New York CityUnited States
Broadway tickets, the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt view and walking tours of the neighborhoods.
Popular in this guide
The best places to visit in the US
Our city guides to the US, with honest advice on what a day costs, which city fits your trip, and what to do first.
Short answer
The best places to visit in the US, by kind of trip: New York City and San Francisco for a city break, Washington, DC for culture and history, Miami for the beach and Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Orlando for theme parks and shows.
In our cost studies, a mid-range day with a hotel costs from $174 per person in Las Vegas to $253 in New York City.
Our guides to the US
City breaks
San FranciscoUnited States
Alcatraz tours, Chinatown and North Beach, and day trips down the coast to Big Sur.
Popular in this guide
Culture and history
Washington, DCUnited States
The Smithsonian museums, the monuments of the National Mall and day trips to Gettysburg.
Popular in this guide
Beach and sun
MiamiUnited States
South Beach and Art Deco tours, boat charters and the ferry day trip to Bimini.
Popular in this guide
Theme parks and shows
Las VegasUnited States
Shows, Strip weddings and the day trips to Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.
Popular in this guide
Los AngelesUnited States
Universal Studios, the Warner Bros. studio tour and the best views of the Hollywood Sign.
Popular in this guide
OrlandoUnited States
Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay tickets, with what each one costs.
Popular in this guide
The guides side by side
A mid-range day per person: hotel, two meals out, two sights, local transport and tax, but not flights. Each figure links its study.
| Guide | Typical day per person | Best months | Tours checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York CityCity break | $253 2026 New York City Travel Cost Study | Not stated | 163 on GetYourGuide |
| San FranciscoCity break | $232 2026 San Francisco Travel Cost Study | Not stated | 108 on GetYourGuide |
| Washington, DCCulture and history | $206 2026 Washington, DC Travel Cost Study | Not stated | 115 on GetYourGuide |
| MiamiBeach and sun | $251 2026 Miami Travel Cost Study | December to April, the dry and mild months | 142 on GetYourGuide |
| Las VegasTheme parks and shows | $174 2026 Las Vegas Travel Cost Study | March to May and October to November, for mild weather | 169 on GetYourGuide |
| Los AngelesTheme parks and shows | $194 2026 Los Angeles Travel Cost Study | Not stated | 127 on GetYourGuide |
| OrlandoTheme parks and shows | $221 2026 Orlando Travel Cost Study | Not stated | 57 on GetYourGuide |
How to choose
City breaks. Pick New York City and San Francisco for a city break. These guides cover the main sights, food tours and walks, with day trips close by.
Culture and history. Pick Washington, DC for culture and history. This guide is built around famous sights and how to see them: tickets, tours and timing.
Beach and sun. Pick Miami for the beach. This guide covers the coast, boat trips and long walks by the water.
Theme parks and shows. Pick Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Orlando for theme parks and shows. These guides compare theme park tickets, studio tours and shows.
Questions people ask
What is the best vacation destination in the US?
It depends on your trip. In our series: New York City and San Francisco for a city break, Washington, DC for culture and history, Miami for the beach and Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Orlando for theme parks and shows.
What is a must-see in the US?
Our guides start with Las Vegas weddings and vow renewals, Universal Studios Hollywood tickets in Los Angeles, Bimini (Bahamas) day trip by ferry from Miami and Broadway show tickets in New York City.
How much does a day in a US city cost?
In our cost studies, a mid-range day with a hotel costs from $174 per person in Las Vegas to $253 in New York City. That covers the hotel, two meals out, two sights, local transport and tax, but not flights.
When is the cheapest time to visit US cities?
Our cost studies name the cheapest month for a mid-range trip as December 2026 in Washington, DC. Washington, DC: $180 a day in December 2026, against $206 on average. The other studies do not name one yet.
Sources
Cost studies
- 2026 Las Vegas Travel Cost Study (typical day for Las Vegas)
- 2026 Los Angeles Travel Cost Study (typical day for Los Angeles)
- 2026 Miami Travel Cost Study (typical day for Miami)
- 2026 New York City Travel Cost Study (typical day for New York City)
- 2026 Orlando Travel Cost Study (typical day for Orlando)
- 2026 San Francisco Travel Cost Study (typical day for San Francisco)
- 2026 Washington, DC Travel Cost Study (typical day and cheapest month for Washington, DC)
Best months
- US National Weather Service climate averages for Las Vegas (best months for Las Vegas; the guide reads it from US National Weather Service climate averages; not an official recommendation)
- NOAA climate averages for Miami (best months for Miami; the guide reads it from NOAA climate averages for Miami; weather only, not an official recommendation)
Tours checked: the number of GetYourGuide tour pages each guide opened and recorded with the date. Every figure was read from the guides on 27 October 2026.