Read time : 3 mins
Level : Intermediate
By Caitriona Maria | Wealth of Geeks undefined
Despite the ever-rising cost of travel, 40% of travelers confirmed they will take a bucket list or big-ticket trip in 2025, according to a Squaremouth survey.
To uncover the most popular bucket list destinations for Americans, travel experts at The Facts Institute analyzed average monthly U.S. searches for over 150 national landmarks. Using Ahrefs data from the past 12 months, they identified the top 5 global landmarks Americans are most eager to explore.
According to the ranking, these landmarks land on Americans’ bucket list.
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is Americans’ most-searched bucket list destination. The 278-mile park is a spectacular example of erosion located entirely within Arizona. Last year, the site attracted 4,733,705 tourists.
Would-be travelers search the popular attraction around 429,000 times per month — 108,000 searches more than the Eiffel Tower. Searches peak each March when daytime temperatures cool and crowds thin.
The Eiffel Tower
The French landmark is the most visited paid monument in history, welcoming nearly 7 million people per year. Built in 1889, it was the tallest building in the world until the construction of the Chrysler Building in 1930.
With 321,000 average monthly searches, the Eiffel Tower was the most-searched attraction outside the U.S. Searches peaked from Jan. 21 to 27, around the time viral social media videos falsely claimed flames ravaged the Eiffel Tower.
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty ranks second among the top 5 U.S. destinations Americans are most interested in. The landmark, which universally represents freedom and democracy, was a gift from the people of France and was officially unveiled to the public on Oct. 28, 1886.
Interestingly, Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, a French architect and structural engineer, designed the internal structural elements of the Statue of Liberty before later working on the Eiffel Tower. The Statue of Liberty receives an average of 353,000 U.S. searches per month.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is the second-most sought-after landmark outside the U.S., garnering 232,000 monthly searches. The citadel places seventh overall on our list of the most-searched landmarks.
Nestled between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin, the urban creation is a legacy of the Inca civilization. A religious, ceremonial, astronomical, and agricultural wonder comprising approximately 200 structures, the Incan site welcomed almost 956,000 people last year.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is another must-see destination for Americans, boasting a monthly search volume of 285,000. The three waterfalls, spanning the border of Ontario and New York state, are over 12,000 years old and a major source of hydroelectric power for the U.S. and Canada. They attract approximately 12 million annual visitors.
The Colosseum
With all the hype surrounding Gladiator ‘s long-awaited sequel, it’s no wonder the Roman Empire Colosseum makes its mark as the third most-searched landmark outside the U.S.
The ancient amphitheater appealed to the masses through animal hunts and gladiatorial games, though it’s served many functions over the years. The Colosseum garners an average of 166,000 U.S. searches per month.
It’s worth noting Gladiator II was not filmed in the Colosseum in Italy but in a replica Director Ridley Scott built in Malta.
Empire State Building
The Big Apple makes its way onto our list with the magnificent Empire State Building. Located in the heart of New York City’s Manhattan borough, the massive and unmissable 103-floor building offers breathtaking city views.
The state building receives 253,000 U.S. search hits per month, with about 2.5 million people from every region of the globe visiting annually.
Taj Mahal
Located in Northern India, the Taj Mahal is an exquisite 17th-century Muslim art piece defined by its ivory-white marble and perfect symmetry. Emperor Shah Jahan ordered the structure’s construction in memory of his favorite wife. This Indo-Islamic architectural achievement attracts nearly 8 million visitors per year.
The Taj Mahal is the most searched-for Asian landmark on our list — slightly ahead of the Burj Khalifa — averaging 157,000 U.S. searches monthly.
The White House
Another icon on our bucket list landmarks is the White House, with a staggering 211,000 searches per month. This living museum of American History is where President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, were the first to reside. Despite being a private home to the families of heads of state, it is open to the public free of charge.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will leave the famous house following President-elect Donald Trump’s recent victory. Speculations say the pair will head to Wilmington, Delaware, as the Trump and Vance families settle in.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is the final landmark destination drawing the eyes of Americans with 154,000 searches monthly. A symbol of Dubai’s boundless aspirations, the 163-floor skyscraper is the tallest in the world at about 2,716 feet — about as tall as two-and-a-half Eiffel Towers.
While the destination may not be first on Americans’ priority list, it earns the highest global monthly searches at 1.1 million and receives a staggering 17 million visitors every year.
This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.