkok is one of Thailand's most important sacred sites. The riverfront complex, built in 1782, housed Thai kings for 150 years. The Outer Court serves as the visitor entrance today; the Center Court was the king's residence; and the Inner Court, the quarters of his consorts and daughters. Keep an eye out for Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, located near the Outer Court.

Source: Thailand Tourist Services

No. 40 (tie) Pier 39, San Francisco

Melissa Zink/Travel + Leisure

Of course it's corny—replete with candy shops, T-shirt emporiums, stuffed animals, and fried food—but this tourist magnet at the edge of Fisherman's Wharf offers great views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Perhaps the wooden pier's biggest attraction is the noisy community of sea lions that bark and bask on the docks. Aquarium of the Bay is by the pier's entrance.

Source: PIER 39

No. 43 Palace of Versailles, France

Annual Visitors: 7,527,122

King Louis XIV did a pretty nice job redoing a place that started out as a mere hunting lodge and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's so nice, in fact, that people willingly trade a day in Paris cafés for the experience of wandering Versailles' hallways, like the gilded Hall of Mirrors—the best place to channel your inner Sun King.

No. 44 Ocean Park, Hong Kong

Annual Visitors: 7,475,000

Sure, there are roller coasters, but this 40-acre theme park stands out for attractions that are more down to earth. There's Panda Village, where, despite the name, visitors come to see playful otters; Pacific Pier, where you can feed seals and sea lions; and the Sea Jelly Spectacular, where you can marvel at some 1,000 jellyfish, including many phosphorescent species. A mountain divides the park, which you can navigate by bus, train, even cable car. (It's a bus ride away from central Hong Kong.)

No. 45 Bourbon Street, New Orleans

Annual Visitors: 7,470,000

You'd have to be a pretty big curmudgeon for Bourbon Street not to put you in a good mood. Free-flowing music and booze might have something to do with it. Restaurants and bars pack this historic strip of the French Quarter; Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is even rumored to be haunted. Of course, if you really like crowds, grab your mask and join the Mardi Gras circus.

Source: New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau

No. 46 National Museum of China, Beijing

Annual Visitors: 7,450,000

This museum on Tiananmen Square measures 2.07 million square feet—surpassing New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2 million square feet—and reopened in 2011 after a decade-long renovation. It presents 5,000 years of Chinese history, as approved by the Ministry of Culture. (In other words, don't expect much on the Great Leap Forward.) Artifacts include ancient Chinese Buddhist sculptures, a cowboy hat Deng Xiaoping wore on a visit to the U.S., and glazed pottery from the Tang dynasty. The museum also hosts temporary shows on subjects ranging from Leo Tolstoy to African art.

No. 47 (tie) Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong

Annual Visitors: 7,400,000

Hong Kong Disneyland features tried-and-true crowd-pleasers like Sleeping Beauty's castle and Space Mountain as well as the recent additions of Mystic Point (2013), Grizzly Gulch (2012) and Toy Story Land (2011), increasing the park's size in the last three years by 25 percent. What sets this park apart from the others? It was designed according to the Chinese rules of feng shui in a nod to local culture. It also has a dedicated stop on Hong Kong's efficient metro.

No. 47 (tie) Lotte World, Seoul

The world's largest indoor theme park is just the beginning of a complex that seems as big as Seoul itself. An outdoor amusement park, a folk museum, theaters, malls, an aquarium, and other venues round it out, along with—of course—plenty of karaoke machines.

No. 49 Everland, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea

Annual Visitors: 7,303,000

Everland amusement park in South Korea has been thrilling kids since 1973 and knows how to keep them coming. The park is divided into themed sections that range from American Adventure (a rodeo experience, a wildly swinging Columbus ship) to Zoo-Topia (Amazon River ride, Safari World). It holds the record for the world's steepest wooden roller coaster.

No. 50 Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Annual Visitors: 7,000,000 to 8,000,000

The Taj Mahal is a graceful tribute to eternal love—a mausoleum that a 17th-century Moghul emperor built for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Gardens and reflecting pools with fountains lead to the mausoleum made of white marble with inlaid flower patterns made of semiprecious stones. The number of visitors has more than doubled since 2010 (when it welcomed 3 million).

Source: Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

The 20 top tourist attractions in the USA

Discover the top tourist attractions in the USA, from national-park essentials to iconic structures to must-see streets

Visiting popular tourist attractions can often mean navigating long lines and crowds—essentially, a lot of work for an experience that sometimes doesn't live up to the hype. While some attractions may be a bust, specific landmarks across the United States are well worth the effort. 

The top tourist attractions in the USA span from coast to coast, including iconic  buildings  like the national monuments in Washington DC, must-stroll neighborhoods  like the French Quarter in New Orleans,  unique landmarks  like the Space Needle in Seattle, or sights within breathtaking national parks .

We have rounded up the top U.S. tourist attractions you should add to your bucket list. In your quest to check them off your list, make a trip out of it and book one of the best hotels in America . And if you’re looking for a bit more travel inspiration, check out the best places to visit in the USA right now.

An email you’ll actually love

Top tourist attractions in the USA

1.  National Mall | Washington DC

Immaculately maintained by the National Park Service, the National Mall and Memorial Parks feature more than 1,000 acres of must-see monuments, sites and green space. While the Washington Monument towers above all else—quite literally, the city doesn’t zone for buildings taller than the marble icon—the Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial are just as magnificent. Though it will take a full day (or two) to see the National Mall, set aside some time to peruse through some of  Washington, D.C.’s top museums .

2.  Niagara Falls | New York State

Situated on the border of New York and Canada, the three waterfalls (Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridalveil Falls) have the combined highest flow rate of any waterfall worldwide. Their impressive force is nothing short of awe-worthy. A top tourist destination since the 19th century, the unstoppable beauty and charm of Niagara Falls  make it a memorable and unique landmark. 

3.  The French Quarter | New Orleans, LA

The oldest corner of New Orleans remains its most charming attraction. Walk down famous Bourbon Street to enjoy jazz, great nightlife and tons of food. While you travel on a streetcar between destinations, pay close attention to the spectacular architecture. And no trip to the French Quarter would be complete without a taste of authentic Cajun grub or a stop to pay your respects in the Cities of the Dead. 

4.  Statue of Liberty | New York City, NY

Though she may have been born in France, the Statue of Liberty has become synonymous with America and the country’s highest-held values. True, the 151-foot-tall copper monument can be seen up close from aboard the free Staten Island Ferry, but you can also pay your respects in person and even step inside it while on an official tour.

5.  Old Faithful | Yellowstone Park, WY

A cone geyser found in Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful is not entirely as predictable as it once was (it won’t erupt precisely every 74 minutes, for example) yet remains as historically exciting. When erupting, the geothermal feature unleashes more than 3,700 gallons of piping hot water. When you’re done marveling at the spectacle, spend at least a full day exploring the rest of the park.

6.  The Strip | Las Vegas, NV

Immortalized in a seemingly endless amount of movies, the Strip’s bright lights, larger-than-life performers and casinos are burned into our collective subconscious. Whether planning on trying your luck at poker or looking to catch a diva’s residency, the Strip is a top destination for all things entertainment and, yes, a bit of debauchery.

7.  Smithsonian Museums | Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. Located in the heart of this nation's capital, you can explore the  National Air & Space Museum , the National Museum Of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, and many more. The best part? It's all free. The latest addition to the museum line-up, which opened in 2016, is the National Museum of African American History and Culture and is a must-visit. 

8.  The Grand Canyon | Arizona

So, about five to six million years ago, the Colorado River more or less established its route through the Arizona desert. Glacial erosion, meltwater runoff and the simultaneous counter effect of the land slowly rising—as the weight of the glaciers was reduced—ultimately resulted in one of the most spectacular natural wonders on our modest, little blue-green planet. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, varies between four and 18 miles wide and has a maximum depth of 6,000 feet. There are hotels and restaurants in key locations, but for the most part, you should visit and marvel at how incredible this world is—you know, before we ruin it.

9.  J. Paul Getty Museum | Los Angeles, CA

The Getty brings visitors from across the country and around the world to California. The $1 billion facility, designed by internationally renowned architect Richard Meier, features travertine and white-metal pavilions highlighting the complex’s futuristic frame. Inside, find one of the most exciting art collections—including Medieval manuscripts, paintings by Van Gogh and Monet, and modern sculptures.

10.  Kennedy Space Center | Orlando, FL

If you’ve always dreamed of working in outer space, this is your chance to see and touch models of space shuttles, rockets, satellites, tools and mission control rooms. The simulators and explorable modules will make you feel like an actual astronaut—though if you wonder just how much the experience compares to the real deal, you can meet one of those brave scientists in person at the Astronaut Encounter Theater.

11.  Golden Gate Bridge | San Francisco, CA

Name a more iconic bridge—we'll wait. There's a reason the Golden Gate Bridge is so famous. With its vibrant international orange color and spanning from San Francisco to the Marin headlines, stands as a symbol of the West. There are countless ways to take in the stunning bridge views: head to a beach (try Baker Beach), head to the new Presidio Tunnel Tops Park, go to a vista overlook, or get up close and personal by crossing the bridge by foot or bike. A trip to San Francisco isn't complete until you get a picture with the Golden Gate in the background.

12.  Little Havana | Miami, FL

After decades of serving as a home to Cuban exiles, Little Havana has become a must-visit destination in its own right. While out on the town, throw back rum-spiked Caribbean drinks and dance the night away to live rumba and salsa music. The food here is legendary : Cuban sandwiches, Colombian arepas, savory tacos and other Latin American dishes will leave your mouth watering.

13.  Hoover Dam | Nevada

Perhaps the best example of America’s building prowess in the first half of the 20th century, this dam remains a bewildering feat of engineering and labor. Construction started in 1931 and took five years, 5,000 workers and 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete to complete. Today, you can tour the dam and its power plant to learn more about the facility’s history and unique features.

14.  The Gateway Arch | St. Louis, MO

Not only is St. Louis’s premiere attraction the world’s largest arch, but it is also the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. Standing proud at 630ft tall, this metal beauty was built in the mid-20th century as a monument to America’s westward expansion and is meant to signify the connection of the East to the West, honoring the country’s first pioneers. To fully understand this architectural wonder, snag a ticket to the Gateway Arch Tram and ride to the top of the monument.

15.  Mammoth Cave Park | Kentucky

With more than 400 miles explored, the world’s longest known cave system (by far) is in Kentucky and it welcomes any visitor not afraid of the dark or the damp. See the dramatic passages lined with geological formations that might inspire your inner explorer during a guided tour by a park ranger. The tours vary in length but they always include historic details about how the cave system was formed and how people and other creatures have interacted with it. After several hours in the caverns, appreciate the beauty of the clear waters and the untouched nature of the area while on a bike ride or canoe adventure.

16.  Space Needle | Seattle, WA

Like many famous landmarks, Seattle’s iconic Space Needle was built for the World’s Fair, back in 1962 when the theme was “The Age of Space.” Today, it remains one of the most recognizable and photographed landmarks worldwide for its futuristic design. Standing at 605 feet tall, visitors can take an elevator up to the tower’s saucer-shaped top floor with 360-degree views. Recent renovations resulted in a multi-level viewing experience with floor-to-ceiling glass viewing that will make your stomach drop.

17.  Navy Pier | Chicago, IL

Clearly, one of the Midwest’s most popular destinations, Navy Pier is visited by roughly nine million people each year. From excellent shopping opportunities to eateries and, of course, Lake Michigan, the destination offers something for everyone. The little ones will be delighted by the Chicago Children’s Museum , while grown-ups should head to the award-winning Chicago Shakespeare Theater . 

18.  Alcatraz | San Francisco, CA

This formidable fortress in the middle of San Francisco Bay was converted from a lighthouse station to a military prison in the 1870s. However, it found genuine acclaim after being upgraded to a maximum security prison in 1934, home to the early 20th century’s most notorious criminals. Today, the tiny island is only accessible to the public via a ferry from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing. You should plan to spend about three hours soaking up the amazing history and during that time, a self-guided audio cellhouse tour narrated by former inmates and guards will fill you in on harrowing escape attempts, prison riots and the 19-month-long occupation of the site by Native Americans demanding reparation for broken treaties in 1969. 

19.  Venice Beach | Venice, CA

Wedged in between Marina del Ray and Santa Monica, Venice Beach is one of the biggest draws for visitors to Los Angeles. It's firmly established as the bohemian epicenter of Southern California and you won't find a higher concentration of recognizable landmarks from film and TV anywhere else in Los Angeles. At weekends, during the summer, it gets pretty packed, but that just adds to the slightly chaotic atmosphere. Street acts add a carnival feel to the proceedings, plus, of course, the beach is just a few feet away. Try Hinano Cafe  for a great burger in a back-to-basics, spit 'n sawdust setting and the newly refurbished Pier House for classic cocktails as the sun sets over the Pacific.

20.  Alamo Mission | San Antonio, TX

Most Americans know the phrase 'Remember the Alamo' even if they’re not exactly sure what transpired at the 18th-century Spanish mission. Later secularized and used as a fortress, 1836 the Alamo was the site of a bloody and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution between Texas’s early Anglo settlers and Mexico (the latter won). One of the most visited historic sites in the country today, the fort welcomes about three million visitors annually. 

