Are the world’s most visited tourist attractions on your bucket list? Which ones have you visited? If you’ve crossed off any of the top ten, we’d love for you to share your experiences with us.
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Can you guess which attractions make the cut? Click next below the title to see if you were right.
Number 10: Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
Annual Visitors: 15,000,000
Source: Turkish Ministry of Tourism
Number 9: Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA
Annual Visitors: 15,980,000
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
Number 8: Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando
Annual Visitors: 16,972,000
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
Number 7: Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
Annual Visitors: 18,000,000
Source: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Number 6: Grand Central Terminal, New York City
Annual Visitors: 21,600,000
Source: Grand Central Terminal
Number 5: Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario
Annual Visitors: 22,500,000
Source: Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp./Canadian Tourism Commission
Number 4: Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas
Annual Visitors: 29,467,000
Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Number 3: Union Station,Washington, D.C.
Annual Visitors: 37,000,000
Source: Union Station
Number 2: Central Park, New York City
Annual Visitors: 38,000,000
Source: Central Park Conservancy
Number 1: Times Square, New York City
Annual Visitors: 39,200,000
Source: The Times Square Alliance
WOW! I’ve seen them all except Istanbul! I would LOVE toooo
I’ve hit 9 out of 10, not that I’m proud of all of them! [Didn’t get to Istambul, put that on my list!] If you’ve got a list of European cities, I’d wager I can check a few of those off too! [I have a TON of pictures as well.]
I bet you have some great stories/photos to share! I look forward to publishing them on Bucket List Publications! Don’t forget to submit them at https://www.bucketlistpublications.com/submissions/ 🙂
I’m not sure if I can agree with that list. All of them are fantastic and popular but I’m quite sure if the most popular on the world, especially that 9 out of 10 are in the US. There are Paris, Rome and many other places on all continents visited by milions of tourists every year. But if stats say so…
I couldn’t agree with you more! I mean… The Colosseum isn’t even here! What about the Eiffel Tower? I checked the statistics though and these were the top ten. We need to figure out how to change this list for future travelers 😉
The question is if Americans were the statisticians 😉 You know, everything is subjective 😉 I already did my part on increasing Rome, Paris and some other european destinations stats. But still didn’t have occasion to increase those of the other side of Atlantic Ocean 🙂
Good point 🙂
I’ve touch a few of the great European attractions too but not nearly enough.
Basically, I want to see everything so it may take a while 😉
For now I’m doing my best to see all interesting european locations (stil a looooooot to do) and started to do the same with Asia. Life is short, but dreams come true. So wish you and myself to see everything or at least almost everything 🙂
What’s next on the list for you?
Sri Lanka. And in Europe – who knows, too close to plan 😉 And yours?
I’m off to Fiji at the end of the month and then… I’m not sure. I have a few plans in the works 🙂
Fiji, nice 🙂 I have a lot of plans, but not that much possibilities 😉
I have enjoyed most of these attractions, and notice it was submitted by the Time’s Square Alliance…whoever they are! One has to wonder what the criteria were…I suppose the number of yearly visitors? Surely the magnificence of experiencing Niagra Falls is a bit more exciting than seeing Union Station? All are worthy of a gander, though.
The list was based on yearly numbers (I put those numbers next to each pic). These wouldn’t be my first choice but I certainly thought it was worth posting based on the stats.
If you had to come up with a top five, what would you say?
I would have to disagree with this list (well most of it). I mean I understand why DisneyWorld is on there, but do we need both? And there seemed to be a lot of New York. I mean the Grand Central Station over say the Statue of Liberty.
My top five: Time Square, Vegas Strip, Mt. Rushmore, Niagra Falls (haven’t been there though), and the Grand Canyon.
These are certainly not my top ten; they just had the numbers. The reason for posting was more reflective. It got me thinking about my top ten attractions and what I’d like to do next.
I do think that Times Square and the Vegas Strip are amazing and worth visiting, but my list would include a lot more of Europe.
Do you have an attraction next up on your list?
Lesley
Yeah, those were just the top 5 of America. I would even maybe add the Reflection Pool (including everything in that vacinity like the Lincoln Memorial) over Union Station anyday. Around the world is something a whole lot different and I haven’t been to everything.
