Top 30 World’s Most-visited Tourist Attractions

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No. 1 Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

tourist attraction Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Annual Visitors: 91,250,000

Hand-painted ceramics, lanterns, intricately patterned carpets, copperware, gold Byzantine-style jewelry, and more eye-catching products vie for your attention within

’s vaulted walkways. It has since expanded and become increasingly touristy, but locals, too, are among the millions of bargain hunters. To haggle like a pro, lowball your starting offer and don’t be afraid to walk away. And if it all gets overwhelming, break for a succulent doner kebab or strong cup of Turkish coffee.

Source: Grand Bazaar management

No. 2 The Zócalo, Mexico City

The Zócalo, Mexico City
© travelomama

Annual Visitors: 85,000,000

Formally known as the Plaza de la Constitución,

thrums with activity. It hosts military parades, cultural and political events, concerts, exhibitions, fairs, and public art installations. Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace flank this historic public square, and an imposing Mexican flag, raised and lowered daily, waves over the scene.

Source: Mexico Tourism Board

No. 3 Times Square, New York City

Times Square, New York City
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 50,000,000

Tourists flock to

for the flashing lights, Broadway shows, megastores, and sheer spectacle—including costumed characters eager to pose for photo ops. Pedestrian-only areas with café tables introduced a few years ago have made it easier and more appealing to hang out here. Times Square can even be a convenient, if chaotic, base, thanks to hotels at every price point and easy access to public transportation: subways, rails, buses, and more yellow taxis than you can count.

Source: The Times Square Alliance

No. 4 (tie) Central Park, New York City

Central Park, New York City
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 40,000,000

New York has larger green spaces, but none is more famous than

, which stretches across nearly 850 acres of prime Manhattan real estate—an oasis for both tourists and locals. You can ride in one of the horse-drawn carriages, check out the modest-size zoo, climb to the top of 19th-century Belvedere Castle, or take a break from pounding the pavement to sprawl on the Great Lawn, gazing at the skyscrapers above.

Source: Central Park Conservancy

No. 5 (tie) Union Station, Washington, D.C.

Union Station, Washington, D.C.
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 40,000,000

Opened in 1907,

shuttles some 12,500 passengers daily in and out of the city. But it also handles millions of tourists who pass through to take in the impeccably mixed architectural styles throughout the colossal building: from Classical to Beaux-Arts to Baroque. More than 70 retail outlets make Union Station a shopping destination, and it’s also a jumping-off point for many D.C. tours.

Source: Union Station

No. 6 Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 30,500,000

In 2013, 77 percent of Vegas tourists—30.5 million—chose to stay at hotels right on the four-mile-long Strip. And why not? Roll out of bed and onto the Strip to catch the Bellagio fountains in action, shop, gamble, and, of course, people-watch (which can get especially fun later at night). For a cool new vantage point, hop aboard the

, a 550-foot-tall Ferris wheel that debuted in March 2014. It’s part of Linq, a flashy 300,000-square-foot shopping and entertainment complex by Caesars.

Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

No. 7 (tie) Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo

Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo, Japan
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 30,000,000

Built more than 100 years ago to honor the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken,

in bustling Tokyo is a peaceful haven surrounded by a holy forest of more than 100,000 trees. Seasonal gardens feature spring azaleas, summer irises, brilliant autumn leaves on Japanese maples and ginkgos, and black pines dusted with winter snow.

Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

No. 7 (tie) Sensoji Temple, Tokyo

Sensoji Temple, Tokyo, Japan
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 30,000,000

was dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon, the most compassionate Buddha, in 628. Dramatic nighttime illumination highlights vermilion and crimson detailing in the Five-Storied Pagoda. Continuing centuries-long tradition, stalls along the temple’s Nakamise Street sell food and goods to pilgrims, whose numbers swell around New Year’s.

Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

No. 9 Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario

Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 22,000,000

Straddling the border of the U.S. and Canada, three massive waterfalls, together called

, spill about 6 million cubic feet of water—from a maximum vertical drop of 165 feet—every minute. While there are about 500 taller waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is spectacular for its sheer power. It’s also more accessible than many major falls, a short flight or drive for millions of regional tourists.

Source: Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp./Canadian Tourism Commission

No. 10 Grand Central Terminal, New York City

Grand Central Terminal, New York City
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 21,600,00

Unlike harried commuters, visitors take their time in the main concourse of this

, pausing to view its glittering ceiling painted with a map of the constellations from the night sky. Shops, an annual holiday market, special events, and restaurants also attract attention. Two of the grandest venues are the , serving craft cocktails, and the historic

—featured on AMC’s Mad Men—which shucks 2 million fresh bivalves a year.