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Copyright agent
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

Touropia Travel Experts

Discover the World

25 Top Tourist Attractions in the USA

As one of the largest and most diverse countries in the world, The United States boast an amazing amount of tourist destinations ranging from the skyscrapers of New York and Chicago, the natural wonders of Yellowstone and Alaska to the sunny beaches of California , Florida and Hawaii.

With so many tourist attractions in the USA it’s tempting to list entire cities or even states, but in this top 25 I have tried to focus on specific attractions.

25. Mount Rushmore [SEE MAP]

Perhaps the most unmistakably American landmark is Mount Rushmore, a national memorial located in South Dakota. Constructed in the early 20th century, Mount Rushmore depicts the faces of four former American presidents, each of which is carved and blasted from the side of a rock face.

Visitors can admire the larger-than-life faces of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. The short Presidential Trail at the base of Mount Rushmore provides better views and an interesting perspective on the landmark.

24. Pike Place Market in Seattle [SEE MAP]

Overlooking the waterfront of Elliott Bay in Seattle, Washington, is the Pike Place Market. Opened in 1907, the market is now a historic, iconic part of the city. Pike Place Market is the ultimate place to shop in Seattle, because it is full of the oldest establishments in the region.

There are markets where fresh fish straight from the Puget Sound gets tossed dramatically, cheesemongers who offer tastings of locally made brie and camembert and then there is the site of the original Starbucks coffee shop.

23. Venice Beach in Los Angeles [SEE MAP]

No visit to Los Angeles is complete without a trip to Venice Beach. Its canals and beaches are spectacular, but the biggest hit is undeniably the Venice Beach Boardwalk. This is a truly entertaining spot where street performers juggle, dance, sculpt and sing for passersby.

Shop for souvenirs, grab a refreshing drink and bring some small bills for a stroll on the boardwalk. After stopping to admire a live performer, many visitors tip a dollar or two to show appreciation.

See also: Where to Stay in Los Angeles

22. Mesa Verde [SEE MAP]

The Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado is home to the preserved homes of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Many of these homes, which are carved right from caves and rock faces, date back to the early 13th century.

Today, it is possible to walk beneath the overhanging cliffs and tour these ancient abodes. The Balcony House is especially well preserved, and it boasts 40 rooms that are accessible exclusively by ladder. The nearby Cliff Palace is even bigger, and it is believed to have housed more than 100 people in its 150 original rooms.

21. Faneuil Hall in Boston [SEE MAP]

One of the most historic destinations in Boston, a city already full of heritage, is Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Also known as the Cradle of Liberty, this early 18th century structure served as a space where early leaders gathered to fight against oppression in the years before and during the American Revolutionary War.

Today, touring Faneuil Hall Marketplace means lots of opportunity to shop for local produce and desserts in the indoor and outdoor marketplace.

20. Kennedy Space Center [SEE MAP]

Cape Canaveral, located on the coast of Florida, boasts a lot of space-related attractions. One of the best is the Kennedy Space Center, which has been the launch site for every US human space flight since 1968 and currently operates as a launch site for unmanned rockets.

Visitors can learn more about the early pioneers into space, and they can also experience the tension and excitement over the rush to the moon. There is even the chance to participate in the Shuttle Launch Experience, which replicates the experience of space travel.

19. Navy Pier in Chicago [SEE MAP]

Extending over the waters of Lake Michigan is Navy Pier, an enormous pier in the heart of Chicago’s coastal Streeterville neighborhood. Within the pier, there are countless attractions suited to the whole family.

Beautifully manicured gardens are the ideal place for a scenic stroll, and lots of souvenir shops are a wonderful way to snag gifts on a vacation to Chicago. The pier is also home to the Chicago Children’s Museum, two theaters and an abundance of excellent restaurants.

18. Great Smoky Mountains National Park [SEE MAP]

Straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park is the most visited in the entire country, thanks in large part to its enormous size and its incredible scenery.

Visitors can hike through old growth forest, spot hundreds of species of birds and check out the two visitor centers. Hikes can also wind through trails that lead to the waterfalls of Laurel Falls and the vistas of Clingman’s Dome.

17. River Walk in San Antonio [SEE MAP]

In the city of San Antonio, Texas , there are few attractions more appealing than the River Walk. Also known as the Paseo del Rio, the River Walk is a network of walkways lining the San Antonio River.

Reserved for pedestrians, the revitalized area is packed with fascinating architecture, lush greenery and water views. The River Walk is a hub for dining and culinary exploration in this Texan city. It is possible to dig into Tex-Mex cuisine, upscale French fare and everything in between in this one easily navigable destination.

16. Carlsbad Caverns [SEE MAP]

As the name suggests, Carlsbad Caverns is a collection of over 115 caves. Located in southern New Mexico, these caverns are carved from limestone, and it is possible for visitors to descend more than 900 feet (275 meters) below the surface of the earth on a guided tour.

The largest single cave chamber in all of North America is found here and is known as the Big Room. Within the room itself, visitors can set off on a 90-minute walk exploring the incredible underground environment.

15. Bryce Canyon National Park [SEE MAP]

Located in Southern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is a breathtaking display of rock formations. Technically, Bryce Canyon isn’t a canyon, but a series of natural amphitheaters. Mormon settlers once called the canyon home, but now most visitors come for the awe-inspiring views and the magnificent hiking opportunities.

Sunset Point is one of the most popular vantage points, offering panoramic views of the red, yellow and orange rock formations. Queen’s Garden Trail is another favorite, because it offers green trees among the red rocks for a brilliant juxtaposition.

14. French Quarter in New Orleans [SEE MAP]

New Orleans, Louisiana, is made up of several unique districts, but none is so famous as the French Quarter. Also known as the Vieux Carre, the French Quarter truly explores the rich French colonial influences on the city of New Orleans . Incredible architecture abounds, with the St. Louis Cathedral being the main attraction.

The French Quarter boasts the Moon Walk, a paved walkway next to the Mississippi River, as well as Bourbon Street, the undeniable hub of nightlife, drinking and entertainment in the city.

13. Sedona Red Rock Country [SEE MAP]

A two-hour drive north of Phoenix is Sedona, Arizona. Sedona isn’t a big city, but it is a major tourist attraction in the USA thanks to its gorgeous red rock landscape. Known as Red Rock Country, this region is an outdoor lover’s dream. Countless canyons, creeks and paths encourage outdoor activity, with Cathedral Rock Trail being one of the local favorite hiking spots.

One of the most interesting spots in Sedona combines the new with the old, with the contemporary Chapel of the Holy Cross built right into the side of the red rocks themselves.

12. Walt Disney World in Orlando [SEE MAP]

Orlando, Florida , is a hub of amusement parks, but none is so popular as Walt Disney World. Many travelers don’t realize that Walt Disney World is actually made up of several distinct theme parks, including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and the Blizzard Beach Water Park.

Visitors will be able to enjoy thrill rides, watch Broadway-quality shows and explore the nightlife, cuisine, shopping and entertainment at Disney Springs.

11. Yosemite National Park [SEE MAP]

In the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, there is Yosemite National Park. This extraordinary destination is known the world over for its amazing scenery. Within this single park, visitors can peer off spectacular granite cliffs, admire clear waterfalls and see sequoia trees that are hundreds of years old.

Yosemite Valley is a top spot to explore in the park, because it boasts the enormous Yosemite Falls as well as the granite monolith called Half Dome.

10. White House in Washington D.C. [SEE MAP]

The White House in Washington DC is the official residence and office of the President of the United States. It was built between 1792 and 1800 and first used by President John Adams.

After the 9/11 attacks it has become more difficult to visit the White House and today tours are available only for groups of 10 or more and must be requested up to six months in advance through your member of Congress or your country’s US Ambassador.

9. Denali National Park [SEE MAP]

The Denali National Park and Preserve is located in Interior Alaska and contains Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. The word “Denali” means “the high one” in the native Athabaskan language and refers to Mount McKinley. In addition, the park protects an incredible wilderness area that contains grizzly bears, caribou, moose, wolves, and numerous other creatures.

8. Las Vegas Strip [SEE MAP]

The gambling mecca of the world, Las Vegas is situated in the midst of the southern Nevada desert landscape. Casinos can be found throughout Las Vegas, but the strip, a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South, contains the most of them.

It features giant mega-casino hotels, decorated with lavish care and attention to detail to create a fantasy-like atmosphere. The casinos often have names and themes that evoke romance, mystery, and far-away destination.

See also: Where to Stay in Las Vegas

7. Florida Keys [SEE MAP]

The Florida Keys are a 120 mile long chain of tropical islands curving around the base of the Florida peninsula, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges.

The most spectacular bridge, the Seven Mile Bridge in the Lower Keys, has been frequently used as a location for films including True Lies and Fast 2 Furious. US Highway 1, the “Overseas Highway” runs from Key Largo , Islamadora, Marathon, Lower Keys and finally to Key West, the most distant and most famous island.

6. Kilauea [SEE MAP]

Kilauea is the most recent of a series of volcanoes that have created the Hawaiian Archipelago. It is a very low, flat shield volcano, vastly different in profile from the high, sharply sloping peaks of stratovolcanoes.

Kilauea is one of the most active volcano on the Earth, an invaluable resource for volcanologists. Thirty-three eruptions have taken place since 1952, not including the current eruption which started on January 3, 1983 and is still ongoing.

5. Niagara Falls [SEE MAP]

Situated between the state of New York and the province of Ontario, Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular natural wonders on the North American continent. Niagara Falls is actually three different falls, the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls.

Horseshoe Falls is located on the Canadian side while the other are located in New York. With more than 14 million visitors each year it is one of the most visited tourist attraction in the world.

4. Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco [SEE MAP]

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the strait between San Francisco and Marin County to the north.

The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California . The famous red-orange color of the bridge was specifically chosen to make the bridge more easily visible through the thick fog that frequently shrouds the bridge.

3. Yellowstone [SEE MAP]

Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first national park, set aside in 1872 to preserve the vast number of geysers, hot springs, and other thermal areas, as well as to protect the incredible wildlife and rugged beauty of the area. Yellowstone lies on top of a gigantic hotspot where light, hot, molten mantle rock rises towards the surface.

Subsequently, the park contains half of all the world’s known geothermal features, with more than 10,000 examples of geysers and hot springs. In addition, black bears, grizzly bears, deer, elk, bison and wolves can all be found within the park borders.

2. Manhattan [SEE MAP]

Manhattan is one of New York’s five boroughs and is what people most often think of when they picture New York City . It’s familiar skyline and sights have been featured a thousand times on screen. Walk in the shadow of the skyscrapers, picture the Statue of Liberty, see a Broadway show , climb the Empire State building, stroll Central Park, window shop on 5th Avenue or stagger around a museum.

1. Grand Canyon [SEE MAP]

The Grand Canyon is located in northern Arizona and is one of the great tourist attractions in the United States. Carved over several million years by the Colorado River, the canyon attains a depth of over 1.6 km (1 mile) and 446 km (277 miles) long.

The Grand Canyon is not the deepest or the longest canyon in the world but the overwhelming size and its intricate and colorful landscape offers visitor spectacular vistas that are unmatched throughout the world.

Share this post:

10 Best Places to Visit in Idaho

10 Best Places to Visit in Virginia

28 Best Things to Do in Virginia

10 Best Places to Visit in South Dakota

12 Best National & State Parks in Idaho

10 Best Places to Visit in Louisiana

10 Best Places to Visit in Arkansas

7 Beautiful Mid-Atlantic States

23 Best Things to do in New Mexico

23 Most Beautiful Islands in the US

Reader interactions.

November 12, 2020 at 8:34 pm

I’ve been to almost all of these. HANDS DOWN Grand Canyon- Bryce-Tetons- Yellowstone-Glacier is the most amazing trip. I’ve been all over the world, and Yellowstone’s wildlife and the view at the Grand Canyon are by far the most epic. I love Washington State as well: Mt. Ranier, Seattle, Olympic and the anitoles- you can see a variety in a small distance.

July 26, 2019 at 10:32 am

You should have included the historic triangle in Virginia. It includes Williamsburg (Colonial Williamsburg) Jamestown (America’s first settlement) & Yorktown (the site of Cornwallis’ surrender, effectively ending the Revolutionary War) it is literally the birth place of this great nation and is a huge tourist destination.

May 24, 2019 at 10:31 pm

Nice article, but may I make one correction regarding Pike Place Market? As a local tour guide, it bugs me when people tell our visitors that the Starbucks at the market is the original. It isn’t, and I try to set this myth straight every chance I get. The original Starbucks was on Western Ave., and burned down in the 70s. The original owner and team moved to the present location at the market, which is how they get away with calling it original, but in reality, it is misleading the public.

October 31, 2018 at 10:15 am

Hello!? Savannah GA is amazing. It’s like stepping back in time.

August 17, 2017 at 7:54 pm

oh my gaawwwd. these photos are amazing and I cant wait to go back to the us so I can visit vegas. I didn’t get to last time so im really looking forward to it!!!

September 1, 2016 at 11:10 am

I am excited to see Niagra falls soon and its my dream to see New York specially Statue of Liberty, Central park and Brooklyn Bridge. I hope that soon i shall be there.

