ORLANDO, Fla. – Tripadvisor has unveiled its newest ranking of America’s top-rated attractions, and the destination that led the list last year has slipped several spots in the latest edition.
The annual list is based on traveler reviews posted to Tripadvisor and includes a broad mix of experiences, from museums and historic sites to natural landmarks and major tourist attractions.
In 2025, travelers gave the top honor to the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida.
The popular Space Coast attraction also ranked third worldwide, backed by more than 15,000 five-star reviews from visitors.
This year, however, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex dropped two positions in the national rankings.
For 2026, New York City’s Empire State Building claimed the No. 1 spot, while Memphis’ Sun Studio followed at No. 2.
“The Empire State Building is arguably New York City’s most recognizable landmark. Travelers can visit two observation decks for expansive views across the skyline, explore exhibits and videos detailing the building’s history, capture the classic tourist photo and enjoy a meal at one of seven restaurants on-site.”
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Still, the Space Coast landmark remains one of the country’s most highly rated attractions, earning the No. 3 position in this year’s list.
Florida’s only other entry is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which secured fourth place among the nation’s top-rated things to do.
Here is the complete ranking:
| Rank | Attraction | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Empire State Building | New York City, NY |
| 2 | Sun Studio | Memphis, TN |
| 3 | NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex | Merritt Island, FL |
| 4 | John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park | Key Largo, FL |
| 5 | Central Park | New York City, NY |
| 6 | National Museum of World War II Aviation | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 7 | Brooklyn Bridge | New York City, NY |
| 8 | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | New York City, NY |
| 9 | Chihuly Garden and Glass | Seattle, WA |
| 10 | Alcatraz Island | San Francisco, CA |
| 11 | Garden of the Gods | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 12 | Mount Rushmore National Memorial | Keystone, SD |
| 13 | Grand Canyon South Rim | Grand Canyon National Park, AZ |
| 14 | Statue of Liberty | New York City, NY |
| 15 | Golden Gate Bridge | San Francisco, CA |
| 16 | Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area | Las Vegas, NV |
| 17 | The Gateway Arch | St. Louis, MO |
| 18 | The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum | New York City, NY |
| 19 | Biltmore Estate | Asheville, NC |
| 20 | Iolani Palace | Honolulu, HI |
| 21 | Griffith Observatory | Los Angeles, CA |
| 22 | San Antonio River Walk | San Antonio, TX |
| 23 | Horseshoe Bend | Page, AZ |
| 24 | Diamond Head State Monument | Honolulu, HI |
| 25 | Graceland | Memphis, TX |
| 26 | Lincoln Memorial | Washington, DC |
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