Tripadvisor has announced the winners of its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do.
The comprehensive list of the world’s best attractions and experiences based on Tripadvisor reviews spotlights the very best excursions, activities and sights in the U.S. and around the world.
World’s Top Attractions Reside in Europe
Europe’s hot streak continues. When it comes to the world’s top attractions, the continent’s unparalleled blend of history and culture dominates.
The Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, jumped to the number one spot, edging out the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Mistervlad)
Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House, Duomo di Milano in Milan, Italy and Plaza de España in Seville, Spain, also made the top 10 this year, based on Tripadvisor user reviews.
Asia also turned in an impressive performance, with the Angkor Wat Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia and the Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing cracking the top 10.
Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center is also highly-rated by travelers this year.
New York City Big Winner for Top US Attractions
The Big Apple is a big winner in the 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do, landing a whopping four attractions on the top 10 list of the best in the U.S.
The Empire State Building ranks second, while Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge finished fourth and seventh, respectively. Meanwhile, The Metropolitan Museum of Art checks in a number nine on this year’s list.
Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. (Photo Credit: Rebecca Chamblee)
However, it’s the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida, that tops the rankings with over 15,000 five-star reviews. The popular attraction also ranks third worldwide, trailing only the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia and the Eiffel Tower.
Other top-rated domestic attractions for 2025 include Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, the Stetson Mansion in DeLand, Florida, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs and San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island.
History and Nature Highlight World’s Top Experiences
Historic attractions and natural wonders shine bright on the list of the top 10 experiences worldwide.
From seeing the iconic landmarks of Florence, Italy or sipping suds in London’s most charming pubs to touring caves and jungles in places like Croatia and Indonesia, these top-rated excursions possess the potential for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Florence, Italy. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Ekaterina Belova)
Top Experiences in the World, According to Tripadvisor
The Best tour in Florence: Renaissance & Medici Tales, Florence, ItalyFull-Day Ninh Binh Highlights Tour from Hanoi, Hanoi, VietnamBlue Cave Small-Group Boat Tour from Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, CroatiaLondon Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs, London, United KingdomAll Inclusive 90 minutes Canal Cruise by Captain Jack!, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsEarly morning Chichen Itza Tour: Cenote and Tequila Tasting, Cancun, MexicoThree Cities in One Day: Segovia, Avila & Toledo from Madrid, Madrid, SpainGrand Tour Around Island 16 Locations plus Snorkeling, Honolulu, United StatesBest of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour, Istanbul, TürkiyeBest of Ubud Full-Day Tour with Jungle Swing, Ubud, Indonesia
In the U.S., the most beloved experiences range from a haunted walking tour of Salem, Massachusetts, to a laidback boat tour of sunny Miami.
Hocus Pocus House in Salem, Massachusetts. (Photo Credit: Patrick Clarke)
Travelers are also in love with places like the Grand Canyon and New York City’s delectable Chinatown and Little Italy neighborhoods.
Top Experiences in the US, According to Tripadvisor
Grand Tour Around Island 16 Locations plus Snorkeling, Honolulu, HawaiiHistory and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour, Salem, MassachusettsChicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady, Chicago, Illinois9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket, New York, New YorkSecret Food Tour of Chinatown and Little Italy, New York, New York2 hrs Miami Private Boat Tour with Cooler, Ice, Bluetooth Stereo, Miami, FloridaHonolulu Xtreme Parasail, Honolulu, HawaiiClear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area, St. Pete Beach, FloridaGrand Canyon West, Hoover Dam, Breakfast, Lunch. Optional Skywalk, Las Vegas, NevadaDark Philly Adult Night Tour, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do also ranks the top Bucket List Experiences, Cultural and Historic Tours and Amusement and Water Parks.
A hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, Turkey, tops the bucket list rankings, while the aforementioned tours of Florence, Italy and Salem, Massachusetts, are the best cultural and historic tours in the world and the U.S., respectively.
Winners in the amusement and water park category include Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World Yas Island and America’s favorite theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
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