February 9, 2015 at 8:09 am

It makes you dream and want to go there. I’ve learned a lot on the USA thanks to your site and the like. Your publications perfectly reflect the wonderful side of the USA.

January 30, 2015 at 12:36 am

Christina Rusia! You are right America is fabulous and offer amazing sights to see there. I have explored its major attractions and Niagara Falls and Grand Canyon are one of those places which are my ever best spots to enjoy the natural beauty. Recently I went to have some fun with friends in Nagara Falls after my pedestrian streets trip.

October 14, 2014 at 6:04 pm

I think that america is fabulous, The sights and also the view is amazing to see and visit. I am currently in New York.

July 24, 2014 at 11:32 pm

I visited Yellowstone National Park. This is an awesome place in USA.

December 12, 2013 at 4:46 am

I have been very lucky myself to have visited most of these places. One of my main reasons why I love America (USA) is because of the diversity the country has to offer in terms of landscapes e.g. countryside, deserts, mountains ect. Out of the above Yellowstone and Vegas are my favourites. Niagara Falls was an sight I will never forget – waking up each morning and opening my hotel room curtains to see the falls directly below….breathtaking.

November 30, 2013 at 7:03 am

these are great places

September 14, 2013 at 6:17 am

Las Vegas is my final destination …….thankew. informative website

August 20, 2013 at 5:23 pm

I think that Niagara Falls needs to be higher on the list. Who agrees?

March 27, 2013 at 6:44 am

Niagara Falls & Manhattan is my dream….I have no word to express the beauty

February 19, 2013 at 1:03 am

great feed back about us visitor Sp like me who is going to visit USA first time and with family it was quite difficult for me to decide where to go but after visiting this page i am clear about my trip thanks alot

November 14, 2012 at 10:45 pm

I can say that I have been very fortunate to have visited all but one of these tourist attractions. (Alaska being the only one) Visiting Alcatraz and seeing the Golden Gate was interesting, along with watching the Geysers in Yellowstone. I live in NY (15 minutes from Niagara Falls and an easy drive to NYC) so those don’t interest me as much but after driving cross country in my early twenties, I have realized just what a beautiful country we live in. I now have three children and make it a point to travel with them. Each child gets a surprise birthday trip every year and it has proved to be not only memorable but also educational. My 11 year old has been many places, in and out of the U.S. and now is starting to understand the value of travel. Great site! 🙂

September 24, 2012 at 12:34 pm

Manhattan: “… stagger around a museum”… you have you never lied. I recently visited New York, and a friend of mine and I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our initial plan was to try and see if we could make it through that one and the American Museum of Natural History. After a good 7 hours in the Met, we ended up taking a taxi to Penn Station, and slept our way back on the train to Long Island. I will say, however the exhaustion was worth it.

August 6, 2012 at 8:52 am

A great page, I’ve been to the USA many times – Cities such as New York and San Francisco are really worth a visit – For natural wonder Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon are a must.

August 28, 2011 at 9:18 pm

Very good collection of tourist places. I have bookmarked this page, and i will follow this blog at the time of my usa tour. Thanks.

April 26, 2011 at 3:47 am

Fabulous photos of places to visit in the US. I have been very lucky to visit Vegas, and to have flown over the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. Over the page you have photos of Alaska and Denali National Park which I plan to visit next year. When I see those photos I can hardly wait. Thanks great post.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

17 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in West Palm Beach

Written by Steve Winston and Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 23, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

West Palm Beach anchors Palm Beach County in South Florida and is a fast-growing urban area with numerous cultural attractions, countless excellent restaurants, and a bustling city center. It's a place where people congregate to enjoy one-of-a-kind shops, superlative dining, and countless entertainment options.

And, lest we forget, West Palm Beach is just minutes away from the Atlantic Ocean, with easy access to 47 miles of some of the best beaches in Florida . And just across Lake Worth is the tiny island of Palm Beach itself. One of the wealthiest towns in the USA, this ritzy community was built by industrialist Henry Flagler at the turn of the 20th century.

Where others saw an uninhabited, desolate island, Flagler saw a perfect haven for his rich and famous friends and a great way to make money by charging them for getting there on his railroad. The industrialist's own home, preserved as the Flagler Museum, provides a fascinating look at the opulence of these early wealthy seasonal residents.

Scattered just outside of West Palm are several colorful towns that are also worth exploring, most situated near the beach. A few of these even boast revived and vibrant downtowns of their own, as well as communities of artists and craftspeople pushing artistic boundaries, many of them displaying their works on the sides of buildings or at local markets.

When you arrive in West Palm Beach, it won't take long before you realize that you'll run out of time before you run out of fun places to visit and things to do. Plan your sightseeing adventures with our list of the top attractions in West Palm Beach.

1. Rosemary Square: Endless Entertainment in "The Square"

2. hear the big cats roar at panther ridge conservation center, 3. see florida's beloved sea cows at manatee lagoon, 4. enjoy a stroll along ritzy worth avenue, 5. immerse yourself in the gilded age at the flagler museum, 6. visit the norton museum of art, 7. take the kids to lion country safari, 8. enjoy a day at palm beach zoo, 9. cox science center and aquarium, 10. ragtops automobile museum, 11. arthur r. marshall loxahatchee national wildlife refuge, 12. get back to nature at john d. macarthur beach state park, 13. take a drive down atlantic avenue in delray beach, 14. splash about at rapids water park, 15. national polo center, 16. antique row art & design district, 17. take a stroll through palm beach shores, where to stay in west palm beach for sightseeing, map of attractions & things to do in west palm beach, west palm beach, fl - climate chart.

Usually referred to as "The Square," Rosemary Square is an exciting Mediterranean-themed retail and entertainment center where you can literally spend all day and night without experiencing everything there is to do here.

Rated one of the top things to do in South Florida, this revitalized downtown area offers a variety of fun shopping, dining, entertainment, and live music experiences. It's also a great place to simply sit and watch an endless parade of people pass by. And yes, there's free Wi-Fi access throughout.

You can visit clothing, jewelry, or gift shops; chow down on international cuisine ranging from Tuscan to Mexican, Southwestern US, or Japanese; or build your own lunch or dinner at one of the gourmet marketplaces. Follow up your meal with an ice cream, frozen yogurt, or melt-in-your-mouth chocolate treat.

On weekend evenings, excellent local bands perform in the open-air Plaza. You can also easily access downtown's lively main street, Clematis Street , from here on a trolley bus.

Be sure to check for shows and concerts at the Harriet Himmel Theater , too. Built in 1926 and now fully restored, this architecturally significant, first-rate venue features various events, from concerts to exhibitions.

Address: 700 S. Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida

You're just outside West Palm Beach, but it feels like you're deep in the heart of Africa. At Panther Ridge Conservation Center, some of the world's big cats wander freely in large, open habitats replicating parts of Africa.

The brainchild of Judy Berens, who still runs it, Panther Ridge began back in the 90s, when people started bringing her big cats they no longer wanted or could care for. It wasn't long before she found herself caring for several big cats, so she began searching for land where she could create a refuge for injured or endangered animals and nurse them back to health.

Today, a mix of tigers, rare black panthers, jaguars, mountain lions, cheetahs, and smaller cats such as ocelots roam Panther Ridge, and you can watch Judy enter their cages and cuddle with them. Guided tours are available, including a fun twilight tour, a keeper experience, as well as a thrilling opportunity to interact with one of the park's elusive leopards.

Address: 12143 D Road, Loxahatchee, Florida

One winter some years back, officials at Florida Power & Light's facility just north of West Palm Beach began noticing that manatees were congregating around the facility's warm-water outflow, and the idea for Manatee Lagoon was born.

Today, Manatee Lagoon is one of the best places to visit in Florida to see these gentle 1,500- to 2,000-pound creatures. Manatees love people. If they see you on a dock, they'll swim right up and have even been known to roll over in the water, so people can pat their bellies.

On the endangered list for many years, they're now making a comeback, and today some 6,000 manatees are known to inhabit the waters around the state, more than almost any other place in the world. As a result, there's even talk of removing them from the endangered species list.

Manatee Lagoon 's Discovery Center features imaginative hands-on exhibits, observation areas, a manatee webcam, and an outdoor deck at which the manatees congregate, especially in winter. The star of the show is Mia, whose travels and interactions with other sea cows you can track.

Author's Tip: Admission for the whole family is free , as is the parking. But be sure to arrive early, as the parking area does fill up quickly. A good strategy is to arrive an hour or so prior to the Discovery Center opening and then wander along the boardwalk as you scout for manatees. You'll not only avoid the eager crowds but will get a great vantage spot from which to view these fascinating creatures.

Address: 6000 N Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, Florida

On Worth Avenue , on the enchanting island of Palm Beach, local residents say that if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. But the great thing about this street is that you don't have to buy anything to enjoy it.

Here, you'll find some of the most fashionable clothing and accessories shops anywhere, including top luxury brands such as Brioni and Louis Vuitton, alongside fascinating antique and decor shops. You'll also find the world's greatest jewelers and perfumeries, as well as unusual treasures, like the wonderful Raptis Rare Books.

Also in the mix are art galleries and department stores, along with the landmark Ta-Boo Restaurant , where the Kennedys used to gather. Set back in leafy courtyards are artists' studios, large bronze statues of children playing, and gourmet food shops. For a great coffee and a breakfast or lunch to-go, pop into Cafe Delamar located on Peruvian Avenue. Better still, go early and grab an outside table.

In winter, local historian Rick Rose runs Worth Avenue historic walking tours which take you into the hidden places along Worth Avenue. On these tours, you'll see the home of Addison Mizner, the visionary who created Worth Avenue a century ago. Behind the home is the gravesite of Johnny Brown, the monkey who always perched on Mizner's shoulder and who once ran for Mayor of Palm Beach and actually got some votes.

These fascinating 75-minute walks are held each Wednesday morning at 10:30. I found the $25 ticket price well worth it, especially as my spot was reserved in advance online, and parking was included.

Address: Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, Florida

Henry Flagler not only created Palm Beach but many other important Florida landmarks as well, such as the Overseas Railroad to Key West, which was, alas, wiped out in a long-ago hurricane.

As you drive up to the 1902 Georgian/Mediterranean mansion he called Whitehall, you'll know instantly that this is no ordinary museum. Upon completion of Whitehall, the New York Herald promptly called it the grandest mansion in the world. Indeed, with a telephone system, electric lighting, central heating, and 22 bathrooms, it was possibly the most technologically advanced home anywhere at the time.

Today, you can wander through the grand hall, kitchens, parlors, and studies that Henry Flagler wandered through, as well as the hallways where the art he collected on his travels is still displayed. His splendid home also became the first museum in Florida.

In addition to Flagler's own art collection, important revolving exhibits feature renowned painters, sculptors, craftspeople, and photographers. The Flagler Museum is truly a home and a museum for the ages. Guided tours are available, and afterward, be sure to pay a visit to the museum's delightful café. Better still, opt for their wonderful afternoon tea experience in the garden, available in the winter months.

Address: 1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach, Florida

In the mood for even more culture? Then pay a visit to the Norton Museum of Art . Established in 1941 by Ralph Hubbard Norton, this excellent art gallery houses the industrialist's vast collection of artworks from around the globe.

Be prepared to take your time when you visit. The largest art gallery of its kind in Florida, the Norton Museum is home to some 7,000 works from Europe, China, and the US. In addition to its many galleries, there's also a lovely courtyard to explore, as well as a sculpture garden.

A variety of free tours are available, including fun after-hour tours on Friday evenings. The museum also offers a regular roster of lectures and educational programming. A restaurant and gift shop are also located on the premises.

Address: 1450 S Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, Florida

Another first-rate animal attraction that's sure to please is the Lion Country Safari . Set on 600-plus acres in Loxahatchee and just a short drive from Panther Ridge, this family-friendly attraction is really two experiences in one: a fun drive-through safari where you get to use your own car, as well as a theme park.

Since its establishment in 1967, Lion Country Safari has welcomed countless visitors to view its collection of 1,000 animals, most of them in a cageless environment in which they can wander around relatively freely. Along the way, you'll hear commentary on your audio guide and get a chance to view a wide variety of species close up, except the lions of course, who for safety reasons are behind a fence.

The theme park area, Safari World, includes a number of fun rides, waterslides, a petting zoo, and giraffe feeding experiences. Themed guided tours are also available.

Address: 1301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach, Florida

Although smaller than Lion Country Safari, Palm Beach Zoo is also worth visiting, especially if you're traveling with youngsters. Officially known as the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, it's home to some 550 animals from 190 species set amid 23 acres and makes for a fun day out.

Popular features include strolling through collections of native plants and learning about native animal species. The zoo features numerous exotic creatures from distant lands, too, including koalas, monkeys, and tigers.

Guided tours are available, along with animal feeding experiences and fun overnight stays.

If after visiting Palm Beach Zoo you've got a hankering to take the kids to another great critter-centered attraction, head to the Cox Science Center and Aquarium . The two properties literally back onto one another, and it's no more than a couple of minutes' drive through a pretty park area.

In addition to its vast central aquarium, this family attraction features plenty of fun hands-on displays of both native and exotic marine life. There's also a planetarium, a mini-golf course, and splash pads.

