United States Travel Guide: Places to See and Routes

The places to see in the United States on a first trip are New York, Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco; don't combine the east and west coasts on the same trip. Turkish citizens need a consular visa, and processing takes 2-4 months. This guide explains the routes, day counts and which route suits which traveler, step by step.

In Short

• Entry to the USA for Turkish citizens requires a consular visa; processing takes 2-4 months, so get your visa appointment first.
• Choose a single coast on your first trip: the east offers history and cities, the west offers scenery and entertainment.
• Allow at least 4 days for New York, and two days each for Orlando and Miami.
• The South America Tour does not cover the USA; don't confuse it with this if you're looking for a visa.

Visa first: the first step of your plan

Entry to the USA for Turkish citizens is possible with a consular visa. The application type for a tourist trip is B1/B2, and the application fee is 185 USD. Processing takes 2-4 months, including the interview wait. The visa can provide multiple entry for up to 10 years, but the length of stay at each entry is determined by the CBP officer at the border. In other words, the visa's validity period and the length of time you can stay in the country are not the same thing.

The order should be as follows:

• First, the visa application and interview appointment
• Then, choosing the route and tour
• Finally, booking flights and hotels with strict cancellation terms

Don't buy a non-refundable ticket before your appointment date is confirmed. Since the process can take up to 4 months, start the visa process immediately if you're considering an October departure. You need to be able to clearly explain your travel plan in the application, so determine your city list and day count in advance. For current requirements, check our USA visa page; check the document list there.

Route logic: east or west

The USA is not a single trip, but several separate ones. The country is very wide, and a flight is needed between the coasts. For this reason, choosing a single coast on your first trip is the right decision. A program that tries to fit both coasts into one trip spends most of its time at the airport.

East Coast

For those who want city culture, museums, history and Florida's theme parks. New York sits at the center; Orlando and Miami are added to it. The northern line also includes historic cities like Philadelphia and Washington.

West Coast

For those who want cinema, desert city entertainment and bay views with bridges. Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco are the classic trio.

The decision rule is simple: If you want history and metropolis, choose the east; if you want outdoors and wide scenery, choose the west. Families with children generally lean toward the east route that includes Orlando. You can check out ready-made programs on our USA tours page; you can use these three main lines as a reference when building your own route.

New York: the starting point of the east route

New York is at the top of the list of places to see in the United States and requires at least 4 days. If you stay shorter, you'll only rush through the best-known spots.

Dedicate the first day to lower Manhattan: the Statue of Liberty ferry, Wall Street and the Brooklyn Bridge walk all fit into the same day. On the second day, combine Central Park with the museum line; choose only one of the Metropolitan and the Natural History museums, as the two won't fit into one day. Leave Times Square and the Rockefeller area for the evening on the third day, since the lights take on meaning in the dark. The fourth day can be left for Brooklyn neighborhoods or free shopping.

The subway is the fastest and cheapest way to get around the city; only use taxis late at night. For your hotel, prefer midtown Manhattan; a location close to the subway saves more time than a higher room price.

If you're looking for a ready-made program, the New York, Orlando and Miami route tour places the city at the start of the route, with its first departure on October 17, 2026.

Orlando and Miami: the Florida line

Florida contains two different types of trips: Orlando is theme parks, while Miami is sea and city life. Don't plan both on the same day; they're connected by a short flight, but they're not toured at the same pace.

Orlando

Allow at least 2 days for theme parks; each park requires a full day. If you're traveling with children, decide the park order in advance, be inside at opening time, and go on the most popular rides in the morning. A schedule of a break in the shade in the afternoon and a show in the evening reduces fatigue.

Miami

Two days is enough for Miami. Spend one day at South Beach and Ocean Drive with its Art Deco buildings, and the other day at Little Havana and the Wynwood murals. Try local flavors like Cuban coffee and sandwiches in Little Havana.

Distances in Florida are long; taking the inter-city transfer as part of a ready-made tour carries less risk than renting a car. If you want a fuller program, the Full New York, Orlando and Miami tour covers the same line in 9 days, also departing on October 17, 2026.

West Coast: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco

The logic of the west route is three different characters. Go to each city with a separate purpose.

Los Angeles

Choose one day covering Hollywood, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, and one focal point like a studio or the Griffith Observatory. 2-3 days is enough. Distances within the city are long; don't plan more than three distant points in one day.

