Overview

• Santa Fe earned an 88.8 average score from 180,000 Travel + Leisure readers to claim the No. 1 U.S. city spot for the first time
• Charleston slipped to third place after leading the ranking since 2013, with New Orleans and Savannah completing the top five
• Cities were evaluated on landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value based on reader surveys
• Santa Fe is the only U.S. city featured in Travel + Leisure’s global top-25 list, placing 19th among international destinations
• The results highlight a broader trend toward smaller, experience-driven cities prized for regional culture and authenticity