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This iconic park was just named America’s top tourist attraction

New York City's Central Park took the top spot

By Amanda Teague Oct 8, 2025 4:00 AM

Central Park — BruceEmmerling / Pixabay

According to new research from BookRetreats.com, New York City’s Central Park has been crowned the No. 1 tourist attraction in the United States.

The global retreat booking platform analyzed 77 of the country’s most popular attractions, using data from 7,500 visitor reviews, 380 hotel price points, and state safety rankings to determine which destinations are most worth the trip. Each spot was scored on factors like popularity, overall experience, affordability, and visitor satisfaction.

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The results? Central Park came out on top, and it’s easy to see why. With 843 acres of trails, lakes, and gardens set in the heart of Manhattan, it’s a rare combination of nature and city life that continues to capture the hearts of travelers from all over the world.

Rounding out the top three are Washington, D.C.’s National Mall in second place and San Diego’s Balboa Park in third. The study also found that half of the top 20 attractions were natural landmarks, proving that while America does theme parks well, it’s the country’s outdoor beauty and open spaces that truly leave a lasting impression.

America’s top tourist attractions: The full list

Central Park: New York City
National Mall: Washington, D.C.
Balboa Park: San Diego
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Washington, D.C.
Times Square: New York City
Rockefeller Center: New York City
Niagara Falls: Buffalo, New York
Golden Gate Park: San Francisco
Magic Kingdom Park: Orlando
Brooklyn Bridge Park: New York City
Hoover Dam: Boulder City, Nevada
The High Line: New York City
Fountains of Bellagio: Las Vegas
Garden of the Gods: Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: New York City
Zion National Park: Utah
San Antonio River Walk: San Antonio, Texas
ICON Park: Orlando
Golden Gate Bridge: San Francisco
Brooklyn Bridge: New York City

Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio, is a dedicated explorer of both the world and the written word… Read Full Bio

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