Address: 4801 Dreher Trail N, West Palm Beach, Florida

A must-see attraction in West Palm Beach for car enthusiasts is the fun Ragtops Motorcars Palm Beach attraction. Now located in a newly-refurbished facility in Lake Worth Beach, this must-visit Florida attraction is a monument to America's love affair with the automobile.

Here, you can ogle vintage cars, and possibly even purchase an old classic for yourself as many are available to buy. On my visit, I was lucky enough to see a number of vintage Chevrolet Corvettes, a Deluxe Woody Wagon, and an even older 1933 Essex Terraplane Cabriolet, a beauty that comes complete with raised stand-alone headlights and a rear jump-seat.

Explore the vast warehouse-like space and you'll also see all sorts of roadsters, street racers, convertibles, luxury cars, and even movie cars. There are also models that haven't been made since the early days of the automobile.

You'll also see classic memorabilia from the Golden Age of automobiles, such as roadside signs, oil company emblems, and antique toy cars. Owner Ty Houck likes to say that if there was room in the trunk, he brought it home.

Author's Tip: This incredible private car collection is part museum, part dealership, and part event venue, so be sure to contact the museum ahead of time for opening hours.

Address: 701 N Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth Beach, Florida

Drive about 10 miles south of the urban excitement of West Palm Beach, and you can experience primeval Florida. At the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge , you'll see hundreds of species of animals and plants that exist only in the Florida Everglades ecosystem.

Here, on the northern fringe of the Everglades, you can see endangered species such as the snail kite and the wood stork, as well as the king of Florida wildlife, the American alligator. You can walk on elevated boardwalks through tropical landscapes such as marshes, mangroves, and hammocks, the small islands seen throughout the Everglades.

There are numerous trails for walking or biking, along with watery "highways" where you can paddle in a canoe, such as the Marsh Trail or the Everglades Canoe Trail. And you can do all of this in a vast expanse of 147,392 acres. If your sightseeing wish list includes a place where the sights are animals and plants and exotic colors and landscapes native to Florida, and the only sounds you'll hear are the breezes rushing through the trees, this is it.

If the opportunity to visit arises, go for it. Home to the famous Kennedy Bunker, you'll be rewarded with safe swimming at the beaches, water sports such as kayaking and canoeing, camping and picnic spots, fishing off the pier, and pleasant walking trails.

Address: 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, Florida

Since it opened in 1989, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park has made the flora and fauna that can be found in this part of the "Sunshine State" accessible to all visitors. Covering an area of 438 acres just a short drive away in North Palm Beach, it's crisscrossed by a superb network of wheelchair-accessible boardwalks, along with well-maintained nature trails.

A highlight of a visit is crossing the 1600-foot-long pedestrian bridge over the estuary, which is connected to Lake Worth, to the beach habitat. Along the way, you'll see and hear an abundance of birdlife, so if you're a bird watcher, bring your binoculars! If you're lucky, you may possibly even spot a manatee or two. Feel free to dwell on the bridge awhile; there's plenty of bench seating along the way, as well as shaded pavilions and picnic tables.

The beach itself is magnificent. Unspoiled and quiet, it stretches off into the distance in both directions. Take a stroll along the northernmost section, and you can easily forget you're just a mile or two away from luxury resorts and condos, at least until you turn around.

Those wanting to get out on the water have three choices: canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards, all of them available for rent from the on-site outfitters. Lifejackets are provided, and these watercraft are easy to climb aboard from the sandy launch area. Free nature walks are also available.

Address: 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, Florida

About 15 miles south of West Palm Beach, the town of Delray Beach is one of America's greatest examples of downtown renewal. As late as the 1990s, the dominant feature on Atlantic Avenue were darkened storefronts with "For Lease" signs in the windows.

Today, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated citizenry and city officials, this is one of the most bustling streets in Florida. It's lined with one-of-a-kind shops and boutiques; dozens of interesting eateries, from Greek to gourmet and seafood to sushi, sidewalk cafés, cozy shops with hand-dipped ice-cream or chocolates, and art galleries.

Atlantic Avenue also boasts one of Florida's best people parades, especially on weekend evenings and Sunday afternoons. At the bright-yellow Colony Hotel and Cabana Club , a Mediterranean-style building with towers and turrets that has anchored this street since 1926, you half-expect Humphrey Bogart to be holding court in the lounge.

A block down, the Atlantic Avenue Bridge crosses the Intracoastal Waterway, and you'll walk past all types of watercraft, from built-for-speed jetboats to luxurious yachts. Among them are the sleek boats of Delray Yacht Cruises , which will take you on a cruise along the Intracoastal in style. There's also a very pleasant promenade that's perfect for people-watching.

In addition, Delray Beach is known for some of Florida's best outdoor art festivals. Bring your bathing suit and flip-flops, too, because Atlantic Avenue ends right at the beach.

Address: Atlantic Avenue, Downtown Delray Beach, Florida

Just north of West Palm, in the town of Riviera Beach , is an attraction that has been a South Florida landmark since 1979. Rapids Water Park is truly a place for kids of all ages, so prepare to get soaked!

Here, you can experience rides such as Big Thunder, with sharp turns through a dark tunnel and a heart-pounding 45-degree drop, or the thrilling Brain Drain, with two 70-foot enclosed water slides where you drop at 35 miles per hour.

In Pirates Plunge, you can choose from two high-speed enclosed body slides, each of which drops seven stories, if you dare. At Barefootin Bay, the kids can frolic in a watery playground filled with interactive experiences, while at Big Surf, the family can play in a 25,000-square-foot wave pool, with waves up to six feet. Be prepared for a great family day with plenty of screaming.

Address: 6566 North Military Trail, Riviera Beach, Florida

While you may not be a king or queen, you can certainly feel like one at the National Polo Center as you watch some of the best players in the world perform in this thrilling equestrian sport. A place of elegance and time-honored tradition, these lush grounds in "horse country" to the west of West Palm Beach host some of the most prestigious tournaments in the US, as well as the most stars.

If you've never seen the sport of polo, you'll enjoy it. The horsemanship is excellent, the teamwork precise, the goals thrilling, and the pageantry colorful.

Polo season starts around New Year's and continues to the last week of April. It's great fun (and a truly out-of-the-ordinary tourist experience) to enjoy traditional touches such as the grandstand seating or the champagne brunch, or not-so-traditional polo touches such as tailgating.

Address: 3667 120th Avenue South, Wellington, Florida

Hoping to go back home with a timeless treasure from your West Palm Beach trip? Then head for the Antique Row Art & Design District . Antique Row has more than 40 purveyors of quality antiques from the 17th to 20th centuries, as well as fine arts and decorative period pieces, furnishings ranging from Art Deco to vintage and modern, and a variety of other hard-to-find items. It will be hard to bypass any of these shops when you look through the windows.

The district also has several notable restaurants, such as the classic American eatery called City Diner and a converted 1950s drugstore called Rhythm Café. One of the best things about the district is that it's walkable, and most of the shops are near each other.

Address: South Dixie Highway (and nearby streets), West Palm Beach, Florida

The delightful small town of Palm Beach Shores is quite unlike anything else you'll experience in the Palm Beach area. Here, instead of the multi-million-dollar mansions that seem to dominate so many prime areas of real estate, modest bungalows and holiday homes seem to fit in quite well with the lush vegetation that surrounds them. Occupying the southern tip of Singer Island, this small community of just over 1,100 people is easy to miss, but well worth taking the time to explore.

Home to the easternmost tip of Florida, basically a breakwater that protects the Palm Beach Inlet, this charming community makes for a fun excursion for those who enjoy a good stroll. If you're not staying at one of the two main resorts here, you'll want to park at the Beach Court parking lot adjacent to the small shopping plaza facing Riviera Beach Park .

After exploring the generally quiet beach area, head south on foot until you reach the channel, and then head inland. From here you can grab a bench or even a gazebo spot and watch the water traffic pass by. You'll see everything from huge cruise ships to coast guard and military vessels, as well as yachts, come and go.

Finish your walk by cutting through some of the pleasant park areas and pathways that dissect this charming neighborhood, ending your exploration at the marinas overlooking Peanut Island Park and inland waterways.

Author's Tip: A number of great restaurants are located here and serve as the perfect way to end your day. Better still, you can pick up one of the many fishing charters that operate out of the marinas and catch something for yourself and have it cooked up for you. Just ask when you book.

When it comes to top-rated accommodations for sightseeing in West Palm Beach, visitors are spoiled for choice. Whether you're looking for a beach resort or a cheap hotel, here are our top recommendations of the best places to stay to suit your budget.

Luxury Hotels :

• The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach is a great choice of luxury hotel, featuring the same great ocean views from its swimming pool and restaurant as it does from its chic rooms and suites. Some pet-friendly accommodations are available.
• Another option to consider is The Breakers , an historic hotel that offers guests a choice of family- and adult-only pools, a full-service spa, private beachside bungalows, and beautifully decorated rooms.
• Finally, a stay at the ritzy Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is well worth considering for its pampering spa experiences, five restaurants, beachfront cabanas, plus spacious rooms and suites with ample living areas.

Mid-Range Hotels :

• A favorite for those in the mid-price range, the Hampton Inn West Palm Beach Florida Turnpike offers clean, quality rooms; free breakfasts; parking; plus a great outdoor pool, all an easy drive from the beach and attractions.
• Popular for its handy airport location just a few minute's drive away from top attractions, Hilton Garden Inn West Palm Beach Airport features great amenities including an outdoor swimming pool, fitness and business centers, plus clean, comfortable rooms offering free Wi-Fi.
• Those seeking a smaller, more intimate experience that's great for couples should consider Palm Beach Hibiscus . Located steps away from the downtown area, this boutique-style B&B offers guests cozy rooms, a backyard lounge area, plus great staff.

Budget Hotels :

• The Best Western Palm Beach Lakes Inn is a solid brand-name offering in the budget category and features affordable, bright rooms close to grocery stores and with easy highway access.
• Just steps away from Palm Beach Outlets, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham West Palm Beach features clean, comfortable rooms with kitchens, a fitness center, plus a great bike-sharing program.
• The Red Roof PLUS+ West Palm Beach is another good choice for a cheap hotel and comes with a good central location, a 24-hour front desk, an outdoor swimming pool, and free parking.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Florida's Best Beaches : Some of the best beaches in Florida can be found on the Gulf of Mexico, including in the lovely St. Petersburg and Clearwater area, popular for... yup, its crystal-clear waters. Not that the Atlantic coast is without great beaches. Favorites for families include lovely Cocoa Beach , which has the added advantage of being close to the amazing adventures at the Kennedy Space Center; and Fort Lauderdale Beach boasts one of the longest and cleanest boardwalks in the Sunshine State.

Florida's Best Fun Cities : The charming historic city of St. Augustine is a must-visit in Florida, with top free things to do including exploring its old Spanish colonial architecture and the old fortifications along the waterfront. For couples and adults traveling together, head to the tropical paradise of Key West , where the fun on famous Duval Street never really seems to stop. For something a little more upmarket, consider a stay on the dining and shopping mecca 5th Avenue, one of the top attractions in Naples .

Florida Vacation Ideas : In addition to its magnificent beaches, the city of Miami is also known for its endless fun. Top things to do in this always-bustling urban destination include staying at a world-class luxury hotel, exploring the vibrant downtown core, or people-watching along its pedestrian-friendly Art Deco District. The US theme park capital of Orlando is another must-visit and offers endless fun at parks such as Walt Disney World and Universal. Offering a good mix of both beach fun and city attractions, the Gulf Coast city of Tampa is home to the famous Busch Gardens and animal attractions including a zoo and aquarium.

More on Florida

Seattle's Top 25 Things to Do

We dare you to do them all.

In no way is this a comprehensive list of all the incredible experiences to be had in Seattle, but it’s a start. Let’s go!

SEATTLE CENTER

Space Needle

Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the 605-foot-tall Space Needle quickly became an icon of the city that today is recognized far and wide. On the observation level, which you can reach via a 43-second elevator ride, see the doodle-on-a-napkin concept that led to the Space Needle design. Views from the top feature Elliott Bay, the Cascade Mountains, and even Mount Rainier.

Seattle Center Monorail

Another World’s Fair relic, the Seattle Center Monorail links Seattle Center—home of the Space Needle and several other notable attractions—to downtown’s Westlake Center along an approximately one-mile route. The designated historic landmark can reach a top speed of 45 miles per hour and weaves between skyscrapers above the city streets.

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Music, science fiction, and pop culture all come together at the fascinating Museum of Pop Culture . The Frank Gehry-designed building looks like a smashed guitar from above, while inside, its colorful exhibits cover everything from the history of indie video games and horror films to Nirvana, the Seahawks, and more.

Sponsored Message

Looking for the best things to do in Seattle? Save 48% or more on admission to 5 top attractions with Seattle CityPASS® tickets. Learn more .

Pacific Science Center

This family-friendly museum is where science lessons come to life. At Pacific Science Center , explore galaxies near and far in the planetarium, get up close and personal with colorful creatures in the Tropical Butterfly House, maneuver a two-ton granite ball, find out what it means if you can roll your tongue, and much more.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

The Chihuly Garden and Glass museum is dedicated to the work and career of locally born, world-renowned glassblower Dale Chihuly, who was introduced to the craft while studying at the University of Washington. It is the most comprehensive collection of his art to date, with interior galleries featuring a variety of his work in the medium. The pièce de résistance is the glasshouse, with a vibrant 100-foot-long sculpture in hues of red, orange, and yellow suspended from the ceiling.

