United States travel guide
Big cities, epic national parks, road trips and a food scene from every corner of the world.
#3 most visited country72.4 million international arrivals in 2024 (UN Tourism)Capital: Washington, D.C.Currency: USD
Top destinations
Grand Canyon
Arizona
South Rim is open all year; North Rim mid-May to mid-October
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming / Montana
Geysers and wildlife — stay on boardwalks
Statue of Liberty
New York
Book ferry and pedestal/crown tickets ahead
Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco
Walk or cycle across
Yosemite National Park
California
Some periods need a reservation — check the NPS website
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
Several theme parks — plan days in advance
National Mall
Washington, D.C.
Free Smithsonian museums and monuments
Niagara Falls
New York
Boat trips to the base of the falls
🏝 Top islands
Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai)Florida KeysAlaskaPuerto RicoMartha’s Vineyard & NantucketSan Juan Islands
Top cities
Route & transport
From the airport
✈️ New York — JFK (JFK)
- AirTrain JFK to the subway (Jamaica / Howard Beach) or LIRR at Jamaica
- Yellow taxis charge a flat fare to Manhattan plus tolls and tip
- Uber and Lyft from marked pickup areas
✈️ Los Angeles — LAX (LAX)
- FlyAway bus to Union Station
- Free shuttle to the LAX/Metro Transit Center for Metro rail
- Taxis and ride-hailing from the LAX-it pickup lot
✈️ Newark — Liberty (EWR)
- AirTrain Newark to NJ Transit or Amtrak trains to Penn Station, New York
- Taxis and ride-hailing
🚆 Getting around
- Domestic flights are the fastest way to cover long distances
- Rent a car for national parks and road trips — an international driving permit is advised
- Subways in New York, Washington, Chicago; Amtrak trains in the Northeast
- Uber and Lyft are available in almost every city
Money & currency
- Currency: US dollar ($, USD)
- Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere
- Sales tax is added at the till, so shelf prices are lower than what you pay
- Tipping is expected: around 18–20% in restaurants, plus tips for taxis, bars and hotel staff
- Keep a few small bills for tips
Live exchange rate — US dollar (USD)
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Rates by ExchangeRate-API, updated daily. Money changers and banks add their own margin.
What to avoid
🙏 Culture & etiquette
- Tip in sit-down restaurants — staff wages rely on it
- Wait to be seated in most restaurants
- Respect personal space and queues
- Smoking is banned indoors in most public places and many outdoor areas
📍 Places, scams & seasons
- Check official advisories and local news for neighbourhood safety in big cities
- Hurricane season June–November on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts
- Extreme summer heat in deserts (Las Vegas, Death Valley, Phoenix) — carry water
- Wildlife in national parks: keep your distance and follow ranger rules
⚖️ Laws & restrictions
- Most visa-free visitors need an approved ESTA before flying
- The legal drinking age is 21 — bring photo ID to bars
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places
- Cannabis laws differ by state and it remains illegal under federal law — never cross borders with it
💬 Words & topics to avoid
- Avoid racial slurs and stereotypes — race is a sensitive topic
- Politics and religion can be divisive — read the room
- Don’t assume everyone is from the same culture; the US is very diverse
Safety situations change. Always check the latest official advice: UK Foreign Office — United States · US travel advisories.
Accommodations
New York City
Midtown (central, sights), Lower Manhattan (downtown), Brooklyn — Williamsburg (trendy)
Rooms are small and pricey — book early
Los Angeles
Santa Monica (beach), Hollywood (sights), Downtown (transit)
A car or ride-hailing is usually needed
San Francisco
Union Square or Fisherman’s Wharf
Cool and foggy summers — bring layers
Budget idea
Motels and hostels
Motels along highways are ideal for road trips
Widely available, but rules vary by city. New York City requires host registration and bans most whole-apartment stays under 30 days — check the listing is legal.
See today’s best-rated and best-value places (live prices):
New: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Los: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Top restaurants
Chelsea Market
New York City
Food hall in a former factory
Pike Place Market
Seattle
Seafood, chowder and the original market stalls
Grand Central Market
Los Angeles
Historic food hall downtown
French Quarter
New Orleans
Creole and Cajun cooking, beignets
Top-rated restaurants right now: New on Google MapsLos on Google MapsSan on Google MapsLas on Google Maps
Top foods
Burgers
An American classic everywhere
Barbecue
Regional styles — Texas, Kansas City, Carolina, Memphis
New York pizza
Big thin slices by the slice
Clam chowder & lobster rolls
New England seafood
Tex-Mex
Tacos, fajitas and nachos (Texas and Southwest)
Apple pie
The classic American dessert
Language
Official: No official language at federal level; English is the main language (made official by executive order in 2025)
English: Spoken everywhere
Also spoken: Spanish is widely spoken, especially in the South-west, Florida and big cities
| English | Local | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hi / Hey | HY / HAY |
| Thank you | Thanks | THANKS |
| Where is the restroom? | Where’s the restroom? | wairz the REST-room |
| The check, please | Can I get the check? | can eye get the CHEK |
| Takeaway | To go | too GOH |
Festivals
Mardi Gras
February/March
New Orleans
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Late March – April
Washington, D.C.
Independence Day
4 July
Nationwide (fireworks)
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
October
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Halloween
31 October
Nationwide
Thanksgiving
Fourth Thursday of November
Nationwide (New York parade)
New Year’s Eve
31 December
Times Square, New York
Dates shift each year — confirm before booking.
Internet & SIM
📱 SIM & eSIM
- Main networks: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile
- Prepaid SIMs from carrier stores and big supermarkets; eSIMs are the easiest option
📶 Coverage & Wi-Fi
- Good 4G/5G in cities; no signal in many national parks and remote areas
- Free Wi-Fi in most cafes, hotels and airports
🔌 Power plugs
120V, 60Hz — plug types A and B; check older hair dryers are dual-voltage
News
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Sources: Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence), UN Tourism, national tourism boards. Last reviewed 2026-10-11. Prices, rules and schedules change — double-check before you travel.