Source: Grand Central Terminal

No. 11 Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 20,000,000

The

, begun in the 16th century and completed in 1709, stands in stark contrast to the massive new basilica, designed by the Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, which was built in the mid-1970s and looks like a sports arena. It is, in fact, intended to hold 50,000 people, who come for mass—celebrated several times a day—and to see an image of the Virgin Mary that is said to have appeared on an apron in 1531.

Source: Mexico Tourism Board

No. 12 Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando, FL

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida tourist attractions
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 18,588,000

is high on virtually every family’s to-do list and remains the most-visited theme park on the earth. Expanded Fantasyland now includes the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train family-style roller coaster and a chance to meet Anna and Elsa from the smash-hit Frozen in the Princess Fairytale Hall near Cinderella Castle. Time-tested attractions include the Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain, the daily Disney character parade down Main Street, USA, and a fireworks spectacular that lights up the sky many nights.

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

No. 13 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, Massachusetts
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 18,000,000

Dating back to 1742,

(“the Cradle of Liberty”) once hosted speeches by such greats as Samuel Adams and George Washington. Today, the downtown marketplace has more than 100 specialty shops and eateries and occupies a pedestrian-only, cobblestoned area that swarms with tourists and street performers. Each winter, Faneuil Hall also hosts Boston’s tallest Christmas tree, along with festive light displays and choirs.

Source: Faneuil Hall Marketplace

No. 14 Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland, Japan
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 17,214,000

Disney’s

has become the second most-visited theme park in the world (beating out Anaheim, CA’s Disneyland, which held that title in 2010). It shares the sweetness of the original parks’ Fantasyland with Peter Pan’s Flight and Dumbo the Flying Elephant as well as Tomorrowland’s Space Mountain and Star Tours—The Adventures Continue. A musical soundtrack and other renovations have improved the Adventureland classic: Jungle Cruise Wildlife Expedition, while a new after-dark night cruise promises more surprises.

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

No. 15 Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA

Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 16,202,000

Though not as massive as its Orlando counterpart,

, which occupies about 85 acres of land, has retro charm and some better features. Here the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction lasts almost twice as long and ends in a humid southern bayou with fireflies (instead of a gift shop). The Indiana Jones Adventure ride careens over lava, past swarms of beetles, and under that 16-foot rolling boulder. Thrill-seekers will also appreciate that the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has reopened.

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

No. 16 Forbidden City, Beijing

Forbidden City, Beijing, China
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 15,340,000

It doesn’t have a street address—which is only fitting for a place that was once considered the center of the universe. Nowadays, tourists swarm this

of opulent halls, gardens, and winged pavilions. Attendance is up by 2.5 million since 2010. It can easily take half a day to explore the grounds, and history buffs will appreciate the self-guided audio tour—or a hired guide.

Source: Forbidden City Palace Museum and China Odyssey Tours

No. 17 Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 14,289,121

Beaches, cliffs, hills, forts, and towering redwood trees make up the

, easily accessible from San Francisco. Many visitors come to embrace the outdoors, whether hiking, biking, swimming, birding, riding horses, or whale-watching. But this scenic area is also rich in history and includes landmarks like prison and the Presidio, an 18th-century military post. You can even base yourself within the recreation area;

’s rooms and suites occupy restored turn-of-the-20th-century Colonial Revival buildings that overlook San Francisco Bay.

Source: National Park Service

No. 18 Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea, Japan
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 14,084,000

, the companion park to Tokyo Disneyland overlooking Tokyo Bay, took inspiration from aquatic myths, legends and the lore of the sea. Divided into seven “ports of call,” the park emphasizes water attractions with Venetian gondolas, a Mermaid Lagoon, a journey to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and an Aquatopia with quirky boats in a sea of rocks, whirlpools and water spouts. But it’s not all fountains and bubbles—the park also has scary rides like the Tower of Terror, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull.

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

No. 19 Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 14,000,000

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture—all soaring buttresses, crouching gargoyles, and magnificent rose windows—

has survived attacks of Huguenots, sansculottes, occupying armies, and questionable renovations since its completion in 1345. In spite of its often violent past, visitors flock to the cathedral for the hushed peace and reflection it provides, even in the midst of Paris.

Source: Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency

No. 20 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 13,000,000

Cascading three miles from the Panhandle down to the Pacific,

serves as playground and haven for this diverse city. The park’s offerings include museums (the de Young Museum and the Academy of Sciences), botanical wonders (the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, a rhododendron forest, and more than 75,000 trees, among others), sporting fields and courts, playgrounds, and even a small herd of buffalo.