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Among the top echelon of dance companies in the world, Pacific Northwest Ballet performs a variety of classical and modern shows in Seattle Center’s beautiful McCaw Hall. Under the creative direction of renowned dancer Peter Boal, Pacific Northwest Ballet offers transformative performances that are sure to impress. Don’t miss its recently revamped version of The Nutcracker , an annual holiday tradition.

DOWNTOWN SEATTLE

Pike Place Market

From the iconic market sign and Rachel the Piggy Bank to the gum wall, the original Starbucks cafe, well over 225 local artisans selling their wares, the famous fish-tossing tradition, and music-playing street performers, there are enough sights and sounds at Pike Place Market to pack a day (or more). The market added its historic MarketFront expansion in 2017, featuring an open-air plaza and fantastic views of Elliott Bay.

Seattle Art Museum – three ways

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is the city’s largest museum dating back to the 1930s and housing a varied collection of artwork that spans multiple eras and geographic regions. Take the time to visit the Olympic Sculpture Park , an outdoor extension of the museum that’s open to the public for free about a mile away at the waterfront. And don’t miss exploring SAM’s Asian art collection at the Seattle Asian Art Museum , located just east of downtown in Capitol Hill.

Central Public Library

You’ve never seen a library quite like this— Seattle Central Library ’s architecturally distinct structure boasts enough glass to cover more than five football stadiums. Head to the 10th floor for a light-filled reading room with peekaboo views of Elliott Bay, or take a self-guided cell phone tour by dialing 206-868-8564*.

Smith Tower

Visit the city’s first skyscraper, built in 1914, and ride the historic, manually operated elevators to the 35th-floor observatory, where 360-degree views await. Displays tell the tale of characters who made Smith Tower what it is today, while the tower’s Prohibition-themed Temperance bar serves themed cocktails.

Seattle Aquarium

Down at the Seattle Aquarium on the waterfront’s Pier 59, learn all about salmon, meet a few adorable sea otters, and greet the various sea creatures of the Pacific Ocean, from puffers to giant clams. Watch scuba divers feed the fish, gawk at sharks swimming overhead in the underwater dome, and even touch a sea anemone.

Washington State Ferries

A ride across Puget Sound aboard one of 22 Washington State Ferries vessels is a quintessential Pacific Northwest experience. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the bow of the boat as you cruise to the nearby communities of Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. This is one of those cases where the journey is as much fun as the destination.

Seattle Great Wheel

Although it was only built in 2012, the Seattle Great Wheel has quickly become a fixture of the city’s skyline—plus it adds an entirely new sightseeing perspective, thanks to its location perched on the end of Pier 57. Enjoy three revolutions around in one of the air-conditioned gondolas to see the city, water, and mountains on the horizon.

Museum of Flight

Aviation buffs, take note: The Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space collections in the country, with an overwhelming number of things to see—like a Boeing lunar rover and an Air Force One from the Eisenhower era—and do, including NASA space shuttle trainer tours and flight simulators.

Woodinville Wine Country

Western Washington’s wine outpost is in Woodinville, a charming town just a 30-minute drive from downtown Seattle. There are more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms pouring there (including Chateau Ste. Michelle , the state’s first winery), ensuring something for every palate.

Boeing Future of Flight

Boeing Future of Flight is one of Washington state’s premier aerospace attraction and experiences, 25 miles north of downtown Seattle. It is located in Mukilteo at Paine Field. Guests are welcome for the Gallery, Sky Deck, and Boeing Store.

T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field

Cheer on the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park , one of baseball’s prettiest ballparks (with gourmet food, to boot!), or root for the Seattle Seahawks and Sounders FC at neighboring Lumen Field , known for its boisterous atmosphere. Both stadiums offer behind-the-scenes tours during the offseason and when the teams are away.

This picturesque Queen Anne spot looks down at the Seattle skyline from the north. It’s the ideal place to get the quintessential view of the city, featuring the Space Needle, Elliott Bay, downtown skyscrapers, and (on clear days) Mount Rainier.

Pioneer Square

Seattle’s original downtown is full of beautiful old buildings in Romanesque Revival style, underground tours that take you beneath the streets to see the remains of the city’s first buildings, and an ever-growing slate of hip shops and restaurants. Take an afternoon or more to explore Pioneer Square ‘s ivy-covered buildings and pop into bars, boutiques, and hidden gems, like Waterfall Garden Park .

Chinatown-International District

The ornate Chinatown Gate welcomes you to this diverse neighborhood, where the food scene is incredible. After eating your fill of everything from pho to sushi, visit Wing Luke Museum , dedicated to the Asian Pacific American experience; practice your pinball game at the Seattle Pinball Museum ; and shop for Japanese snacks and cute gifts at the Uwajimaya supermarket.

Ballard Locks

In Lake Washington’s Ship Canal sits the century-old Ballard Locks , where you can watch the water levels rise and lower to create a “boat elevator” for boats and even kayaks passing between freshwater lakes and the salt water of Puget Sound. The on-site botanical garden and fish ladder are also worth a visit.

South Lake Union

The always bustling Lake Union, located just northeast of downtown, hosts a variety of seaplanes and boats of all kinds, including the floating home from Sleepless in Seattle . Get out on the water at The Center for Wooden Boats , which offers rentals and tours. And explore the area’s burgeoning restaurant and bar scene.

Kenmore Air

If you want to get a better look at the city, the views from Kenmore Air ’s Seattle Scenic Seaplane Tour are unbeatable. Board the floatplane at Lake Union for an exhilarating takeoff, leisure flight, and gentle landing back on the water.

Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)

Known as MOHAI , this museum on the shores of Lake Union encapsulates what Seattle is all about, with a dash of smart history, a dose of technology, and quirky artifacts around every corner (think a pink truck with toes). Permanent exhibits showcase everything from the city’s maritime history to modern tech innovations.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

You won’t have trouble finding a Starbucks here in the company’s hometown, but you’ll want to seek out this special Starbucks experience on Capitol Hill. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery is a Willy Wonka–esque coffee wonderland, where you’ll find exclusive beverages, various brewing methods, a coffee library, and more.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SEATTLE LOCALIST

Seattle’s best every month in your inbox.

• OPT-IN: By clicking the "Subscribe" button, I agree to receive emails from Visit Seattle and that I have read and agree to the Visit Seattle Privacy Policy .
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Book Your Trip

Partner Advertisements

What Is Tourism Site?

By Alice Nichols

Tourism has long been a popular pastime for people all around the world. The desire to explore new places, experience different cultures, and create lasting memories is what drives people to travel far and wide. But before embarking on a trip, it’s important to have a good understanding of what tourism sites are.

A tourism site is any location or destination that is marketed and developed specifically for the purpose of attracting tourists. These sites can range from natural wonders like beaches, mountains, and forests to man-made attractions like museums, amusement parks, and historical landmarks.

Types of Tourism Sites:

• Natural Sites: Natural sites include national parks, beaches, waterfalls, forests, mountains and other natural attractions that are considered scenic or breathtaking.
• Cultural and Historical Sites: Cultural and historical sites can include museums, art galleries, monuments and landmarks that are significant in terms of history or culture.
• Amusement Parks: Amusement parks are fun-filled destinations that offer a variety of attractions such as roller coasters, water rides, games etc.
• Resorts: Resorts offer visitors an all-inclusive vacation experience with accommodation options ranging from hotels to villas. Usually located in exotic locations such as by the beach or in the forest.

The Importance of Tourism Sites: Tourism sites play an important role in driving economic growth of a place. They create jobs for locals by providing employment opportunities at various levels including hotel management staffs to tour guides.

They also help to generate revenue through taxes paid by tourists on various services they use during their stay such as hotels rooms rentals or restaurants. Additionally they help promote cultural exchange between different countries by encouraging visitors to learn about other cultures.

Factors That Determine The Popularity Of Tourism Sites:

There are several factors that determine the popularity of tourism sites:

Accessibility:

Sites that are easily accessible are more popular with tourists. They can be reached via road, air or water transportation.

Infrastructure:

The availability of good infrastructure such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation facilities can make a site more attractive to tourists.

Culture and History:

Sites rich in culture and history are also popular tourist destinations. These sites offer visitors a chance to learn about the history and traditions of the place they are visiting.

Effective marketing campaigns can help draw attention to a tourism site. This can include advertisements in travel magazines or online promotion through social media platforms.

6 Related Question Answers Found

What are the features of tourism site, what are the tourism areas, what is tourism destination, what is a tourism website, what makes a good tourism website, what are tourism facilities, backpacking - budget travel - business travel - cruise ship - vacation - tourism - resort - cruise - road trip - destination wedding - tourist destination - best places, london - madrid - paris - prague - dubai - barcelona - rome.

© 2024 LuxuryTraveldiva

18 Things To Do & Places to Visit In Iceland

Where to Go in Iceland

What to see in iceland, top attractions in iceland, a map of 18 best things to do in iceland, 18. be inspired by snaefellsjokull glacier, 17. be amazed by the beautiful mount kirkjufell, 16. stroll on a black sand beach in south iceland, 15. discover why diamond beach is called diamond beach, 14. decide if reynisdrangar are basalt pillars or frozen trolls, 13. take in the sea-arch dyrholaey, 12. see the largest glacier in europe, 11. enjoy natural treatments at the blue lagoon, 10. go whale watching in husavik, 9. wildlife spotting in the hornstrandir nature reserve, 8. drive to the eastfjords.

• 7. Seek Out Wild Reindeer in Eastfjords

6. Explore the Lake Myvatn Geothermal Area

5. take a detour from the golden circle, 4. photograph the beautiful asbyrgi canyon, 3. hike through skaftafell nature reserve, 2. drive the golden circle, 1. chase the midnight sun or the northern lights, what should you avoid in iceland.

Find the top things to do in Iceland and read about where to go and what to see. Whether it's natural wonders, cultural experiences, or hidden gems, read on and learn all about Iceland's must-see attractions.

There are too many things to do in Iceland to keep count. It’s a realm of stark contrasts. It’s an island of striking landscapes where rivers run through deserts and molten lava erupts from ice.

It’s a country where the natural elements dance between the poles of fire and frost, with endless nights during the depth of winter and summers where the sun never sets.

It can be a little overwhelming to decide what to do and where to go in Iceland. Before you book your trip, there’s a lot to consider. Find the perfect place to stay on the largest selection of accommodations in Iceland and choose from a wide variety of tours  you can be a part of. To enjoy everything Iceland has to offer, it's best to rent a car and the cheapest car rentals in Iceland can be found here .

The first major location in Iceland that almost every traveler will experience is  Reykjavik . You'll reach the island's only city after flying to  Keflavik International Airport  and crossing the volcanic  Reykjanes Peninsula .

The country's capital has spectacular landmarks such as  Hallgrimskirkja church , the  Harpa Concert Hall , and the interactive museum at  Perlan . It is also a brilliant place to experience nature, with whale and puffin watching tours in  Faxafloi Bay  and plenty of conservation reserves, such as  Seltjarnarnes  and  Heidmork .

Along this trail, you'll discover a UNESCO World Heritage Site between two tectonic plates named  Thingvellir National Park , the exploding hot springs of the  Geysir Geothermal Area , and the breathtaking  Gullfoss waterfall . You can also find lesser-known but equally beautiful attractions on longer explorations, such as the  Kerid crater lake .

The  South Coast sightseeing route  is also easy to explore from Reykjavik. This route will expose you to the world-famous  Skogafoss  and  Seljalandsfoss  waterfalls, the  black sand beach of Reynisfjara , and impressive volcanoes such as  Eyjafjallajokull , which notably erupted in 2010.

The Ring Road  encircles Iceland and provides a dream holiday for those eager to marvel over Iceland's diverse nature. Such a journey exposes you to the magical  Eastfjords , the geothermal wonders of  Lake Myvatn  in North Iceland, and countless other attractions.

Top Ring Road Tours

It's no secret that Iceland has some of the world's most unique and stunning nature, shaped by volcanoes and glaciers. The country's small population makes this even more special, as many of its landscapes and features remain untouched and pristine.

Most notable among Iceland's attractions are its incredible waterfalls, bubbling hot springs, gleaming ice caps, dramatic fjords, and lunar-like lava landscapes. Fascinating wildlife also populates the island, with whales and dolphins in the seas and abundant birdlife on the shores and further inland.

Speaking of summer, Iceland is also a great place to enjoy the magical light of the midnight sun. This phenomenon occurs from mid-May to mid-August, when the sun never sets, providing bright nights and plenty of extra hours for sightseeing and adventure.

Top Summer Tours & Packages

Iceland's winters are characterized by the phenomenon known as aurora borealis. This magical display appears between September and April when the sky is dark, clear, and the forecast is strong. Seeing the northern lights in Iceland is a top bucket list activity for almost all winter travelers.

Top Winter Tours & Packages in Iceland

3-day northern lights tour of iceland’s golden circle & south coast with ice caving & glacier hiking, 8-day guided northern lights winter tour of the complete ring road of iceland, scenic 4-day northern lights tour of vatnajokull ice cave, jokulsarlon & the south coast.

