When traveling to the United States, it can be pretty overwhelming, as there are a lot of major cities and attractions located within the country. It can even be overwhelming for its citizens visiting other areas. A good place to start would be with the top 10 largest cities in the United States.
#1: New York City, New York
New York is the largest city in the United States, by population, with more than 8 million people calling it home. New York City is sometimes confused by foreigners to be the nation’s capital due to its popularity. It’s not even the capital of New York state! But it does have some of the most famous attractions in the country. One of the top attractions in NYC includes Central Park— it has everything from a skating rink to a garden within the park.
#2: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the U.S. with a population of just under 4 million people. It’s also a very popular tourist destination for both foreigners and residents of the U.S. One of the most popular things to do in L.A. is the Hollywood Walk of Fame, though keep in mind that it does tend to get crowded with other tourists.
#3: Chicago, Illinois
Next on the list is Chicago, with a population of more than 2.5 million people. Grant Park is the perfect place for first-time visitors to start. Here you’ll find the Art Institute of Chicago, The Field Museum, and Shedd Aquarium. Of course, there are many more attractions offered by Windy City, so plan to spend more than a day in Chicago.
#4: Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas comes in fourth with 2.3 million people calling it home. A must-see in Houston is the NASA Space Center Houston. It’s one of the country’s biggest centers for research and training.
#5: Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the USA’s fifth-largest city with a population of 1.7 million. One of the best places to check out in Phoenix is the Desert Botanical Garden. It’s here where you’ll get to take on some hiking trails and see some of the most brightly colored flowers and thousands of different species of cacti. Phoenix is also just a day’s drive from the Grand Canyon in the northwestern part of Arizona.

#6: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia houses just over a 1.5million people and is a city that is full of history. There’s so much to see and learn about the history of the United States, from Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and so much more! You may need the services of a Philadelphia bus rental to help you get to all of these historic and fascinating places the city has to offer.
#7: San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio comes in seventh, with just 4,000 fewer people than Philadelphia. The most famous attraction here is The Alamo, where 189 Texans fought for independence from Mexico.
#8: San Diego, California
San Diego comes next with a population of more than 1.4 million people. This sunny city is perfect for those looking for outdoor activities. There’s hiking at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, or you can jet ski, surf, or take a boat out on Coronado Beach. There’s also Balboa Park, which houses the San Diego Zoo.
#9: Dallas, Texas
The ninth-largest city by population in the U.S. is Dallas, with around 1.3 million people living there. Dallas is a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. The Dallas World Aquarium is a place worth visiting, where you can see aquatic animals, penguins, and even rainforest animals.
#10: San Jose, California
San Jose’s population is actually decreasing, with there just being a little more than 1 million residents living there. However, Downtown San Jose is the biggest Bay Area city, and you’ll be able to enjoy live music, walk down roads filled with cafes, and shop at numerous boutiques.
