That’s quite the statement.
The Empire State Building may not hold the title of the tallest building in the world anymore, but it still captivates visitors. In fact, it placed fourth on TripAdvisor’s list of top tourist attractions for 2026, outpacing notable sites like the Louvre in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome.
This ranking is part of TripAdvisor’s annual Travelers’ Choice Awards, which evaluates locations based on numerous outstanding reviews from the TripAdvisor community over the past year. It’s worth noting that only about 1% of the 8 million listings reached this prestigious status.
“This is a hard-earned recognition, shaped by millions of travelers who booked, arrived, and provided feedback on experiences truly worthy of their time,” commented Laurel Greatricks, Chief Communications Officer.
Leading the list was the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was the official vessel for the late Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family for 44 years before its decommissioning in 1997.
Now, it’s permanently docked in Edinburgh, Scotland, inviting visitors to experience the proud maritime history of the British Royal Family.
Following closely was Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, designed by renowned architect Antoni Gaudí. Standing at over 566 feet, it’s the world’s tallest church, despite still being under construction after 150 years.
In third place came Singapore’s beautifully landscaped Gardens by the Bay, with the Empire State Building claiming fourth. The final fifth spot was taken by the shimmering Cayman Crystal Caves in the Cayman Islands.
New York City overall performed impressively, with two entries in TripAdvisor’s Top 10 U.S. Experiences for 2026: the Central Park Pedicab Guided Tour and the 9/11 Memorial Ground Zero Tour.
The top 10 tourist attractions for 2026 are:
- Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh, UK
- Sagrada Familia cathedral, Barcelona, Spain
- Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
- Empire State Building, New York City, New York
- Cayman Crystal Cave, Grand Cayman
- The Real Mary Kings Close, Edinburgh, UK
- Miniature Wonderland, Hamburg, Germany
- Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
- Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee
- Cachoeira Boca da Honça, Bodoquena, Brazil
