A lowcountry city was recently crowned the best in the U.S. for the 12th year in a row.
Travel + Leisure readers love visiting Charleston, and they believe it can compete with any European capital. Known as the Holy City among residents and tourists alike, Charleston has dazzled many with its Southern charm throughout the years.
Vibrant architecture and culture, fine dining, and walkability were reasons cited for the city being the best, with Sante Fe, New Mexico, close behind in second place.
For Travel + Leisure’s Best Cities in the World Awards, Charleston ranked at No. 22, just ahead of Barcelona.
Here’s why travelers think Charleston is the best city across the states.
What did readers say about Charleston?
Many readers who traveled to Charleston did so several times and for different occasions. Among these were couples’ weekends, family vacations, or getaways with friends. Each time they explored the city, they discovered something new about it that they treasured. The city was also noted for its friendly atmosphere, making it hard for visitors to resist joining in on the fun downtown.
In terms of keeping true to tradition, Charleston’s roots are as deep as the area’s famed Angel Oak tree. One reader told Travel + Leisure the city was, “a great example of a city that holds to their roots, but also strives to be current and welcome to everyone.”
Those who voted Charleston the best city even went as far as comparing it to cities in Europe due to its bustling arts, entertainment, and culinary scene. To readers, Charleston’s food is “unbeatable,” and you can’t have a great city without great food.
More: 10 South Carolina state parks to put on your summer bucket list: 4 are in the Upstate
How does voting work?
To determine which cities are the best in the U.S., Travel + Leisure asks readers to take part in their World’s Best Awards Survey, where they share their experiences while traveling the globe. Opinions regarding airlines, cities, cruise ships, resorts, spas, top hotels, and more are taken into consideration, which help to determine the winners. In the 2024 survey, over 186,000 readers participated, with a total of more than 70,000 votes cast across 8,700 properties. Cities were rated on criteria such as culture, food, friendliness, sights/landmarks, shopping, and value.
More: Beat the heat at SC’s lakes: Here’s why two of them were voted among the nation’s best
Top 10 cities in the US, according to Travel + Leisure
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Savannah, Georgia
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- San Antonio, Texas
- Forth Worth, Texas
- New York, New York
- Chicago, Illinois
- Aspen, Colorado
More: Upstate towns named among SC’s most underappreciated: Did your hidden gem make the list?
Travel + Leisure’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 Sebastián, Spain
- Marbella, Spain
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Marrakesh, Morocco
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Porto, Portugal
- Kolkata, India
- Rome, Italy
- Jaipur, India
- Charleston, United States
- Barcelona, Spain
- Seoul, South Korea
- Cuzco, Peru
More: Travelers Rest among 15 best US small towns for a summer vacation. What other towns made the list?
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com.