North America
United States
A country-continent of vertiginous dimensions (9.8 million km², 333 million people, 50 states, 6 time zones) — world capital of cinema (Hollywood), birthplace of jazz (New Orleans) and hip-hop (NYC), mythical national parks (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite), Florida, California and Hawaii beaches, and the world's most iconic metropolis (New York).
- Capital
- Washington D.C.
- Currency
- Dollar américain (USD)
- Languages
- Anglais, Espagnol (sud-ouest et Floride)
- Budget
- Mid to high range — around €150/day/person; higher in NYC, California and Hawaii (€200-250/day)
United States at a glance
The United States of America is a country-continent of vertiginous dimensions — 9.8 million km² (15 times France), 333 million inhabitants, 50 states (including subarctic Alaska and tropical Hawaii), 6 time zones, from Alaska's subarctic climate to Florida and Hawaii's tropical climate, from Midwest plains to California's giant sequoias, from the Statue of Liberty to San Francisco Bay. No single trip can claim to cover the country at once: the US is discovered region by region, each coast a journey in itself.
The tourist essentials are organised around six complementary regions. The East Coast (New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia) concentrates colonial heritage and the world-class metropolis par excellence — Manhattan, Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn, its skyscrapers, museums (MET, MoMA, Guggenheim), its culinary scene and its unmatched energy. Florida (Miami, Orlando, Keys, Everglades) offers the beach dimension and entertainment (Walt Disney World, Universal). California (Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Yosemite, Big Sur) packs cinema, technology, mythical beaches and spectacular nature. The Western parks (Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Monument Valley) form one of the world's largest reservoirs of natural landscapes. The South (Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee — New Orleans, Nashville, Austin) carries the country's musical soul (jazz, blues, country, rock'n'roll) and an exceptional cuisine (BBQ, Cajun creole, soul food). Hawaii finally offers the most accessible US tropical archipelago — Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, active Big Island volcanoes, Maui cathedral beaches.
The American experience is made of assumed paradoxes. Country of excess (skyscrapers, national parks, highways, restaurant portions) and extreme cultural diversity (every major city has its Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Havana, K-Town, Koreatown), birthplace of jazz in New Orleans (Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet), blues in Memphis (B.B. King), rock'n'roll in Memphis (Elvis), hip-hop in the Bronx (Grandmaster Flash, KRS-One), country in Nashville (Johnny Cash). World capital of cinema (Hollywood since 1910), gambling (Las Vegas), tech (Silicon Valley), finance (Wall Street), comics (Marvel, DC). But also a country with real flaws: striking inequalities, healthcare access among the world's most expensive, variable urban crime, free gun-carry in 30+ states, overwhelming car dependence outside a few metropolises. For the traveller, it's an inexhaustible playground that demands rigorous preparation (essential travel insurance, mandatory ESTA, region-targeted itineraries).
What we love
- ✅Unmatched geographic and cultural diversity: 50 states, 6 time zones, climates from polar to tropical, world-city NYC + Western deserts + Florida/Hawaii beaches
- ✅Mythical national parks — Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, Glacier, Olympic, Acadia: 63 national parks, some of the world's most stunning
- ✅World entertainment capital: Hollywood, Disney World Orlando, Universal Studios, Broadway, Las Vegas, Times Square, NBA, NFL, MLB
- ✅Universal musical cradle: New Orleans jazz, Memphis blues, Memphis rock'n'roll, NYC hip-hop, Nashville country, Detroit techno
- ✅Air accessibility: direct flights Paris-NYC 8h, Paris-LA 11h30, Paris-Miami 10h, multiple carriers, competitive fares outside peak season
What to know
- ❌High cost of stay — hotels, restaurants and activities notably pricier than Europe, 15-20% tips expected everywhere
- ❌Healthcare access among the world's most expensive — travel insurance with minimum $1M medical cover essential
- ❌Variable safety by neighbourhood — free gun-carry in 30+ states, high urban crime in some sectors, mass shootings statistically rare but headline-grabbing
- ❌Car dependence outside NYC, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago — car hire near-mandatory for parks and road trips
- ❌Mandatory ESTA ($21) before boarding, often long and strict border control (30-60 min)
Explore United States
Our itineraries
Regions
Popular spots
Situation
Où se situe United States ?
Ouvrir la carte en grand sur OpenStreetMap →Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa for the United States?+
What is the best time to visit the United States?+
How many days for the United States?+
What's the budget for the United States?+
East Coast or West Coast: where to start?+
Our verdict
The United States is a country-continent you don't visit but explore region by region. Golden rule: never try to cram New York + Los Angeles + Grand Canyon + Florida into two weeks, you'll burn the budget on domestic flights and energy on jet-lag. Our recommendation for a first trip: New York + Washington + Boston (10 days cultural East Coast, direct flight from Paris), California + Las Vegas + Grand Canyon (14 days Western road trip, LA → San Diego → Las Vegas → Grand Canyon → San Francisco), Florida (10 days beach + Disney, Miami + Keys + Orlando), or Hawaii (10 days tropical archipelago). For a musical trip, combine New Orleans + Memphis + Nashville (10 days, jazz to country route). Favour April-May or September-October for universally pleasant weather, summer for Western national parks only, winter for Florida/Hawaii/Southern California. Book ESTA ($21) at least 72h before departure. Take out a minimum $1M medical travel insurance — non-negotiable. And remember in the US, tipping (15-20% at restaurants, $1-2/bag, $5-10/day for hotels) is not a bonus but essential staff income.
Expert on United States · 1 contributions
Africa & Americas Desk — Mowando·Editor