But on top of the World visits list that I have visit would be Normandy Beach, France where the troops landed during WWII. It was by far the most moving experience ever. I’m not a huge fan of Guiness, but the Guiness Factory in Dublin was the best brewery that I have been to and it was just structurally beautiful. I mean the inside is the world’s largest pint glass. And it had some really great food, too.
Next on my list is The Rocks aka Stonehenge. I would imagine that would be first on my list when I move to England. And then German Christmas Markets in December.
Kristi,
We seem to have a lot in common with travel goals and past experiences. I will never forget my two days on the beaches of Normandy. I’m not an emotional person, well I wasn’t before my baby was born, but being on those beaches and touring the museum brought tears to my eyes. It never felt as real until I was actually there. As for the Guinness Factory, the view from the top was heightened by several equally beautiful glasses of beer. I didn’t, however, feel as moved by Stonehenge but Giant’s Causeway would make the top of my list. Did you make it there when you were in Ireland?
Thanks for chatting,
Lesley
I had to reply to this message.
I’m not an overly emotional girl either and being at the American Cemetery brought me to tears. I haven’t been to the Rocks. It’s more of an inside joke with my boyfriend and of course, I’m going to act out scenes from European Vacation.
We only had a day to spend in Dublin and we stupidly went on a Sunday not realizing that half the stuff was closed or opened late. I didn’t even see the Book of Kells. So, we were on a tight deadline starting around 1 p.m. (unless we chose to do the drinking first since the two factories were opened all day). We only made it to the 4th floor to learn how to make the perfect pint; so, didn’t even get to the top floor for the view. The view was nice from the 4th floor. I would love to drive to Galway and listen to the music.
Oh Galway… it might be my favorite place in the world! If you can go there during the Galway Races, it is the most fun you can have with some of the best people in the world.
Love it!
Thanks for the tip. I’m definitely checking it out. I would also love to see the Highland Games.
I don’t have that yet! I’m adding that to my list today 🙂
You should submit some of your stories to Bucket List Publications. You can read the guidelines at https://www.bucketlistpublications.com/submissions/. 🙂
I’m on it! I even have my angle since we drove from Manchester, England to Normandy, France (did ALOT of research on this), then to Segur Le Chateau, France (Limoges area). There aren’t many topics on this cute little town and whole area.
I will work on it this weekend. Thanks Leslie.
Mt. Rushmore is not even in the top 50.. These lists are legit they’re pretty close to the same every year and the numbers come direct from each source… The ones that DONT make the top 50 are the ones that surprise me..
The Vatican
Pompeii
The Pyramids of Giza
These same lists can be found by Travel + Leisure, Forbes, etc..
Here is this years list of the top 50
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-most-visited-tourist-attractions-in-the-world-2014-3
I would say Rome, as whole. It’s amazing to see ancient city mixed with modern building; ancient column braided into building from XX century. Coloseum of course, but not only.
Oh I have to get travelling!! So far only south Africa, auz and uk… Wow that’s a disgrace, will change that soon 🙂
We need to switch places for a bit. I haven’t been to South Africa or Australia yet 😉
I’m surprised so many sites I’ve seen made the list — Grand Central, Niagara Falls, Central Park, and Times Square. We were near Disney World in Orlando one year, but we opted for Universal Studios instead. Boston is on our short list for our 2013 road trip, so I might yet get to check off another one!
Boston is a great city for all ages. You’ll love it. Check out McGreevy’s when you’re there. Amazing!
5/10…
I am too really surprised that none of the European splendors where mentioned and what to say about the rest of the world… So many things to discover. Like you said, let’s fix this as soon as we can! 😉
Considering France is the most visited country in the world, I have a feeling this list isn’t 100% correct. I’m really surprised the Eiffel Tower isn’t up there. It’s possible the Eiffel Tower doesn’t get as many visitors as we think it does–the long line is definitely a turn off for many.
I can’t keep track of how many times I’ve walked through Grand Central’s “main concourse” because that is where Metronorth, the commuter train, ends and the terminal for the thousands of suburban commuters who work in the city every day. So for a lot of people walking through there every day is more of a necessity to get home/to the city.