Many of the top attractions in Iceland have been mentioned in the paragraphs above. Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, the South Coast, and the northern lights are all among the most famous, but there are plenty more that travelers should make every effort to see.

• The Blue Lagoon : Iceland has many geothermal spas around the country, but the Blue Lagoon is the most popular. Located on the Reykjanes Peninsula near Keflavik International Airport, this attraction is a perfect place to begin or end a holiday in Iceland.
• The Snaefellsnes peninsula : Nicknamed' Iceland in miniature', this peninsula in West Iceland has everything that makes Iceland famous. Historic villages, abundant wildlife, dramatic mountains, waterfalls, and spectacular beaches can all be explored in a day. The Snaefellsjokull National Park, home to the  Snaefellsjokull glacier , is particularly notable.
• The Westfjords : One of Iceland's most remote and sparsely populated regions, the Westfjords are named after their countless dramatic fjords, framed by enormous flat-topped mountains. Though off the Ring Road and largely only accessible in summer, this is an ideal location for travelers hoping to see untouched nature, tiny fishing villages, and plenty of animals, such as arctic foxes, whales, seals, and puffins.

• North Iceland : This vast region is most famous for the Lake Myvatn area and the beautiful town of  Akureyri . The  Diamond Circle , however, is a fantastic sightseeing route that features the incredible  canyon of Asbyrgi , the whale-watching town of  Husavik , and the second-most powerful waterfall in Europe,  Dettifoss . North Iceland also has countless hidden gems off the beaten track.
• The Eastfjords: Like the Westfjords, the Eastfjords have many beautiful bays, dramatic mountains, and tiny villages. Unlike the Westfjords, however, this area is on the Ring Road and accessible year-round. It is also the only place where you can see wild reindeer in Iceland.

• Vatnajokull National Park : Iceland's greatest national park is centered around the largest ice cap in Europe, the Vatnajokull glacier. Though you can access many of its attractions from the east and north, the most popular are in the south. These include the iceberg-filled Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and the breathtaking Skaftafell Nature Reserve.
• The Highlands : An untouched, uninhabited region defined by volcanoes, hot springs, and glaciers, Iceland's highlands are a fantastic place for adventurers. Hiking is particularly popular here, particularly along the  Laugavegur trail . This route connects the volcanic  Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve  with the dramatic  Thorsmork Valley  and can be crossed in four to six days.

Your average sightseeing guide of Iceland is probably the size of a dictionary. There are so many unique Iceland attractions and landscapes that fitting all of them into a holiday may seem like an impossible task. So, we’ve made a map of must-see places in Iceland below for you to reference:

You might notice that there are only 17 attractions on the map, but that’s because number 18 is not restricted to a location!

To optimize your time in Iceland, we recommend you check out these best self-drive travel plans in Iceland .

Popular self-drive tours

10-day self-drive tour of the complete ring road of iceland with top attractions & snaefellsnes, best 1-week summer self-drive tour of the ring road of iceland & golden circle, best 7-day northern lights self drive tour through south iceland to jokulsarlon ice cave.

If you don’t want to drive, you can book Iceland vacation packages from Keflavik International Airport or Reykjavik, which will take you to the best surrounding sites in fun, small-group, guided tours. 

Top Vacation Packages in Iceland

Whether you’ve decided to self-drive around Iceland or take a tour, we’ve rounded up, not only the top 10 things to do in Iceland but the top 18. This includes the must-see places, things to do and see in Iceland, and what you should avoid.

If you want to see Iceland’s diverse landscapes and features, all you need to do is plan a day trip to the Snaefellsnes peninsula.

The Snaefellsnes peninsula has been nicknamed 'Iceland in Miniature' due to the sheer variety of landscapes, you can see on the peninsula. There’s so much to see and do there that you may want to read our ultimate guide to the Snaefellsnes peninsula .

But its crown jewel is the Snaefellsjokull glacier. It’s a twin-peaked glacier that sits over a volcano on the peninsula’s tip, surrounded by jagged lava fields and a dramatic coastline on three sides. You can see it from some of the area’s other top attractions, such as the all-but-abandoned hamlet of Budir and the Londrangar sea stacks.

The glacier has such a special place in Icelanders’ hearts that they declared it a National Park in 2001. It shares this status with only two other sites in the entire country (both featured on this list).

Many art pieces, particularly literature, have been inspired by the Snaefellsjokull glacier. The most famous is Jules Verne’s classic science fiction novel A Journey to the Center of the Earth from 1864. If you’re wondering what to see in Iceland, the Snaefellsjokull glacier is a great choice.

On a clear day, you can see it all the way from Reykjavik across Faxafloi Bay, but there’s no comparison to seeing the glacier up close.

It’s possible to drive to the glacier and back within a day, but you will probably want to spend more time there. It’s one of Iceland’s must-see attractions included in many self-drive tours, such as a six-day winter self-drive tour of Iceland’s Golden Circle & Snaefellsnes because you need to spend more than a day there!

Top Snaefellsnes Tours

There are plenty of Snaefellsnes tours and packages to choose from, including ones that take you on  a snowcat ride on the glacier’s icy surface .

Of all the spectacular places to see in Iceland, Kirkjufell mountain is one of the most impressive. Kirkjufell is one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. You might also recognize it as the Arrowhead Mountain north of The Wall in the Game of Thrones TV series.

Kirkjufell mountain translates to Church Mountain and is a popular destination for self-drive tours. The water in front of the mountain makes it even more scenic. It produces either a mirror image or becomes a perfect white blanket of ice and snow in the winter.

Iceland’s South Coast is extremely popular among travelers. It’s a region everyone should consider when deciding what to do in Iceland.

Iceland’s glaciers and coastal erosion have left the vast majority of its coastline jagged, with fjords defining the West, North, and East. However, much of the South Coast is vulnerable to glacial flooding, which has flattened the rocks into black sand.

If you decide to take a tour of the South Coast of Iceland , be sure to explore the black sand beaches along the coastline. 

The most famous of these black sand beaches is Reynisfjara, near the village of Vik . Like many of the most beautiful places in Iceland, Reynisfjara beach’s beauty comes from its stark and haunting landscapes.

The black sand beaches might be some of the best things to see in Iceland, but swimming in them is forbidden. The sea is dangerous because of cold water temperatures and strong currents. Reynisfjara is especially risky because of the sneaker waves that unexpectedly surge upon the shore.

You should stay at least 67 to 100 feet (20 to 30 meters) from the surf at all times and take any safety advice provided at attractions seriously.

Top South Coast Tours

Best ice cave tour in vatnajokull glacier starting from jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, 2 day ice cave tour with south coast waterfalls & jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

Reynisfjara is not the only beach on the South Coast worthy of note. Further east is ‘the crown jewel of Iceland’s nature,’ the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, beside Diamond Beach .

The lagoon is full of icebergs that slowly make their way toward the ocean after breaking from a glacial tongue year-round. When they reach the sea, the waves push them onto the beach, and the result is mesmerizing.

The blue of the ice and the white of the surf contrast with the black sand and make Diamond Beach exceptionally beautiful and one of Iceland’s best places to visit.

Add the colors of the northern lights  or the dramatic hues of the midnight sun, and you have a view that looks like a fantasy novelist created it.

As if that wasn’t enough, sometimes you can also spot seals playing in the lagoon and out at sea.

The mighty waves of South Iceland have carved two basalt pillars called Reynisdrangar . They’re near Vik and were featured in Game of Thrones as Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.

Like many of Iceland’s most striking rock formations, some say these pillars are trolls frozen in the morning sun's light. They face Reynisfjall mountain , where you can find Iceland’s famous black basalt hexagonal columns.

In walking distance of Reynisfjara is the magnificent sea arch of Dyrholaey . From its peak, visitors can see incredible views of the surrounding area, and nesting puffins cover the arch in summer. Dyrholaey is just one of the many top places to see puffins in Iceland .

One of the best places to visit in Iceland is the Vatnajokull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. It makes up 8% of Iceland’s landmass with countless stunning ice caves , each a marvelous feat of nature.

Under the ice are at least three active volcanoes and the tallest peak in Iceland. Vatnajokull glacier also feeds countless rivers and outlet glaciers. It’s featured in Games of Thrones and two James Bond movies.

Top Glacier Tours

The Blue Lagoon is the country’s most visited geothermal spa and perhaps the most popular attraction in Iceland. The water here is an opaque, milky blue, unlike anything found elsewhere on earth.

The hot pool is rich in minerals and thriving with good bacteria. Silica masks are available for all guests, too. Both the water and masks have given the lagoon a reputation for healing.

The Blue Lagoon sits within the volcanic Reykjanes peninsula’s incredible nature, which is known for its stark and haunting landscapes.

The spa is surrounded by lava fields coated in grey moss. When seen through a veil of steam, the scene is otherworldly.

A trip here to relax and rejuvenate at the start or end of your journey is perfect. Those looking for something even more luxurious may want to consider some of the private treatments available. 

Some treatments available at the Blue Lagoon include in-water massages and natural beauty treatments tailored to your skin. The latter use rare algae and minerals with specific procedures for those with skin conditions, such as psoriasis.

The lagoon is just 14 miles (22 kilometers) from Keflavik International Airport and 31 miles (49 kilometers) from Reykjavik’s city center. Conveniently, there are affordable airport transfers to the Blue Lagoon.

Top Blue Lagoon Tours

Please note that the Blue Lagoon is a top-rated Iceland attraction, therefore, it's best to  book your admission ticket in advance.

There are over twenty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in Iceland’s waters, with many cities offering boat tours .

Whale-watching  is a common activity in ports such as Reykjavik and Akureyri, and in regions such as the Westfjords, you can catch sight of whales from shore. But one of the best places in Iceland to whale watch is the small northern town of Husavik.

Husavik, nicknamed ‘the whale-watching capital of Europe,’ sits by Skjalfandi Bay . The area is teeming with sea life in the summer. You can spot harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, and humpback whales almost every day.

Occasionally, lucky guests may see more unusual species such as orcas, blue whales, fin whales, and even rare narwhals.

Top Whale Watching & Puffin Tours

Summer is also the nesting season for many migratory bird species in Iceland, most notably the puffin. 

You can spot these birds on whale-watching tours from Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Husavik. There are even tours that combine puffin and whale watching from Husavik .

Intertwined with the Sagas and inhabited until the early 20th century, the northernmost part of the Westfjords is called Hornstrandir . Abandoned due to its remoteness and lack of industry, one might think this place doesn’t belong on a list of what to do in Iceland.

But it has recently found new life as an incredibly well-preserved nature reserve.

There’s so much wildlife in this area of Iceland  that it’s one of the best places to go in Iceland for wildlife lovers and photographers. This wild land is the least populated part of the country outside the Highlands and is best known for its non-human residents. 

The magnificent cliffs rise to 1,752 feet (534 meters) above sea level and are home to tens of thousands of seabirds. You have a high chance of spotting Iceland’s only native land mammal in the overgrown fields, the Arctic fox.

Top Westfjords Tours

The animals in this region have no problem with humans getting close to them. While feeding wild animals is heavily discouraged, the fearless foxes here will happily eat out of the palm of your hand.

You can reach the Hornstrandir area by ferries from Isafjordur and the Strandir district. It’s also possible to book tours of the Westfjords , taking the hassle out of the experience.

Where should you visit in Iceland if you like remote, off-the-beaten-path things to see and do? Aside from Hornstrandir, the Eastfjords are sparsely populated and mark the country’s farthest point from Reykjavik.

Only those driving the full ring road or who have booked a vacation package around the country are likely to see them. However, those who visit often return, saying it was their favorite part of the country.

This remote corner of Iceland is far from crowds of travelers, providing the tranquillity many seek on their trip to the island. Renting a car is necessary to reach this remote region of Iceland, so you can explore it at your own pace.

Driving up and down high mountain passes and along dramatic cliff edges, you’ll see magnificent seascapes and incredible views of Vatnajokull National Park and its enormous central glacier.

Despite its remoteness, the East has several settlements such as Djupivogur , Seydisfjordur , and Egilsstadir , where you can find services such as gas, food, and comfortable accommodations. These traditional towns and villages are seated within incredible natural surroundings.

Seydisfjordur is spectacular, nestled deep within a fjord with sheer cliffs and magnificent ocean views. Many of East Iceland’s top attractions are in the area, such as Husey and Borgafjordur Eystri . 

Top Eastfjords Tours

7. seek out wild reindeer in eastfjords .

As you drive through the Eastfjords, keep a keen eye out for the local wildlife. The waters are fertile and filled with marine life, and numerous sea birds fly in the skies above. The Eastfjords are also the only region in the country where you can see reindeer roaming free.

One reason why they aren’t on most lists of Iceland’s things to see might be because reindeer aren’t native to Iceland. A royal decree introduced them in the 18th century from Norway and Denmark, but only those in the Eastfjords survived. 

The best place to spot them is at the fjord near the town Seydisfjordur or on a super jeep wild reindeer experience tour.

Forty-nine miles (78.8 kilometers) east of the ‘Capital of North Iceland,’ Akureyri, is a geological and geothermal wonderland called the Lake Myvatn area. 

