The complete guide

United States

Everything you need to plan a great trip as an international visitor — from Manhattan's skyline to the Grand Canyon — without the guesswork.

Flight time 2-5h from Canada/Mexico, 7-11h from Europe, 13-16h from Asia/AustraliaFrom $300-600 round-trip from Europe, $250-450 from the UK, $900-1,400 from Australia/NZVisa ESTA visa-free up to 90 days for 41 countries*; others need a B1/B2 visaTime zone 4 mainland time zones (Eastern to Pacific, GMT-5 to GMT-8), plus Alaska and Hawaii further west

The US rewards picking one region well rather than trying to cover the whole country. New York City (4-5 days) is the classic first stop — walkable, transit-based, icon-dense. Los Angeles (4-5 days) needs a rental car but unlocks beaches and easy desert road trips. Miami (3-4 days) is the warm-weather, Latin-influenced alternative. Citizens of 41 countries get ESTA visa-free entry for up to 90 days as of mid-2026; everyone else needs a B1/B2 visa. Budget $150-300/day including hotels.

The United States is less a single country than a continent wearing a trench coat, and figuring out where to actually go is the hardest part of planning a trip here. Ten days isn't enough to "see America" — it's barely enough to properly see one coast — so the real skill is picking a slice and doing it well, instead of turning your vacation into a check-the-box tour of an entire landmass.

This guide covers the destinations, sights, food, and the practical stuff that actually trips people up: the visa and ESTA rules for your specific passport, how tipping (a genuinely confusing ritual for most of the world) actually works, what things really cost once tax and tips are added, and how to get connected the moment you land. Written for a global reader, not an American one — no assumptions about where you're flying from or what currency you think in.

Destinations

All Destinations ←

Destinations

New York City

4-5 days minimum — the city that never sleeps also never stops costing money.

Destinations

Los Angeles

4-5 days, and yes, you need a rental car.

Articles & Comparisons

Best Time to Visit US National Parks

Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite — the real seasonal trade-offs.

Articles & Comparisons

Biggest Mistakes First-Time USA Visitors Make

The honest list — tipping, distances, and ESTA mix-ups included.

Trip Tools

All Trip Tools ←

Trip Tools

United States Trip Cost Calculator

See what your trip will really cost, by travel style and trip length.

Getting Around

All Getting Around ←

Getting Around

Getting Around the USA

New York needs no car at all; Los Angeles absolutely does — plan transport per city, not per country.

Questions people actually ask

How many days do I need for a US trip?

10 days is a reasonable minimum for one city plus a short add-on (New York plus Philadelphia, or Los Angeles plus the Grand Canyon). 14 days lets you properly cover two of New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Trying to combine all three in under 3 weeks usually means too many travel days and not enough actual time in any of them.

Do I need a visa to visit the USA?

It depends on your passport — see our full ESTA & visa guide. Citizens of 41 countries (most of Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and others) get visa-free entry for up to 90 days via ESTA, an online travel authorization (not a visa) currently costing $40.27. Everyone else needs a B1/B2 visitor visa, arranged well in advance through a US embassy or consulate.

How much does a trip to the USA cost?

Budget travelers: from $100-150/day (hostels, casual food, public transit where available). Mid-range comfort: $200-350/day (a good hotel, restaurant meals, some paid attractions). A two-week trip for two people, flights included, typically runs $4,000-7,000 mid-range. Remember that listed prices never include sales tax or tips, both added afterward.

Is tipping really mandatory in the US?

In practice, yes, at restaurants, bars, taxis/rideshares and salons — 15-20% is the accepted standard, not a bonus for great service. Many service workers are paid a lower base wage specifically because tips are expected to make up the rest. See our money & tipping guide for the full breakdown by situation.

New York or Los Angeles — which should I visit first?

New York if you want a walkable, transit-based city with dense, iconic sights and don't mind cold winters. Los Angeles if you want beaches, warm weather, and an easy road-trip add-on to the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas, and don't mind renting a car. See our full head-to-head comparison for the details.

What's the best time of year to visit the USA?

It depends heavily on where you're going — spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) are the safest bets for New York and the national parks (mild weather, thinner crowds); Miami is best December-April, outside hurricane season; Los Angeles is genuinely pleasant nearly year-round.

Do I need to rent a car in the USA?

Depends entirely on the city. New York works fine without one — public transit and walking cover it. Los Angeles genuinely needs a rental car to see more than one neighborhood. Miami's beach area is walkable, but a car helps for day trips like the Everglades.

Is the USA safe for tourists?

Yes, in the areas and experiences most international visitors stick to — major-city tourist zones, national parks, resorts. Violent crime specifically targeting tourists is genuinely rare; the more realistic concerns are petty theft in crowded spots and simply not knowing the local tipping and payment norms.