And Times Square/Central Park–been there many times too. Times Square is close to Broadway and where a lot of the theaters are so it’s an easy trip from Grand Central on the direct “shuttle” train. And Central Park is just a pleasure to walk through any time of the year. 🙂
I find it hard to believe that nine of the most visited places on Earth are in the USA and the top two are in the same city. Numbers can be crunuched in many ways and I’m sure that there must be places in Europe like London’s West End or Paris’s Eifel Tower that have at least equal numbers of genuine tourists.
And Rome? Everyone visits Rome, don’t they?
I don’t agree with the list; just thought it was worth posting and thinking about. It has me dreaming again, which is always a good thing 🙂
I would have thought that St Peter’s Sqaure in the Vatican must be there if it is the sheer number of visitors that is recorded. however visitor numbers recorded as a statistic must be dubious for any city centre are difficult to quantify when there are large numbers of local people who live and work near places like say Central Park
I’ve been to eight out ten. Not Istanbul. I didn’t realize I was such a traveler.
Hmm. I was a little surprised at first as the list didn’t include some the places I’d seen like the Taj Mahal, some of the Mayan sites, Panama Canal, Royal Palace Bangkok, Angor Wat…but then it made sense. A visitor is a visitor even if its a local resident and New York has a huge population and most have probably been to Central Park once or twice in a year!
Whilst it would be a challenge, I’d like to see a list which ranks per international visitor. 😉
Unfortunately I’ve not seen a great deal of the Americas but I still hope.
A point I think worth noting is – in order to count the number visiting Central Park, for example you simply monitor the people entering. To count the number of people visiting the Eiffel Tower is very different. I would assume the 6-7million that visit there every year actually buy tickets to go up. But you can view it from all around, as well as many vantage points around Paris, even directly underneath the tower itself without being counted as a visitor. I reckon that could be a reason for its absence from this list.
Just a thought 🙂
Good point. I would assume the same could be said for a lot of great places left off of the list.
I loved touring Paris and seeing the grandeur of the the Eiffel Tower, but it was Notre Dame that truly captured my attention. I’m not one for seeking out old churches, but that’s one worth the experience. 🙂
Wow, a lot of these are indeed in the US! I have been 5 out of 10, not bad considering that I only stayed in the US for a couple of months.
Somewhat surprised that no Asian city made it to the list. Bangkok and Hong Kong attract a LOT of tourists too. Just thinking 🙂
Istanbul and that’s it!
I’m just surprised, and a little disappointed that most of these are man made modern(ish) attractions. What about the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, Machu Picchu and all those other great places in the world. And how can Union Station & Grand Central Station be measured – surely lots of people are passing through there every day anyway!
Ah, statistics. I think Union Station, Central Park and Times Square, etc. are on the list because of the sheer number of people who pass through them every day not necessarily because they are the “best” things to see. So, if you are talking about # of people per year, possibly…that said, I need to finish the list with a trip to Istanbul. It looks amazing! Fingers crossed for this year!
This is so ethnocentric! Only one Non-American site?! Hard to believe that the Great Pyramids of Egypt did not make the list; hard to believe that the Taj Mahal didn’t make the list. Sad really!
Oh and I have been to all of them except Las Vegas – best one was the Grand Bazaar and I work around the corner from Fanueil Hall which probably shouldn’t have made the list but not sure how the list was compiled.
That list is a little New York-centric. Since I do live in NYC, I’ve been to Grand Central thousands of times (it used to be the subway stop I got off at to go to work), and have visited Times Square and Central Park too many times to mention. Also been to Union Station hundreds if not thousands of times, as I used to live in D.C. Surprised to see Faneuil Hall on the list; I’ve been there too.
Been to Las Vegas five times so far (going there again in August 2013), and each time I’ve stayed on the Strip.
I’ll be visiting Istanbul in late December and the Grand Bazaar is definitely on my list!
I’ve been to 6! Without meaning to, even. ha ha.
I’ve been to 9 of them. Hhmmm, Union Station in DC. Probably should stop by. I like the less traveled ones best.
I’d place Santorini, Greece, Tulum, Mexico, Yellowstone, and Big Sur right up there.
Liz, I couldn’t agree more! They are my top picks as well, especially Santorini!
Union Station is D.C. is the only one I haven’t been to. I was surprised that so many of them were in the U.S. Fun post, Lesley!