Let's face it, you'll never go into every tattoo shop in America. It's a virtual impossibility. By the time you hit all of the big ones featuring big-name tattooers who've won competitions and/or appeared on TV shows, there would be dozens more that had cropped up since you began.

Of course, some shops will always be better than others. Whether it's for the artists who work there or just the overall decor and vibe of the studio, the reputation of some shops draws visitors from around the world while others struggle to fill their seats with folks from the neighborhood.

We looked around the country to find the handful of shops that should be at the top of your list to visit.

Outer Limits Tattoo & Museum

The oldest tattoo shop in America changed names and ownership not too long ago, but it's still the most historic shop you'll find just about anywhere. Kari Barba is at the helm of the studio that was once the legendary Bert Grimm's World Famous Tattoo, and she's bringing it well into the future. With a lineup of stellar artists and a wide variety of photos and memorabilia from bygone eras, the Long Beach shop should be on the short list for anyone who wants to see or learn more about SoCal's famous tattooing scene.

Elm Street Tattoo

If you're mom knows the name of more than one tattooer, there's a good chance that Oliver Peck (or the guy with the mustache and toothpick on Ink Master) is one of them. He's one of the most visible tattooers in the world, but he's also one of the few TV-famous tattooers who still receives the utmost respect from the tattooing community. His flagship shop in Dallas is recognized as one of the best spots in all of Texas, and it draws visitors in the form of clients and guest artists from all over the world. It's a destination for both tattooers and collectors alike.

Tattoo City

San Francisco's tattoo scene has been one of the best in the world for decades, and Tattoo City is the center of all of that. Although you won't be getting tattooed by him, Ed Hardy's name is still on the window, and his son Doug Hardy runs the whole place. Even if the tattooing legend himself isn't there anymore, Tattoo City remains one of the best shops in the Bay Area, and it's universally respected in the tattoo world. If you're in NorCal, it's worth a visit to see everything even if you're not getting tattooed.

Last Rites Tattoo Theatre

Dark realistic tattooing has never been more popular than it is right now. Around the world, there are hundreds of artists specializing in creepy, gory and bloody realistic (and surrealistic) tattoos. But before anyone else was doing all of that, Paul Booth was the man. The New York-based tattooer now has an entire studio and gallery dedicated to the style, and it's different from every other shop in the state (and country). The City is packed with all sorts of interesting shops ranging from the most traditional to incredibly niche studios (including one exclusively featuring female artists), but no one can discount the impact Booth has had on the tattooing industry. If you're looking for something dark and scary, you can't beat Last Rites.

High Voltage Tattoo

Although every tattooer who appears on TV likely sees an uptick in work, no one's seen their popularity increase like Kat Von D. People who know nothing about tattooing still know who Kat Von D is, as she's branched out into the worlds of makeup and other art more than any other tattoo artist has before her. Beyond her own celebrity status, the newly remodeled High Voltage Tattoo (which served as the setting for LA Ink) sees massive amounts of visitor traffic from all over the world. Most people just want to take photos and maybe buy a t-shirt rather than getting tattooed at the Los Angeles shop, but just about every artist in there is world-class, so you really can't go wrong regardless.