New York City is the #1 travel destination in the United States, according to a new tourism report released earlier this month.
A report by BookRetreats.com, a global retreat booking site, named New York the best city to visit this year based on seven attractions that top the list for tourists.
And what do tourists love the most in NYC? Central Park!
“According to our analysis, Central Park is the most popular destination in the U.S. for tourists, with a 4.8 rating on Google and over 270,000 reviews,” analysts at BookRetreats.com said.
The honor likely comes as no surprise to citygoers who often frequent the historic and lush green space in the middle of Manhattan. The data showed that tourists love the array of free activities available in the park, including picnic space, bike riding and live concerts.
Ranking attractions in cities across the United States
To create the report, BookRetreats.com ranked 77 of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, taking into account each venue’s popularity, visitor experience, affordability and safety. The dataset covered over 7,500 visitor reviews, more than 380 hotel price points, and the latest state-level safety rankings.
The categories were then combined into a five-point rating system, with higher scores indicating more worthwhile attractions.
Central Park topped the list, but it had some stiff competition from other NYC landmarks.
Brooklyn Bridge Park slid into the #10 spot, even beating out several iconic destinations in the city, including the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.
“Brooklyn Bridge Park stands out as a visitor favorite, earning the highest experience score in our report at 1.96 out of 2,” BookRetreats.com wrote online. “An impressive 97% of 100 recent visitor reviews were positive, with only one negative response.”
According to the report, tourists love the park’s blend of natural beauty and city views.
What else in NYC made the list?
Other NYC attractions that made the list include:
Times Square, 5th place
Rockefeller Center, 6th place
The High Line, 12th place
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 15th place
The Brooklyn Bridge, 20th place
Bryant Park, 21st place
Museum of Modern Art, 23rd place
9/11 Memorial & Museum, 26th place
Empire State Building, 28th place
Statue of Liberty, 29th place
The Intrepid Museum, 37th place
Yankee Stadium, 50th place
The Battery, 60th place
