The world’s most popular tourist attractions have a gravity all their own, pulling millions into their orbits each year. There’s no one formula that drives the demand either; some spots rely on natural beauty to inspire awe—and visits—and others feel like the center of the universe, drawing curious eyes from around the globe.
Forbes, Travel + Leisure, and U.K.-based TravelSupermarket have all done the numbers and come up with definitive lists of the most popular tourist attractions. Using these tallies as a springboard, we’re excited to bring you a snapshot of some of the standouts, from the world’s most popular public park (any guesses?) to the theme park that beats all others (are you surprised?) and the globe’s most visited palace (hint: if you see William and Kate there, it’s only because they’re on vacation).
The numbers don’t lie—these spots are among the most popular in the world—but they also don’t tell the whole story. So along the way, be sure to jump in with your own favorites in the comments section.
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Image Gallery
Times Square, New York City, New York
Most Popular: Public space
What it's Got: Flashing signs, crowds, stores, restaurants, theaters, and hot-dog carts—everything that makes New York New York.
Why You Should Go: As the single most popular tourist attraction on the planet, Times Square lives up to its claim as the "Crossroads of the World." That alone makes it worth checking out.
Why You Shouldn't Go: New York City has so much more to offer.
Times Square, New York City, New York
Most Popular: Public space
What it's Got: Flashing signs, crowds, stores, restaurants, theaters, and hot-dog carts—everything that makes New York New York.
Why You Should Go: As the single most popular tourist attraction on the planet, Times Square lives up to its claim as the "Crossroads of the World." That alone makes it worth checking out.
Why You Shouldn't Go: New York City has so much more to offer.
Central Park, New York City, New York
Most Popular: Public park
What it's Got: Central Park offers ponds, woodlands, gardens, playgrounds, statues, and restaurants, as well as a carousel, a castle, and a zoo, on 843 acres of Manhattan.
Why You Should Go: You can choose from hundreds of activities set against an unexpectedly convincing pastoral backdrop. And your lungs enjoy the break from all the traffic fumes of the surrounding city.
Why You Shouldn't Go: Honestly, there are very few reasons not to go, though you may prefer to stick to daytime strolls. (However, the park has become much safer at night in recent years.)
Forbidden City, Beijing, China
Most Popular: Palace
What it's Got: As the world's largest palace complex, the Forbidden City has nearly 10,000 rooms full of the furniture and art of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Why You Should Go: The scale and grandeur of the Forbidden City can't really be described; it's one to be experienced first-hand.
Why You Shouldn't Go: The Forbidden City can get extremely crowded, especially during Golden Week holidays in fall and winter. Expect the sort of congestion where you'll be lucky to see much except the back of other people's heads.
Walt Disney World, Florida
Most Popular: Theme park
What it's Got: Six individual theme parks in one super park. Disney World's Magic Kingdom alone beats out all other theme parks in the world to be the most visited on earth.
Why You Should Go: Walt Disney World makes its name as the "most magical place on earth," with options for all ages and interests, as long as those interests include theme parks. For many families, it's a rite of passage, and it's one of the only places where having breakfast with a mouse is a good thing.
Why You Shouldn't Go: Long lines, high humidity, and the inevitability of witnessing dozens of public sugar-crash tantrums—from both adults and children.
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
Most Popular: Religious building
What it's Got: Nearly 850 years of history, some of the world's most impressive stained-glass windows, flying buttresses, and views of Paris from the South Tower.
Why You Should Go: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris is a magnificent feat of architecture and construction set in one of the world's most beautiful cities.
Why You Shouldn't Go: The long lines and conveyor-belt river of tourists pouring through the cathedral offers few chances to pause and really admire the beauty of the place.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, Massachusetts
Most Popular: Market
What it's Got: Faneuil Hall has nearly 50 shops, dozens of food stalls, and 14 full-service restaurants housed in three restored 19th-century buildings in downtown Boston.
Why You Should Go: Beating out Istanbul's Grand Bazaar and Seattle's Pike Place as the most popular market on the planet, the 250-year-old gathering place offers a mix of free entertainment, window-shopping opportunities, and food that's easy on all budgets.
Why You Shouldn't Go: The carnival atmosphere and increasing number of chain stores masks some of the market's historical charm.
Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada
Most Popular: Gaming hot spot
What it's Got: The Vegas Strip delivers 24-hour action, high stakes, all-night buffets and celebrity-chef restaurants, shows, and (in the warmer months) a serious pool scene.
Why You Should Go: While it borrows inspiration from around the world (you'll find the canals of Venice, the Eiffel Tower, and the Empire State Building), the Strip is an utterly unique phenomenon everyone should experience at least once. Whether you're a gambler or not, there are always dozens of activities to sweep you up.
Why You Shouldn't Go: Las Vegas can be a strange and exhausting place, especially if you have a low tolerance for flash.
Niagara Falls, U.S. And Canada
Most Popular: Natural wonder
What it's Got: Water, and a lot of it. Over 700,000 gallons of water plunge over the falls each second. Visitors can see the different individual falls from lookouts on the Canadian and U.S. sides, or get a different view with helicopter or boat tours.
Why You Should Go: The thunderous falls are impressive in a way that can't be captured on film. And a concerted effort on both sides of the border to class things up a bit has yielded options for visitors looking for more than a motel and a burger.
Why You Shouldn't Go: There's no disputing the majesty of the falls, but unless your kitsch tolerance is high, the tacky souvenir shops and tourist attractions close to the action can get old fast.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina And Tennessee
Most Popular: National park
What it's Got: Mountains and forests spanning two states, 800 miles of maintained trails, 1,500 bears, and a rich diversity of plant and animal life.
Why You Should Go: It's free! Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the few major national parks that doesn't charge an entry fee. With scenic drives, backcountry camping, and everything in between, the park is suitable for a wide range of abilities.
Why You Shouldn't Go: At its best, a national park offers beauty and a bit of solitude, but Great Smoky Mountains' popularity can mean crowds and traffic, particularly on summer and fall weekends.
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
Most Popular: Scenic outlook
What it's Got: One of the world's most scenic funicular railways, which leads to a panoramic lookout of Hong Kong at 1,300 feet above sea level.
Why You Should Go: A thrillingly steep ride up the mountain yields temperatures on the Peak that are cooler than you'll find down in the city. And on clear days and evenings, visitors are rewarded with amazing views of Hong Kong, water, and outlying islands.
Why You Shouldn't Go: Long tram lines getting to and from the Peak can be a drag. Air pollution or fog often obscures the amazing views. And a fear of heights can turn getting to and being at the Peak into an exercise in panic.
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