In the top 10 must-see travel experiences based on Google searches, only two are in the U.S., with two more U.S. experiences being a part of the top 20.
New York City’s Manhattanhenge is the most searched-for travel experience — the NYC event had over 1.3 million annual Google searches.
The rare event occurs when the Sun appears between the city’s grid as it’s low in the sky and setting, according to the American Museum of Natural History. The “Manhattanhenge Effect” will occur between May 29 and July 13 this year.
The Manhattanhenge ranked as the top must-see travel experience, according to Google data collected by Kuoni.
Andrey Denisyuk | Moment | Getty Images
According to the museum, some of the best places to view the Manhattanhenge are from Manhattan’s east/west thoroughfares and to get the best view, it recommends finding a spot as far east as possible.
The best streets to see the Manhattanhenge include 14th Street, 23rd Street, 34th Street, 42nd Street, and 57th Street.
- Manhattanhenge, New York City
- Venice Carnival, Italy
- Rio Carnival, Brazil
- Day of the Dead, Mexico
- Chelsea Flower Show, U.K.
- Golden Week, Japan
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, USA
- Northern Lights in Lapland, Finland
- Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
- Obon Festival, Japan
The No. 2 must-see travel experience in the world is the Venice Carnival in Italy, with over 1.2 million annual searches.
The Venice Carnival takes place every year just before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday — this year the the carnival took place from January 27-February 13.
The annual event is known worldwide for its captivating masquerade masks and costumes.
The Venice Carnival ranked as the second most searched travel experience, according to Kuoni.
Silvia Bianchini | Istock | Getty Images
The carnival began in the 1100s and lasted for several centuries before it was outlawed in the 1700s. Eventually, in 1979, the Italian government brought back the festivities, according to Venice Events.
In 2025, the carnival is set to take place from February 22 to March 4.
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