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The 5 most visited tourist attractions around the world

Travellers flock to popular destinations for many reasons. For some, it's the stunning natural beauty and for others, it’s the hustle and bustle of a new city. Whenever people arrive in a new location, one of the first things they do is check out the local tourist attractions.

Tourist attractions tend to be culturally significant landmarks that draw people in from around the globe. Many are man-made and offer a glimpse into the culture of the city or town. They can range from busy spice markets in the narrow streets of Delhi to the majestic thunder of Niagara Falls. Top tourist attractions also are great for the local economy, done correctly, it can be a win-win for travellers and tourism.

So, why not use a list of the most visited tourist attractions in the world to figure out where your next trip will be. You can add that into your itinerary and use it for inspiration to build out your travel bucket list.

So what is the most visited tourist attraction? Well, according to recent research from Tripadvisor, seven of the top tourist attractions are situated in Europe.

Here are the most visited tourist attractions in the world

1
Times Square, New York City, USA

Times Square ranked the world’s most visited tourist attraction

Holding roughly 50 million visitors annually, it is a major commercial intersection that host one of the greatest New Year countdown. The annual Times Square Ball drop attracts at least a million on 31st December yearly. The impressive number of visitors each year deserves to be the first among the rest of the world’s most visited tourist attractions. Originally created to replace fireworks displays, it has become the highlight in Times Square.

As an art and commerce hub, Times Square housed many advertisement boards and public art for you to immerse in. The brightly-lit intersection creates a unique nightlife that many yearn to live in. There are also costumes characters all around Times Square, however, do note that they are not officially licensed. There are no entrance fees for Times Square, but Broadway shows and theatres will require you to purchase a ticket. You can visit their official website to get the most updated information on Times Square.

READ MORE: Eager to experience an exciting New Year’s count down? These are the 8 most famous cities for New Years’ Eve.

2
Central Park, New York City, USA

The most visited park in the world is the 2nd most visited tourist attraction.

Finished in 1876, Central Park is an entirely man-made park built to improve public health and water features. The park is 3.41 square kilometres (843 acres). Annually, a total of 42 million visitors head down to this beautiful manmade park that is also widely known for its landscape design. One fun fact is that this is also the most filmed park in the world!

Other than the usual floras and faunas, the park also included entertainment attractions such as Wollman Rink and even a Central Park Zoo. You can explore the several hundred species of plants, take a walk down to the zoo and attend concerts and events held in the park. Most famously, Shakespeare in the Park is one that you will definitely enjoy as you watch the plays in the urban park. Other than the variety of activities available that made Central Park the most visited tourist attraction, the entrance fee is also free!

READ MORE: The beauty of Central Park also led it to be one of the best romantic destinations for an anniversary.

3
Las Vegas Strip, Nevada, USA

World’s third most visited tourist attraction, the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada, USA

The third most visited tourist attraction in the world is the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, USA. Commonly known as the Strip, there are a plethora of hotels, casinos, clubs, and entertainment built along the highway. Starting in 1941 with the El Rancho Vegas resort opened outside on a section of U.S 91, outside of the city’s jurisdiction, the Strip continued to see the building of other hotel-casinos.

Busy Siegel, one of the most notorious gangsters in the US, opened the Flamingo and other mobsters helped to develop the Strip. Even in 1954, there were 8 million visitors a year. Currently, a total of 39 million visitors flocked down to the Strip in 2021 alone. Truly one of the most visited tourist attractions around the world. If you are on a budget, you can still take a walk down the Strip and enjoy their nightlife atmosphere. Here’s it, the casinos serve free booze to all gamblers!

READ MORE: Interested to head down? Here’s a guide on the things to do in Las Vegas!

4
Union Station, Washington DC, USA

Washington Union Station, a major train station is one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions.

Also based in the US, the Washington Union Station is one of the busiest train stations in the world attracting around 40 million visitors per year. With 7 transportation modes and 30 transportation providers to choose from, it is the number 1 Metro station in the system. Not just a simple train station, the union station also has a big underground shopping concourse for anyone to explore.

The main hall of the Union Station is extremely stunning. The centrepiece features 22-karat gold leaf decorating the ceiling. Worried about your safety? There are 46 statues of Roman soldiers standing there as well. Jokes aside, the Washington Union Station is one of the country’s first great union railroad terminals. The rich history behind has also attracted tourists to stop by to take a look. Although the Union Station is free to pass by, do note that it is closed to the public daily from 12.00 am to 5.00 am and is only open to ticketed passengers during that time. Head down to yet another free most visited tourist attraction to see it for yourself!

5
Niagara Falls, US/Canada

Niagara Falls, which lies on the border of both countries is the 5th most visited tourist attraction in the world.

READ MORE: This astonishing waterfall is also one of the tallest and biggest waterfalls in the world.

Niagara Falls is a group of 3 waterfalls spanning the border between Canada and the USA. As the only top 5 most visited tourist attractions that did not solely come from America, it attracts around 22.5 million visitors per year. The total height of this majestic waterfall is 51 metres (167 feet) and flows at an average rate of 2,400 cubic metres per second (85,000 cubic feet per second).

The most powerful and largest waterfall is the Horseshoe Falls. The Niagara Falls is not only famous for its beauty but also it is a valuable source of hydroelectric power. The best time to visit the Fall is during summer when the surrounding area will feel cooler in the stunning hot season. Another good news for this one of the most visited tourist attractions is that it is free for all to visit anytime in the year. Be careful not to get too close as strong waterfalls are dangerous.

What are the other popular tourist attractions?

Some of the other most visited tourist attractions in the world include the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Willis Tower Skydeck located in Chicago, Illinois and the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. Visiting tourist attractions while on your travels around the world is a culturally enriching experience that gives you a fantastic insight into a city. Wherever you are, there is bound to be a tremendous landmark for you to check out.

Nathan
Nathan
Nathan is a Freelance Writer who injects his unique style into every project and helps clients bring their content to life. He is a passionate armchair rugby fan who loves to travel the world and explore new ideas. Nathan is happiest when tramping through the stunning hiking trails throughout New Zealand. He is yet to visit South America and it's in the top spot on his traveling wishlist.

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