Iconic U.S. Landmark Named World's Best Attraction for 2024
Summer travel season is kicking into high gear, and millions of tourists around the world will be going on vacation and taking in some of the world's most breathtaking sights. It can be hard to find the best thing to see, but a new report from Tripadvisor makes things easier for travelers. And it turns out you don't have to leave the country to see the best tourist attraction in the world.
According to the travel planning site, the Empire State Building in New York City is the hottest attraction in the world due to visitors' gushing reviews for it on the platform. It took the top spot for Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Things to Do for the first time ever.
"Boasting 60,000 five-star reviews, the Empire State Building reinforces its claim as the 'World's Most Famous Building' by rising to the number-one attraction in the U.S. and in the world," Tripadvisor said in a statement. "Reviewers are wowed by the 360-degree view of New York, where they can point out all of their favorite landmarks and see up to six states on a clear day. Over 300 reviews deem it a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience."
The Empire State Building the only place in the U.S. among the world's top 10 highest-rated attractions. It's joined on the list by other unmatched architectural achievements like the Eiffel Tower, the still-under-construction Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, the Colosseum, the Duomo di Milano, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Meanwhile, between the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Paris—set to host the Olympic Games this summer—boasts two of the 10 best attractions.
Read up on the top 10 attractions in the world below.
- Empire State Building (New York City, United States)
- Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)
- Anne Frank House (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- Basílica de la Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Spain)
- Cayman Crystal Caves (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands)
- Colosseum (Rome, Italy)
- Louvre Museum (Paris, France)
- Gardens by the Bay (Singapore, Singapore)
- Duomo di Milano (Milan, Italy)
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
If you aren't able to make it out of the country, Tripadvisor reviewers have you covered. Check out the highest-rated attractions in the U.S. below.
- Empire State Building (New York City, New York)
- Iolani Palace (Honolulu, Hawaii)
- Central Park (New York City, New York)
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Key Largo, Florida)
- Stetson Mansion (DeLand, Florida)
- Alcatraz Island (San Francisco, California)
- Graceland (Memphis, Tennessee)
- Brooklyn Bridge (New York City, New York)
- Chihuly Garden and Glass (Seattle, Washington)
- Lē'ahi/Diamond Head State Monument (Honolulu, Hawaii)