Recently, a Lowcountry city was named the best city in America for the 12th consecutive year.
Travel + Leisure readers love visiting Charleston and think it can hold its own against European capitals. Known as the Holy City by residents and visitors alike, Charleston has long been a magnet for visitors with its Southern charm.
Vibrant architecture and culture, fine dining and walkability were cited as reasons for the city’s ranking as the best, with Santa Fe, New Mexico, coming in a close second.
Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Charleston 22nd in its World’s Best Cities awards, just ahead of Barcelona.
Here’s why travelers consider Charleston the best city in the United States.
What did your readers say about Charleston?
Many of our readers have visited Charleston on multiple occasions: as a couple for a weekend getaway, a family getaway, or a getaway with friends. Each time they explore the city, they discover something new. The city is also known for its friendly atmosphere, and the fun downtown vibe makes it easy to join in.
When it comes to staying true to its traditions, Charleston’s roots run as deep as the area’s famous Angel Oak trees. One reader told Travel + Leisure that the city is “a great example of a city that stays true to its roots while also adapting to the times and striving to be welcoming to all.”
Those who chose Charleston as the best city even compared it to European cities because of its vibrant arts, entertainment and culinary scene. To our readers, Charleston’s cuisine is “unbeatable,” and no city is great without great food.
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How does voting work?
To determine America’s best cities, Travel + Leisure asks readers to participate in its World’s Best Awards survey, sharing their experiences while traveling around the world. Opinions on airlines, cities, cruise ships, resorts, spas, top hotels and more are considered to help determine the winners. In the 2024 survey, more than 186,000 readers participated, casting more than 70,000 total votes across 8,700 establishments. Cities were evaluated on criteria including culture, food, friendliness, sights/landmarks, shopping and value.
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Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 U.S. Cities
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Savannah, Georgia
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- San Antonio, Texas
- Fort Worth, Texas
- New York, New York
- Chicago, Illinois
- Aspen, Colorado
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Travel + Leisure Magazine’s Best Cities in the World
- San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
- Udaipur, India
- Kyoto, Japan
- Hoi An, Vietnam
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Florence, Italy
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Tokyo Japan
- Ubud, Indonesia
- Funchal, Portugal
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- San Sebastian, Spain
- Marbella, Spain
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Porto, Portugal
- Kolkata, India
- Rome, Italy
- Jaipur, India
- Charleston, United States
- Barcelona, Spain
- Seoul, South Korea
- Cusco, Peru
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Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Contact her at ntran@gannett.com..
