New York’s iconic Empire State Building has climbed to the top of Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards for best attractions to see this year. The first time the landmark building takes first place, it was chosen based on the quality and quantity of reviews from the travel platform’s users from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
With “above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period”, the Empire State Building garnered 60,000 5-star reviews, with users wowed by the 360-degree view of New York, where they can point out all of their favourite landmarks and see up to six states on a clear day. Over 300 reviews deem it a “once in a lifetime” experience. “Out of our 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this milestone”, Tripadvisor commented on the landmark’s success.
Climbing from the 7th position last year to 2nd place in 2024, the Eiffel Tower equals the Empire State Building’s 4.5 out of 5 overall mark on the travel platform. With a brand new look for the Olympics, the Parisian landmark welcomed 6.3 million visitors last year, surpassing pre-Covid numbers. The pandemic still left a big dent in the tower’s budget however, determining its administrators to raise prices by 20%.
Last year’s top attraction, Barcelona’s Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, fell down to the 4th position this year, with Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House maintaining its 3rd spot. Rome’s Colosseum also dropped several spots, from 2nd place to 6th, while the Cayman Crystal Caves, in the Caribbean made it among the top 10 directly at number 5 this year.
Rounding up the top 10 are the Louvre Museum, in Paris, at number 7, Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, at number 8, the Duomo di Milano at number 9 and Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, at number 10.
“With more than 1.4 million activities and experiences, Tripadvisor is a go-to resource for travellers to discover and book their next adventure, no matter what ‘adventure’ means to them,” says Kristen Dalton, President, Tripadvisor. “Experiences make a trip, and our Best of the Best Things to Do Awards offer some of the highest-rated activities from across the world, highlighted by our community of travellers. Whether you’re a thrill seeker or a leisurely explorer, the ‘Best of the Best’ badge has the seal of approval from global travellers as a source of inspiration for an unforgettable vacation.”
The report also revealed users’ choice for the best experience. With more than 8,000 5-star reviews, the Unvanquished Tour in Porto City, Portugal, is praised for being budget and time friendly, with entertaining and knowledgeable tour guides, where visitors can explore 2,000 years of history in just a few hours.