Source: San Francisco Recreation & Park Department

No. 21 Balboa Park, San Diego

Balboa Park, San Diego, California
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 12,000,000 to 14,000,000

’s 1,200 acres form a mini-city with 15 accredited museums, 19 gardens, nine performing arts groups, a miniature railroad, a golf course, tennis courts, lawn bowling, a gymnasium, a historic carousel, and a Super Sonic Samba School. Not to mention the world-famous , with three crowd-pleasing giant pandas. Balboa Park also features the Spreckels Organ, whose 4,518 pipes range from the size of a pencil to 32 feet tall.

No. 22 South Street Seaport, New York City

South Street Seaport, New York City, New York
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 12,000,000

in lower Manhattan dates back to the 1600s, and its cobblestoned streets are packed with shops and restaurants. Pier 17 will reopen in 2016 after undergoing extensive renovation. Commercialism aside, the history runs deep here and is perhaps best experienced on one of the two 1800s tall-masted schooners the South Street Seaport Museum maintains. Go for a sunset sail with Gotham as a backdrop.

Source: The Howard Hughes Corporation

No. 24 Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 11,229,000

Built to honor the late Walt Disney’s utopian ideal of the innovative future (the name is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow),

attracts guests who skew a little older than those of its neighbor, the Magic Kingdom. Restaurants are aimed at more sophisticated palates, and annual celebrations include a flower and garden show and an international food and wine festival. Perennial favorite rides like Soarin’, Mission: SPACE, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends keep the kids and kids-at-heart happy. Expect visits to the Norway pavilion to spike when a Frozen-themed ride debuts in 2016.

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

No. 25 St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy

St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 11,000,000

One of the holiest Catholic sites,

teems with ornate gold, marble columns, paintings of angels, iconic statues, and works created by a who’s who of Renaissance artists, including Raphael, Brunelleschi, Bernini, and Michelangelo, who sculpted the marble Pietà and designed the massive dome. For a nominal fee, you can climb 320 steps to the top and soak up the most famous panorama of Rome.

Source: Italian Government Tourist Board

No. 26 Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 10,720,000 (Badaling and Mutianyu areas combined)

Once used as a wartime defense, the

winds “like a dragon tail” from eastern China to western, spanning some 5,500 miles. While much of what is visible today was built during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), construction began on various sections as far back as 770 B.C. Credit goes to the million slaves and prisoners of war who carried blocks of granite, bricks, stones, and dirt on their backs up to the top of the ridgelines. The Badaling section, closest to Beijing, draws the

. Word has gotten out, inspiring some travelers to make the longer drive to the more serene Mutianyu section.

Source: National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China and China Odyssey Tours

No. 27 Sacré Coeur Basilica, Paris

Sacré Coeur Basilica, Paris, France
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 10,500,000

lures visitors to the summit of Montmartre for a litany of reasons—while some come to pray and meditate, most come for the remarkable 360-degree views of the City of Light from its highest vantage point. The construction of the basilica, which started in 1871, was intended to restore peace to a site stained by violence during the Paris Commune.

Source: Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency

No. 28 Disneyland Park, Marne-la-Vallée, France

Disneyland Park, Marne-la-Vallée, France
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 10,430,000

When

opened in 1992, many French protested the “cultural imperialism” of such an American symbol opening 40 minutes outside of Paris. Today it’s one of the most-visited locations in Europe. So be prepared to queue for popular rides like It’s a Small World, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast. A 3D ride inspired by the film Ratatouille opened in 2014; enter through a replica of Gusteau’s restaurant.

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

No. 29 Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 10,198,000

Since 1998,

has successfully marketed Mickey Mouse and silverback gorillas under one all-inclusive “roof.” If it has four legs or wings or a tail, chances are you’ll find it at this zoo/museum/school theme park. Don’t miss the Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, or the 14-story Tree of Life sculpture carved with some 325 animals. Fun fact: at one point park creators also wanted to include a section for mythological creatures called “Beastly Kingdom.”

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

No. 30 Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
©  Qazi Alfaz / travelomama

Annual Visitors: 10,110,000

Disney describes this park (est. 1989) as “

.” Laid out much like a real-life motion picture studio, with a 154-acre network of streets and buildings and miniature replicas of famous landmarks, it showcases the golden age of film. But most kids make a beeline to Toy Story Midway Mania! at Pixar Place and Star Tours—The Adventures Continue.

Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report

 

 

 

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