A series of catastrophic eruptions formed these lakes over two millennia ago. The area now boasts a wealth of hidden gems you can reach by taking a tour of Myvatn .

The lakes themselves are beautiful in their formation and the life that flourishes within them.

Dozens of bird species flock to the waters in summer, and those interested in flora should look out for moss balls, which form in a few other places around the world.

But the geology that surrounds Myvatn lake is perhaps even more spectacular. Perfectly formed pseudo-volcanic craters line many banks. You can walk up to and around them and discover the secrets of Iceland’s volcanism.

Dimmuborgir , meanwhile, is a field of lava so dramatic it’s often called the Black Fortress. In this lava field, hidden in a cave, is the increasingly famous Grjotagja hot spring .

Though you cannot bathe in this water due to its ever-changing temperature. Many scenes of the TV series Game of Thrones were shot in Iceland , and this cave was a shooting location for one of the franchise’s most famous love scenes featuring Jon Snow and Ygritte.

However, those who want to take a dip in geothermal waters need not look far. The Myvatn Nature Baths are perfect for unwinding when traveling through the region.

Top Myvatn Tours

Visitors to the Myvatn lake area will find many other fascinating sites just a short drive away. 

For example, Myvatn lake is close to Namaskard Pass , where you can discover seething fumaroles and bubbling mud pits on a stark mountain plateau.

It’s also close to some incredible waterfalls, notably Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

The most popular short road trip in Iceland is, without a doubt, the famous Golden Circle. However, if you want to add a little zest to your self-drive Golden Circle tour , there are also several top things to do in Iceland that require just a slight detour from the route.

Due to these sites’ popularity and the fact it only takes half a day to get around them, many tour operators offer additional fun activities to the Golden Circle .

Thrill-seekers can snorkel in the Silfra rift or join a cold water diving tour (if qualified) in Thingvellir’s freshwater springs,  Silfra  rift , for some of the best underwater sights in the world. 

The adventurous can add a snowmobiling trip , which departs from the Gullfoss waterfall and takes you onto the surface of the mighty Langjokull glacier .

Top Snorkeling Tours

Unforgettable drysuit snorkeling in silfra with underwater photos & transfer from reykjavik, snorkeling tour between continents in silfra with free underwater photos & snacks, meet on location 30 minute snorkeling tour in the crystal waters of silfra.

In Northeast Iceland, just off the beaten track, is a natural feature so intricately formed that legend has it that the canyon was created as a result of divine intervention.

According to the myth, the horseshoe canyon of Asbyrgi was formed when one of the hoofs of Odin’s eight-legged Icelandic horse came in contact with the ground. This is a must-see in Iceland if you’re interested in Norse mythology.

Top Photo Tours

The cliffs surrounding it and the plateau that rises from the center allow for some of the country’s most dramatic views and photographs. 

The valley is also beautiful from within, filled with thickets of birch, willow, fir, larch, and pine. Indeed, it’s so rich with vegetation that it’s hard to imagine this location is actually in Iceland.

It’s no surprise that many myths about Iceland’s hidden people (elves) originate from here.

Skaftafell Nature Reserve has such varied landscapes it was once a national park. 

Now it’s the most alluring and accessible section of Vatnajokull National Park and one of Iceland’s best places to visit for nature lovers.

You can camp in the greens of a birch wood forest by a beautiful glacial stream, just a short walk from haunting black deserts and dramatic lava fields.

The glacier tongues and lagoons throughout the reserve all originate in Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull. Those eager to enjoy the magnificent views from the top can book a glacier hiking tour on one of the glacial outlets, Svinafellsjokull .

Even if you don’t want to walk on the ice, you can enjoy the area’s many other hiking trails .

The trail to Svartifoss waterfall is the most notable, where the water flows over an impressive cliff of black basalt columns.

Top Skaftafell Tours

Skaftafell is conveniently located on the South Coast of Iceland, 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach.

We teased it earlier in the list, but there's no doubt that the Golden Circle is one of the top attractions in Iceland. The route is 186 miles (300 kilometers) long and takes you to the most spectacular Iceland attractions in Southwest Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and the Gullfoss waterfall.

Thingvellir National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on Iceland’s mainland. Located in an incredible valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, it boasts a spectacular landscape of lava fields and forests interrupted by crystal-clear streams.

Meanwhile, the Geysir Geothermal Area has such iconic geysers that the word 'geyser' derives from the very same Geysir.

Though Geysir is now virtually dormant, its neighbor Strokkur erupts over 65 feet (20 meters) in the air every five minutes, providing plenty of photographing opportunities.

Gullfoss is the best-known waterfall in Iceland, surging with enormous power down two tiers into an ancient valley carved out during the last ice age. On a sunny day, you might just find a rainbow or two slicing through the mist!

There are plenty of guided tours of the Golden Circle , but many visitors also opt to self-drive so that they can see Iceland’s sights at their own pace.

The charm of a never-setting sun and the beauty of the northern lights are stunning natural sights to behold and a must-see in Iceland. Although not an actual site, they are undoubtedly the top Iceland attractions. Both have a plethora of tours dedicated to them.

We’ve written a whole post on when exactly is the best time to visit Iceland to see the northern lights. Generally, the best time is between late August and April, with mid-winter offering you the best chance of seeing them. Of course, joining a northern lights tour guided by experts also increases your chances of spotting the aurora borealis.

Come to Iceland between May and August and enjoy the never-setting sun if you prefer warm weather. There are many top midnight sun tours to choose from to experience the magical hours. Learn more about this phenomenon in our complete guide to the midnight sun .

Since both are top things to see in Iceland, you may want to visit Iceland twice to witness both the magic of the northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer.

Top Northern Lights Tours & Holidays

There are some things to avoid in Iceland for various reasons. We’ve covered all of them in our dumbest things to do in Iceland.

In terms of places to avoid - we’re happy to say that all the attractions in Iceland are as pretty in real life as in photos. That said, the best thing to do to avoid disappointment is to book your visits in advance to famous Iceland tourist spots. The chief among them is the Blue Lagoon.

We hope this helps you find out where to go in Iceland and the best things to do to make the most of your stay here. Let us know your favorite natural attraction in Iceland, and share any hidden gems you discover while traveling across the unique landscape. 

Don’t hesitate to leave your comments and queries below.

Popular articles

Guide to Iceland | The Story of the Leading Travel Agency of Iceland

The Complete Guide to the Midnight Sun in Iceland

Top 20 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Iceland

22 Photos of the Aurora in Iceland

Mountains in Iceland

Other interesting articles.

The Ultimate Guide to Icelandic Landscapes

The Ultimate Guide to Ice Caves in Iceland

Wildlife and Animals in Iceland: The Complete Guide

Download Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place

Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket. Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link.

Top things to do in Iceland

Book your complete trip with the best companies only

Explore an Ice Cave

Visit a Live Volcano

Find the Northern Lights

Visit the Blue Lagoon

Go on a Road Trip

Do the Golden Circle

See the Glacier Lagoon

South Coast Tours

The 10 Best Designed Tourism Websites in the World 2022

Mary Ann Ha , Skift

June 15th, 2022 at 2:30 AM EDT

In a frantic attempt to avoid being left behind, official tourism organization websites are doing their best to catch up to the high expectations of the new traveler — tourists of the post-pandemic digital age.

Mary Ann Ha

Almost every tourist these days is making decisions about their travels based on what they see online. From themed trips to budgeted food tours, travelers crave previews of potential destinations and surf the internet to learn anything they can about a new and exciting spot.

Due to intense levels of pent-up travel demand followed by impulsive and impatient post-pandemic travelers, tourism website design is more important now than ever before. The competitive space for well-designed websites is more ambitious, and reliance on digital platforms as a dependable resource for travel inspiration is at an all-time high. Looking at the Gen Z traveler, it’s easy to notice that attention spans have shortened immensely, and tourists are treating trip planning like a shopping experience, picking and choosing elements of their vacations after engaging in a few seconds of appeal.

With that being said, tourism organizations are slowly learning that the old ways simply don’t work anymore — paragraphs of information on the screen, redirection that continues tab after tab, slow and clunky navigational experiences, depressing color palettes, and promotional descriptions of sites that don’t answer any of the truly important questions, especially for a more conscious traveler worried about climate change, and other threats.

After two years of rapidly-evolving digital growth, several websites have succeeded in breaking out of that dull and repetitive cycle. Here is Skift’s 2022 list of best designed tourism websites — ones that hit the spot both visually and navigationally, and are taking note of what the modern traveler wants, how they think, and most importantly, how they behave.

1. Visit Iceland

The clean-cut and minimalistic nature of Nordic graphic design works well to communicate visual appeal, send concise messages with clarity (or humor), and entice further curiosity with minimal effort, especially in the website world. Visit Iceland leads our list with a transitional homepage display, decorated with background images that hover along the page as they overlap and interact with the text on the screen, making the website feel inviting and alive.

As users scroll further down, the website displays excellent examples of utilizing the organized nature of drop-down menus and vertically moving lists. With a clean white background and bold capitalized black font, readers are able to quickly catch sight of what they want to read, without feeling overwhelmed by options. Blog articles of potential itineraries and Iceland travel tips are also organized in a format reminiscent of Youtube, integrated with carousel elements that are easy to view via mobile phone. 

Accessibility to greener travel options within the website is always a plus — Visit Iceland has an entire page dedicated to helping travelers join in on Iceland’s commitment to preserving their nature, including a list of environmentally certified businesses, a carbon footprint calculator, and an easy-to-follow list of tips for sustainable travel in Iceland.

2. Visit California

While the homepage might look typical at first glance, Visit California’s “Experience California” layout is one of the best designs we’ve seen in the tourism website game. Swipe left as soon as you get onto the landing page (a surprising, but not too complicated way to navigate the site, which keeps visitors engaged), and users are immediately whisked into a three-dimensional space to explore what the state of California has to offer to their tourists.

To the new millennial and Gen Z traveler, design and aesthetic can be just as or more important as destination information and travel guidance. Interactive visuals and bold colors speak to the character of California as a vacation spot, filled with globally cultural experiences and advanced businesses in design and technology — adding to the visitor’s impression of what a trip to California could be like. 

As the home of Los Angeles and the land of influencers, Visit California also fully embraces the use of User-Generated Content as a promotional tool, and displays this in an easy-to-digest format.

3. Z ürich Tourism

Speaking of Nordic graphic design and user-generated content, the official website for the city of Zurich is another example of the excellent use of white space. Dedication to sans serif typography, a two-to-three cool tone color palette, and an extremely simplistic, clean layout keeps visitors from feeling overwhelmed and allows for a breathing space to go through all the activities offered on the website. 

Beneath several of the suggested activities, restaurants, and bars, the Zurich website also labels whether the business is open or the service is being offered in real time, a unique feature that can be extremely helpful for travelers who are looking for last minute places to enjoy or spontaneously plan a day trip.

Their user-generated content page is a delightfully neat design, with the page tab linked as a single hashtag in the top menu. The entire page acts as a unified social media feed, making all their social media coverage on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram visually accessible in one view.

3. Visit Brazil

Visit Brazil has all information and links available on their homepage, split into four sections: Experiences, Destinations, Regions, and Travel Information. 

Aesthetically, a framework of yellow is filled with a line-up of action-packed visuals, picture and video, and a section dedicated to Instagram content. They know their visitors, and they recognize that in-your-face video content appeals to those who are looking for some sort of adventure. The video that takes up the entire homepage display keeps visitors engaged at initial glance, and while the website prioritizes promoting their adventurous activities, they balance “fun” with “necessity” and make sure to give easy access to the safety information travelers will need to know when coming to Brazil.

We all know New York City could be its own state, with experience offerings that are equivalent to those of a country.

Set up like a booking site, the NYCgo’s most impressive elements include the UX framework that is deeply familiar to the modern traveler — searching for hotels or accommodations via a search engine reminiscent to short-term rental or airline sites, being able to “like” and save posts or articles for later referral, and of course, a function that offers filtered options to find activities and locations catered to the visitor’s personal preference.

The bold, graffiti-like font that covers the homepage and is used throughout the website is simple, which is a necessary move considering how much text is on the front page. It’s also a great aesthetic choice, a subtle way of speaking to the headlines that cover billboards in NYC. While the website offers slews of information on the homepage, the way it is formatted and presented to the user keeps the aesthetic uncluttered and down-to-earth.

6. Visit Finland

From the logo, to overall design, to choice of font, Visit Finland’s website displays similarities to another extremely popular rental booking site, but when it comes to approachability and visual appeal, borrowing those design elements works in their favor.

The website is a smooth, transparent, and, of course, familiar experience — one that is both modular and linear, showing dedication to navigational simplicity. The design does not shy away from white space and minimalism much like its Nordic counterparts also on this list. Complete use of full-screen photos and stunning imagery is a highlight, as well as the level of scroll-responsive interactivity visitors experience as they explore the site. 

This website also displays various Finnish activities and locations through the save/heart feature, referencing a user experience often seen in online shopping or Pinterest mood boards. The layout feels particularly responsive to the nature of the Gen Zers who spend all their time on social media “saving” posts and ideas.

7. Visit Australia

Like we’ve seen on other websites on the list, the Visit Australia website is hugely loyal to the tile format, which could feel silly if overused, but because the tiles are lined up and sectioned in a cohesive manner, visitors will find it extremely easy to find options for each and every aspect of destination planning. The homepage is lined with left-right carousels of vertical images, appealing to younger generations and optimized for mobile formats.

