New York City has topped Tripadvisor's 2026 list of the best destinations in the nation.
The Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best 2026 were revealed this week, highlighting travelers' favorite destinations, hotels, restaurants and things to do across the U.S. and around the world. The rankings are based on reviews and ratings collected over a 12-month period.
Here's how New York fared on this year's list:
New York City
It's likely no surprise that the Big Apple topped Tripadvisor's Best of the Best destinations in 2026 list.
With popular attractions such as the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Times Square, as well as Central Park and the High Line, New York City offers plenty for visitors to explore. The city ranked No. 1 on the nationwide list.
Several New York City hotels, restaurants and attractions also landed among the top 10 in their respective Tripadvisor Best of the Best categories.
Among them:
- Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, a steakhouse near Central Park, ranked third among the top fine dining restaurants in the U.S.
- Greenwich Village Food Tour/Tasty Tours NYC ranked fourth among the nation's best food tours.
- New York City's Bryant Park Hotel ranked fourth among the Best of the Best hotels in the U.S.
- Central Park Pedicab Tour ranked sixth among the nation's best experiences.
- Sept. 11 Ground Zero Memorial Walking Tour and 9/11 Museum ranked seventh among the nation's best experiences.
Niagara Falls
A tour combining admission to Cave of the Winds and its Hurricane Deck with a Maid of the Mist boat tour from the American side of Niagara Falls ranked 10th among Tripadvisor's Best of the Best experiences in the U.S.
The six- to seven-hour tour, offered by Niagara Falls State Park when in season, includes attractions on both the American and Canadian sides of the falls, including a visit to the Canadian Skylon Tower.
How are winners picked?
According to Tripadvisor, Travelers' Choice winners are determined based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Selected winners also must have been listed on Tripadvisor for at least one year.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New York City tops Tripadvisor's best U.S. destinations for 2026
