The United States of America is home to thousands of incredible tourist attractions. From world-famous museums, beautiful national parks, historic landmarks and fantastic leisure venues, there is plenty to see in every city. But which city has the best tourist attractions?
Well, we have revealed the best attractions in the US by analysing 240 of the most popular tourist attractions across the country's most visited cities: New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Las Vegas.
We used TripAdvisor data to calculate which attractions had the highest percentage of excellent (five-star) reviews. The following 10 attractions scored the highest across the US:
Contents:
- Speed Vegas, Vegas
- Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago
- Zoological Wildlife Foundation, Miami
- The Art Institure of Chicago, Chicago
- The Getty Center, Los Angeles
- Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, New York City
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
- Frick Collection, New York City
- The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, New York City
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
1. Speed Vegas, Vegas
Score: 94.4%
Speed Vegas is a premier motorsports park where visitors can drive luxury supercars such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches on a professional track. Visitors can also race high-performance go-karts and drive off-road trucks.
2. Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago
Score: 89.5%
The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is a prominent nonprofit cultural organisation dedicated to celebrating design and Chicago’s architectural legacy. It serves as both an interactive museum and the hub for the city's renowned architecture tours and public educational programs.
3. Zoological Wildlife Foundation, Miami
Score - 86.1%
The Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF) is an interactive zoo and animal sanctuary founded by Mario Tabraue in Miami, Florida. It houses over 40 exotic species and offers visitors private, guided tours and paid, close-contact encounters with animals such as tigers, lions, sloths, and primates.
4. The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Score: 84.6%
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. Founded in 1879, it is renowned for its encyclopedic collection of nearly 300,000 artworks and its landmark building in Chicago's Grant Park.
5. The Getty Center, Los Angeles
Score: 81.7%
The Getty Center is a world-renowned cultural and arts complex in Los Angeles, California. Set in the Santa Monica Mountains, it is famous for its beautiful architecture, manicured gardens, panoramic city views, and an extensive collection of European paintings, sculptures, and photography.
6. Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, New York City
Score: 80.7%
The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes is an iconic 90-minute annual holiday stage show held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Established in 1933, it features the world-famous Rockettes precision dance troupe, dazzling sets, and an original musical.
7. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Score: 80.5%
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (known as "The Met") is the largest and most visited art museum in the US. Located in New York City, it houses an encyclopedic collection spanning over 5,000 years of human creativity, from ancient Egyptian artefacts to contemporary masterpieces.
8. Frick Collection, New York City
Score: 80.1%
The Frick Collection is another world-famous art museum located in a historic Gilded Age mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. It houses a magnificent assembly of Old Master paintings, European sculptures, and decorative arts spanning from the Renaissance to the late 19th century.
9. The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, New York City
Score: 78.8%
The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the principal institution honouring the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Located at the World Trade Center site in New York City, it preserves the history of the tragedies and honours the lives lost.
10. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, New York City
Score: 78.7%
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is an immersive, multi-sensory observation experience located at the top of the One Vanderbilt skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Rising over 1,100 feet above the city, it blends 360-degree skyline views with interactive art installations, glass-bottom ledges, and mirrored rooms.
For those looking to visit a specific destination, we have also revealed the top 10 attractions in the six most-visited cities in the country.
New York City
The Big Apple is home to many iconic tourist attractions, drawing in visitors from all over the world. According to New York Tourism, over 65 million people visit the city each year. However, some of the most famous attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and the Empire State Building, failed to rank as the best attractions to see in New York City.
The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes scored the highest, followed by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other attractions in the top 10 include Central Park, Top of the Rock and Radio City Music Hall.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the second-most populated city in the US, home to almost four million people. Famous for its beautiful weather, beaches and entertainment industry, the city has plenty to offer visitors.
The Getty Center is the highest-rated attraction in the city, followed by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Other attractions that made the top 10 include the Petersen Automotive Museum, the California Science Center and Griffith Observatory.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is known for its lively nightlife, resorts, casinos, and entertainment, attracting millions of tourists year-round. The Las Vegas Strip is arguably the most famous part of the city, a 4-mile-long stretch of mega-resorts, nightlife, and entertainment, along with landmarks such as the replica Eiffel Tower and the Venetian canals.
Speed Vegas was the highest-rated out of any other attraction in the city. Other attractions in the top 10 are the Fountains of Bellagio, Mount Charleston, and the High Roller.
Chicago
Chicago is the third-most populous city in the US. It is known for its stunning skyline and pioneering architecture, Lake Michigan, deep-dish pizza, and plenty of incredible tourist attractions.
The highest-rated attraction in The Windy City is the Chicago Architecture Center. Other attractions included in the top 10 are the Chicago River, Cloud Gate and Millennium Park.
Miami
Located in Florida, Miami is known for stunning beaches, vibrant Latin American culture, and amazing nightlife, and is also one of the world's busiest cruise ports. The city's diversity is what draws millions of people to the Sunshine State each year.
The highest-rated tourist attraction in Miami is the Zoological Wildlife Foundation. Other top attractions that made it into the top 10 include the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).
Houston
Houston attracts millions of visitors each year, largely due to its world-class aerospace attractions, diverse culinary scene, and expansive museum district. As the fourth-largest city in the US, it draws millions of travellers seeking rich cultural experiences, major sporting events, and business opportunities.
The highest-rated attraction in the city is the Children's Museum Houston. Other attractions in the top 10 are the Museum of Fine Arts, the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Space Center Houston.
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