Drop down menus are also a highlight for this website design. Instead of cluttering the frame with an overwhelming amount of text, the tile format keeps the menu options visually engaging for the user. Integration of beautiful imagery within every step of the user experience shows great dedication towards marketing the destination, which is, ultimately the main purpose of a tourism organization. 

The Visit Australia website offers everything, from itineraries and cultural or geographical activity guides to budgeting and accommodation deals. Recognizing that budget is an important factor for many travelers is also a major plus for any tourism website, as it keeps website visitors within the website instead of browsing other platforms for “best or most affordable deals”. 

Perhaps the highlight of the site is Explore Australia in 8D, an interactive exploratory experience that allows visitors to move through a map of the entire mainland of Australia, including a few islands surrounding the area, and see what each region has to offer, from attractions to lodging and food.

As much as Peru is receiving growing interest as a travel destination in recent years, the country also seems to be extremely conscious about communicating COVID safety measures and restrictions to potential tourists. The immediate landing page of the tourism website gives visitors easy access to ways to prepare and plan for a trip to Peru from home, beginning with multiple avenues to check and double check updated Covid protocols. Showing this level of diligence to Covid measures not only communicates the fact that Peru takes safety protocols seriously, but also allows for international travelers to cross ‘testing or vaccination requirements’, still a major concern at this time, off their list of potential worries.

The team at Peru Travel also takes advantage of the numerous recognitions, media coverage, and awards that Peru receives as a tourism destination, and pushes that at the forefront of their website design. 

The most exciting part of the website is perhaps the VR page, called Peru 360, where one can “visit” various sites throughout Peru in a virtual reality. While this is a method that has grown in popularity amongst a lot of brands during the pandemic, very few official tourism websites have been successful in offering a well-established experience that feels interactive beyond typical images or videos. 

9. Visit Italy

Italy has long-been a tourist-heavy destination, and the team at Visit Italy knows it. At the forefront of their website are easy ways to search, budget, and book the top tourist attractions through the best deals. Viewers barely need to scroll down the homepage before getting immediate access to the Ticket Carousel, with exact prices listed by attraction or location.

Visit Italy’s website isn’t the most ambitious platform design-wise, but it prioritizes digestible formats, such as buttons for each step in planning or tiled carousels, and feels easy-to-navigate overall, especially considering all the information on their homepage.

It’s clear that the website knows what their visitors need — to beat lines, to get the best prices, and to make the most of their time in one of the most famous cities in the world that Italy has to offer. The site is ideal for the tourist who needs to prioritize planning and booking over aesthetic photo inspirations. The website also acts as a search engine of sorts, and does not shy away from redirecting their visitors to other booking sites or options in order to make the best decisions.

10. Visit Greenland

Visit Greenland’s website also sets up like a familiar search engine site (a trend we are observing across most of the designs on this list) but serves mostly for travel inspiration and local informational purposes. The layout of the website is simple and loyal to the use of white space, which allows for their unique graphic design elements to shine through in this particular design. 

Not only are the three-dimensional illustrations beautiful, but they are also interactive, acting as links to the respective relative pages. 

Aside from engaging geographic and cultural graphics, the website also lines up options of various package tours that lead to external provider links, who are more well-versed in helping potential visitors move forward in their planning and exploration process. Because Greenland is a nature-heavy travel destination, the website focuses on displaying a variety of outdoor activities — based on personal interests or geographical location — in order to prevent travelers from feeling deprived of diverse activities. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Innovative methods in the digital world are getting increasing ambitious day by day and website designs are trying to be as responsive as possible, as to make sure they maintain their presence in the travel planning space.

In addition to the websites on our list, several other tourism organizations are diving into unique measures to gain attention from the ever-so-hungry tourist of the post-pandemic travel world. Interactive games, like Cape Town’s Virtual Game Tourism Campaign , are one of the few ways these organizations hope to attract younger audiences and give a virtual taste of their destination to potential travelers. The Machu Pichu 360 website invites visitors to enter the world of VR and includes auditory stimulants, a step up from the Peru 360 page in our list, that engages both eyes and ears to fill the void travelers have all been experiencing during Covid.

With the competitive space for tourism websites expanding at an increasing speed and mobile apps taking the spotlight from website platforms , tourism organizations and designers will most likely continue to borrow elements of the newly digital world to keep their platforms running.

Tags: climate change , design , digital , Digital Marketing , generation z , online booking , online travel , pandemic , tourism , tourism boards , tourism campaigns , websites

White House says Kamala Harris will travel to Arizona after state Supreme Court abortion ban ruling

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Arizona on Friday, the White House announced Tuesday, shortly after the state Supreme Court upheld a near-total abortion ban .

Harris will travel to Tucson, the White House said in an advisory, "to continue her leadership in the fight for reproductive freedoms." It noted that it will be the vice president's second trip to Arizona this year and her fifth time since being sworn in.

"Last month, the Vice President visited Phoenix, AZ to highlight how extremists in states across the country have proposed and enacted abortion bans that threaten women’s health, force them to travel out of state to receive care, and criminalize doctors," the White House said.

The White House said that the trip was part of Harris' nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour "that included stops in Wisconsin, California, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, and Minnesota."

Since the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Harris has held more than 80 events on reproductive rights in 20 states, the White House added.

The announcement about her upcoming trip came just about an hour after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a 160-year-old near-total abortion ban still on the books in the state could be enforced. Under the law from 1864, anyone who performs the procedure or helps a woman access that care could face felony charges and up to two to five years in prison. The  law  — which was codified in 1901, and again in 1913 — includes an exception to save the woman’s life.

President Joe Biden, Harris and Democrats in general are hoping that existing abortion bans and threats to expand them nationwide will help them win their races in this November's general election.

Rebecca Shabad is a politics reporter for NBC News based in Washington.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Malibu’s Most Exclusive, Butt-Kicking Spa Is Coming East

The Ranch, which specializes in long hikes, communal vegan meals and snacks of precisely six almonds, is opening an outpost in the Hudson Valley.

By Danielle Pergament

You will wake up at 5:30 a.m. and stretch for 30 minutes. You will eat something vegan and organic for breakfast followed by an hourslong hike on which you will hear words like “verticality.” If you need a snack, you will get six almonds. Not seven — don’t be gluttonous.

In the afternoon, you will take a cold plunge, dunking yourself in water cooled to a painful 55 degrees. The throbbing in your body is not a hangover — there is no alcohol — it’s from the 10 miles you hiked yesterday, or it could be the 12 you hiked the day before. Or maybe it’s the 1,400 calories a day allotted. For all this, you will pay thousands of dollars.

This is luxury wellness in 2024. Some destination spas and high-end retreats are more akin to Navy SEAL prep — or at the very least, basic training — than five-star resorts.

The standard-bearer of this group is the Ranch, 200 acres of nature and trails in the Santa Monica Mountains of Malibu, Calif. For 14 years, the Ranch has been helping 25 people at a time destress, detox and generally rid themselves of the anxieties of life.

“It’s not like any other place,” said Gillian Steel, 69, who sits on the board of the New-York Historical Society and has been to the Ranch nine times. The Ranch, she said, “isn’t just a week-away experience. They manage to be both stylish while pushing you. You meet the most interesting people and get a week to yourself at the same time.”

In late April, the Ranch will open a second property, this time in the Hudson Valley of New York.

“For years, our guests kept saying, ‘Please open something on the East Coast,’” said Sue Glasscock, who owns the Ranch with her husband, Alex, both 60. “We kicked the idea around for a long time.”

They eventually found a lakeside estate on 200 acres of forests and trails flanked by state parks near the New Jersey border in the town of Sloatsburg, N.Y. The house, a 40,000-square-foot stone mansion previously known as Table Rock estate, was built in 1902 by J.P. Morgan. (It was a wedding present to his daughter and new son-in-law, the great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, and was later owned by an order of nuns .)

“It’s an hour from Manhattan, which is just crazy to me,” said Ms. Glasscock.

To the mountains

I met the Glasscocks for lunch at their home at the Ranch Malibu. In the foreground, three bowls of warm cabbage soup, topped with crispy kale and microgreens. In the background was the entirety of the Santa Monica Mountains, and just beyond, a glimmering streak of the Pacific. It was hard not to feel healthier, calmer and more sustainable just being there.

“We don’t think of ourselves as a spa — we never have,” said Mr. Glasscock. “To be honest, I don’t like the word wellness.” Before opening the Ranch, the couple bought and remodeled houses and designed gardens.

The natural world — both in Southern California and the Hudson Valley — is the most important amenity at the Ranch. “Nothing we do is trendy,” said Ms. Glasscock. “The point is that you’re in nature. You’re eating food from the garden, you’re drinking more water, you’re sleeping more, you’re taking time off your devices. And you’re playing.”

Play, she said, is a proven aid to longevity and something adults don’t do enough. At the new location, a hill in the backyard will give guests a chance to go sledding in the winter. “The Ranch is basically like camp for grown-ups,” she said.

But grown-up camp doesn’t come cheap. The Ranch Malibu has a six-night, seven-day minimum and can cost more than $9,000 a week, depending on the package. The price of a stay at the Ranch Hudson Valley will range from $2,575 per person (three nights, double occupancy, low season) to $6,900 per person (four nights, single occupancy, high season). With high prices comes exclusivity.

“It’s hard,” said Mr. Glasscock. Part of the impetus for opening in the Hudson Valley, he said, was to give people the option to come for three days. “Obviously, that lowers the cost, and still gives people time to reconnect to nature.”

From weight loss to longevity

As wellness has gone mainstream, places like the Ranch have played a pivotal role in changing the definition of destination spas.

“In the U.S. in the last 10 or 20 years, destination spas were focused on weight loss and fixing bad habits like alcohol, coffee, smoking and eating too much meat and sugar,” said Linda Wells, the founding editor of Allure magazine and the editor of Air Mail Look , a beauty and wellness newsletter (to which I have contributed). “But the experience boiled down to getting weighed and measured on Day 1 and again on departure day, with a report card of pounds and inches lost at the end. Weight loss and flat abs were the goal, not health — and definitely not longevity.”

But wellness evolved. Even in light of recent controversies , one of the most popular podcasts on Spotify is still “Huberman Lab,” in which a Stanford University neurobiologist discusses cold exposure, sleep hygiene and circadian rhythms. And an increasing number of spas offer an array of high-tech, often medicalized programs .

Other pricey destination spas also take the boot camp approach. There is Golden Door in California, Mii Amo in Arizona, and Miraval and Canyon Ranch , both of which have several outposts. All of these combine spa treatments, exercise programs, special diets and the promise of resetting to a healthier lifestyle. But the Ranch is singular in its simplicity. There are vegan cooking classes, energy healing sessions and infrared saunas, but don’t expect Botox or filler injections.

“I’m not against those things,” said Ms. Glasscock. “It’s just not in our ethos.”

The Ranch is also extremely luxurious and deliberately communal. Arrival and departure dates are set according to weekly packages, so guests see the same faces for a week. Activities — including the daily hikes — are done as a group. And there is only one dining table, so you eat all meals with the rest of the guests.

“I was expecting meditation, heads down, keep to yourself, but it’s not that at all,” said Jillian Spaak, the director of a real estate investment company who lives in Southern California and first went to the Ranch 10 years ago when she was getting divorced. “You’re communing with other people, you’re hiking together, and you’re all eating meals at the same table. You go through peaks and valleys — literally — and you’re all there for the same reason: to feel better, to look better, to be better. ”

“We want to take what we consider the important aspects of health, wellness and longevity and immerse everyone in all of them for a week or three days,” said Ms. Glasscock. “Most people want a silver bullet, but there is no such thing.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Exploring the Outdoors, One Step at a Time

Hiking is a great way to immerse yourself in nature and tune out the chaos of city life. the tips below will help you get ready before you hit the trail..

Hiking offers a host of mental and physical benefits. If you’re new to it, here’s how to get started .

Fourteen years and one Apple App of the Year award in, AllTrails has become something rare: a tool that works for both experts and newbies .

Make sure you have the right gear . Wirecutter has recommendations for anything you might need — from hydration packs  to trekking poles . And remember to try on hiking boots  at the right time of the day .

These clever apps and devices  will help you to find your way, triage an injury and generally stay out of trouble on the trail.

Planning to venture out for a nighttime  hike ? Opt for wide, easy-to-navigate paths.

Experts say failing to alert family or friends of your plans is one of the biggest mistakes hikers make. Here are some more safety tips .

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Holmes Chapel, English village of Harry Styles' youth, needs fans to be tour guides

Many tourists visit sites such as a bakery where Styles once worked and a Chinese restaurant where he once dined with Taylor Swift. Tourism has been great for local businesses.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep.

Holmes Chapel, the English village of Harry Styles' youth, is looking for superfans to work as tour guides. The village gets a lot of tourists, Harries visiting sites like a bakery where Styles once worked and a Chinese restaurant where he once dined with Taylor Swift. The not-for-profit calling for tour guides says tourism has been great for local business, and now it wants to elevate its offerings.

(Singing) Why don't we leave it at that?

It's MORNING EDITION.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.