Highlights
New York City
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, spend a day in Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see the Statue of Liberty from the free Staten Island Ferry and catch a Broadway show. Each of the five boroughs has its own neighbourhoods and food scenes.
Grand Canyon
The Colorado River has carved a canyon more than a mile deep in northern Arizona. The South Rim is open all year and has the most viewpoints; the higher North Rim is quieter and usually only open in summer and early autumn.
Yellowstone National Park
Geysers including Old Faithful, the rainbow-coloured Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and herds of bison and elk, mostly in Wyoming. Many roads are closed to cars in winter.
California's coast and Yosemite
San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and hilly neighbourhoods, the Big Sur coast along Highway 1, and Yosemite National Park's granite cliffs, including El Capitan and Half Dome, and its waterfalls in spring.
Utah's national parks
Five national parks in southern Utah: the red canyons of Zion, the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, the arches of Arches, the vast mesas of Canyonlands and the colourful cliffs of Capitol Reef. Together they make a classic road trip.
New Orleans
Live jazz on Frenchman Street, the wrought-iron balconies of the French Quarter, Creole and Cajun food, and Mardi Gras parades before Lent.
Washington, D.C.
The National Mall links the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, with the many free museums of the Smithsonian Institution along its sides.
Hawaii
A Pacific island chain with active volcanoes in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, the cliffs of Kaua'i's Nā Pali Coast and Maui's Road to Hana.
Interesting facts about United States
- Yellowstone, established in 1872, is widely regarded as the world's first national park.
- The United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867; it is now the largest state, more than twice the size of Texas.
- Mauna Kea in Hawaii rises more than 10,000 metres from its base on the ocean floor, which makes it taller than Everest measured base to summit.
- The 50 states span six time zones, from Hawaii to the East Coast, not counting the overseas territories.
- Prices shown in shops and restaurants usually exclude sales tax, which varies by state and city and is added at the till.
Best time to visit
It depends entirely on the region. Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are generally the best seasons for cities and national parks, with mild weather and autumn colour in New England. Summer is peak season in the national parks, hot in the South and South-West, and the only time some high mountain roads are open. Winter brings snow to the north and the Rockies, good for skiing, while Florida, Southern California, Arizona and Hawaii are warm. Hurricane season affects the Gulf and Atlantic coasts from June to November.
Practical information
| Capital | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Currency | US dollar (USD) |
| Languages | English, Spanish (widely spoken) |
| Plugs | Type A, B |
| Voltage | 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Expected: typically 18 to 20 percent in restaurants with table service, plus tips for taxi drivers, hotel staff, tour guides and bartenders. |
Getting around
Distances are vast, so domestic flights are the usual way to travel between regions. Outside a few cities, such as New York, Washington, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco, public transport is limited, and hiring a car is the most practical way to explore, especially for national parks and road trips. Amtrak trains run on scenic long-distance routes and the busy North-east Corridor. Long-distance buses are an inexpensive option. In cities, ride-hailing apps are widely used.
Staying connected in United States
Mobile coverage is very good in cities, suburbs and along most interstate highways, with 4G nearly everywhere and widespread 5G. In rural areas, deserts, mountains and many national parks, including large parts of Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon backcountry and Utah's parks, coverage can be weak or absent for long stretches. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels and many public libraries. Download offline maps before road trips. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See United States eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for United States
- Uber and Lyft: Ride-hailing in almost every city and many towns.
- Google Maps: Driving, transit and walking directions; download offline areas for national parks.
- NPS App: The National Park Service's official app, with maps, alerts and visitor information for every national park, usable offline.
- Amtrak: Book and store tickets for long-distance and regional trains.
- Transit: Real-time public transport information in many US cities.