Las Vegas

This is an entertainment city in the middle of the desert. 1-2 days is enough. Rest during the day, and tour the lit boulevard and hotel shows in the evening. You don't have to gamble; shows and dining make a sufficient program.

San Francisco

Allow 2 days for the Golden Gate Bridge, streetcars, Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf. Since there can be fog in the mornings, leaving the bridge photo for the second day provides a backup plan. Alcatraz tickets usually sell out in advance, so prefer having a spot reserved as part of a tour.

If you want to see this trio in 9 days, the Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco tour or the more intense Full west route is suitable; the first departure is October 24, 2026.

Northern coasts: Philadelphia, Washington, Atlantic City

For those with limited time in New York who still want to see US history, the northeast line is the most balanced option. The cities are close to each other, so the program can be kept shorter, at around 8 days.

Philadelphia

Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are the main stop telling the country's founding story. Half a day for the historic district and half a day for free time is enough. The cheesesteak is the city's signature dish.

Washington

In the capital, most museums are free, and the monuments are within walking distance of each other. Allow 1-2 days; choose one of the Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial and the Smithsonian museums that suits your interest. Don't try to see everything.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is known for its seaside casinos and boardwalk. Consider it a short stop on the route, not a main destination.

For those who want this line ready-made, the North America Coasts tour combines New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Atlantic City in 8 days; the first departure is October 24, 2026.

Transportation and packing: practical decisions

Within the city. Public transport is sufficient in New York, Washington and Philadelphia; renting a car brings parking hassle and extra cost. In Los Angeles, however, a car or local ride service is needed due to distances. If you're considering renting a car, check driver's license requirements in advance; our international driving license guide explains the application steps.

Between cities. A flight is required between the east and west coasts. If you've chosen a tour, these flights are included in the program, so check the connection time on the tour's detail page.

Carry-on luggage. Pay attention to liquid rules on US flights; our liquid rules article for makeup and cosmetic products will help. Declare any food and plant products at the border; don't try to hide them.

Clothing. Dress in layers on the East Coast, and account for the difference between day and night temperatures on the West Coast. Comfortable shoes are a must; you'll walk long distances daily in New York.

Tour or independent. If you have visa and distance concerns on your first US trip, a tour makes more sense; an independent route is more reasonable on a later trip.

Which route to choose: short decision table

When choosing a route, ask these questions in order.

• Traveling with children? The east route including Orlando.
• Want history and museums? The New York, Philadelphia and Washington line.
• Want scenery and outdoors? The west route: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco.
• Only have 8-9 days? Choose a single coast; don't combine the two coasts.
• Want a more intense program? Tours with «Full» in the name cover the same cities with more touring.

For those wanting a single city recommendation, the answer is New York; it's the strongest start to understanding the USA for the first time in a week. Those who choose the west shouldn't skip San Francisco.

Warning: The «South America Tour» on sale covers the South American continent, not the USA; those looking for a US visa should not confuse it with this.

Finally: don't make a tour payment before your visa appointment is confirmed, but since the process is long, don't delay the application. For all current departures, check our USA tours list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should first-time visitors to America go?

Choose a single coast on your first trip. For the east, New York, Orlando and Miami; for the west, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco are the classic routes. The east is suitable for history and city life, the west for scenery and entertainment.

Can Turkish citizens travel to the USA without a visa?

No. Turkish citizens need a consular visa. The tourist application type is B1/B2, and the application fee is 185 USD. Check current requirements on our USA visa page.

How long does it take to get a US visa?

Processing takes 2-4 months, including the interview wait. Therefore, apply early before your travel date. Don't buy a non-refundable ticket before the appointment is confirmed.

How long can you stay with a US visa?

The visa can provide multiple entry for up to 10 years. However, the length of stay you can have in the country at each entry is determined by the CBP officer at the border. Don't confuse visa validity with the length of stay.

How many days are enough for the USA?

8-9 days is a reasonable period for a single-coast route; the tours on sale are also this length. It's good to allow at least 4 days for New York alone. Combining both coasts requires a longer period.

Is it necessary to rent a car in the USA?

It's not necessary in New York, Washington and Philadelphia; public transport is sufficient. In Los Angeles, a car or ride service is useful due to long distances. Check driver's license requirements before renting.